In the realm of iOS, the predictive text feature, which provides word suggestions above the virtual keyboard as you type, was introduced back in 2014 with the rollout of iOS 8. Fast forward to the release of iOS 17, and Apple upped the ante by implementing inline text predictions. This enhancement aimed to take user typing efficiency a notch higher by attempting to autocomplete sentences, with the suggestions being selectable through the simple press of the space bar.
However, not every user was enamored with the inline text predictions, craving the simplicity of predictive text without the added flair of sentence autocompletion. Initially, those who wished to disable the inline text predictions found themselves in a predicament, as doing so also necessitated turning off the predictive text feature entirely.
This changed with the introduction of the third beta of iOS 17.2, made available to developers on a Tuesday. Apple, acknowledging the feedback, introduced separate toggles for the predictive text and inline text predictions within the Keyboard settings. This update empowers users with the choice to disable inline text predictions while retaining the predictive text functionality. It's important to note, though, that deactivating predictive text will still result in the disabling of inline text predictions.
An interesting point to note is that the inline text predictions and the enhanced autocorrect feature necessitate an iPhone 12 or later model to function.
Beyond these keyboard enhancements, iOS 17.2 is packed with a variety of new features and improvements. Among these is the introduction of Apple's Journal app, initially announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). The update also brings support for creating collaborative playlists in Apple Music, refinements to tapback reactions, and the addition of new widgets for both the Clock and Weather apps. For users of the iPhone 15 Pro, iOS 17.2 unlocks the capability to record Spatial Videos, a feature designed to work seamlessly with Apple Vision Pro.
