A BRAND new Apple app will appear on iPhone screens next month for free – and fans are impressed by a big AI perk that it brings.
The Journal app is Apple’s attempt at taking a diary out of the physical world and into the digital realm.
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Apple unveiled Journal alongside iOS 17 at its WWDC event in June.
The app drew a lot of attention, and when onlookers got another taste of the soon-to-arrive app with the launch of the iPhone 15 – folks have been wondering: When will it be ready?
Journal was notably missing from the highly anticipated iOS 17 update.
But it’s slated to arrive in iOS 17.2, which Apple has assured it will arrive before the end of the year.
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This means the app should land on phones in the next five weeks
Once iOS 17.2 is downloaded (after its release), Journal will be automatically installed with the update.
The app lets users write journal entries and insert pictures, videos and other content into entries.
Your entries are stored locally on your iPhone with end-to-end encryption, and you can have backups of your entries on iCloud.
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Beyond that, you can lock up your entries with Face ID or a passcode – which is far more secure than a paperback version.
According to Apple, machine learning – also known as artificial intelligence (AI) – creates personalised suggestions of moments for you to remember and write about based on your photos, music, and even your workouts.
Apple’s trusty supply of beta testers – iPhone users who trial out new features before they’re rolled out more widely – have tested the app over the past few weeks and love it.
Some are even leaving the platforms that they currently keep a diary with.
Writing on X (formerly Twitter), one beta tester said: “Apple Journal won me over after 10 years of using Day One, their AI suggestion feature is a killer.
“Apple can wipe out most of the consumer social apps when they turn on social features with Journal.”
Another tweeted: “If you’re on iOS 17 and iPhone trust me when I say you’ll love the Journal app when it drops to the public.
“I’ve written six journal posts and it’s so perfect for the job. The simplicity, the fluidity, a new tool very fit for purpose.”
