This is IT: iOS 26's Last-Chance Leaks Before WWDC
The excitement surrounding iOS 26 continues to grow as leaks and rumors offer glimpses into what Apple's next operating system might bring. With a focus on refining the user experience, enhancing privacy, and introducing meaningful updates, iOS 26 is poised to deliver a blend of innovation and practicality. Here's an in-depth look at the potential features and improvements that could define this release in a new video from Brandon Butch.
Watch this video on YouTube. Design Updates: Subtle Yet Impactful Changes
Design has always been a cornerstone of Apple's operating systems, and iOS 26 is rumored to introduce a series of subtle yet impactful updates to its interface. These changes aim to enhance both the visual appeal and usability of the system, creating a more cohesive experience across devices. Redesigned app icons are expected to offer a fresh, modern aesthetic while maintaining Apple's signature simplicity.
are expected to offer a fresh, modern aesthetic while maintaining Apple's signature simplicity. Updated widgets with expanded customization options could allow users to tailor their home screens to better suit their preferences.
with expanded customization options could allow users to tailor their home screens to better suit their preferences. A dynamic lock screen that adapts to user preferences may provide a more personalized and interactive experience.
These design updates are likely to focus on improving navigation and accessibility, making sure that the interface remains intuitive and visually appealing for all users. Personalized and Streamlined User Experience
Apple appears to be prioritizing personalization and efficiency with iOS 26, aiming to deliver a more tailored experience that adapts to individual user needs. Several rumored features highlight this focus: Advanced Siri integration could enable smarter, context-aware assistance, making interactions with the virtual assistant more seamless and intuitive.
could enable smarter, context-aware assistance, making interactions with the virtual assistant more seamless and intuitive. Improved multitasking capabilities may enhance productivity by allowing users to manage multiple tasks more efficiently.
may enhance productivity by allowing users to manage multiple tasks more efficiently. Customizable Control Center options could provide quicker access to essential tools, giving users greater control over their device settings.
Additionally, updates to accessibility features are expected, making sure that iOS 26 is inclusive and adaptable for users with diverse needs. These enhancements could make the operating system more versatile and user-friendly for a broader audience. Performance Boosts and System Efficiency
Performance improvements are a hallmark of every iOS update, and iOS 26 is no exception. Apple is likely to focus on optimizing system efficiency to ensure devices run smoothly and reliably. Key performance enhancements may include: Faster app launch times and smoother animations, creating a more responsive user experience.
and smoother animations, creating a more responsive user experience. Enhanced resource management to improve overall device performance, particularly on older models.
to improve overall device performance, particularly on older models. Optimizations that could potentially extend battery life, allowing users to get more out of their devices throughout the day.
These updates are designed to ensure that iOS 26 delivers consistent performance across a wide range of devices, maintaining Apple's reputation for reliability and efficiency. Strengthened Privacy and Security Features
Privacy and security remain central to Apple's philosophy, and iOS 26 is expected to introduce new measures to protect user data. These rumored enhancements could further solidify Apple's position as a leader in safeguarding personal information: Advanced app tracking transparency tools may give users greater control over how their data is shared and used by third-party applications.
may give users greater control over how their data is shared and used by third-party applications. Improved encryption protocols could enhance the security of data stored on devices and transmitted over networks.
could enhance the security of data stored on devices and transmitted over networks. Greater control over app permissions might allow users to manage their privacy settings with more precision and confidence.
These updates are likely to appeal to users who prioritize privacy, reinforcing Apple's commitment to protecting personal information in an increasingly connected world. Device Compatibility: Who Will Get iOS 26?
As with every new iOS release, device compatibility is a key consideration. While Apple typically supports a wide range of devices, iOS 26 may phase out older models to focus on using the capabilities of newer hardware. Current rumors suggest: iPhone 12 and later models are expected to fully support iOS 26, making sure access to all new features and improvements.
are expected to fully support iOS 26, making sure access to all new features and improvements. Older devices may lose compatibility, though official announcements will confirm the exact list of supported models.
