At Apple’s recent Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), the tech giant revealed iOS 26 which will be rolled out to iPhones in fall this year (most likely in September). As previously reported, Apple has tweaked its iPhone software naming system to be similar to how new cars opt for the next model year despite being introduced in the current calendar year.
As such, the company is skipping out software versions 19 through to 25, and is looking forward to 2026 with iOS 26. This extends to software for other Apple devices, so we’ll also be getting iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26 and visionOS 26.
The key highlight of this year’s WWDC is a new design language called ‘Liquid Glass’ that aims to present a unified look across all Apple software. This features a more expressive, glass-like interface that marks a major shift since the move from the original skeumorphic design to a flat design style in iOS 7. If you’ve ever used Windows Vista, what Apple is presenting might remind you of the Windows Aero design language released nearly two decades ago.
iOS 26 isn’t just a visual refresh, as there are plenty of new features and ways to interface with the device, many of which are aimed at making things more intuitive, improving usability and reducing interruptions. Apps will also be updated, including CarPlay, which Apple says is used over 600 million times per day.
CarPlay will adopt the Liquid Glass design and features a new compact view for incoming calls, the latter allowing users to see who’s calling without missing key information like upcoming directions. Widgets will also be introduced with the update, providing users with virtual buttons for connected devices like smart lights or garage doors. These widgets also support Live Activities to keep users in the loop on events without being distracted from the road.
The new CarPlay also sees updates to Messages, with users being able to pin conversations and easily reply to messages with Tapbacks, which are essentially emotes that you’ve probably used in other instant messaging apps like Telegram or WhatsApp.
These changes will also be coming to CarPlay Ultra that Apple presented last month, with Aston Martin vehicles being the first to get the more deeply integrated software. Cars from Hyundai, Kia and Genesis will also get CarPlay Ultra.
For those that use Apple Maps, a new ‘Visited Places’ will be added to help users remember the places they’ve been. Apple says this data is protected with end-to-end encryption and it is unable to access it for your privacy. Additionally, iPhones can use on-device intelligence to better understand a user’s daily route, presenting them with their preferred route when they’re headed home or to the office, along with notifying them of delays and offering alternate routes.
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Meanwhile, Huawei-Xpeng already joint launched 87″ Full windscreen AR-HUD, a leap forward for both driving and autopilot experience.
While Apple continue playing at steps like Nokia Linux Meego OS, like the Nokia N9.
Windows Vista making a comeback
same as T brand, just recycle engine 10-15 years
marketing team calling it ‘liquid glass” when it’s just transparency. got paid millions for that fancy name