WWDC is Apple's annual conference, dedicated to developers alike.
This 2023, in the event, which focused on updates to day-to-day apps such as Phone, Messages, and FaceTime, among others, there is one feature that is able to prove itself unique. And that is the 'Contact Posters' feature.
This feature is essentially a way for users to personalize posters of themselves that can be shared with contacts while calling.
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Starting on iOS 17, Contact Posters feature allows users to use the Phone app to share their poster, in order to change how other people see their called ID, by displaying a fullscreen image of their poster, which is displayed even when the phone is locked or during the call.
Users can use different typefaces, pictures, and even memojis, to represent themselves.
In Apple's words on its newsroom post, it's "a new way for users to express themselves."
To use this feature:
- On the Contact app, tap on My Card under profile information.
- Select Contact Photo & Poster.
- Tap on Edit and then on Create New.
- Choose between Camera, Photos, Memoji, or Monogram to select the poster main feature.
Each of the option opens the default iOS interface to create or select an image, allowing to further customize users' selection.
The last screen displays a preview of the poster, simply tap Continue to apply it.
After enabling and customizing a personal Contact Poster, users need to further allow sharing the poster, which can be shared automatically with their contacts, if they allow it.
Users can save more than one poster, and swap them according to their mood.
In this case, for example, they can use this feature to apply certain poster on to represent their feelings towards someone else, at any given time.
The customization can be easily done by going to the Contacts app and editing a profile.
With creativity is the limit to make the best out of the Contact Posters feature, Apple is literally blowing Android out of the water.
For more than many years, Android has allowed users to experience a fullscreen photo while calling. To some people, this is significantly better than the thumbnail-sized profile picture iOS provides.
But that is just about it, because with iOS 17, Apple allows users to customize the entire look of their contact card, making it easier to identify calls.
According to Apple, even third-party apps can use this feature, as long as developers add the necessary support using the CallKit APIs.
It's worth noting though, that while these cards look appealing and new, it actually follows the same design language as the lock screen that was introduced with iOS 16.