If you own a newer device, you're likely to benefit from the full range of features, while users of older models should stay informed about compatibility updates to plan accordingly. Beta Testing and Release Schedule
Apple's beta testing program plays a crucial role in refining its operating systems, and iOS 26 is expected to follow a similar timeline to previous releases. The rollout is likely to include: Developer and public beta versions that will be available months before the official launch, allowing users to test new features and provide feedback.
that will be available months before the official launch, allowing users to test new features and provide feedback. The final release, which is rumored to coincide with Apple's annual fall event, typically held alongside the unveiling of new iPhone models.
For those eager to explore iOS 26 early, participating in the beta program could offer a valuable opportunity to experience its features ahead of the official release. Looking Ahead: What iOS 26 Could Deliver
iOS 26 is shaping up to be a significant update, blending innovation with reliability to enhance the way users interact with their Apple devices. From refined design elements to robust privacy measures, the operating system promises to deliver meaningful improvements that cater to a wide range of user needs. While leaks and rumors provide an exciting preview, the full scope of changes will only be confirmed with Apple's official announcements. Stay tuned for updates as Apple unveils its vision for the future of iOS.
Master iOS 26 with the help of our in-depth articles and helpful guides.
Source & Image Credit: Brandon Butch Filed Under: Gadgets News
Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals
Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Geeky Gadgets
43 minutes ago
- Geeky Gadgets
Apple's WWDC 2025: Where Were the M5 Macs?
Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025 concluded without any mention of the highly anticipated M5 Macs, leaving tech enthusiasts and industry analysts questioning the company's strategy. The absence of updates on Apple's next-generation processors has fueled widespread speculation about potential delays, strategic shifts, and the broader implications for the technology landscape. This unexpected omission has sparked curiosity about Apple's evolving priorities and its approach to maintaining its competitive edge. The video below from Matt Talks Tech gives us more details. Watch this video on YouTube. Key Highlights from WWDC 2025 WWDC 2025 showcased a range of announcements that underscored Apple's focus on innovation. The event featured significant updates to iOS and macOS, advancements in augmented reality, and the introduction of new tools for developers. Notably, Apple emphasized its commitment to augmented reality and artificial intelligence, signaling a shift toward emerging technologies. However, the absence of the M5 Macs stood out as a glaring omission. This unexpected silence has led many to question whether Apple is recalibrating its hardware release strategy or facing unforeseen challenges in its product development pipeline. The M5 Processor: A Shift in Apple's Timeline? The M5 processors were widely expected to succeed Apple's M4 chips, which set a high benchmark for performance and energy efficiency. Historically, Apple has adhered to a consistent annual upgrade cycle for its silicon, creating expectations for an M5 debut in 2025. The lack of any mention at WWDC suggests a potential deviation from this timeline. Several factors could explain this shift: Development Hurdles: Designing next-generation processors involves overcoming significant engineering challenges. Apple may have encountered unforeseen technical obstacles that delayed the M5's development. Designing next-generation processors involves overcoming significant engineering challenges. Apple may have encountered unforeseen technical obstacles that delayed the M5's development. Strategic Realignment: The company's focus on augmented reality and artificial intelligence at WWDC suggests a possible shift in priorities, with resources potentially redirected to these emerging areas. The company's focus on augmented reality and artificial intelligence at WWDC suggests a possible shift in priorities, with resources potentially redirected to these emerging areas. Market Dynamics: Changing consumer preferences or competitive pressures may have influenced Apple's decision to delay the M5 announcement, opting instead to refine its strategy. This deviation from Apple's typical cadence raises questions about the company's long-term roadmap and its ability to maintain its leadership in the processor market. Implications for Consumers For Apple users, the absence of the M5 Macs introduces a degree of uncertainty. Many consumers rely on Apple's predictable product cycles to plan their technology upgrades. Without a clear timeline for the M5's release, some may choose to delay purchases or explore alternative options. This uncertainty could impact purchasing decisions, particularly for professionals and power users who depend on innovative performance. However, Apple's reputation for delivering high-quality, reliable