WWDC 2025: iOS 26, Liquid Glass technology and what all to expect at Apple's developers conference
Apple could offer a glimpse into its next era of user experience at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) today. The company is expected to unveil iOS 26, a major visual overhaul that signals the company's boldest interface shift in more than a decade.
The new operating system, expected to debut this autumn, could introduce what Apple reportedly calls a 'Liquid Glass' interface — a glossy, translucent design language that moves away from the flat minimalism first seen in iOS 7.
The move is expected to mark a return to visual storytelling in Apple's software, under the leadership of human interface chief Alan Dye. Unlike the skeuomorphic era of early iPhones — when apps mimicked physical objects — this next iteration is said to evoke a more fluid, immersive experience. Industry analyst Mark Gurman, writing for Bloomberg, described it as Apple's most dramatic visual update since 2013.
More than just an aesthetic upgrade, iOS 26 may be a stepping stone towards the company's 2027 flagship device, codenamedGlasswing. Named after a species of butterfly with transparent wings,Glasswing is rumoured to feature a wraparound glass body, ultra-thin bezels, and a near-invisible array of sensors — a vision that the new software aims to prepare users for.
Apple's alleged decision to introduce glossy, glass-like interface elements now could be seen as a strategic soft launch — much like how the company familiarised users with eye-tracking accessibility features before fully embracing gesture control with the Vision Pro headset.
In a bid to simplify its ecosystem, Apple will also likely align version numbers across all its operating systems this year. Whether on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch or Apple TV, all platforms may now share the version number 26 — a first for the company. The change hints at deeper integration between devices, particularly as Apple's ambitions grow to include cars and spatial computing.
While the interface revamp is expected to steal the spotlight, Apple is also widely tipped to unveil its own artificial intelligence framework, dubbedApple Intelligence. But with rivals like Google and Microsoft having already made significant headway, some observers suggest Apple is arriving late to the AI race.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Your VPN might be spying for China: Watchdog flags 17 apps with hidden ties on Apple and Google stores
A new report by the Technology Transparency Project warns that 17 VPN apps, available on major app stores, may be secretly linked to Qihoo 360, a Chinese cybersecurity firm under U.S. sanctions. Experts fear user data could be accessed by Chinese authorities under China's broad surveillance laws. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads How are these VPNs tied to China? Why is Qihoo 360 a concern? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Which VPN apps were flagged earlier? What are Apple and Google doing about it? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads FAQs Think your VPN is keeping you anonymous? Think again. A major watchdog report just revealed that 17 popular VPN apps available on Apple and Google stores might be quietly handing over your data with links pointing straight to to a report released on Thursday by the Technology Transparency Project, the firm involved may have discreet links to China, where the government can monitor all user report claims that 17 apps, six from Apple's App Store, four from Google Play Store, and seven from both, have hidden connections to China, as quoted in a report by NBC News.A new report by the Technology Transparency Project warns that 17 VPN apps, available on major app stores, may be secretly linked to Qihoo 360 , a Chinese cybersecurity firm under U.S. 360 is a firm sanctioned by the U.S. Commerce Department in 2020 for potential links to the Chinese military. While the apps don't explicitly name Qihoo, corporate filings and company records suggest they are operated by shell companies acquired by Qihoo in 2019, as per a are mainly utilized to safeguard a user's privacy by complicating a website's ability to identify its visitors, or to bypass censorship restrictions. However, if a VPN provider does not implement substantial measures to automatically and permanently erase its users' search histories, it is probable that the company will retain logs of its clients' online is especially significant if the company is Chinese, since national legislation requires that intelligence and law enforcement agencies can access any personal data stored there without a Katie Paul explained that VPNs carry unique risks since they reroute all of a user's internet activity through their servers. If those servers are controlled or accessed by Chinese-linked firms, it means user data, including sensitive work information and browsing habits, could end up in Beijing's Sherman, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council focusing on data privacy, informed that utilizing a VPN owned by China would be equivalent to surrendering one's browsing history to Beijing, as per a report by NBC News. Experts fear user data could be accessed by Chinese authorities under China's broad surveillance TTP, a technology-oriented branch of the Campaign for Accountability, an investigative nonprofit aimed at uncovering "corruption, negligence, and unethical conduct," released a report on Chinese VPN applications on April 1. TTP reports that several of the VPNs are indirectly tied to Qihoo applications are all virtual private networks, or VPNs, enabling a user to route their internet traffic through a company's internet service. Names such as VPNify, Ostrich VPN, and Now VPN do not explicitly indicate any connections to China or Chinese ownership in the app Qihoo 360 isn't listed as the direct developer, many apps are operated by entities like Lemon Seed, Autumn Breeze, and Innovative Connecting all tied to Qihoo via Chinese and Cayman Islands quickly removed three apps purportedly connected to Qihoo 360: Thunder VPN, Snap VPN, and Signal Secure VPN. Turbo VPN and VPN Proxy Master, both accessible on the Google Play Store, along with three additional options provided by Google, remain availableThe findings raise important questions about who really controls these "free" VPN services and what happens to your data when you trust the wrong if it logs your data and shares it with third parties especially if it's tied to governments with wide surveillance all, but many free VPNs have vague ownership and poor privacy policies. Always research the company behind the app.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
