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San Francisco – Prepare your thumbs for the month ahead. Apple is making a slight change to the iPhone software that’s likely to mess with your muscle memory: the big red “end call” button is moving.
The iPhone app will get a series of updates coming to iOS 17, including an updated design that repositions the comment button to the bottom right of the screen, among other functions. The button is currently located separately in the bottom center of the Phone app, below the buttons to mute, access the keyboard, or add a call.
The new call screen, which is already available for download in a developer beta, has sparked some strong reactions among iOS users on social media: “iOS 17 has a FaceTime button where the end call button used to be,” said a person at X, the formerly well-known social media platform. As Twitter. “Muscle memory be damned.”
The change is likely to simplify the look of the mobile app and put all functionality in one place. Apple did not respond to a request for comment.
At its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in May, the company showed off a slew of new tools coming to iOS 17 that make calling and messaging others more personalized and personalized. iPhone users, for example, will be able to design “stickers” for contacts, which are a custom image that appears when they call someone or take their call.
Meanwhile, a new feature called Live Voicemail will transcribe the caller’s message in real time, so users can decide whether to ignore or take the call; A tool called NameDrop will allow users to share their contact information by holding two iPhones close to each other. In addition, FaceTime will support the ability to leave video messages when someone is not available to chat.
Other changes coming in iOS 17 include more accurate autocorrect, improved spelling in iMessage, and a more responsive Siri. Apple usually releases its latest mobile operating system in September, after its annual iPhone event.