What to know

  • Apple announced iOS 26 at WWDC 2025, featuring what appears to be the most significant design change since iOS 7.
  • The company may adopt a unified year-based naming standard across all its operating systems.
  • The keynote also included updates to iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS.

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Apple kicked off its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025 today with a keynote presentation at Apple Park in Cupertino. The event began at 1 PM ET (10 AM PT) with several major announcements focused on the company's software platforms.

The star of the show was iOS 26, which reportedly features the most significant design overhaul since the introduction of iOS 7. This redesign appears to be part of Apple's broader effort to create a more cohesive design language across all its devices and platforms.

In a notable shift, Apple may be moving away from its traditional numbering system for operating system versions. Instead of releasing iOS 19 as expected, the company appears to be adopting a year-based naming convention, resulting in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and watchOS 26.

The keynote also revealed new Continuity features coming to Mac, including Live Activities that transfer from your iPhone. Additionally, Apple introduced a new Phone app for Mac, enhancing the integration between its desktop and mobile platforms.

For developers, Apple is reportedly planning an AI-powered coding tool in partnership with Anthropic for a new version of its Xcode programming suite. This tool aims to streamline the development process and make coding more intuitive.

Last year's WWDC introduced Apple Intelligence, the company's suite of machine learning and AI features. This year's conference appears to build on that foundation with further enhancements to these capabilities across all Apple platforms.

The redesign effort extends beyond iOS to create a more unified experience across all Apple devices. This approach aims to make transitions between different Apple products more seamless and intuitive for users.

The WWDC 2025 keynote marks the beginning of a week-long conference that will include numerous sessions for developers to learn about implementing these new features and design elements into their applications.

Via: theverge.com