Apple simplifies all software with Annual Naming & “Liquid Glass” redesign

At WWDC 2025, Apple unveiled a cleaner and more memorable naming convention; operating systems are now named based on the year they are released, for example, iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26. This accompanied the introduction of a new Liquid Glass design that equally brings new life into the interface of Apple devices with a translucent, rounded edge, and a flat unified design.

Redesigned core apps for streamlined UX

• iPhone apps like Camera, Safari, and Phone have received UI overhauls: simplified layouts, full-screen browsing, and consolidated panels in Phone—combining recents, favorites, and voicemails.
• Messages now supports custom chat backgrounds, live typing indicators, group polls, and a separate folder for unknown senders.
• macOS Tahoe 26 introduces powerful improvements to Spotlight-personalized filters, actions like emailing directly, and integration with Live Activities. 

iPadOS & VisionOS level up productivity

• iPadOS 26 embraces Mac-like multitasking—resizable windows, draggable menu bars, and a new Preview app for PDFs and images.
• visionOS 26 adds support for PS VR2 controllers, gaze-based navigation, spatial widgets, and hyper-realistic avatars (“Personas”) on Vision Pro.

AI evolves but Siri remains in delay

Apple kept pushing across-device AI initiatives under Apple Intelligence, with the most significant news being live translation in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone—entirely on-device and privacy-centric.

Visual Intelligence tools allowed users to analyze the content of their screen in context (e.g., identify a product, schedule events) in addition to ChatGPT integration in Xcode's Image Playground.

Importantly, while Siri's large overhaul on the AI front is coming, Apple admitted it needed more time to meet internal expectations. 

Wearables & AirPods: smarter gestures & controls

• watchOS 26 introduces wrist-flick gestures to dismiss notifications and an AI-powered “Workout Buddy” that provides live coaching during workouts.
• AirPods (AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2) gain the ability to capture photos and record videos via stem taps, plus improved voice isolation and camera control features.

Gaming & developer tools get spotlight

• A new Games app centralizes access to Apple Arcade titles, featuring Play Together multiplayer options, leaderboards, and social features.
• Developers can now tap into on-device foundation models via a Foundation Models framework, enhancing privacy, speed, and offline capability in third-party apps.
• Xcode is being infused with generative AI and ChatGPT support for coding assistance—unit tests, design iteration, fixing compiler errors—right where developers work.

Final Touch: Keynote Ends on a High

Apple closed its keynote with a fun, soulful performance titled “6 out of 5 " featuring song lyrics based entirely on App Store reviews—celebrating developers with humor and flair.

Final Take

WWDC 2025 featured a significant visual update and deeper integration of AI helpers throughout Apple’s ecosystem. While Siri’s redevelopment is not finished, Apple is betting heavily on utility, and AI features driven by developers - establishing a groundwork for what could come in the next year. The reimagination of design, and software refreshes - showcases Apple's vision for a unification of devices, and the balance of polish for the consumer and acceptability of design for the developer.