Apple‘s WWDC 2025 keynote is already in the rearview mirror, and, as usual, the event was dominated by the changes coming to the iPhone’s operating system later this year. The reports of a numbering scheme change were true — iOS 18 is skipping to iOS 26 — but there were a laundry list of actual usability changes shown off, as well as the new Liquid Glass design, which looks to be Apple’s largest visual update in years. But the biggest question we’re all wondering: Will my iPhone be able to run iOS 26?

Last year, Apple didn’t nix any iPhones from its eligibility list, but that’s not the case for 2025 — a few models are getting cut this time. All iPhone 8 models and the iPhone X were the last to get the boot in 2023, and this year the 2018 models are getting left behind. If you have an ineligible device, you won’t be able to download iOS 26 when it becomes available this fall.

We’ll get to the bottom of which iPhones will support iOS 26 this year. To see what’s coming with the latest OS and more, here’s everything announced at Apple’s WWDC event today.

These three iPhones won’t be compatible with iOS 26

Unlike last year, several iPhone models won’t be eligible to download the newest iOS when it makes its debut this fall. This trio of models first released in 2018 won’t be coming to the iOS 26 party:

• iPhone XR

• iPhone XS

• iPhone XS Max

iPhones compatible with iOS 26

While we don’t yet know the new iPhones Apple will be dropping this fall — though there are iPhone 17 rumors — we do know, per Apple’s site, that the phones listed below will be compatible with iOS 26. Basically, if you have an iPhone that was announced in 2019 or later, you’re in the clear:

• iPhone SE (second generation or later)

• iPhone 11

• iPhone 11 Pro

• iPhone 11 Pro Max

• iPhone 12

• iPhone 12 mini

• iPhone 12 Pro

• iPhone 12 Pro Max

• iPhone 13

• iPhone 13 mini

• iPhone 13 Pro

• iPhone 13 Pro Max

• iPhone 14

• iPhone 14 Plus

• iPhone 14 Pro

• iPhone 14 Pro Max

• iPhone 15

• iPhone 15 Plus

• iPhone 15 Pro

• iPhone 15 Pro Max

• iPhone 16e

• iPhone 16

• iPhone 16 Plus

• iPhone 16 Pro

• iPhone 16 Pro Max

What if I don’t want to buy a new iPhone?

If you want to continue using your older iPhone that isn’t supported by iOS 26, that’s fine. However, you’ll miss out on security updates which could potentially put your phone at risk for malware and other threats. Additionally, some apps may stop working if they require a certain version of iOS or later. And of course, you won’t be able to access the latest features iOS 26 offers.

When will iOS 26 become available?

Apple usually rolls out its latest iOS in mid-September, just a few days before the new iPhones hit store shelves. Last year, it released iOS 18 on Monday, Sept. 16. Expect a confirmation of the release date at that iPhone 17 event, expected in early September. 

iOS 26 features we’re excited about

Liquid Glass design: Your home screen is getting revamped with new app icons, including dark mode and all-clear options. You’ll also notice buttons with a new floating design. Liquid Glass was designed to make all of Apple’s OSes more cohesive.

Phone app redesign: You’ll finally be able to scroll through contacts, recent calls and voicemail messages all on one screen. It also comes with a new feature called Hold Assist that’ll notify you when an agent comes to the phone so you can avoid the elevator music.

Live Translate: iOS 26 is bringing the ability to have a conversation via phone call or text message with someone who speaks another language. Live Translate will translate your conversation in real time. 

Polls feature: Coming to group messages in the Messages app, chat members will be able to create polls. This can help prevent the unwanted 30+ messages when it comes to deciding which restaurant you’re meeting at this weekend.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/apple-is-releasing-ios-26-this-fall-will-your-iphone-be-compatible-191854628.html?src=rss

I admit, I do most of my work on Windows or Android, but if there’s one app I always miss from macOS, it’s Preview. This simple app, ostensibly an image-viewer, is also hands-down the best way to read and even (sometimes) edit PDFs. And at WWDC 2025, Apple announced that Preview is finally coming to iPads.

It’s hard to overstate how much joy this relatively minor announcement brings me. Sure, Apple is breaking down the language barrier, and bringing resizable windows to the iPad. But is all of that a fair trade if you still have to open the Books app just to read a three-page PDF? No, not if you ask me. May as well still be in the stone age.

Used on a Mac, Preview is extremely lightweight and doesn’t come with a lot of editing tools, but the ones it does come with are fantastic: You can extract a single page from a PDF, or reorder pages in a long document. It’s the kind of thankless utility that doesn’t get much fanfare but comes in truly handy when you need it.

I don’t think I’m exaggerating (too much) when I say this is the single biggest revolution in mobile computing since the invention of the touchscreen.

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I’m on my second summer of running in a long-sleeved sun shirt—yes, even in the hottest weather. Especially in the hottest weather. I now enjoy my summer runs a lot more, and I spend a lot less money on sunscreen. I even managed to snag a Rabbit UPF Deflector hoodie before they sold out this year, and it’s even better than the Amazon sun shirts I started with.

If you’re not entirely sold on wearing long sleeves in the heat, know that at first I wasn’t either. I knew that other people ran in sun shirts, but I never thought running in a sun shirt was for me. Instead, I coated my arms, neckline, and back in sunscreen, and cringed during my run as it mixed with sweat and turned into a gross, drippy slime. I sometimes missed a spot, and enjoyed patches of sunburn on my shoulder blades. Just comes with the summer running territory, right? Not if you wear a sun shirt!

