iOS 11: Top 5 Features, Eligible Phones And How To Upgrade

On September 12, Apple launched the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and the much awaited iPhone X. Along with the high-profile launches, Apple also announced that the global rollout of iOS 11, which was announced at the WWDC 2017, will start seeding to compatible iPhones and iPads on September 19. Apple has always supported older devices unlike Android, and there is no surprise in the case of iOS 11 update as well, as the iPhone 5s will also updated to the new OS. A

As the official rollout has now begun, let’s take a look at the Top 5 new features of iOS 11 that should get you excited:

New Control Center

The control center gets an overhaul here in iOS 11. You still have to swipe up from the bottom of the screen to bring up the control center, but, you have the ability to add or remove a lot of shortcuts and toggles. From the settings app, you can fill up the control center to the brim or keep it clean and empty. There are two vertical sliders, one for brightness and one for sound. You can tap and hold an icon for further settings even if your phone doesn’t have 3D touch. There is a new feature called screen recording which can be triggered directly from the control center. Tapping on the WiFi or Bluetooth icon disconnects you from the current device, rather than switching off the WiFi or Bluetooth.

Siri

Siri has received a massive overhaul as well. The Voice Assistant, since it was launched with the iPhone 4s, has become better with every iteration of iOS. In iOS 11, Siri is going to sound better, and it’ll have new capabilities, such as translating a lot of different languages, which can come in handy if you’re traveling to a foreign land. But, one of the most useful features Siri received in iOS 11 is the ability to respond to texts, which will come in handy when you can’t talk to the phone.

Notes

One of the most used in-built apps is the Notes app. In iOS 11, Apple has added a lot of new features to the Notes app that can help the app stack up against other famous third-party note-taking apps. The notes app includes support for drag and drop, a built-in document scanner, markup tools (handwriting support included) and adding tables to your notes. These features will shine even more in the iPad because of a larger screen.

Storage

The storage window in the settings app gets a new look as well. In addition to showing you what kind of data is cluttering your memory, the iPhone Storage menu in the Settings app will let you instantly free up space that you’re not actually using. At a glance, you’ll get suggestions for deleting old messages and pictures, as well as apps that you don’t really use. The menu also shows you all the videos and attachments you can remove to free up space, and lets you act on it.

Files

Apple has introduced a new standalone Files app, which essentially replaces the iCloud Drive app. The Files app lets you browse the files stored in your devices locally and in your iCloud account. It is an app which has featured in Android devices for the longest time and now, iOS users will be able to manage their onboard storage better.

All devices which will receive the iOS 11 update

• iPhone 5s
• iPhone 6/6 Plus
• iPhone 6s/6s Plus
• iPhone 7/7Plus
• 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2017)
• 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2016)
• 10.5-inch iPad Pro
• 9.7-inch iPad Pro
• iPad Air 2
• iPad Air
• iPad (2017)
• iPad Mini 4
• iPad Mini 3
• iPad Mini 2
• iPod touch 6th generation

How to install iOS 11:

You need to back up your data before beginning the installation process. Connect your device to WiFi in order to download the software update file.

• Go to Settings>General>Software Update. Your phone will now look for a software update and ask your permission to install the update.
• Once downloaded, your phone will again ask permission to install the update.

Once the necessary permissions are granted, your phone will restart and iOS11 will be installed.