iOS 17 Rumored to Have 'Fewer Major Changes Than Originally Planned' as Apple Shifts Focus to AR/VR Headset - MacRumors
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iOS 17 Rumored to Have 'Fewer Major Changes Than Originally Planned' as Apple Shifts Focus to AR/VR Headset

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iOS 17, the next major update for the iPhone, could be a less significant update than Apple was originally hoping as the company, and its engineers, focus more heavily on the upcoming AR/VR headset.

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Apple has been working on its AR/VR headset and its accompanying operating system, xrOS, for several years. With the launch of the headset now expected in 2023, Apple's engineers have been focusing less on other operating systems, including the upcoming iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 updates, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says iOS 17, which is internally codenamed Dawn, could end up having "fewer major changes than originally planned" due to Apple focusing more on ‌xrOS‌ for the upcoming headset. Gurman says a similar approach is taking place with macOS 14, codenamed Sunburst.

iOS 14, announced in 2020, and iOS 16, announced last June, were two significant updates, bringing redesigned widgets to the iPhone Home Screen, App Library, new features in stock apps like Maps and Safari, a redesigned lock screen, and more. iOS 17, alongside iPadOS 17, macOS 14, and watchOS 10, will be announced during WWDC in June.

Tag: Mark Gurman
Related Forums: iOS 17, iPadOS 17

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Top Rated Comments

1
12643
45 months ago
So a 2 Trillion Dollar company can't focus on two major products at the same time?
Score: 70 Votes (Like | Disagree)
E
ELman
45 months ago
"as Apple Shifts Focus to AR/VR Headset"

That's great for the 10 people that actually want and can afford it.
Score: 49 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Greenmeenie Avatar
Greenmeenie
45 months ago
Maybe I’m just getting old…but i don’t think AR & VR are gonna be as huge as some people think they’ll be. When I asked my teenage niece about AR VR & the “metaverse”, she just laughed and said all her friends think it’s stupid. I know that’s not very scientific… i just don’t think it’s gonna take off like the smartphone did. Not everyone is gonna want one. I see it as a very niche thing. But what do i know? 🤷‍♂️
Score: 42 Votes (Like | Disagree)
M
MayaUser
45 months ago
we have a lot of features already ...we can live without any new features for 1-2 years, we need good reliable iOS and iOS updates thats all
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
surfzen21 Avatar
surfzen21
45 months ago
If true, I'm not happy about it.

Its not like they dont have the money to hire more people for development and R&D.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Red Oak Avatar
Red Oak
45 months ago
An enormous number of new software features were launched in the last two years. It’s okay to slow the pace, focus on fixing bugs, and give the average consumer time to digest all the features
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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