With iOS 17, iPhones will turn into smart screens

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is working on a new feature in iOS 17 that turns the iPhone’s screen into a smart home-style display. According to Gurman, the interface will show things like weather, calendar appointments, and notifications when the phone is locked and in landscape position.

iPhones are turning into smart screens

Gurman states that these widgets will be displayed with bright text on a dark background and will expand on the lock screen widgets that Apple introduced with iOS 16. We can say that this feature will come in handy when you put your iPhone on your desk or on your nightstand and want to keep track of notifications or upcoming appointments.

Google already has a similar feature for Pixel devices when used with the Pixel Stand. When you place your Pixel device on the stand, you can access various settings or view a slideshow from Google Photos while the device is charging. Pixels also come with Google’s At A Glance widget that can show the date, weather and other useful notifications.

Gurman also says that Apple is working to bring this feature to the iPad and is working on a magnetic mount that you can use with the device. Similar to the stand, the tablet’s display can be configured to display a range of smart home controls when docked, or act as a digital photo frame.

Apple is expected to introduce this feature with iOS 17 at the Worldwide Developers Conference next month. Other features said to be coming to the operating system include a journaling app that encourages you to record your thoughts throughout the day, and an update to the Wallet app.