Apple has released the beta of iOS 27, bringing targeted updates to the Phone and FaceTime apps. While not as revolutionary as changes in other system apps, the new features significantly enhance everyday usability on iPhones. Two main highlights are Call Context for the Phone app and Dual Capture for FaceTime, both leveraging on-device intelligence. Let us explore the details.
Call Context connects calls to emails for relevant information
The Phone app receives a major update with Call Context, an Apple Intelligence feature that runs entirely on the device. When calling a company, such as an airline or hotel, the system analyzes the dialed number and automatically retrieves pertinent details from the Mail app. For instance, when calling an airline, it may display your flight confirmation code. No conversation is listened to: the feature relies solely on the number and email correspondence. Call Context requires an iPhone 15 Pro or later and also works when making a call from iPad or Mac.
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Dual Capture transforms FaceTime into a simultaneous dual camera
The most anticipated FaceTime feature is Dual Capture, exclusive to iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. During a video call, you can activate both the front and rear cameras at the same time, showing your face and the back view to the other person. Simply tap the camera flip button to enable the mode. If you want to show only the rear feed, you can turn off the front view. The recipient does not need specific hardware: any device running iOS 27 can display the dual video stream.
Improvements to call quality and connectivity
Apple has introduced several minor but useful enhancements. FaceTime call quality improves on weak connections. iOS 27 also optimizes the transition between Wi-Fi and cellular, reducing interruptions when moving between networks. Live Captions are now available in Traditional Chinese. Additionally, Communication Safety has been expanded: beyond nudity, it now blocks gore and violence in FaceTime and Messages, strengthening protection for younger users.
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These innovations fit into the broader development of artificial intelligence on iOS, as highlighted by other industry articles. For example, the article AI and Drug Discovery shows how Europe struggles to keep pace with the US and China in AI adoption. Apple, with features like Call Context, demonstrates a focus on on-device processing to ensure privacy and reliability.
The public launch of iOS 27 is expected this fall, alongside new iPhone models. For more details, check the comprehensive overview on Wikipedia.
Source: https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ios-27-phone-facetime
