The beta cycle of iOS 17 and the rest of the operating systems is coming to an end. Apple has switched to a weekly schedule where every Tuesday, approximately, we see a new version of the systems that are set to be officially released next September.
Weekly cycle and several interesting changes
With the release of iOS 17 in its beta 7, the apple company continues with a series of refinements and adjustments, focusing on improving the user experience down to the smallest detail. Let’s see what has changed in this update.
- Changes in the Phone app: In previous versions, when expanding the keyboard in the Phone app, the end call button was located on the far right. However, in this new beta, Apple has decided to reposition this button and place it in the bottom center of the screen, matching its design with the call end button that appears when the keyboard is not visible. This way, whether we’re viewing the keyboard or not, we can develop the muscle memory to end calls from the same place.
- Mood Tracking in the Health app: The mood tracking feature in the Health app allows us to monitor our mood throughout the day. As in other betas, Apple continues to improve this function with minor aesthetic changes. This time, by adjusting the speed of the rings that surround each mood representation.
- Haptic Feedback in Silent Mode: iOS 17 beta 6 had a minor bug that removed haptic feedback when enabling silent mode. Now, in beta 7, not only has this issue been fixed, but the vibration has also been improved. When silencing the phone, the vibration lasts a bit longer, making it more noticeable to prevent us from accidentally silencing our iPhone. These changes also hint at rumors suggesting that Apple is preparing to replace the silent switch with an action button on future iPhone 15 Pro models.
More Clues About the Action Button on iPhone 15
Connecting with what we just discussed, one of the most noteworthy pieces of news from this beta is the inclusion of haptic feedback patterns for the silent mode. While in the seventh beta we can experience the change in vibration when silencing the phone, there is also, even if not used, a vibration pattern for when we deactivate the silent mode.
At 9to5mac, they were able to access the vibration file contained in the beta, and when replicating it, they found that this new haptic pattern provides a sensation of a firm tap, which will be essential to understand the phone’s status in the absence of a physical switch.
A small clue that, combined with the amount of rumors we’ve seen about the end of the mute switch, allows us to get a clearer idea of how the new system will work.
According to the information we have, the new button that will replace the mute switch will offer multiple customization options. In addition to being able to assign different actions to this button, such as activating Siri, opening the camera app, turning on the flashlight, entering focus mode, or even starting a voice recording, it seems that we will be able to customize the haptic feedback to confirm that the action has been carried out after our press.
iOS 17 beta 7 continues to showcase the level of attention to detail that Apple applies to all its systems. From aesthetic and functional changes in core applications to the discovery of new features in future devices, this beta is quite intriguing. A beta that will soon reach the end of its cycle and embark on its journey as an official version in a few weeks.
Some of the links added in the article are part of affiliate campaigns and may represent benefits for Softonic.
