News

iOS 17 Has Arrived: Here Are The Standout New Features

Apple’s new iPhone operating system has a host of new additions and is available now to download.

Published

3 years ago

September 19, 2023

ios 17 has arrived here are the standout new features

iOS 17, the latest iteration of Apple’s Phone operating system, is now available to download. The software update has plenty of new features, though you’ll need an iPhone 11 or later to benefit from the new OS. (iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, and 2nd gen iPhone SE models are also supported).

Upgrading To iOS 17

Tap Settings, scroll to General, then select Software Update. Remember that your phone will restart several times during the process, and it’s always wise to keep it plugged into a charger.

iOS 17 Features

Autocorrect Improvements

Autocorrect will now remember words for future use, and users can tap an on-screen undo button to revert back to what they actually typed.

Check-In

The new Check-In feature automatically alerts friends or family when you arrive at a preselected destination. If an iPhone detects that someone is no longer moving toward their destination, chosen contacts will be sent the route, cell connectivity status, and the phone’s battery level.

Set Multiple Timers

A glaring omission to iOS has finally been solved. Users can now set multiple timers without resorting to third-party apps.

StandBy Mode

iPhones now enter StandBy Mode when flipped horizontally while charging, turning them into a clock, calendar, digital photo frame, or information center using widget Smart Stacks. StandBy Mode can also distinguish between specific Magsafe docks, so different displays can be set for each location (such as bedside tables or kitchens).

Stickers And Call Effects

iOS 17 now allows quick access to all stickers — including those within third-party apps. You can even create new stickers from photos with added interactive effects. Users can also add effects to video calls, including rain, confetti, and hearts.

Voicemail To Text & Video Messages

Incoming voicemails can now be displayed as text on the iPhone’s lock screen. Meanwhile, Facetime also lets users leave video messages if someone doesn’t pick up.

NameDrop Contact Info

You can now bring iPhones together and instantly share contact details, which can also be customized and turned into a contact poster.

Safari Privacy

Apple has long made privacy a unique selling point of its operating systems. Now, iOS has received an update allowing Safari users to create multiple profiles to keep browsing information separate. Private Browsing tabs also require reauthorization after 15 minutes, hiding your browsing habits if someone else is handed the device.

Coming Soon: AirDrop Update And New Journaling App

Although we’re excited at the prospect of the iOS 17 update, there are a few additional features planned for the future that are also hotly anticipated.

A new end-to-end encrypted Journal app will soon be available where users can reflect and record their thoughts. In addition, an AirDrop update will allow file transfers to continue even if you move out of range.

Also Read: How To Clean Your Apple Watch Like A Pro

Aside from all the new iOS 17 features, it’s always a good idea to keep your iPhone up to date. There’s always a risk of a few temporary bugs, but the security benefits far outweigh any minor glitches you may experience during the first few days of updating.

News

Microsoft Plans $10 Billion-Plus Gulf Expansion Despite Iran Conflict

Security is shaping Microsoft’s approach, from resilience work with governments to what it will say about how the money splits by country.

Published

4 days ago

September 24, 2026

Nour Nasir

Microsoft

Microsoft is planning more than $10 billion of investment across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait through 2030, Vice Chair and President Brad Smith told Reuters, calling the spending schedule aggressive. The Iranian conflict that began on February 28 has not persuaded the company to scale back.

“We’re sustaining all the investments we planned to make before this conflict started, and we are in fact adding to them,” Smith said. The $10 billion-plus total does not, however, show how large those additions are.

The investment, which Smith described as part of Microsoft’s continued infrastructure expansion, is aimed at cloud and AI infrastructure and at the company’s growing regional operations. Microsoft also intends to put more than $400 million into subsea and terrestrial connectivity across the Middle East by 2030.

The spending fits the region’s own ambitions too. Gulf governments have been investing heavily in AI infrastructure as part of a push to diversify their economies beyond oil and gas and turn themselves into global technology hubs. Major cloud and AI providers have been drawn in part by the land and relatively low-cost energy on offer.

Microsoft is widening its partnerships with regional AI companies, though not on identical terms. In 2024, it invested $1.5 billion in Abu Dhabi-based G42 for a minority stake, and Smith currently sits on G42’s board. Saudi Arabia’s Humain and Qatar’s Qai are working with Microsoft on selected priority areas, but Smith said the company does not plan to make capital investments in either.

Also Read: Egypt’s Mobile Wallets Are Booming, But Cash Still Has Power

The conflict has added another strand to Microsoft’s work in the region. Since it began, Smith said, the company has supported regional partners with digital resilience assessments, and it is now working with Gulf countries through a digital resilience initiative focused on preparedness and the protection of critical data.

So far, the company has given no country-by-country breakdown of the investment, citing security among other factors. So while the headline figure is public, how Microsoft divides the spending among the four countries is not.