On June 9 on the opening presentation for WWDC, Apple will exhibit all its main working techniques updates popping out within the fall. It’s all the time one of the crucial essential occasions of the yr for Apple followers, however we’re anticipating particularly large issues this yr.
Apple is alleged to be updating all its working techniques with a significant interface refresh that may dramatically change the appear and feel of its gadgets, whereas bringing all of them extra in step with one another so it’s simpler to choose up a unique Apple system and really feel at house. It’s such a giant replace that they’re altering the names of all their OSes—utilizing the two-digit yr for all of them as a substitute of assorted sequential numbers.
There will likely be dozens of adjustments, enhancements, and new options in what we count on to be known as iOS 26 somewhat than iOS 18 as Apple standardizes its OSes by yr somewhat than model, however listed below are 5 of the most important issues we hope to see at WWDC.
A brand new interface that doesn’t go away professionals behind
The largest information about iOS 26 is that it’s going to endure the most important person interface redesign since iOS 7. We count on large adjustments to the best way every part seems and behaves, from icons to the lock display screen. All of Apple’s different working techniques (macOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, visionOS) are going to observe the identical general design language and share components, in order that an iPhone person feels at house once they begin utilizing a Mac for the primary time, as an illustration.
Practically all of Apple’s personal apps are anticipated to get adjustments to suit the brand new interface, too.
My greatest fear is that Apple will concentrate on new customers and intuitive discovery (all good issues), however that it’ll lose some choices for skilled customers and lovers within the course of. The identical factor occurred with macOS 13 (Ventura) when System Preferences was up to date to System Settings and redesigned to be extra accustomed to these used to Settings on iOS. It was a noble trigger, however long-time Mac customers had been left mystified by poor design choices and a bunch of lacking choices.
I’m positive Apple’s new interface will look fairly, however will it lose performance that professional customers and lovers have come to depend on? I positive hope not.
One thing about Siri
Apple has a giant Siri overhaul within the works, the so-called “LLM Siri” that takes a brand new, very superior Massive Language Mannequin and makes use of that to create a conversational Siri conscious of your individual private context and extra. However that’s not anticipated to be prepared through the iOS 26 launch interval—it’s extra of a next-year factor.
Within the meantime, we’re caught with the identical Siri utilizing two separate outdated fashions: one for answering on a regular basis questions and one for performing instructions to manage your telephone or good house. There have been rumors that we would possibly get the Siri options promised for iOS 18 (display screen consciousness, private context, and in-app actions) this fall, however Apple hasn’t dedicated to something past imprecise guarantees.
The brand new Siri seems cool nevertheless it isn’t a lot smarter than it was earlier than.
Foundry
Apple in all probability doesn’t need to discuss Siri at WWDC. If all it has to say or present is similar options it promoted final yr however by no means launched, that’s simply extra egg on its face. However Siri is dangerous, y’all. And it’s not okay for customers that it’s simply going to remain that manner till late 2026 and even spring 2027.
In the present day’s Apple doesn’t admit errors or that any product or characteristic is something lower than superb, however Apple screwed up. We’d like some assurances that Siri just isn’t going to proceed to be dangerous for one more yr or extra, no matter type that may take.
Simple and quick meals logging
Apple is alleged to be going large into well being with options like an AI health coach and maybe even meals logging. I’m unsure if I care that a lot in regards to the coach, however I actually need a chic, dependable strategy to hold a meals diary. Apps like MyFitnessPal and MyNetDiary work effectively, however their interfaces go away a lot to be desired, and so they’re nearly all the time severely restricted until you purchase a dear subscription.
I don’t know if Apple’s meals logging will likely be a part of Health+, or free, or perhaps a part of some new service. I don’t know if it correctly belongs within the Well being app or the Health app. I simply know that I need a quick, dependable strategy to rely energy and macros with a great interface, with out paying for one more app subscription.
Keyboard and autocorrect enhancements
The iOS keyboard wants some critical consideration. It feels prefer it has stagnated over time, and I can consider no higher time than an entire OS redesign to offer it an overdue makeover.
In the beginning, there’s autocorrect, which desperately wants enchancment. Everybody I speak to says it was by no means nice, nevertheless it has gotten worse in some way in the previous few years. It typically makes ideas and corrections that make no sense in context, which in right now’s world of AI-powered-everything looks like the bottom potential bar to clear.
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The keyboard itself wants some touch-ups, too. I’ve needed a quantity row, at the least as an choice, for years. And the interval key proper subsequent to the house bar all the time messes up my searches in Safari. I can’t let you know what number of instances I’ve looked for one thing like, “greatest.new.sushi.restaurant.close to.me” as a result of my thumb retains tapping the interval as a substitute of the house bar.
Common Clipboard Supervisor
I really like Common Clipboard. Copy one thing on my Mac or iPhone, and paste it on the opposite? It’s a characteristic I actually use day by day.
However the restrict of with the ability to paste solely the latest copy is restrictive. Clipboard managers like Maccy are an superior resolution for the Mac, however what we actually want is a single cloud-enabled supervisor that simply seamlessly works with Common Clipboard throughout all our Apple gadgets. It might be such a significant productiveness booster, and additional Apple’s efforts to make the entire ecosystem work higher collectively—particularly if Apple brings it to the Mac as effectively.
A repair for the App Library
The App Library is just helpful in that it permits you to take away apps out of your House screens with out eradicating them out of your iPhone.
Organizationally, it’s a multitude. It’s comprised of those unusual folders that aren’t like different folders wherever else on iOS, exhibiting 4 icons the place the fourth is definitely a bit of multi-icon picture. You possibly can faucet any of the primary three to launch the app, however that fourth multi-icon picture opens the folder. You possibly can’t resolve what the folders are, or what order they’re in, and the order retains altering. The apps proven in every folder hold altering, and so they’re routinely sorted based mostly on App Retailer classes.
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An interface that shifts underneath your ft day by day is not possible to make use of. I might hope {that a} rethink of the complete App Library interface is a giant a part of Apple’s main OS redesign. It might at the least default to an alphabetical checklist (which pops up if you faucet into the search discipline), however these awkward ever-changing folders have gotten to go.
Continuity Digital camera for Professionals
Continuity Digital camera is superior. You possibly can wirelessly use your iPhone as a webcam and it’s nearly actually manner higher than any webcam you could have.
However it’s restricted in ways in which make it unsuitable for doing actual video work. Apple might flip this into an actual instrument for skilled content material creators and streamers with just a few additional options. Enable for wired connections that bump the decision as much as 4K and 60fps whereas lowering latency. Allow us to select any digicam, together with the telephoto and entrance digicam, not simply the common or ultrawide. Give us management over publicity, white stability, and focus. The iPhone would grow to be the preferred streamer/creator digicam in a single day.
Apple is all the time searching for methods to make its merchandise work higher collectively, and Continuity Digital camera is an superior simple manner in your iPhone to grow to be a invaluable addition to your Mac. However it might achieve this way more to essentially make the most of your superior iPhone cameras.
