Adapting to iOS 17: New design elements and considerations

The central tenet of a modern iOS app design is ‘simplicity and ease of use.’ iOS 17 further solidifies this core belief of Apple.

This blog will primarily explore the core new design elements introduced in the latest version of Apple’s operating system and design considerations that will help build more secure and immersive iOS applications. First, let’s start with a high-level overview of iOS 17. 

A high-level overview of iOS 17

Apple constantly updates its operating system; however, the annual releases are truly significant. iOS 17 represents the seventeenth yearly release of the operating system. The new OS version includes a series of features that are likely to blow away both the development community and the consumers: StandBy, contact posters, Live Voicemail, NameDrop, FaceTime video voicemail, a new Siri voice recognition model, and more capable autocorrect and dictation.

iOS 17 makes Phone, Messages, and FaceTime more interesting, giving users new ways to express themselves as they connect with friends and families. StandBy delivers a new full-screen experience with glanceable information designed to be viewed from a distance when you turn the iPhone on its side while charging. AirDrop makes it easier to share and connect with those around you and adds NameDrop for contact sharing. Enhancements to the keyboard make entering text faster and easier than ever before. iOS 17 also includes updates to Widgets, Safari, Music, AirPlay and more.

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Adapting to iOS 17: New design elements

Now that we have covered the basics of the latest release let’s dive into the new design elements or improvements that make this new version all the more exciting and significant for users and developers:

• Redesigned apps: The Control Center, Notifications, and Widgets have been redesigned to make interactions more fluid and responsive.
• Updated color palette: The color palette has been subtly shifted to create a more harmonious user experience.
• Updated keyboards: The alphabetic keyboards have been updated to match the iPad Pro 11-inch and iPad Pro 13-inch.
• Updated call screen: The buttons on the call screen have been rearranged to make it easier to navigate.
• Contact posters: Users can create customized posters to display to the person they call.
• Journal app: The Journal app uses machine learning to provide personalized suggestions to help inspire journal entries.

iOS app development companies must adapt to Apple's new design guidelines and features to build modern, user-friendly applications. For example, the redesigned interfaces, such as the Control Center and Widgets, facilitate increased user engagement and interactions, enabling developers to create more fluid and responsive applications.

Similarly, the Journal application uses more advanced machine learning capabilities to recommend personalized content based on user interactions and behavior. These new updates and capabilities lead to applications that rank high on personalization and customer experience.

Let’s not forget the new APIs and frameworks that again make design and development a far more seamless and rewarding experience for the developer community. For the sake of brevity, let’s just focus on Core ML and Create ML:

Core ML

• Core ML supports new machine learning models for image segmentation and 3D depth estimation tasks.
• Enhanced performance and efficiency enable real-time machine-learning applications.
• Core ML’s expanded capabilities open up new frontiers for AI-powered apps.

Create ML

• Create ML simplifies building machine learning models without requiring extensive machine learning expertise.
• Drag-and-drop interfaces and intuitive tools enable developers to create custom models for various tasks.
• Create ML democratizes machine learning, empowering developers to integrate AI into their apps without specialized knowledge.

iOS 17 for developers

A new operating system version often leads to more tools, frameworks, and APIs for developers to improve their overall iOS app development experience and performance, eventually leading to more engaging and secure iOS apps. iOS 17, too, has satisfied on this front.

This update delivers notable improvements in accessibility, app functionality, developer tools, and privacy, setting a new standard for the iOS ecosystem.

1. Assistive Access has been overhauled to provide:

Voice control upgrades

• Continuous dictation for smooth and uninterrupted text input
• Advanced voice commands for more straightforward app and system control
• Natural language processing for a more intuitive and responsive experience

Innovative sound actions

• Create and use custom sounds to perform specific actions on your device
• Offers an alternative interaction method that doesn’t rely on visual input

Enhanced eye control

• Cutting-edge eye-tracking technology for precise device navigation
• Customizable gaze-based interactions to suit individual needs
• Integration with system features for users with mobility challenges

Optimized app interaction

• Easily customize and place shortcuts for your most-used tasks on the Home or Lock Screen
• Activate shortcuts using Touch, Siri, or other apps for a seamless experience
• Enjoy a more efficient workflow with fewer menu layers to navigate

2. Swift and C++ synergy

• Leverage Swift’s modern features within C++ codebases for enhanced performance
• Improved interoperability for smoother cross-platform development
• New debugging and profiling tools to refine and optimize code

3. New APIs and frameworks

• Core ML: Expanded with models for tasks like image segmentation and 3D depth, offering real-time machine learning capabilities
• Create ML: Streamlines model creation with intuitive tools, making AI integration accessible to all developers
• Vision: Upgraded for advanced image recognition and object tracking, ideal for AR/VR applications and intelligent image processing