products may help mitigate concerns in the short term. The company's ability to maintain consumer trust will likely depend on how it communicates its plans and addresses the expectations surrounding the M5 processors. Broader Impact on the Tech Industry Apple's decisions often have ripple effects across the technology sector, and the delay of the M5 processors is no exception. Competitors may view this as an opportunity to close the performance gap, potentially accelerating their own innovation efforts. Developers, too, may need to adjust their strategies to align with Apple's evolving hardware timeline, particularly if the company continues to prioritize augmented reality and artificial intelligence. The emphasis on these technologies at WWDC highlights their growing importance in shaping the future of consumer tech. Apple's strategic focus on these areas suggests a broader industry trend toward integrating advanced capabilities into everyday devices, which could redefine user experiences and drive new opportunities for innovation. What's Next for Apple? While the M5 Macs were absent from WWDC 2025, it is unlikely that Apple has abandoned its plans for next-generation processors. The company's history suggests that the M5 could be unveiled at a dedicated hardware event or alongside other major announcements later in the year. Until then, speculation will continue to surround Apple's roadmap and the potential impact of the M5 on the tech industry. Apple's ability to navigate these challenges will be closely watched, as its decisions will not only shape consumer expectations but also influence the broader direction of the technology market. Whether the delay stems from technical hurdles, shifting priorities, or market considerations, the absence of the M5 Macs underscores the complexities of innovation in a competitive and rapidly evolving industry. Here is a selection of other guides from our extensive library of content you may find of interest on M5 Macs. Source & Image Credit: Matt Talks Tech Filed Under: Gadgets News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Google offers buyouts to staff in latest round of cost cutting
Google has offered buyouts to staff in several divisions in a fresh round of cost cutting, according to reports from several news outlets. It's not clear how many employees are affected, but the offers were made to staff in Google's search, advertising, research and engineering units, according to the Wall Street Journal. 'Some of our teams introduced a voluntary exit program with severance for US-based Googlers, and several more are now offering the program to support our important work ahead,' the company said in a statement to the newspaper. The tech company started trimming its headcount in 2023, when it announced that it was laying off 12,000 staff as the economic boom that fueled demand for online services during the COVID-19 pandemic started to fade.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
As big tech grows more involved in Gaza, Muslim workers are wrestling with a spiritual crisis
Before Ibtihal Aboussad was fired by Microsoft for protesting the company's work with the Israeli military during a celebration of the firm's 50th anniversary, she sent two emails. The first went to all of her colleagues. She appealed to their universal humanity and urged them to stand against Microsoft's contracts to provide cloud computing software and artificial intelligence products to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). She sent the second to the 'Muslims at Microsoft' email list. Its subject line read: 'Muslims of Microsoft, Our Code Kills Palestinians.' With her email, Aboussad told the Guardian, she wanted Muslim staff of companies such as Microsoft, Google and Amazon to stop regarding the question of whether they organize against their employer's work with the IDF as an issue of secular or professional ethics. It was a question of Islam, of their faith, she argued. 'I wanted to say, 'Hey, remember, your rizq [livelihood] is from Allah,'' Aboussad said. 'It should be clean, and you cannot be contributing to oppression.' There's been protests within American tech companies against their contracts with Israel and its military since the start of the war in Gaza. There have been walkouts and vigils. Offices have been taken over and op-eds have been written. Some staff have resigned and some have been fired for their activism. But as the war endures and Palestinians in Gaza are being starved, forcibly displaced and killed, and the contracts have survived, there's a growing group of Muslim staffers who are unsure whether they can religiously justify working at companies that they view as effectively defense contractors. The Guardian spoke with nearly a dozen Muslim employees of major tech companies who've been grappling with the question, many of whom asked not to be named for fear of professional repercussions or because they are continuing to organize inside the companies. Several of the staffers have resigned or are in the process of resigning. Some said they aren't convinced that their employers have crossed a line that would force them to quit. Others worried that leaving the company