Apple unveils iOS 11 with P2P Apple Pay transfers, a new sound for Siri, AirPlay 2, more

AppleInsider · June 5, 2017 6:39PM

The next major update for iOS is turned up to 11, Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook joked on Monday in unveiling the software update. It includes a revamped Control Center with deep 3D Touch support, the ability to directly transfer money to friends with Apple Pay, a new voice for Siri, and multi-speaker support with AirPlay 2.

P2P Apple Pay in Messages

When iOS 11 launches later this year, Messages will gain Apple Pay person to person payments, similar to Venmo. The feature will integrate with Touch ID for enhanced security.

Also within Messages, Apple is adding a new app drawer to simplify installation and use of stickers. Storage efficiency has also been improved, allowing for faster backups, and automatic syncing of messages across devices.

Siri

Siri in iOS 11 also has a new voice powered by deep learning. Siri's learning will take place on the iPhone or iPad itself, starting in iOS 11. Improvements in the neural net will synchronize across all of a user's devices through end-to-end encryption across iCloud.

In addition, a translation feature is being added to Siri as a beta. The personal assistant will be able to translate from and to English to Chinese, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. Federighi noted that there were more language combinations coming, with the possibility of addition during the iOS 11 beta process.

Siri is also gaining more functionality systemwide. In one demonstration, Federighi showed how reading about foreign locations in News allowed Siri to suggest correct spelling when typing in Messages.

Photos

A new compression method known as HEIF offers higher quality images at half the size on device, freeing up storage. Photos using HEIF are still compatible for sharing on other devices and platforms.

Improved image quality and low light performance with optical image stabilization, True Tone flash and HDR. A new Depth API is also available to developers.

With iOS 11, users can trim Live Photos, and can also select a different key photo within a Live Photo capture. Apple also offers the ability to loop Live Photos, and to create long-exposure pictures.

Control Center

Control Center is also getting a major redesign, packing all features into a single page. Uses 3D Touch to access more controls on each item.

In an onstage demo, software chief Craig Federighi showed how forcefully pressing on an item in Control Center brings up additional options and details in a more fully featured view.

Maps

Indoor mapping is also coming to Apple Maps, with support at major malls and airports around the world. Users will be able to view their current location inside a building, including what floor they are on.

Maps is also adding lane guidance and speed limit display.

iOS 11 also has a feature called Do Not Disturb While Driving, which uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi doppler effect to automatically enable the capabilities.

The system can send automatic responses when texts arrive while driving. And users can customize urgent messages and contacts that can be viewed and override the system. Users who are in the backseat or passenger seat and not driving can also tell iOS 11 that they are not behind the wheel in order to access their phone.

AirPlay 2

iOS 11 includes AirPlay 2 with support for multi-room audio built in to the operating system. Previously, iOS could only stream music to one speaker, while multi-speaker support was limited to macOS.

AirPlay 2 will also integrate with HomeKit, allowing Siri to be used to play music on a specific speaker.

AirPlay 2 also includes a shared "Up Next" option for collaborative playlists while listening with friends.

Apple said major speaker makers are supporting AirPlay 2 with upcoming systems. Third-party apps will also be able to tap into multi-room audio with a new API.

In Apple Music, you'll be able to see what friends are listening to if they have a public profile, and what playlists they want to make available. For developers, Apple has built a new API dubbed MusicKit.

saarek · June 5, 2017 6:54PM

Lane guidance and speed limit information, thank you Apple for finally getting these features in.

NY1822 · June 5, 2017 7:30PM

Question: If i send someone say $50 from my credit card using this new P2P Apple Pay, will i be charged a fee?

eightzero · June 5, 2017 8:58PM

NY1822 said:

Question: If i send someone say $50 from my credit card using this new P2P Apple Pay, will i be charged a fee?

Or will they be charged a fee?

Let's face it - there's a fee here somewhere. Or else Apple just melted the banking industry.

