iPhone helps driving and at home: what does this symbol mean?

An iPhone with its camera and Photos app can already do that Select different objects and provide useful information to users. With the new iOS 17, expected in the fall, comes a major extension to the so-called visual search (“Visual Search”): the operating system can now also recognize various icons from everyday life. This was reported by beta testers who already have iOS 17 as the developer version on their devices.

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Not just flowers or sights anymore

According to Apple, with iOS 16, it is now possible to select famous landmarks, statues, artwork, plants, or pets, among other things. To do this, you have to open a photo in the Photos app in full screen mode and tap on the i icon that may appear. Finally, a separate icon — like a plant — appears in areas where iOS has detected a known object. If you click this again (instead, the Image information), the Siri Knowledge function provides additional information, including web links and similar images.

With iOS 17, visual search has now been expanded. Not only is the system able to distinguish between different animals (which works through normal “people recognition”), but it now also recognizes symbols from different areas of life. This includes car symbols: if you’re in a rental car, for example, or don’t want to read the instructions for your car, you can find out what they mean – from the air conditioner to the radio. Here, too, Siri’s “knowledge” module may relate to the web.

Do you wash a mistake again?

What works for symbols in a car also applies to symbols on clothing: how Discover MacStoriesApple now displays what it means when the code is recognized – from “drying prohibited” to temperature information. To ensure that the information is correct, Apple obtains the data from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) website. When recognizing oneself, one must ensure that the label is as fully recognizable as possible.

Other new photo features have also been implemented in iOS 17. These include improved cropping (zoom in/zoom is enough), text info for icons, straightening recordings and finding objects you just manipulated into stickers. The visual search should also identify foods and suggest suitable recipes.

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(Bachelor’s)