would do more harm than good. Nearly all said that the public protest of Aboussad, and her co-demonstrator Vaniya Agrawal, has pressed the question. And at least for some, the footage of Aboussad – a hijab-clad young woman staring down Microsoft's AI CEO, Mustafa Suleyman, and calling him a war profiteer – has been activating. Organizers at No Azure for Apartheid (NoAA), the worker-led group at Microsoft that Aboussad belongs to, and whose name refers to Microsoft's cloud-computing platform, say that they've heard from more staffers looking to get involved with the group since Aboussad's action. And they've heard from more than a dozen workers looking to resign or lodge a protest, and several more who have already done so. Others are on the fence, with some in a constant spiritual crisis over whether they should resign. The reasons vary: some feel they can do more to agitate against these contracts from inside the company, others worry about being able to provide for their families and some worry about trying to find another tech job in a tough market. 'Honestly, I've been praying about what Allah wants me to do,' one Microsoft employee said. 'Because it doesn't seem like it's right for a Muslim to continue working for such companies. But if we leave, then there could be a pro-Israeli person who takes our spot, and then you're not serving the cause by doing this.' One Google worker said they decided it no longer feels halal to remain at the company. But their father doesn't agree: he argues it's their 'Islamic duty' to stay at the company because the role was a blessing from God. 'He said this is self-sabotage,' the worker said. 'My parents are like, 'If you quit, how does that help the cause?' I don't think they understand that by quitting I am not trying to help the cause,' the Google staffer said. 'I'm at a [spiritual and moral] negative right now. I'm just trying to go back to neutral. Every day my work is actively harming people. I can't help people if I'm actively harming them.' The debate is not confined to the cafeterias of tech companies. Several tech workers said they have sought the spiritual insight of popular Islamic scholars, including Imam Omar Suleiman, the founding president of the Yaqeen Institute, a Texas-based Islamic research organization. Suleiman is actively engaging with Microsoft workers to help determine 'if there's any part of Microsoft that wouldn't be considered complicit in this', he said. The imam said he is still grappling with the question of whether and how urgently Muslims need to quit their tech jobs, leaving the workers to wrestle with it privately for now. 'More fields of employment are complicated than not,' Suleiman said. 'It's not always as straightforward as someone that works at a liquor store. It's someone that works at a grocery store [that sells alcohol].' Details of how big tech works with the IDF have long been murky, and many tech staffers had mostly accepted their employers' denials or defenses of these contracts. But recently, evidence that the tech industry's products have been used in Israel's violent campaign in Gaza, which the UN has concluded is consistent with 'the characteristics of genocide', has been mounting. Microsoft deepened its ties with the Israeli military in the wake of Hamas's 7 October 2023 attacks, according to a Guardian investigation reported in collaboration with +972 Magazine and Local Call, based in part on documents obtained by Drop Site News. Leaked documents indicated Microsoft has a 'footprint in all major military infrastructures' in Israel. The Associated Press has also reported that Microsoft technology has aided in Israel's surveillance of Palestinians. Microsoft has defended its contract with the IDF, saying that an internal investigation concluded the firm 'found no evidence' that its technology was used by the IDF to target or harm people. Microsoft's chief communications officer, Frank Shaw, reiterated those findings and said these reports 'are not accurate'. 'As we stated before in our blog, we have found no evidence to date that Microsoft's Azure and AI technologies have been used to target or harm people in the conflict in Gaza,' he said in a statement. The company's investigation did nothing to assuage workers. Hossam Nasr, an organizer with NoAA who was fired by Microsoft after organizing a vigil for Palestinians in 2024, argued there is no way to have an 'ethical' contract with a military 'whose leaders are wanted by the international criminal court for war crimes'. Google and Amazon both provide cloud services to the Israeli military and government under a $1.2bn agreement dubbed 'Project Nimbus'. Google has maintained that its technology is not aimed at military work, but reporting suggests the tech giant provides cloud services as well as advanced AI and machine learning tools that directly equip the Israeli military with various features including image and object detection and analysis. Google and Amazon did not respond to requests for comment. Many of the tech workers the Guardian spoke with said the recent revelations about the depth of their employers' work with the IDF and the lack of sufficient response to worker opposition to the contracts