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

LUVED Is A New Curated Preloved Marketplace For The UAE

Sellers keep 100 percent of every sale and AI can build a listing in five seconds — though the app’s smartest tools are still coming.

Published

5 hours ago

June 16, 2026

Joanna Melki

luved is a new curated preloved marketplace for the uae

Secondhand shopping has become mainstream in the UAE, but the experience is still scattered across resale sites, social media and informal group chats. LUVED, a mobile-first marketplace that launched in Dubai this month, is betting it can pull that activity into one place — and that the thing buyers and sellers actually want is not more inventory, but trust.

The app trades in what it calls circular luxury: preloved fashion and lifestyle pieces across men’s, women’s and children’s categories, bought, sold or given away peer to peer. Its main pitch is economics, with sellers keeping 100 percent of every sale under a zero-commission, fast payout model, while buyers are promised vetted pieces at lower prices.

Where LUVED is staking its reputation is verification. Sellers pass a KYC check, and items run through a two-layer authentication system powered by Entrupy that pairs instant AI screening with human expert review for high-value pieces. Authenticity certificates travel with each item, payments sit in escrow, and a buyer-protection package the company calls The Safety Net adds a 48-hour return window and dispute resolution. Door-to-door logistics removes the in-person meetups that make most resale deals awkward.

An in-app assistant called Luvbot — offering selling insights and demand-based recommendations — is soon to be introduced to the platform. Other features include autofill and dynamic pricing that lets users build a listing in as little as five seconds from three photos, plus a swipe-based feed, story-style drops and in-app chat in English and Arabic. Finally, a gifting layer, Luved & Gifted, lets users pass items to others inside the app rather than sell them.

Also Read: Logitech’s New Folding Mouse Is Designed For Work On The Go

“After moving to Dubai, I saw how difficult it was to sell or even give things away,” says founder and CEO Shaima Sibtain. The friction is real, and so is the competition. In resale, trust is won transaction by transaction — and that is the test LUVED has set itself.

The app is live on the App Store now, with Google Play to follow. The company also plans to expand across the region, which will be the real test for a marketplace staking everything on trust.