iOS 17 Lock Screen Interface to Turn iPhone Into Smart Home Display

[MacRumors]

An updated Lock Screen interface in iOS 17 will turn the iPhone into a "smart-home display," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. When not in use and positioned in a horizontal orientation, the iPhone will show information that includes calendar appointments, weather data, notifications, and more, allowing it to serve as a home data hub.

With the iPhone attached to a MagSafe charging stand in a horizontal orientation, for example, the smart home interface will show up, mimicking what users might see with a device like an Echo Show or Google Nest Hub. The functionality will build on the widget options that Apple added to the Lock Screen in iOS 16.

Apple wants to make iPhones more useful when they're not being actively used and are positioned on a desk or nightstand. Apple plans to use a dark background with lighter color text to make the information on the display easy to read.

Apple is developing a horizontal interface for the iPad as well, but that may not be ready to launch in iOS 17, and the company is also working on a low-cost tablet that would magnetically attach to walls and stands to serve as a dedicated home hub.

iOS 17 is set to be announced at the June 5 keynote event that kicks off the 2023 Worldwide Developers Conference. For more on what to expect, we have a dedicated iOS 17 roundup, and Gurman's full report can be read over at Bloomberg.

Article Link: iOS 17 Lock Screen Interface to Turn iPhone Into Smart Home Display

 

[myusernamedoesnotmatter]

NGL, I'm excited for that. Should be useful.

 

[Kebabselector]

It might be nice if you could have a car play mode when horizontal - it'll save me buying a new head unit for the car.

(assuming it's not already an option I've not found)

 

[Zolotkey]

I find my iPhone mini's screen too small to be useful for this feature. I wish iPadOS was first.

 

[falkon-engine]

Seems like a useful feature, no doubt, but I think it would be very relevant and helpful on iPad. But this appears to be another year where iPhone gets the new features first, only for it to come to iPad after a year or so.

 

[myusernamedoesnotmatter]

Seems like a useful feature, no doubt, but I think it would be very relevant and helpful on iPad. But this appears to be another year where iPhone gets the new features first, only for it to come to iPad after a year or so.

Or if at all, like a calculator

 

[alexandr]

I find my iPhone mini's screen too small to be useful for this feature. I wish iPadOS was first.

Don't worry, this won't be available on the mini)))

 

[maxrest]

I like this a lot- will be really handy on bigger devices especially like the PM. Can't wait for WWDC to see what else is in store for iOS 17!

 

[myusernamedoesnotmatter]

My biggest worry is that this feature will only be on the "always-display" iPhone Pros only to preserve battery. Is that likely?

 

[xxFoxtail]

I’d like to see this, but for the car. Show me a CarPlay interface when I have it mounted in my car. Just have the UI launch when I’m in the driving focus mode.

 

[ttyRazor]

Seems like a useful feature, no doubt, but I think it would be very relevant and helpful on iPad. But this appears to be another year where iPhone gets the new features first, only for it to come to iPad after a year or so.

Yeah, seems like this on the iPad might make more sense, at least for middle of the day usage. This might make an interesting nightstand alarm clock sort of thing, but I’m usually grabbing my phone without looking at it when my alarm goes off in the morning.

 

[alexandr]

If this is done well, I would be all over it. Currently I have my Home always peeking at the corner of my MBP display for easy access — I would love this on an iPhone Lock Screen. It would also be nice if this worked in portrait mode as well.

 

[macsplusmacs]

Nice. cause my iphone in horizontal mode is next to worthless currently. just checked my mag safe stand and it has a kickstand. will use.

 

[klasma]

By “horizontal orientation”, do they mean landscape, or laying flat? I presume the former, but it’s a weird choice of wording.

 

[falkon-engine]

Yeah, seems like this on the iPad might make more sense, at least for middle of the day usage. This might make an interesting nightstand alarm clock sort of thing, but I’m usually grabbing my phone without looking at it when my alarm goes off in the morning.

Exactly. Something like this could help iPad compete with and/or replace an Echo Show for example... Although in my opinion Alexa has Siri beat in terms of usability.

 

[alexandr]

I’d like to see this, but for the car. Show me a CarPlay interface when I have it mounted in my car. Just have the UI launch when I’m in the driving focus mode.

If you launch the CarPlay interface on your phone — it will be TINY. Matter of opinion, of course, but there would be some serious squinting involved.

 

[tonie walker]

i wonder how much will the apple design magsafe stand....
199
299
399

 

[alexandr]

It would also be nice if this didn't require your phone to be on the charger, I don't like to have charging it constantly.

 

[jz0309]

when I put my iPhone down, it's for a reason...
and for the AW - improve on the health features, don't need widgets ...

 

[ratspg]

My biggest worry is that this feature will only be on the "always-display" iPhone Pros only to preserve battery. Is that likely?

Probably with the upcoming iPad Pro always-on display

 

[maxfromdenmark]

I find my iPhone mini's screen too small to be useful for this feature. I wish iPadOS was first.

I believe it comes on “always on” screens exclusively so don’t worry, nothing will change on your iPhone mini.

 

[ratspg]

when I put my iPhone down, it's for a reason...
and for the AW - improve on the health features, don't need widgets ...

Looks like you’ll have to disable a lot of the upcoming features then to make it more minimal…

 

[alexandr]

i wonder how much will the apple design magsafe stand....
199
299
399

Apple already sells MagSafe stands, I don't think this is related to them introducing any hardware.

 

[Xand&Roby]

C'mon Apple, it's only your 17th release of iOS, why are you so rushed?

 

[dk001]

On an iPad I can see this.
On an iPhone? Not.