Apple has, for the first time, introduced offline maps on its native navigation app. This feature was available on Google Maps and other mobile navigation service providers for a while. In fact, iPhone users could also access offline maps via the Google Maps app. With the iOS 17 update, iPhone users can access offline maps on the Apple Maps app.

Apple didn't have native support to set multiple timers on its clock app until now. With iOS 17 and iPadOS, users can finally set multiple timers on the default clock app, again, a feature inspired by Android OS.

Contact Poster is another feature that was inspired by Samsung smartphones running on OneUI 5.1. This feature allows users to set full-screen images with customizable text to the caller ID.

NameDrop is another new feature of iOS 17, which allows iPhone users to quickly share their contact with nearby iPhone and Apple Watch users. Android phones with NFC capability had a feature called Android Beam for more than a decade, which allowed users to quickly share their details. With iOS 17, Apple has introduced a similar feature for iPhones.

Standby mode turns an iPhone into a digital table clock and showcases important details such as time and notifications, and also doubles as a digital photo album. A similar feature has been available on select Android phones in the name of screen saver or always-on display for almost a decade.

iOS 17 can finally create a dedicated album for pets in the default gallery app. Google Photos users have been enjoying a similar feature on both Android and iOS devices for a while.

Apple originally introduced widgets on iPhones with the iOS 14 update, and the company has been improving them with every new version. With iOS 17, iPhones now support interactive widgets that can be used to control music, control smart devices, and access various services of an app without opening it. Interactive widgets have been a big part of Android OS with support for both first-party and third-party widgets.

iOS 17 finally allows iPhone users to send a live voice mail in real-time with support for automatic transcription. This feature has been available on Google's dialer app for Android for a while. While Apple's implementation is a bit more sophisticated, both accomplish the same job.

FaceTime can now video preview, and users can send both audio and video messages during FaceTime. A similar feature has been available on Google's Duo and Meet video calling apps for a while.

Check-In on iOS 17 is a security feature that allows users to update their friends or family about an ongoing journey, automatically providing them with details like the current known location, battery level, cellular signal, and more. Google introduced a similar feature called the Safety Check feature within the Personal Safety app back in 2020.

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This is an archive article published on June 19, 2023

10 new iOS 17 features that are actually from Android

Prominent features of iOS 17 that have been derived from Android OS.

iOS 17 has plenty of new features (Credit: Apple)

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Apple recently introduced its latest mobile operating system, iOS 17, with new features and capabilities to enhance the iPhone user experience at WWDC 2023. Some of the new features are fresh and cleverly included in the new version of iOS but Apple has also ‘borrowed’ some features from Android.

Here’s a list of all the Apple iOS 17 features that Android already had.

01
Offline Maps
Apple has, for the first time, introduced offline maps on its native navigation app. This feature was available on Google Maps and other mobile navigation service providers for a while. In fact, iPhone users could also access offline maps via the Google Maps app. With the iOS 17 update, iPhone users can access offline maps on the Apple Maps app.
02
Multiple Timers
Apple didn't have native support to set multiple timers on its clock app until now. With iOS 17 and iPadOS, users can finally set multiple timers on the default clock app, again, a feature inspired by Android OS.
03
Contact Poster
Contact Poster is another feature that was inspired by Samsung smartphones running on OneUI 5.1. This feature allows users to set full-screen images with customizable text to the caller ID.
04
NameDrop
NameDrop is another new feature of iOS 17, which allows iPhone users to quickly share their contact with nearby iPhone and Apple Watch users. Android phones with NFC capability had a feature called Android Beam for more than a decade, which allowed users to quickly share their details. With iOS 17, Apple has introduced a similar feature for iPhones.
05
Standby Mode
Standby mode turns an iPhone into a digital table clock and showcases important details such as time and notifications, and also doubles as a digital photo album. A similar feature has been available on select Android phones in the name of screen saver or always-on display for almost a decade.
06
Album for Pets
iOS 17 can finally create a dedicated album for pets in the default gallery app. Google Photos users have been enjoying a similar feature on both Android and iOS devices for a while.
07
Interactive Widgets
Apple originally introduced widgets on iPhones with the iOS 14 update, and the company has been improving them with every new version. With iOS 17, iPhones now support interactive widgets that can be used to control music, control smart devices, and access various services of an app without opening it. Interactive widgets have been a big part of Android OS with support for both first-party and third-party widgets.
08
Live Voicemail
iOS 17 finally allows iPhone users to send a live voice mail in real-time with support for automatic transcription. This feature has been available on Google's dialer app for Android for a while. While Apple's implementation is a bit more sophisticated, both accomplish the same job.
09
FaceTime Messages
FaceTime can now video preview, and users can send both audio and video messages during FaceTime. A similar feature has been available on Google's Duo and Meet video calling apps for a while.
10
Check-In
Check-In on iOS 17 is a security feature that allows users to update their friends or family about an ongoing journey, automatically providing them with details like the current known location, battery level, cellular signal, and more. Google introduced a similar feature called the Safety Check feature within the Personal Safety app back in 2020.