WWDC 2025 Impressions: Liquid Glass!

Summary

Apple's 2025 WWDC showcased updates across all its software platforms, emphasizing a fresh 'liquid glass' aesthetic and streamlined features. iOS 26 introduced transparent icons and a redesigned camera app, while FaceTime and iMessage saw notable upgrades, including live translation. MacOS 26 improved Spotlight and added continuity features. The big surprise came with iPadOS 26, which introduced advanced multitasking and Mac-like features, positioning the iPad as a compelling laptop alternative. While AI advancements were minimal, Apple’s integrated ecosystem and local AI models showed promising steps forward, with a Siri upgrade expected next year.

Takeaways

• 😀 iOS 26 introduces a 'liquid glass' design across all platforms, making UI elements appear like transparent glass, but it raises concerns about readability.
• 😀 iOS 26 brings some new features like redesigned camera controls, including hidden settings for FPS and resolution.
• 😀 iOS 26 also adds AI-driven features like Call Screening and Hold For Me, inspired by Google's Pixel phone features.
• 😀 iMessage gets small but notable improvements, including native polls, typing indicators in group chats, and customizable chat backgrounds.
• 😀 Apple's new translation feature allows real-time translation during FaceTime, Messages, and Phone calls, with some lag but functional results.
• 😀 WatchOS 26 introduces a new wrist flick gesture to dismiss notifications and calls without touching the screen, and a workout buddy feature for motivation during workouts.
• 😀 tvOS 26 includes liquid glass design but doesn't bring significant new features aside from visual tweaks and content updates.
• 😀 macOS 26, codenamed Tahoe, incorporates more 'liquid glass' design elements, but some users may find the new UI a bit cartoony and challenging to adapt to.
• 😀 macOS 26 introduces a powerful new Spotlight feature with improved search functionality and keyboard shortcuts, challenging productivity apps like Raycast.
• 😀 VisionOS 26 introduces widgets, better window memory, and PlayStation VR2 Sense controller support, with enhanced 360 video support for GoPro, Insta360, and Canon cameras.
• 😀 iPadOS 26 is a game-changer with new multitasking and file management features, making the iPad feel more like a Mac, including floating windows, Mac-style menu bars, and background activities.
• 😀 Apple's focus at WWDC 2025 was more on integrating AI into existing features than introducing new AI breakthroughs. On-device AI models are being expanded for developers to enhance app functionality.

Q & A

What major change did Apple introduce to its OS versioning at WWDC 2025?

Apple unified all its operating systems under one version number, now calling all their OS versions '26', instead of having separate numbers for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS.

How did Apple's iOS 26 redesign focus on aesthetics?

iOS 26 introduced a 'liquid glass' aesthetic, making most UI elements, such as windows, icons, and dialog boxes, appear glassy and transparent, adapting to the content behind them.

What is the new feature in the iOS 26 camera app?

The iOS 26 camera app has been redesigned with a simplified interface, focusing mainly on photo and video capture, with additional settings hidden behind swipes, including frame rate and resolution adjustments.

What new features were added to FaceTime and the Phone app in iOS 26?

FaceTime received a new landing page for easy access to main contacts, and the Phone app was updated to unify voicemail, missed calls, and contacts into one place. It also added Call Screening and Hold For Me features, similar to Google's Pixel.

How does iOS 26 integrate AI in communication apps?

iOS 26 introduced live translation in FaceTime, Messages, and the Phone app, allowing real-time translation of conversations between people speaking different languages, using on-device AI models.

What improvements were made to iMessage in iOS 26?

iMessage in iOS 26 gained new features like native polling, typing indicators for group chats, and the ability to add background images to individual chat threads.

What does the 'Hold For Me' feature in iOS 26 do?

The 'Hold For Me' feature in iOS 26 waits on hold during phone calls, notifying the user when it's time to return to the call, making it easier to multitask while waiting.

How did Apple update watchOS 26 in terms of user interaction?

watchOS 26 introduced a wrist flick gesture that allows users to dismiss notifications, phone calls, or alarms by simply flicking their wrist, improving ease of use without interacting directly with the screen.

What was the major change in macOS 26 related to design and user experience?

macOS 26, codenamed 'Tahoe,' adopted the liquid glass aesthetic seen in iOS 26, with clearer and more transparent UI elements. It also introduced a new Spotlight feature for better productivity, rivaling third-party apps like Raycast.

How does the new multitasking system in iPadOS 26 enhance productivity?

iPadOS 26 introduces a Mac-like multitasking and window management system, allowing users to resize and stack floating windows freely. It also adds a Mac-style menu bar and cursor for a more desktop-like experience on the iPad.