Apple unveils iOS 26 featuring Liquid Glass redesign
▼ Summary
– Apple announced iOS 26 at WWDC, featuring a “Liquid Glass” redesign and updates across apps, while changing its version numbering to reflect the release year.
– The OS redesign includes a dynamic lockscreen, streamlined Camera app, and edge-to-edge Safari tabs, with hidden controls for a cleaner interface.
– New features include call screening in the Phone app, customizable backgrounds and polls in Messages, and Genmoji for creating merged emoji.
– Apple introduced Live Translation for real-time conversations, on-device processing, and APIs for developers to integrate it into apps.
– Updates to Apple Music, Maps, Wallet, and a new Games app were announced, alongside Visual Intelligence for screen-based searches and ChatGPT integration.
Apple has unveiled iOS 26, the latest iteration of its mobile operating system, introducing a sweeping redesign and innovative features during its annual WWDC event. The update marks a shift in Apple’s version numbering strategy, aligning releases with the year they debut rather than sequential updates.
At the heart of iOS 26 is Liquid Glass, a fresh design language that reimagines the iPhone interface with fluid animations and expanded screen real estate. The lock screen now dynamically adjusts to showcase more content, while Safari embraces edge-to-edge browsing with a floating tab bar. Even the Camera app has been refined, hiding secondary controls for a cleaner shooting experience.
Communication tools receive significant upgrades, with Messages gaining customizable backgrounds, AI-powered poll suggestions, and real-time typing indicators for group chats. The Phone app introduces call screening, allowing Apple Intelligence to manage calls when you’re unavailable. Meanwhile, Genmoji lets users blend two emoji to create unique expressions, and Image Playground integrates OpenAI’s ChatGPT for on-demand image generation.
Language barriers dissolve with Live Translation, an on-device feature enabling real-time conversation translations across texts, calls, and third-party apps. Apple Music enhances discovery with lyric translations, pronunciation guides, and AutoMix—a DJ-like transition tool. Playlists and favorite artists can now be pinned for quick access.
Navigation becomes smarter as Apple Maps learns preferred routes and proactively alerts users to delays. A new travel history feature simplifies sharing visited locations. The Wallet app expands with digital IDs, revamped boarding passes, and airport indoor maps. Apple Pay also leverages AI to track non-Apple Pay purchases.
Gaming takes center stage with the new Games app, consolidating App Store and Apple Arcade libraries. Social features like friend activity feeds and leaderboards foster competition. Visual Intelligence empowers users to interact with on-screen content—snap a screenshot of a product or event, and the system can search for it or add it to your calendar. Integration with ChatGPT allows deeper inquiries about anything displayed.
Set for release this fall, iOS 26 represents Apple’s most ambitious redesign in years, blending aesthetic polish with practical AI-driven enhancements.
(Source: The Verge)
