IOS 11

iOS 11 was the eleventh major version of the iOS mobile operating system, made by Apple. It came after iOS 10 and was shown for the first time at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 5, 2017. People could start using it on September 19, 2017.

This update brought many new features and improvements to Apple’s smartphones. It made the system smarter and more helpful, giving users better ways to do things on their phones. After iOS 11, Apple continued to improve with the next version, iOS 12, which came out on September 17, 2018.

Overview

iOS 11 was introduced at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 5, 2017. The first version for developers came out right after the event, and a version for everyone came out on June 26, 2017.

iOS 11 officially launched on September 19, 2017. It brought many changes to iOS. Some big new things were:

• The lock screen and Notification Center were combined, so all notifications show up right on the lock screen.
• The control center was redesigned, letting users move the controls around and use some with 3D Touch for quick extra options.
• The App Store got its first big design change since iOS 7, focusing more on special content and daily picks.
• A Files app let users see files stored on their iPhone, in iCloud, and other cloud services. Users could now save files from Safari right on their iPhone without extra apps.
• Siri got updates to translate between languages and learn more about users to give better suggestions.
• The camera got new settings for better portrait photos and used new technology to make file sizes smaller on newer devices.
• Later, Messages connected with iCloud to sync messages better across iOS and macOS devices. It also added support for Apple Pay payments between people.
• Users could now record their screen, which could be added to the control center in Settings.
• It also added simple drag-and-drop features.
• Support for augmented reality, letting users place virtual objects in the real world and interact with them using their iPhone.

Some new features were only for iPad:

• An always-accessible app dock that could be opened by dragging up from the bottom of the screen.
• Easier ways to share photos, files, and links between apps.
• A new simple way to split-screen apps by dragging an app from the dock onto another open app. The split could be resized to make one app bigger or smaller.

iOS 11 was the first version of iOS that did not support 32-bit apps or processors. It only worked with 64-bit apps or processors. If a user tried to open a 32-bit app that had not been updated, iOS would not run it.

System features

The lock screen and Notification Center are now combined, letting users see all notifications directly on the lock screen. On the iPhone X, you can unlock the phone by swiping up.

The Control Center has been redesigned and supports 3D Touch buttons for more options. Users can adjust volume and brightness, and the Control Center can be customized to show more settings like cellular service and Low Power Mode.

Siri, the intelligent personal assistant, has a more human voice and can translate between several languages. It also supports follow-up questions and lets users type instead of speaking.

A new "Do Not Disturb While Driving" mode blocks unnecessary notifications when the iPhone is connected to a car. There is also a "Smart Invert" feature that changes the colors on the screen, which can help save battery life on some devices.

iOS 11 brings new features to the iPad, like an updated application dock and the ability to see multiple apps on the screen at the same time. The iPad keyboard now has numbers and symbols accessible by pulling down on keys.

The Camera app now supports optical image stabilization, flash photography, and high dynamic range for portraits. Live Photos have new effects like "Loop" and "Bounce."

iOS 11 adds native support for QR code scanning, lets users record their screen, and includes an "Emergency SOS" feature that disables Touch ID after pressing the Sleep/Wake button five times in quick succession.

App features

Mail

In the Mail app, if there is extra space, users can draw right inside the messages.

Messages

The Messages app can sync messages between iOS and macOS using iCloud. This means if you delete a message on one device, it disappears on all your devices. This feature was brought back when iOS 11.4 came out on May 29, 2018.

There was a plan to let users send payments to each other using Apple Pay through Messages. But when iOS 11 first came out, this feature wasn’t ready yet. Apple said it would come a little later, and it did arrive a few days after the iOS 11.2 update, but only in the United States at first.

The Messages app also got a new drawer for iMessage apps to make using apps and stickers easier. It also has a way to save space, making message backups smaller.

Messages also added a way for businesses to chat with customers right in the app. You can find these chats by looking for a message icon next to business search results, but this feature came later with iOS 11.3.

On the iPhone X, the Messages app introduced special animated emoji called Animoji, which use face-tracking and Face ID.

App Store

The App Store got a fresh look, with a new logo and a design that’s cleaner and more organized. It now highlights special picks and editorial content, just like the Apple Music app in iOS 10.

Maps

Apple Maps now shows indoor maps for some shopping malls and airports in certain places.

It also added new features to help drivers, like lane guidance and speed limit information on unfamiliar roads.

Photos

The Photos app now lets users view animated GIFs. These can be found in an album called "Animated."

You can also watch Memories even when holding the phone upright.

Podcasts

The Podcasts app was redesigned to focus more on special picks and editorial content, similar to the App Store.