The next iPhone update is almost upon us and looks like being the biggest mid-cycle update Apple has ever released. It includes new emoji, an easier way to check on battery lifespan, an update to the excellent Stolen Device Protection feature and big changes for EU users. There’s even a surprise update that will transform iMessages forever. And now, there’s one more thing, as they say.
You may have spotted the new Reactions feature in video calling apps like FaceTime. Gesture with two thumbs up and fireworks will appear onscreen all around you. It’s very cool. But what if you don’t want these effects to appear?
Or if you didn’t know about them or they sneak up on you by surprise? As, for example, when Senator John Fetterman, on a video call with MSNBC, used his hands to simulate speech quotes. The software mistook this for two peace signs, triggering virtual confetti to cascade down on him.
This could happen to anyone in the most inappropriate circumstances, such as a heated argument, a private therapy session or, heaven forbid, a video call where a boss is laying off workers.
The problem, until now, has been that these Reactions are on by default. With iOS 17.4, that’s changing.
With the next iPhone update, and also with the next updates for iPadOS and macOS Sonoma, developers will be able to choose to turn these reactions off by default, so that it falls to them, or possibly the users, to turn them on again.
This is a big step forward, though to be honest, it would be good if thre was a nudge for users each time you logged into a call on FaceTime, Zoom, Google Meet or whatever. After all, you might be delighted to have balloons appear on a call to your family, but mortified if you forgot to turn it off next time you were apologizing to your boss.
All the new joys of iOS 17.4 will be with us in just a matter of days, perhaps as soon as Monday, March 4 at 10 a.m. Pacific.