felt like a mask-off moment, one that left little doubt about their employers' roles in Israel's offensive and even less hope that the companies might stop working with the Israeli military. In April, the Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) movement, which seeks to use economic means to protest Israel's occupation and siege of the Palestinian territories, added Microsoft to its list of companies to boycott, further pressing the issue for many Muslim tech workers. It was ultimately these revelations that moved Aboussad to stage her protest at Microsoft's 50th anniversary event in April. But there were other factors: in addition to becoming involved with NoAA in February 2025, Aboussad had also started wearing hijab at the end of 2023, and she felt a new responsibility as someone who was more visibly Muslim to represent her faith appropriately and stand in opposition to the company's contract with the IDF. In her email to Muslim staff, she included an essay written by Hasan Ibraheem, one of several Google workers fired for occupying the company's New York office the year before. The essay was meant to serve as a 'dire callout to our community', Aboussad wrote in the email. 'To my Muslim brothers and sisters, I offer this essay as a sincere naseeha [advice],' Ibraheem's essay began. Then he quoted from the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): 'Whosoever of you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart – and that is the weakest of faith.' Sign up to TechScape A weekly dive in to how technology is shaping our lives after newsletter promotion Ibraheem's message was simple: Muslims have a religious obligation to stop oppression wherever they see it. Working at a company that contracts with the Israeli government as it continues its decimation of Gaza without doing anything to push back against those contracts was in violation of that obligation. Put bluntly, Muslims have two options, Ibraheem said: to either fight or quit. 'If you do not organize, you must leave,' Ibraheem wrote. 'And even if you organize, your goal should be to eventually leave. Organizing does not absolve you of complicity indefinitely.' 'If you know that the company you work for is directly enabling harmful activities, then maybe your money is not completely halal,' Ibraheem said. Aboussad said that in the days after she protested in the meeting, she received dozens of direct messages on Instagram from other Muslim tech workers. Many said she inspired them to do more to oppose their company's actions, and some said they were even thinking of resigning, Aboussad recalled. One person said her demonstration 'removed any excuses' they might have made about not doing more to oppose their employers' work with the IDF. The debates aren't limited to the companies' US offices. For some workers at Microsoft's offices across the Middle East and north Africa, Aboussad and Agrawal's protest was one of the first times they were confronted with the depth of their employers' work with the Israeli military. For others, their concerns about their roles at the company had long been brewing. One worker, based out of Microsoft's Cairo office, told the Guardian she had been weary for months of what she saw as a vehement pro-Israeli stance in Microsoft's internal communications to employees and their lack of mention of the now more than 50,000 Palestinians who have been killed by the IDF. The first time she began to wonder whether she belonged at Microsoft as a Muslim was when the company fired Nasr and another worker after the two organized a vigil for Palestinians. Aboussad and Agrawal's protest about six months later helped her answer that question, she said. Their demonstration prompted about 100 employees in the Cairo office to take a day off in protest of Microsoft's work with Israel – an action that was just shy of striking, which is generally illegal in Egypt. On that day, she decided she would quit. 'The response of [Suleyman] and [Microsoft CEO] Satya [Nadella] was very dismissive,' she said. 'And I think Satya laughed, and that sort of made me feel like, no, I don't think I belong here, and me staying here is just supporting what they're doing.' None of the Google or Microsoft workers who spoke to the Guardian had any doubt about whether their employers were contributing to Israeli military operations. But some held out hope the company may switch strategies. One person who has worked at Microsoft for nearly a dozen years said they felt betrayed by the company, which sold them on its 2014 mission of 'empowering every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more'. But they remain hopeful that internal pressure might force the company to change its policy on working with the Israeli government. 'I know during South African apartheid, the company did flip to the right side,' they said, citing Microsoft's decision to leave South Africa in 1986 in response to the country's laws enforcing racial discrimination. 