NY1822 · June 5, 2017 9:30PM

no fee if using debit card
3% fee if sending using credit card

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.recode.net/platform/amp/2017/6/5/15741636/apple-pay-p2p-venmo-competitor-apple-pay-cash-money-transfer

6502 · June 5, 2017 10:49PM

Upcoming iOS 12 control center:

Image: https://forums.appleinsider.com/uploads/editor/13/hscknec41euo.gif

SpamSandwich · June 6, 2017 12:15AM

NY1822 said:

Question: If i send someone say $50 from my credit card using this new P2P Apple Pay, will i be charged a fee?

I'm going to say no.

almondroca · June 6, 2017 12:39AM

6502 said:

Upcoming iOS 12 control center:

Thanks for that.
iOS "Control Center is also getting a major redesign" by taking cues from System 7...or 6.

g000 · June 6, 2017 1:27AM

So nothing about group FaceTime in iOS11? Was really looking forward to that, what a bummer

eightzero · June 6, 2017 4:45AM

SpamSandwich said:

NY1822 said:

Question: If i send someone say $50 from my credit card using this new P2P Apple Pay, will i be charged a fee?

I'm going to say no.

But the recipient may be. See above.

gregalexander · June 6, 2017 5:17AM

AppleInsider said:
Photos

A new compression method known as HEIF offers higher quality images at half the size on device, freeing up storage. Photos using HEIF are still compatible for sharing on other devices and platforms.

.... can also select a different key photo within a Live Photo capture.

I wonder how that will play out on iPhone 6 and 6S. Or on iCloud. I read "still compatible for sharing" as meaning they can view photos taken on a newer phone.

Surely it'd be possible for my 6S to run the better compression (... or run it overnight on my library) ... or Apple could run HEIF compression over my whole iPhoto library online?

Also selecting a different key photo is BRILLIANT. At the moment though it's a separate .mov file at lower resolutions, so Apple must have changed how Live Photo works and upped the resolution. That'll need me to upgrade at the end of the year. It'll mean I can take one photo of a group and later look over a few seconds to find the best frame... or Apple's AI might try to find the best frame for me.

bonobob · June 6, 2017 6:20AM

eightzero said:

NY1822 said:

Question: If i send someone say $50 from my credit card using this new P2P Apple Pay, will i be charged a fee?

Or will they be charged a fee?

Let's face it - there's a fee here somewhere. Or else Apple just melted the banking industry.

I can tell my bank to cut a check and mail it at their expense, with no fee to me or the recipient. That's got to cost the bank more than an all electronic transaction. So I would not expect to pay a fee.

brakken · June 6, 2017 11:37PM

So, no way p2p cash sending will be a way to bully?

steveau · June 8, 2017 6:46AM

Guys, you all missed the big one: Siri can now do handwriting recognition!!!!! Which, because I was a big Newton user, I've been wishing fo since the first iPad, so yeaaaa!!!! Craig F even demonstrated it on stage by handwriting a note with "2017" in it and then typing "2017" into a search field to find the note. Clearly, they are still very sensitive about Newton (like the wrath of Steve will descend upon them from the afterlife if they even hint at resurrecting its capabilities), so they have built handwriting recognition into Siri and will wait for a developer to use it to build a HWR app. It would be nice if this ap could be released in February next year, exactly 20 years after the demise of the Apple MessagePad 2100. Along with the new Files app this makes the iPad Pro into a fully pirtable, use-on-the-go, laptop replacement for many of us, and you only need one accessory: an A-Pencil. It's only taken twenty years!

bruckheimer · June 8, 2017 7:08PM

I really wish Apple would add detailed viewing for each day on there calendar like it is on the iPad, that right there would get people from using Google's calendar on there iPhone. Strange!

bruckheimer · June 16, 2017 5:48PM

Maybe this will happen when they release the iPhone 8, then I will not have to use Google anymore except for searching on the net.