Apple debuts bilingual Siri and full-page screenshots with iOS 17

Apple unveiled a range of exciting updates with the release of the first public beta versions of iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS Sonoma. Among the highly anticipated features are full-page screenshots, bilingual Siri, and improved SMS sorting for dual-SIM users.

One of the significant additions to Siri is support for bilingual queries in select Indic languages. Users can now seamlessly mix English with Hindi, Telugu, Punjabi, Kannada, or Marathi while interacting with Siri. This enhancement brings Apple’s virtual assistant up to speed with competitors such as Google Assistant and Amazon, both of which introduced multilingual support in 2018 and 2019, respectively. This feature is especially advantageous for Indian users who commonly converse in multiple languages throughout their day.

Apple is also catering to the demands of its user base by introducing the long-awaited full-page screenshot feature to iOS 17. This feature, commonly referred to as “Scrolling screenshots” in the Android ecosystem, has been a staple for Android users for years. With this update, Apple users can now capture and save full-page screenshots as either images or PDF files, providing a more comprehensive and convenient snapshot-taking experience. Previously, iOS users were only able to save PDF files of full-page screenshots, which limited their options and functionality.

Dual-SIM users will also benefit from improved support in iOS 17. With per-SIM sorting of messages, users can easily manage their conversations and stay organized. Furthermore, Apple has introduced the ability to assign separate ringtones to each SIM, allowing users to distinguish between incoming calls more easily. Additionally, when receiving calls from unknown numbers, users now have the freedom to choose the SIM they wish to utilize for the call back.

Apple’s commitment to enhancing the user experience extends beyond Siri and dual-SIM support. For Indian users across platforms, several improvements have been made to cater to their specific needs. iOS now offers transliteration support for Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam, expanding the language options available to Apple users in India to a total of 10 Indic languages.

Moreover, the sign-in process for Apple ID has been simplified by allowing users to utilize their phone number instead of an email ID across iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS Sonoma. Additionally, a built-in Punjabi dictionary has been introduced, enabling users to easily access definitions of words and phrases across various Apple devices. Furthermore, the call history section has been enhanced to display up to 2,000 calls, encompassing FaceTime and WhatsApp calls. Lastly, on iPad, users now have the ability to filter messages based on known and unknown senders, streamlining their messaging experience.

While the beta versions of iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS Sonoma are currently available for public testing, it is important to note that these versions may contain bugs. Users who prefer to avoid any potential disruptions can patiently await the stable releases, expected later this fall. By doing so, they can ensure a seamless transition to the final public versions without compromising their main devices.