Yesterday, Apple launched iOS 17.3 with the headlining Stolen System Safety characteristic. This characteristic, which helps shield your machine from being compromised by thieves, makes updating to iOS 17.3 a no brainer. However extra options, like Apple Music Collaborative Playlists and Emoji Reactions, make this launch even sweeter.
Watch our full hands-on video as Jeff breaks down the ins and outs of Stolen System Safety and walks via the opposite new iOS 17.3 modifications and options. Should you haven’t already, subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for extra movies.
Stolen System Safety
The headline characteristic of 17.3 is Stolen System Safety, and rightfully so. That is the characteristic that can assist stop unauthorized entry from thieves.
Till iOS 17.3, a thief might use your machine passcode to entry your Apple ID and different delicate settings. With iOS 17.3’s Stolen System Safety, your iPhone will now require biometric authentication to entry these settings, and even then, if the machine just isn’t in a big location like work or house, a safety delay of 1 hour is enacted earlier than any safety modifications may be made.
In my hands-on video beneath, I stroll via the whole means of organising Stolen System Safety and likewise take a look at what it’s like to try to vary a safety setting when away from a well-recognized location.
Video: What’s new in iOS 17.3?
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In a nutshell, Stolen System Safety safeguards your iPhone’s safety settings in two significant methods. First, it forces customers who try to vary a safety setting whereas away from a well-recognized location to make use of biometric authentication. Generally, a thief is not going to have entry to your facial information to authenticate with Face ID, so they can not proceed. Secondly, even when an individual can determine with biometric information, iOS will implement a one-hour delay earlier than any modifications may be made.
Whereas the one-hour delay is energetic, customers can nonetheless use the machine like regular, they simply can’t modify essential safety settings like passcode, password, or disable Stolen System Safety. Customers will obtain a time-sensitive notification as soon as the one-hour delay has elapsed. Alternatively, if the machine returns to a big location, the delay will robotically be suspended, and also you’ll obtain a notification.
With all this in thoughts, you’ll want location providers enabled to make use of Stolen System Safety correctly. Extra particularly, you’ll must make it possible for Important Places in Settings → Privateness & Safety → Location Providers → System Providers is enabled as a result of that is what iOS makes use of to study areas that you simply frequent, comparable to house or work.
Stolen System Safety is a characteristic that may legitimately shield you from having your iPhone compromised in a significant manner by a thief who is aware of your iOS passcode. Though it’s unlikely {that a} thief will steal your passcode and your bodily machine, it’s occurred loads of occasions earlier than. As a result of this characteristic poses minimal inconveniences to professional iPhone customers, it’s simple to advocate turning it on.
Over a dozen new safety fixes
Apple usually addresses bugs and safety fixes with every new iOS launch, and iOS 17.3 is not any exception. Over a dozen new documented safety fixes are included on this launch, together with patches to repair flaws that would enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. It’s one other crucial motive why updating as quickly as attainable is very advisable.
Lodge AirPlay
Have you ever ever introduced your Apple TV whereas touring in order that you could possibly take pleasure in AirPlay and watch your content material at your lodge? I’ve! However, because of iOS 17.3, you possibly can go away your Apple TV at house when checking in to collaborating lodges from Kimpton, IHG, and Indigo.
Apple has partnered with LG to roll out new televisions that help AirPlay natively through a easy QR code. In different phrases, there aren’t any passwords, no apps to obtain, and no clunky lodge tv interface to wade via. The rollout will take a while to finish, however it’ll be definitely worth the wait.
Apple Music Collaborative Playlists
Collaborative Playlists skilled a little bit of a false begin of types in the course of the iOS 17.2 beta interval, however the characteristic returns in iOS 17.3. Collaborative playlists are simply how they sound, they will let you invite others to hitch a playlist through a hyperlink or QR code. Collaborators can add, take away, or reorder tracks in a playlist, and avatars assist showcase who made every change.
New emoji reactions in Apple Music
A companion characteristic to collaborative playlists, emoji reactions enable collaborators to react to a selected monitor with any accessible emoji in iOS 17.3. This characteristic jogs my memory lots of the Soundcloud characteristic that lets customers remark a few monitor at particular deadlines. Though emoji reactions don’t go that deep in iOS 17, they’re nonetheless a enjoyable solution to work together with fellow contributors.
Find out about an amazing tune because of a fellow collaborator? Reply to the tune with a 🔥emoji. Reactions seem contained in the playlist tracklisting itself and on the now-playing interface, full with animated emoji so as to add additional emphasis.
Unity Bloom iPhone and iPad wallpaper
A brand new Unity Bloom wallpaper pack is included with iOS 17.3, and it contains a number of completely different colour schemes and an superior dynamic animation that gives a brand new look every time you lock or unlock your machine. You possibly can be taught extra in regards to the Unity Bloom wallpaper in our earlier hands-on publish.
AppleCare Guarantee updates
Lastly, whenever you go to Settings → Normal → AppleCare & Guarantee, you’ll see all gadgets assigned to your Apple ID as an alternative of simply native gadgets like your iPhone and paired AirPods. Gadgets inside this part are ordered primarily based on guarantee standing, with AppleCare+ gadgets showing on the prime, Restricted Guarantee gadgets showing beneath that, and expired guarantee gadgets showing final.
9to5Mac’s Take
iOS 17.3 isn’t the monstrosity that was iOS 17.2, which included greater than 50 new modifications and options, however it’s a vital launch with a number of noteworthy new options. I extremely advocate updating for the safety fixes and Stolen System Safety, however the brand new Apple Music options are additionally super-fun causes for updating.
What’s your favourite new iOS 17.3 characteristic? Hold forth within the feedback beneath.
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