Apple has incorporated several enhancements into the on-device personal assistant Siri and the Spotlight search feature within iOS 17. While no significant overhauls are evident, there have been refinements to the Spotlight search, and using Siri has been made more straightforward than before.
No More Hey Siri
Within iOS 17, you can now initiate Siri simply by saying “Siri,” eliminating the need for the “Hey” that has traditionally served as the wake word. When you utter the term “Siri,” the assistant will become active, allowing for a more seamless and natural conversation flow. For instance, a phrase like “Siri, can you inform me about the current time?” is one that Siri can readily understand.
Back-to-Back Requests
Siri can now identify and address consecutive requests without requiring reactivation each time.
For instance, you can inquire about the time and subsequently instruct Siri to send a text to your friend notifying them about your tardiness, all within a single Siri interaction.
Web Articles
Within Safari, a fresh Siri function has been introduced, enabling the personal assistant to verbally relay the contents of a web article. As long as the website supports Reader View, you can prompt Siri by stating “Siri, read this to me,” and it will proceed to vocalize the content displayed on the page.
There are playback tools, so you can fast forward, pause, resume, and rewind from the Lock Screen.
Siri Messaging
Upon requesting Siri to dispatch a message, you are now afforded the option to tap and choose the desired application through which to send it. This flexibility enables you to send messages not only via Apple’s native Messages app but also through third-party platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp.
The feature is compatible with any third-party app that has “Use with Ask Siri” enabled in the Settings app.
Siri and StandBy
Siri can be engaged while the device is in StandBy mode, an innovative feature that transforms a charging iPhone into a home hub. When you pose a query to Siri, a fresh full-screen user interface is presented, displaying results in landscape mode. For instance, if you inquire about the weather, the screen will exhibit the current temperature alongside icons indicating the prevailing weather conditions.
Siri UK Voices
There are two new “British” Siri voices available in iOS 17, making a total of four.
Siri in India
iOS 17 supports bilingual Siri queries that mix English with Hindi, Telegu, Punjabi, Kannada, or Marathi.
Spotlight Search
Search outcomes have been enhanced through the introduction of fresh colors and application icons, enhancing clarity in distinguishing different elements. For instance, when searching for “cats,” if one of the results provides an option to open a web search in Safari, you will now encounter a Safari icon instead of the previous magnifying glass icon, simplifying visual comprehension.
App Shortcuts
While conducting an app search, Spotlight now presents App Shortcuts within the top hits segment. For instance, if you’re looking for the Photos app and frequently access the Favorites album, Spotlight will provide a direct link within the search interface to promptly navigate to the Favorites album. More so, iOS 17 lets users create Shortcuts actions to open specific Camera app modes
