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Is Apple's iOS 17 Live Voicemail Feature Too Confusing?
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This is said as it sounds Apple is missing the mark on what should be an amazing and much needed feature. It is one of the big features my wife and I both miss from Android. Google way of doing it is pretty good. Just copy Google as your base line for this feature.
The other big feature Apple needs to add is better built handing of spam calls.
The other big feature Apple needs to add is better built handing of spam calls.
Just use a custom greeting.
My issue is, it sucks having to press the info button and clearing out the info popup to see the Live Voicemail. It also sucks that the iPhone needs to be unlocked. I would personally like the option for the Live Voicemail to just show up without no user interaction.
My issue is, it sucks having to press the info button and clearing out the info popup to see the Live Voicemail. It also sucks that the iPhone needs to be unlocked. I would personally like the option for the Live Voicemail to just show up without no user interaction.
The default behavior seems silly. Why is the pre-recorded message even necessary. Leave it simple. If user doesn’t record an outgoing message the default, of voicemail box is turned on, would be: “Please leave a message after the beep.” Or even, just a beep with no message.
Why go into this thing about “may pick up”.
Why go into this thing about “may pick up”.
Yes. The “may” does confuse some people in various ways. Regardless of what “may” semantically supposed to mean, some people hear “may” and think either you will pick up or the probability you will pick up is high. It sets up unnecessary miscommunication and expectations.
Yes the message is customizable. Seems like a few readers here missed the statements in the article that says if a custom message isn’t used, there’s a default one.
Also, I’d suggest using the term “outgoing message” or “voicemail announcement” unless Apple uses the term “custom-created voicemail message”
Who leaves voicemail any more? My doctor, car mechanic, and scammers (auto voice).
This seems like a great feature on a Friends episode in 1998.
When I miss a call it’s not because I’m screening them, it’s because I don’t have my phone.
This seems like a great feature on a Friends episode in 1998.
When I miss a call it’s not because I’m screening them, it’s because I don’t have my phone.
What a bunch of boomers. Just because you’re ancient (me too) and remember tape-based answering machines, that does NOT mean that everyone has had that experience.
It’s been long enough for me that even I would be extremely surprised if I’m in the middle of leaving a voice message and mid-sentence the person is like “Hello!”. Giving people a heads up that it’s a possibility seems like a good idea.
Also: the article clearly states that if you have your own message then they won’t hear this one. Why did so many people comment “I hope I can override it!” Before reading the article?
It’s been long enough for me that even I would be extremely surprised if I’m in the middle of leaving a voice message and mid-sentence the person is like “Hello!”. Giving people a heads up that it’s a possibility seems like a good idea.
Also: the article clearly states that if you have your own message then they won’t hear this one. Why did so many people comment “I hope I can override it!” Before reading the article?
Be careful here, Apple developers probably do not have any idea what a land line is.
Why? Why set up expectations either way. Just don’t set up any expectations that lead one to think you will pick up, or you won’t pick up, or you may or may not pick up. Just don’t go there.
The context of any call in the future is variable enough such that setting up these expectations are unnecessary and unwanted.
Default message could just be:
- please leave a message after the beep
- or nothing and just beep.
Alternatively, Apple could give you a choice of multiple possible prerecorded messages to choose from. That’s ok too.
That is one way. My way is that I do not answer the phone unless they are recognized in my contacts. The only way for people not in my contacts to get to me is to leave a voice mail. I will never use this.
If you have time to listen to unknown callers just to see what is going on, then IMO your employer needs to give you some training or a lot more work to do.
If you have time to listen to voicemails, then IMO your employer needs to give you some training or a lot more work to do.
Can I be the one to point out if someone calls me I usually text them back asking which hospital to visit them at? All I asked for was voicemail to continue to playing when I leave the app so I can take notes on the voicemail and text them back. Anyone with iOS 17 tried this?
”silence unknown callers” works really well for that
I feel Apple is solving a problem that doesn't exist. How many times did you on purpose ignore a caller only to immediately check voice mail and find out you really wished you had taken the call? And if so, how difficult is it to call back?
But I guess it will be a great tool for parents getting the kids to pick up. Just say "DAD IS IN THE HOSPITAL" and wait for them to pick up.
Will only work once though, but still a huge success for some parent/kid relations.
But I guess it will be a great tool for parents getting the kids to pick up. Just say "DAD IS IN THE HOSPITAL" and wait for them to pick up.
Will only work once though, but still a huge success for some parent/kid relations.
Adding a feature no one needs or asked for. Just leave a video text
Apple in iOS 17 is introducing a new Live Voicemail feature that is designed to provide you with a transcript of the message that's being left as the person is speaking, so you can choose to pick up the phone if it's important.
Live Voicemail is functional in both the developer and public betas, and the way the feature is set up has some iPhone users wondering if it's too confusing.
With the Live Voicemail feature enabled, the default voicemail message that was used in iOS 16 has changed. Unless you have a custom-created voicemail message, the default iOS 17 voicemail recording asks callers to provide a reason why they're calling after the tone sounds, and are informed that "the person you're calling may pick up." Note that if you had a custom message in iOS 16, there will be no change, so this impacts people who are using the default voicemail greeting feature.
The "may pick up" wording seems to be confusing some people who are calling iPhone owners that have iOS 17 installed. Two separate Reddit threads feature complaints from Reddit users who have received calls from people who have not understood Apple's messaging. From Reddit:Multiple other Reddit users have had the same problem, receiving confused texts from people or odd voicemail messages that feature dead air. We here at MacRumors have also experienced this same issue. On two occasions, incoming callers heard the message, stated their name, and then waited for the phone to be picked up rather than leaving a voicemail.
It is not yet clear if Apple has plans to make any changes to the default Live Voicemail messaging ahead of when iOS 17 launches this fall. There is an option to customize a voicemail by going to Phone > Voicemail > Greeting > Custom, which can provide a solution as you can record your own message.
If you have the iOS 17 beta and are running into trouble with Live Voicemail and don't want to create a custom voicemail message, the feature can be disabled by opening up the Settings app, going to the Phone section, tapping on the Live Voicemail option, and toggling it off.
Article Link: Is Apple's iOS 17 Live Voicemail Feature Too Confusing?
