Apple WWDC 2025 Event Highlights: Apple unveils visual refresh of OS design with ‘liquid glass’

Taking advantage of the power of Apple silicon, iPadOS 26 unlocks the ability to perform computationally intensive Background Tasks. When users start a long-running process in an app, Background Tasks will show up with Live Activities, giving users complete control and a clear sense of what is running. And developers can use an updated Background Tasks API that allows users to perform long-running tasks from their apps, too.

The redesigned design features a grab handle to fluidly resize windows. It also has a pointer that is more precise. With a new menu bar, users can access the commands available in an app with a simple swipe down from the top of the display, or by moving their cursor to the top. Users can quickly find a specific feature or related tips in an app by using search in the menu bar. Additionally, developers can now customise the menu bar in their own apps.

In Vision OS, widgets become spatial and stay right where you place with them. They can also be personalised. Vision OS also gets new widgets like Clock, Radio, Music, and Photos. Vision OS also remembers where you put your apps even if you restart it. Vision OS 26 also uses AI algorithm to make 2D images more life like with Spatial Scenes.

macOS Tahoe introduces Apple Games, a dedicated app that gives players a home for all their games, making it easier to jump back into favorites, discover new games tailored just for them, and play with friends in whole new ways. With the new Game Overlay, players can conveniently adjust their system settings, chat with friends, or invite them to play, all without having to leave their game. Players can also turn on Low Power Mode, which extends gaming sessions and maximizes playtime on battery.

Spotlight gets its biggest update ever, allowing users to now directly execute hundreds of actions — like sending an email or creating a note — and take advantage of all-new browsing experiences to get to content faster. Shortcuts also gets even more powerful with intelligent actions and the ability to now tap directly into Apple Intelligence models to automate complex tasks.

It includes many of the features in iOS such as more options on Image Playground and Genmoji. It also features a new design with liquid glass dock, sidebars, toolbars. The menu bar is now completely transparent and more ways to customise how controls are laid out. You can even add controls for your favourite apps. You can also now change the colours of your folders and wallpaper to match your workspace.

Watch OS brings an AI-powered Workout Buddy that lets you identify meaningful insights in real-time. Combined with Apple Intelligence on your iPhone, the metrics are transformed into actionable insights such as an AI voiced pep talk. It will be available starting in English across few workout types. Workout app also gets a new layout with custom workouts just a tap away. There are also new media features built right into the app.

There is a dedicated tab for Apple Arcade. In the library tab, you can see all the games downloaded from App Store. The Play Together tab lets you compare scores with friends and compete with them using Challenges. For developers, single-player games can be turned into multiplayer games.

Your iPhone will now learn your preferred routes and suggest alternate route options. If you've wanted to return to a location, Apple is introducing Visited Places. You can view the Visited Places in the Apple Maps library that are protected by end-to-end encryption and can be deleted with a swipe.

CarPlay has a compact design so you can still see what's on the screen when you get a call. iOS 26 also gives you widgets and live activities such as a friend's flight status --- all designed in a way that keeps you focused on the road. All of these updates also come to CarPlay Ultra with a unified and consistent experience across all driver screens. CarPlay Ultra also lets you choose the layout and design. "We're so excited to work with different automakers combining their look and feel with the power of the iPhone."

The time fluidly adapts to the available space with the timeface crafted to nestle into the scene. It also keeps the best part of the view as new information comes in. There's also a gorgeous new way for artists to show off their artwork, says Apple's Craig Federighi.

This year, we are expanding the languages supported by Apple Intelligence. We're making the generative AI models powering Apple Intelligence more capable. We are opening up access for any app to tap into foundational AI models, says Apple's Craig Federighi.

https://twitter.com/tim_cook/status/1932065142755455385

The next-generation watch software developed by Apple is expected to get a fresh coat of paint with a brand-new interface similar to the Vision Pro's design aesthetic. Leaks also suggest that Watch OS 12 might get advanced AI-powered health tracking features capable of turning sleep, heart rate, temperature, and other vital metrics into actionable insights.

In a study published a few months ago, Apple said that it had facilitated around Rs 44,447 crores ($5.31 billion) to App Store developers in billings and sales last year. Notably, 94 per cent of that revenue went directly to developers and businesses of all sizes, without any commission paid to Apple. This is significant in the light of the April 30 ruling by a US court that explicitly prohibits Apple from not allowing developers to show web links to third-party payment options for in-app purchases.

In another recent report on App Store fraud analysis, Apple has said it has prevented more than $2 billion in potentially fraudulent transactions on the App Store in 2024. It shows how Apple wants to make the case that its App Store is the safer and more secure payment processing system in an attempt to discourage developers from using third-party payment processors and service providers.

Apple is facing challenges that go beyond its perceived position in the AI race.

- Google-Apple search deal: Apple could potentially lose its annual $20 billion-dollar paycheck from Google for default placement of the latter’s search engine in the former’s Safari web browser. Last year, a US district court ruled that Google had established an illegal monopoly of the online search market through ‘exclusionary’ deals with smartphone makers and browser developers like Apple. Google could be barred from having such arrangements with Apple, if the court rules against it in the search antitrust remedies trial.

-Age verification by app stores: Texas became the second state in the US (after Utah) to adopt a law requiring Apple and Google’s app stores to verify the age of their users and obtain parental approval before minors can download apps on the app stores or make in-app purchases.

- Court ruling in Epic Games case: The April 30 ruling that prohibts Apple from restricting developers' in-app purchasing links, could potentially take a bite out of its lucrative App Store revenue as it effectively blocks the company from charging commissions on every in-app transaction. The ruling has also paved the way for the return of Epic Games’ Fortnite to the App Store.

Apple is unlikely to make any major hardware-related announcement. The refreshed lineup of iPhones and other gadgets are generally announced at an event held sometime in September or October this year. At WWDC 2024, Apple also unveiled Apple Intelligence—a suite of AI features—and announced a revamped Siri powered by ChatGPT. However, the promised Siri revamp has been delayed indefinitely with the company reportedly stating that it needs more development and testing before release.

It is also unlikely that Apple will announce Google's Gemini as an alternative to OpenAI’s ChatGPT to be accessed via Siri or Writing Tools under Apple Intelligence. This might be due to the fact that a US district court is yet to rule on whether Google should be barred from having a search deal with Apple in the search antitrust remedies case.

The countdown to Apple's WWDC 2025 opening keynote has begun. What does the iPhone-maker have in store for this year's developer conference? Hint: It's most definitely not the generative AI redo of Siri. When Tim Cook takes the stage today, he is instead expected to announce updates pertaining to iOS with a few productivity features and possibly a new, pre-installed gaming app thrown in.