Apple will introduce the next update to its operating system, the iOS 17 software update that would include new features that users have been requesting for a while, says Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The tech giant has apparently changed its strategy and included many new features in the later stages of its development.
This is contrary to Gurman's previous report from January which said that Apple would not be introducing significant changes with the iOS 17 update as it has shifted its focus on its long-awaited mixed reality (MR) headset.
In his 'Power On' newsletter, Gurman noted: "When Apple set out to develop iOS 17, the initial thinking was to call it a tuneup release — one focused more on fixing bugs and improving performance than adding new features (not unlike the approach the company took with Snow Leopard on Mac OS X back in 2009). The hope was to avoid the problems of iOS 16, an ambitious update that suffered from missed deadlines and a buggy start. But later in the development process, the strategy changed."
The iOS 17 release is now expected to boast several "nice to have" features, even if it lacks a tentpole improvement like last year's revamped lock screen. The goal of the software, codenamed "Dawn," is to check off several of users' most requested features, he added in the newsletter.
To recall, Apple's last update, iOS 16.3.1 was rolled out globally in February, to fix critical bugs and iCloud issues, among others.
The iOS 16.3 update, which was rolled out with the promise of adding more security options and new ways to use emergency SOS service via satellite, among others on supported iPhone models led to users facing problems with iCloud backup. Some iPhone users, after updating to iOS 16.3 recently started encountering issues such as syncing with iCloud Drive, Photos and backup upload.