iOS 17, Apple's largest annual software update for iPhone users, includes new features for Messages, FaceTime, and widgets, and is expected to be released in mid-September after beta testing, with support for devices featuring the A12 Bionic chip or newer.
Google is facing a historic legal battle against the U.S. government in a generational antitrust case that questions the company's dominance in internet search and its contracts with device makers, including a lucrative deal with Apple.
The Justice Department's antitrust trial against Google began with claims that the company pursued agreements to be the default search engine on mobile devices, while Google argued that its search engine's quality was the primary reason for such agreements.
iOS 17 introduces new features and settings, but not all may be loved by users, and fortunately, there are ways to disable them if desired.
Apple has released new versions of Pages, Keynote, and Numbers, introducing new features for iOS 17 and the Mac such as 3D objects, Stickers, inline predictions for text, collaboration during FaceTime calls, and the ability to open suggested documents or presentations when searching.
Apple senior vice president Eddy Cue is expected to testify in court that Apple chose Google as the default search engine on the iPhone because it was the best product and that Apple has revenue-sharing agreements with other search engines, shedding light on Google's licensing agreements and the accusation of monopolizing online search.
Microsoft's Bing search engine has always been just a bargaining chip for Apple in its search-engine wars with Google, according to a Microsoft executive, who also revealed that Microsoft has been trying for years to convince Apple to switch to Bing as the default search engine for iPhones.
The first developer beta of iOS 17.1 is now available and includes features such as a favoriting system in Apple Music, smarter playlists, AirDrop using the internet, and the ability to view bank account details in Wallet.
Apple is planning to integrate its internal search engine, "Pegasus," more deeply into iOS and macOS, potentially utilizing generative AI tools to enhance its capabilities, as the company looks to compete with Google and strengthen its App Store ads business.
Apple has the ability to create its own search engine, potentially rivaling the revenue from the Apple Watch market, due to its existing search engine capabilities in services such as the App Store, Maps, Apple TV, and News.
Apple has the potential to compete with Google in building a search engine, as it has a strong search team and has developed a next-generation search engine called "Pegasus," but currently, Apple benefits from the $15 billion annual payment it receives from Google to keep Google Search as the default on Safari.
Apple has turned down opportunities to challenge Google's search engine dominance, including the chance to purchase Bing and make DuckDuckGo the default for Safari's private browsing mode, according to court transcripts unsealed in the US government's antitrust lawsuit against Google.
Apple considered replacing Google with DuckDuckGo as its default search engine in private browsing mode, according to recent testimony by DuckDuckGo CEO Gabriel Weinberg in the Department of Justice's antitrust case against Google.
Apple executive John Giannandrea dismissed the idea of making DuckDuckGo the default search engine in Safari's private browsing mode due to concerns about its privacy claims and reliance on Bing, according to unsealed transcripts from the US antitrust trial over Google search.
Google's payment to Apple for maintaining its position as the default search engine on iOS devices is estimated to be between $18 billion and $20 billion per year, according to financial advisor Bernstein, with the deal accounting for 14-16% of Apple's annual operating profits; however, the ongoing antitrust trial against Google could put this agreement at risk.
The antitrust case against Google puts the annual payment it makes to Apple for being the default search engine at risk, which constitutes 14-16% of Apple's profits, but Bernstein analysts believe Apple has options to mitigate the potential impact, such as partnering with another search engine or launching its own.
Apple's long-standing and lucrative agreement with Google to have it as the default search engine on Safari across its products has prevented Apple from developing its own search product and solidifies Google's dominance in the search industry, according to evidence presented in the US v. Google antitrust trial.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai expressed concerns about the optics of Google's deal with Apple, which made Google the pre-selected search option on Apple's Safari browser, according to emails introduced as evidence in the Justice Department's antitrust case against Google.
Google pays Apple between $18 and $20 billion per year to be the default search engine on iPhones, representing roughly 15% of Apple's annual operating profits, and there is a possibility that federal courts could force Google to terminate its search deal with Apple as part of the Department of Justice's antitrust lawsuit against Google.
With iOS 17, Siri can be activated without saying "Hey," back-to-back requests can be made without repeating "Siri," and articles can be read aloud in Safari, making it easier to stay updated on the news.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai expressed concerns about the lack of choice in Apple's pre-selected search option on the Safari browser, according to emails introduced as evidence in the Justice Department's antitrust case against Google.
Google could be paying Apple between $18 billion to $20 billion a year to maintain its status as the dominant search engine on the iPhone, potentially generating 14-16% of Apple's annual operating profits, but this agreement may be at risk due to an ongoing antitrust suit.
Apple has addressed a bug in iOS 17 that caused privacy settings, specifically for Significant Locations, to reset without permission, according to the release notes for the first iOS 17.1 release candidate.
