Bloomberg’s Gurman: iOS 17 Will Offer Find My, SharePlay, and AirPlay Upgrades + Updated Lock Screen Experience

Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman has posted some new information about what we may see when iOS 17 debuts at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2023) on June 5.

New Lock Screen Interface

Gurman says iOS 17 will bring a new interface that will allow the iPhone Lock Screen to act as a “smart-home display” when an iPhone is locked and in a horizontal orientation. The display will show multiple bits of information, including weather data, notifications, calendar reminders, and other info, allowing it to act as sort of a home data hub, much like an Echo Show or a Google Nest Hub.

The “smart home display” will appear when the iPhone is connected to a charger and is in a horizontal position, such as when attached to a MagSafe stand. The new feature is designed to make an iPhone more useful when it is idle and is on a user’s desk or nightstand. A dark background and lighter-colored text will be used to make the information on the screen easier to read.

A similar interface is also said to be in development for the iPad. However, it may not be ready for launch until after iPadOS 17 has been released. Apple is also reportedly working on a low-priced tablet that will act as a dedicated home hub, much like what Google’s done with its new Pixel Tablet.

iOS 17 Wallet, Find My, SharePlay, and AirPlay

Gurman says the iOS 17 update will add several other new features to core apps and services, including AirPlay, Find My, Wallet, and SharePlay.

While he said the Wallet app will receive “significant changes,” he did not provide any additional details about what those might be. He also noted that location services enhancements are on the way for the Find My app, without providing any specific details.

The iOS 17 SharePlay feature will also receive an upgrade, improving its ability to share and view content with family and friends on a FaceTime call. He says there will also be improvements to the iOS 17 AirPlay wireless streaming feature, as Apple is working with hotels and similar venues to make it easier for visitors to stream AirPlay content to their TVs and devices.

Back in April, we saw a Wall Street Journal report that Apple has plans for a Day One-style journaling app for the iPhone, which would allow users to track their daily activities. At the time, the report did not specify a release date for the journaling app. However, Gurman adds that the new iOS 17 journaling app will bring “note-taking and a stronger social element” to the iPhone.

The WSJ report said says a personalization feature will provide potential topics for users and will also offer “All Day People Discovery” that detects a user’s physical proximity to other people.

Apple’s journaling app will have an advantage over similar journaling apps, since it is an Apple app it will have access to much more user data than third-party apps, such as phone calls, text messages, notifications, and other info.

However, the software will be designed with privacy and security in mind. All analysis of the user’s daily entries will take place on-device, and journaling suggestions will be removed after four weeks.

Apple is also reportedly preparing to bring the Health app to the iPad. This will allow iPad users to view their health data when they do not have their iPhone at hand.

As usual, all of the above should be taken with a grain of your favorite low-sodium seasoning, as we won’t be able to confirm this information until iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 are unveiled on June 5.