Can you elaborate on what exactly that is, please? I don't see mention of any new syntax on the 'Armstrong on software' blog [0]. The highlights of R17 include maps and named funs, both of which add to the grammar of the language!

[0] http://armstrongonsoftware.blogspot.com/

Yes it does.

Here are more details about it:

http://www.erlang.org/eeps/eep-0043.html

Yes, it contains an implementation of maps ... although variable keys aren't yet supported.