4. Strengthened privacy measures

• Privacy manifests: Clear disclosures on app data collection practices
• SDK signatures: Verifies that third-party SDKs comply with Apple’s privacy standards
• API justification: Requires developers to explain the necessity of accessing specific APIs, enhancing transparency and data protection

5. Enhanced SharePlay experience

SharePlay, first introduced in iOS 15.2, now features:

• Real-time shared activities via AirDrop: Share experiences like watching movies or listening to music with others instantly
• Full-screen support: Enjoy a more immersive SharePlay experience with full-screen mode
• Large file transfers: Transfer substantial files, such as videos or documents, within SharePlay sessions
• Collaborative controls: Take shared actions like pausing or skipping content during a SharePlay session

iOS 17 for iPhone users

The new version of Apple's operating system (iOS 17) introduces features that enhance phone users' overall experience when interacting with the phone or people.

• StandBy: A new full-screen mode that displays glanceable information when your iPhone is on its side and charging.
• AirDrop: The ability to continue sharing files over the internet even when you're out of range.
• NameDrop: A new feature for sharing contacts.
• Keyboard: New enhancements to make entering text faster and easier.
• Widgets: More valuable widgets on your Home Screen, Lock Screen, and StandBy.
• Journal: A new app for reflecting on and remembering special events and activities

This is not all. The new release offers a lot more to the end customers. For example, in the Messages app, users can access all their iMessage apps from a single, consolidated view, streamlining how they interact with messages. This update also introduces real-time location sharing, allowing users to send their current location to contacts instantly. This feature is handy for coordinating meetups or informing loved ones about your whereabouts.

FaceTime has also seen improvements, such as the ability to leave messages. Suppose you’re unable to take a FaceTime call. In that case, you can now record and send a video or audio message, ensuring you can communicate important information or catch up with the caller later.

With iOS 17, widgets have become more interactive. Users can now perform actions directly from the widgets on their Home Screen, such as controlling music playback, managing to-do lists, or adjusting settings, without needing to open the associated apps. This enhancement makes everyday tasks quicker and more efficient.

The Maps app has been updated with features for offline use and electric vehicle (EV) drivers. Users can now download maps for offline access, ensuring reliable navigation even without an internet connection. Additionally, the app now offers improved routes for EVs, including real-time information about charger availability, helping users plan their trips more effectively.

Visual Look Up has been upgraded to provide more detailed insights from photos and videos. This feature allows users to identify and learn more about objects, landmarks, and other elements in their media. For instance, you can tap on a picture of a plant to get information about its species or explore the history of a landmark captured in your photos.

iOS design considerations for building next-generation iOS applications

The sole objective of the new release is to achieve two main goals: 1) To enhance developer experience and 2) To improve user experience. Developers have a world of features and capabilities to leverage to create truly immersive and secure applications. Here are a few of the iOS app design considerations that can help developers accelerate development and overall customer experience:

• Harness new technologies: Apple has invested significantly in modern technologies, with a robust focus on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Developers building new iOS applications must understand and incorporate the latest capabilities into their software development processes to accelerate development and overall user experience.
• Ensure visual harmony: Another key consideration in iOS app design is the optimum use of the refreshed color palette introduced in the new version. Use the color palette to develop apps that help create a more cohesive and aesthetically pleasing user experience.
• Aim for personalization: Mobile phone users demand highly personalized experiences. iOS 17 offers many capabilities and features, such as contact posters, to help developers create more dynamic and customized user experiences. Learn about the new features and what you can do with the updated ML and AL capabilities, and blend all those features in your next development project.

How iOS 17 stands to redefine the future of iOS app design

The new tools, APIs, frameworks, and capabilities will increasingly enable iOS app development companies to rethink how they create iOS 17 design, develop, and deploy iOS apps.

The new set of tools and GenAI's integration deep within the app development ecosystem will pave the way for a more streamlined development and deployment process. Developers will be better able to embed security within their apps from early on and deliver apps at a faster scale.

The new features and capabilities will enable them to create more dynamic and immersive apps, increasing customer engagement and revenue.

The new release also poses new challenges for the development community. However, if your team follows best practices, those challenges can be overcome.

Key takeaways

iOS 17 has strengthened the overall iOS app design landscape by providing numerous avenues for the development community to develop far more secure, scalable, and immersive apps.

However, we must understand that tools and technologies are only one part of the equation. To ensure the app is a great digital asset and experience for the customer, it is imperative to partner with someone who understands iOS app development like the back of their hands.

Always engage a reliable development partner, such as Kellton, with a proven track record in iOS app development, to ensure a world-class app development experience and post-development support. 

Explore our iOS app development services here!

Apple recently launched its newest OS version, iOS 18. We’ll soon write a detailed post on what this version means for developers and iPhone users.