Next week, iOS 17.3 is anticipated to launch with a new security feature from Apple called Stolen Device Protection, which will make it much more difficult for potential phone thieves to obtain your Apple ID and any financial information that may be stored on the device. Currently, a lock screen passcode is sufficient to access or modify private and financial information. However, with the upgrade, fenders would also need to use Face ID or Touch ID, and they could have to wait up to an hour to make some changes. Apple has been testing this feature in the 17.3 beta since December, though it hasn’t said when it will launch.
A February 2023 Wall Street Journal story revealed a critical weakness that is addressed by the new security feature: Theftsters may simply lock their victims out of their Apple IDs by learning the passcode for the iPhone’s lock screen, which can be used to reset the password.
If you choose to activate Stolen Device Protection, you won’t be able to access your iCloud Keychain, apply for a new Apple Card, or delete the phone completely without using Face ID or Touch ID. Additionally, unless you’re at a frequently visited location like home or work, where there wouldn’t be a delay, you have to wait an hour after authenticating with your face or fingerprint before re-authenticating using Face ID or Touch ID to make changes like changing your Apple ID password, adding another face or fingerprint for biometric authentication, or turning off Find My.
According to MacRumors, iOS 17.3 will also include a new Unity Bloom wallpaper designed to go with Apple’s newest Black Unity Collection watchbands, as well as a new Collaborative Playlists feature that allows multiple people to edit an Apple Music playlist and react to songs with animated emoji. MacRumors also noted that iOS 17.3 will allow iPhones to AirPlay material to TVs in hotel rooms; this feature had been postponed last year, much like Collaborative Playlists.
You can test the iOS 17.3 release candidate now, one week ahead of its official release the next week.
iPhone 14 Pro versus Sony’s new $2,200 camera:
Targeting vloggers in particular, the new Sony ZV-E1 is a small, mirrorless full-frame camera designed for video makers. This new flagship model from Sony’s vlog-focused ZV range of cameras has a 12-megapixel full-frame backside-illuminated sensor, comparable to the pro-focused FX3, and combines AI autofocus technology from the A7R V to make producing high-quality video footage easier. How does it measure up against the iPhone 14 Pro, which is one of the most widely used everyday cameras in America?
