iOS 26 Hands-On: Liquid Glass!

Summary

iOS 26 introduces major updates, including a sleek redesign with Liquid Glass, which transforms the visual aesthetic with transparency and reflections. Key features include a revamped camera app with easier settings, enhanced visual intelligence for image searches and calendar integration, and improved phone call features like call screening and hold assist. CarPlay also receives a massive upgrade, offering better multitasking and customizable widgets. Other highlights include 3D photo effects, offline live translation, and customizable alarm snooze durations. While the Liquid Glass design is polarizing, iOS 26 offers a host of functional upgrades that improve user experience.

Takeaways

• 😀 iOS 26 introduces a major visual overhaul called Liquid Glass, which is designed to unify the aesthetics across Apple's platforms, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS.
• 😀 The camera app has been redesigned with a more simplified interface, making it easier to access camera settings and switch between different modes.
• 😀 Visual Intelligence has been enhanced, allowing for on-screen object identification, screenshot-based image search, and integration with Apple Calendar for automatic event additions.
• 😀 The phone app now features call screening and Hold Assist, two features borrowed from Google Pixel that enhance call management and prevent users from staying on hold unnecessarily.
• 😀 Apple CarPlay has received significant updates, including better integration with widgets, improved notifications, and a redesigned interface, with CarPlay Ultra available for select vehicles.
• 😀 The Photos app has been updated to default to a library view, streamlining the experience for users, and includes a 3D-like effect for supported images that adds depth to the visuals.
• 😀 iMessages now support features like background customization for threads, inline polls, and group chat typing indicators, along with offline translation for messages and calls.
• 😀 A long-awaited feature allows users to choose the duration of the alarm snooze, ending the standard nine-minute snooze period.
• 😀 iPhones now display an estimated time remaining to reach a full charge, a feature previously available on Android phones.
• 😀 Liquid Glass design has received mixed reactions due to its extreme transparency, but Apple is adjusting the design to balance aesthetics with readability, adding more background blurring where necessary.

Q & A

What is the major visual overhaul introduced in iOS 26?

iOS 26 introduces a major visual overhaul called Liquid Glass, which centers around transparency, refractions, and reflections, aiming to unify the aesthetic across all Apple platforms.

What are the key improvements made to the camera app in iOS 26?

The camera app in iOS 26 has been redesigned for a simpler, more streamlined experience. Key improvements include the ability to select format settings directly, easier control for video frame rates, and a reorganized UI where less frequently used settings are hidden but accessible via swipe-up or tapping the top-right box.

What new functionality has been added to visual intelligence in iOS 26?

iOS 26 extends visual intelligence to include onscreen objects, allowing users to circle or ask about items in screenshots, similar to Android's 'circle to search' feature. It also supports reverse image search and adds the ability to add event details from photos to the Apple Calendar.

What new feature in the phone app helps with call screening?

The phone app now includes call screening, where unknown callers are prompted to record their name and reason for calling. The transcription of their message is then displayed, allowing users to decide whether to answer or send a canned response.

What is the Hold Assist feature in iOS 26?

Hold Assist is a feature that detects when you're on hold during a call and allows the phone to stay on hold for you. Once the hold session ends, the phone notifies you so you can pick up the call without needing to stay on the line.

What improvements have been made to Apple CarPlay in iOS 26?

Apple CarPlay in iOS 26 now includes a new design, better handling of phone calls and texts, and the ability to use widgets and live activities. The layout has been improved, and some car-specific features, like CarPlay Ultra, are also being rolled out.

How has the Photos app been improved in iOS 26?

The Photos app now defaults to the 'Library' view, offering an organized and simplified way to view your latest photos and videos. Additionally, a new 3D-like spatial scene feature allows users to create dynamic images by separating foreground and background.

What new features have been added to Messages in iOS 26?

Messages in iOS 26 introduces new features like backgrounds for threads, inline polls, group chat typing indicators, and live translation capabilities for messages, FaceTime, and phone calls. The translations work offline once the language pack is downloaded.

What are some smaller but useful features in iOS 26?

iOS 26 introduces several smaller features, such as the ability to choose a custom alarm snooze duration, the display of an estimated time for battery charging, and an audio input selector in the Control Center.

What are the concerns with the Liquid Glass design in iOS 26?

While Liquid Glass introduces a striking aesthetic, concerns include readability issues due to the transparency and reflections, which can make text hard to read. Apple has responded by adjusting the transparency in later beta versions to improve legibility.