Apple is finally releasing iOS 17.2 to all compatible devices following many weeks of public testing of the most recent version of its iPhone operating system. Moreover, this version of macOS 14.2 Sonoma and iPadOS 17.2, which share many of the same features, are available. Lastly, downloads for watchOS 10.2 are now possible. This time, the primary difference is launching a brand-new app named Journal.
Apple hopes that by using the app, “iPhone users will be able to reflect and practice gratitude through journaling.” Unlike third-party services like Day One, Apple can recommend diary entries depending on what users do in other apps. For example, your iPhone may propose that you chronicle a trip using images from your camera roll and a writing question like “What will you remember most about your day out?” Additionally, your device can advise recording a podcast episode you listened to or writing a diary entry following an exercise.
Outside developers can access an API for suggestions to encourage users to write journal entries based on what they do within their apps. According to Apple, the Journal app stores all of its data locally and is end-to-end encrypted (but you can sync it all to iCloud). Users will be able to choose which apps can provide Journal recommendations.
There are more new features in iOS 17.2 besides the Journal app. The Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max can be configured to function as a rapid translation tool for spoken sentences. It might even be used to communicate with non-native speakers of your native tongue.
Support for Qi2 charging, already available on iPhone 15 devices, is being gradually added to Apple’s iPhone 13 and 14 models. According to reports, Qi2-certified chargers can equal MagSafe’s 15W wireless charging speeds. Quickly charging the batteries of iPhones and Android phones should be made simpler for users of Qi2 chargers as they become more widely available.
In other news, after you test out the headset, iPhone 15 Pro users can record spatial video that can be seen in 3D in Apple Vision Pro’s Photos app. Thanks to a recent Siri update, you can now voice access and log health data. New features are added to the Weather, Messages, and Apple Music applications. Additionally, an AutoFill update for PDFs and other forms may be useful.
Furthermore, Apple is releasing watchOS 10.2. Siri may now log and access Health app data on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. (both devices execute Siri requests on-device for more privacy). You may ask Siri questions like your step count, how much sleep you had the night before, and if you’ve closed your workout ring for the day. You may also tell Siri to record information about your body temperature, weight, and drugs you’ve taken. These requests can now be made in Mandarin Chinese and English (US), with support for additional languages coming soon.
The ability to automatically see what’s Now Playing from a nearby 2nd-generation HomePod or HomePod mini playing music or podcasts is one of the other new capabilities of the Apple Watch. A setting that allows you to swipe to switch between watch faces can be enabled. In most Fitness+ workouts, you’ll also have the option of prioritizing the trainer’s voice above the music volume.
How to Use Journal App
You can write regular text entries, record audio for your notes, or insert recently taken images or videos. If you lack or need more inspiration, AI-derived text prompts can provide ideas for what to write or generate an entry for next. Based on your most recent iPhone activity—which includes more recent images and videos, location information, recently listened to playlists and exercise routines—the app also forecasts and suggests times for you to add a new item. Following this tutorial, you may customize your experience and learn how to use the Journal app.
How to add a new entry with the iPhone Journal app
To add a new entry, open the Journal app and tap the Add button at the bottom of the page. When you select “New Entry,” an empty page will appear, allowing you to begin typing content if you want to start from scratch. When you hit the photographs symbol beneath the text field, you can add current images from your collection, snap a snapshot, and add it to your entry, or tap the voice button to add a voice memo that has been recorded. When you tap the arrow symbol in the lower right corner of an entry page, you can include places in your entry. Travel bloggers who are reflecting on their international travels may find this feature to be useful. An entry’s date at the top of the page can be changed.
Alternatively, you can use your phone’s compilation of recent or suggested activities to produce a post. Examples of such activities include:
- Images.
- Places from events you’ve been to.
- Contacts you’ve recently interacted with.
The “recent” page will provide individuals, images, and addresses that may serve as inspiration for articles based on recent activities in chronological order. The suggested tab automatically selects photos from your photo memories that are highlighted. For instance, a few images from 2022 can be indicated as a starting point for your upcoming written piece. The app may provide certain recommendations with “Writing prompts” under the recommendation menu. A text block might display asking, “What was the highlight of your trip?” as an example.
Organizing, putting favorites, and screening
You can also put notes on particular instances you want to journal about and write about them later if you’re not free to report when a suggestion is offered. You may help a user establish journaling as a regular practice by using the journaling schedule function, which allows you to specify when you want to be reminded to create an entry. Locate the Journal app by opening the Settings app on your iPhone. Set your custom reminders for the days and times you want to make entries by turning on the “Journaling schedule” function. You can use Face ID or your smartphone passcode to lock your diary under Settings.
Using the bookmarking tool, you can arrange your entries inside the program to filter and locate them whenever convenient. To access the bookmark tab after generating an entry, hit the three dots at the bottom of the page and scroll down. This is also the location where journal entries can be edited or removed.
You may choose which filter to apply to your posts by tapping the three-line icon in the corner of the main notebook page. This will allow you to review any entries you have bookmarked in the future. You can view only the posts that have been bookmarked, photographs, audio recordings, and places or locations. This could be useful when the tapes start to pile up in your Journal.
Including exercises, music, and other off-platform content in your Journal app
You can incorporate particular songs or podcast episodes into your entries using your preferred streaming service (Apple Music, Spotify, or Amazon Music) by hitting three buttons at the bottom of the page, which will reveal the “share your music” option. When you launch the Journal app, you should see the opportunity to share a track at the top of a blank entry.
The Apple Fitness app is one example of an application that can be used similarly. A logged workout can be exported and shared, and you can then begin journaling about the experience.