What is Apple's new Liquid Glass interface? Internet reacts with awe, confusion, and memes galore
Apple just gave iOS a makeover, and it's turning heads for better or worse. Unveiled at WWDC 2025, the new 'Liquid Glass' design promises beauty, fluidity, and a futuristic vibe. Apple's new 'Liquid Glass' design for iOS 26 debuted at WWDC 2025 with a bold, translucent look that adapts to surroundings. While Apple hails it as their broadest visual overhaul ever, online reactions have been mixed with users praising its sleekness but mocking its readability and practical usability. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Rates Undo Certain social media users have swiftly taken to criticizing or mocking the "beautiful, new" software design for iOS 26, revealed at the 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference. The design, named Liquid Glass , was created using a "translucent material that reflects and refracts its environment, while continuously changing to enhance focus on content," Apple stated in a news announcement. Live Events Alan Dye, Apple's vice president of Human Interface Design, referred to the iOS 26 launch as the company's "largest software design update to date." 'It merges the visual properties of glass with a smoothness that only Apple can attain, adapting according to your content or situation,' Dye stated in a declaration. What is 'Liquid Glass' and how does it work? Liquid Glass is a fresh software design or aesthetic, characterized by Apple CEO Tim Cook as "Expressive, charming, yet still immediately recognizable." Apple claims that the "appearance" makes applications and system interactions more vibrant and enjoyable while remaining instantly recognizable. It is semi-transparent and acts like glass in reality, with its hue influenced by nearby elements and smartly adjusts to different lighting conditions, as quoted in a report by USA Today. Why are users criticizing the design? Internet responds to Apple's 'Liquid Glass' Numerous individuals appreciate the concept of Apple's "Liquid Glass," yet the implementation is less favored. Key issues include the clarity of notifications and the alteration of the image behind the wavy, bubble-like app border. ALSO READ : Kamala Harris election results: Musk dragged into voter bribery scandal as Trump's win over ex-VP gets murkier The new liquid glass appears terrible and exemplifies prioritizing form/aesthetic/design over functionality/readability/practicality; what are we thinking here," an X user commented in a June 9 post. Some, however, believed that Apple fell short by introducing the "liquid glass display" rather than revisiting the AI enhancements revealed at the previous year's WWDC. Memes, discussions, and critiques have emerged on social media following Apple's announcement, as per a report by USA Today. "So Apple's next big thing, aka Liquid Glass, is random icon packs from the Android world," one user tweeted. 'But once you put everything together and fill the screen, it turns into noise and makes things feel way too crowded, like the idea of liquid glass but the readability is not good at all,' another person tweeted. One user wrote on X, 'Apple trying to convince us they've done something groundbreaking by adjusting the opacity of the control center and calling it 'liquid glass' should be a crime.' FAQs What exactly is Apple's Liquid Glass? It's a new interface design for iOS 26 that's see-through, shifts with its surroundings, and aims to blend style with usability. Why are people making fun of it online? Some say it prioritizes looks over function, making notifications hard to read and the screen feel cluttered.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Google Cloud site says ‘no major incidents' amid outage; social media reacts
Google Cloud services were down for thousands of users on Thursday, according to outage tracking website although the website stated that there were no major incidents. There were more than 11,000 incidents of people reporting issues with Google Cloud, according to Downdetector. Users on social media responded to the situation with sarcastic and humorous takes. Also Read: Google techie in Bengaluru says moving to 2BHK is the best decision: 'Big chunk of salary goes into rent' One user wrote, 'google cloud: 'No major incidents'....... YOU SURE ABOUT THAT? ' Another user said, 'sorry guys there is no google cloud outage its all in your head' with a picture of the Google Cloud website. One person wrote, 'I do love how the Google Cloud Status page is always the last one to know that Google Cloud is down' Anothr user wrote, 'was coding when i started getting CORS errors for no reason, didnt even touch the backend. i open supabase and my tables are not fetching, clearly its down. i open x and i see google cloud is down on my tl as well. whats happening?' Also Read: Mark Zuckerberg's Meta assembles AI dream team after poaching top talents from Google, Sesame Several users have also highlighted that other services such as Google's Gemini, Cloudflare and Firebase were also being affected by the disruption. A partial outage has also been reported in applications dependent on Google Cloud. Google cloud: 'It's only a major outage if it comes from the Outagè region of France,' one user said. So far, Google has not responded to the reports about the Google Cloud and Gemini outage. Earlier, in March this year, internet users reported trouble with their Google Chromecast. The Chromecast outage came amid discontinuation news. Google officially discontinued the Chromecast device, replacing it with the new Google TV Streamer.