'I hope that history repeats itself and they become the company where the culture is that you make everyone feel great.' Meanwhile, workers' protests have continued. At Microsoft, NoAA has disrupted at least two more company events, prompting the company to fire at least one of the workers, Joe Lopez. Another staffer, senior UX designer Jasmina Mathieu, resigned publicly, stating in an email to leadership and employees that she could no longer work at a company that directly or indirectly enables 'horrific actions done by Israel'. Since then, the Microsoft staffers said, they can no longer send emails to anyone, including human resources, that contained the words 'genocide', 'Gaza', 'Palestine' or even 'Vaniya Agrawal'. One worker with NoAA, Nisrine Jaradat, was able to get around the block and send an email to all Microsoft staff decrying the policy that 'utterly and completely discriminate[s] against an entire nation, an entire people, and an entire community'. Jaradat called on her co-workers to either organize against the company's work with the IDF or quit. 'If you choose to leave Microsoft to no longer be complicit in genocide do not go quietly,' Jaradat wrote. Many workers have consulted with local religious leaders and scholars but have not been given a clear response. 'We've been wanting to get an opinion that says, you know, 'Just quit, you should not be working here,' but we did not,' one Microsoft worker said. 'They just say it depends on the situation.' Imam Omar Suleiman has been helping people figure out whether working at certain companies is halal or permissible for the entire 20 years he's been a religious leader. Over the last two years, Muslims tech workers from around the country have reached out to Suleiman's Yaqeen Institute with the same question: can I still work at a tech company that is helping power the Israeli military? For Suleiman, tech has been one of the hardest fields to navigate 'because you have Muslims that work at various levels and tech companies are involved in this genocide to varying extents', he said. What Suleiman and the Yaqeen Institute – where Aboussad now works – ultimately decide matters a great deal to tech workers of a certain age. The institute is well regarded among millennial Muslims in the US for its easy-to-digest content on how to understand and apply the teachings of the Qur'an. Suleiman's videos have garnered him more than 3 million Instagram followers. Nearly every tech worker who the Guardian spoke to cited Suleiman's speeches shared on social media as inspiration for why they want to leave Google or Microsoft. Yet for Suleiman, who recently gave an impassioned speech, or khutbah, at a Virginia mosque urging congregants to 'have some dignity' and quit their jobs at arms manufacturers, whether Islam requires that these tech workers leave their jobs with the same urgency is still an open question. Like Suleiman's example of a clerk at a grocery store selling alcohol alongside fruits and vegetables, it is not as clearcut if coding productivity tools poses the same grave transgression as building a bomb. Suleiman and others at the Yaqeen Institute are working on developing a general framework that will help Muslims decide whether they can religiously justify working at any of the tech firms contracting with the IDF. That framework will be published as a resource for both local imams as well as individuals in the midst of a spiritual crisis about their jobs. Suleiman looks at cases from many different sides. Staff have to ask themselves personal questions. Islamic religious law advises all Muslims to leave something that causes them doubt for something that doesn't. But, he cautions, many cases are complicated. You might be the primary breadwinner of your household, have an employer-sponsored visa or be working at a part of the company that you feel doesn't have anything to do with the products the firm builds for militaries, such as LinkedIn. One also has to evaluate whether you're having a positive impact by staying in the company. 'There's room for the person who holds back the hand of the pharaoh from inside the pharaoh's court,' Suleiman said. 'But they have to demonstrate how exactly [they are] minimizing that harm without at any point becoming a mouthpiece for oppression.' And they need to evaluate the workings of their companies, he said. Do they produce haram, or impermissible, products, like alcohol or weapons used to kill people? In those cases, 'they need to leave their job and they need to find a different job depending on what layer they participate in and how much need they have', Suleiman said. Or is the company based around usury or interest-based transactions, which are also impermissible in Islam? In those cases, you can still work at the company, but you should up your charity to offset those haram transactions. While Islamic jurisprudence has an established structure to make these decisions, Suleiman says tech remains a complicated matter to locate within that framework. The imam said he is still in the discovery phase on how the roles workers find themselves in at these companies align with their religious duty. 'It's very hard to compare something that's just purely generating weapons of mass destruction and a tech company that has a wide array of businesses, but also happens to be manufacturing for a genocide,' he said. 'It's hard for me to figure out when that line disappears.'