I don’t recall exactly why I bought my first one, but it was probably a “what the hell, this can’t get any worse” kind of thing. It wasn’t a fancy one. Everybody on Reddit says to get a that Rabbit hoodie, but it wasn’t in stock when I went looking. Instead, I ended up getting this UPF 50+ rashguard from Amazon for under $30, and a second shirt I didn’t end up liking as much. I started wearing them on my runs. Two years later, here’s what I’ve learned.

What are sun shirts for, and do they really work for runners?

Sun shirts have one main job: They protect you from UV rays (doing the same job as sunscreen). The good ones also wick sweat, which can end up keeping you cooler than if you were running without the shirt. 

When it comes to UV protection, they definitely work. Dermatologists, including those at the American Academy of Dermatology Association, actively recommend wearing sun-protective clothing, in addition to seeking shade and using sunscreen. When you’re out on a run, shade may not be an option, and you’ll still need some sunscreen to cover your face and hands. But when it comes to your torso and arms, a sun shirt offers some pretty significant advantages over slathering on sunscreen: 

• You can’t miss a spot, as you might when you’re trying to get sunscreen on the back of your arms and shoulders.

• You don’t need to reapply (as much) sunscreen on long runs, which can feel nearly impossible when you’re sweaty.

• You won’t have to deal with sunscreen sweating off or working its way across your skin (which is the main reason we need to reapply, anyway).

• If you use a spray sunscreen like I sometimes do, you won’t have to deal with its sticky feel, and the fact that you’re supposed to rub it in anyway.

• You’ll go through far less sunscreen each year—a pretty significant savings if you have sunburn-prone skin like me. 

Aside from these objective points, the thing that really sold me was just that I hate the feeling of that suncreen-and-sweat slime dripping down my arms. It’s gross, it gets on everything, and I do not want it. 

What it feels like to run in a sun shirt (a lot less sweaty)

I wore a sun shirt for the first time during a sweltering heat wave. I try to run in the evening or morning when it’s cooler, but no matter the time of day, the humidity was ridiculous and the wet bulb temperature was oppressively high. 

I put on the shirt for an evening run first, sunscreened only the parts of me that weren’t covered (face, hands, lower legs), and ventured out. On balance, I don’t think I was hotter or cooler than I would have been without the shirt, but the slime situation was much improved. The shirt also absorbed and (sort of) wicked away my sweat. On the one hand, that means I’m running in a damp shirt. On the other: no dripping. 

Intrigued, I wore a shirt again for a sunnier morning run, and had a similar experience. In a real show of how much I trusted these things, I even wore a sun shirt for the time I planned poorly and ended up having to do a midday run in 93-degree weather (don’t worry, I carried ice water and stayed safe); it worked well then too. On one of these runs, I noticed a light breeze, so I peeled off the shirt as I finished the run. The breeze on my skin felt nice and cooling, but it was more like a nice treat than regret that I’d been wearing the shirt in the first place. Safe to say I’m now a convert.

I did have one further “aha” moment. On one of my runs, I noticed that the shirt was long enough that it bunched up a bit around my hips. That extra fabric wasn’t doing me any favors, so I got out a pair of scissors and cropped the shirt just below my waistline. Now I get a bit of a breeze on my torso, while still keeping my skin out of the sun. 

What to look for when buying a sun shirt

Any clothing marketed to runners tends to be expensive, although to be fair, it’s often lighter weight or better quality than bargain-basement stuff. Still, you don’t have to just search for “running sun shirt.” Also consider looking for “long sleeved wicking shirt,” “UPF shirt,” or even “rash guard” (a rash guard being a long sleeved shirt worn for surfing). 

The ideal running sun shirt will have most or all of these features: 

• A UPF rating (like SPF, but for clothing) – the higher the number, the better.

• Wicking or “cooling” fabric.

• A high neck or even a hood, to protect your neck and/or head.

• Thumb holes, which means longer sleeves, the better to protect your hands.

• Lightweight fabric—beware the rashguards that are designed with thicker swimsuit-type fabric.

• A moderately loose fit (although this is up to preference). If you normally buy from the women’s section, consider the “men’s” styles too—you might prefer the way they fit.

Sun protection experts tend to recommend colors that are dark (black, blue) or bright (red, yellow) rather than white or pastel. That’s because darker colors absorb more ultraviolet rays. Personally, I haven’t been able to convince myself to get a dark color when the shirts are available in white and pastels. Maybe black is more sun protective, but I’m worried it will be hotter. (This may be a “me” problem, so if you’re looking for good advice, listen to the dermatologists.)

After running all last summer in sun shirts made for surfers, I finally picked up that Rabbit hoodie I mentioned. It cost a lot more—$70 for Rabbit versus $30 or less for the cheap ones I’d used in the past. The material on the Rabbit shirt is much lighter weight, and it has laser-cut holes at the armpits for venting. It also has a hood with a built-in visor (the better to cover your neck and the sides of your face) and, as a bonus, a zippered pocket at the side. Unfortunately, besides being expensive, it also sells out quickly. I bought mine in April; as I write this in June, most sizes seem to be already sold out for the season. As an alternative, I’ve heard good things about Outdoor Research’s Echo line.

With all that in mind, here are some sun shirt options, in a variety of styles and price ranges, that fit the bill. If you aren’t totally sold yet, start with a cheaper one and see how you like it. You might just join me in the less-slimy runners club.

The one I have

TSLA Women’s UPF 50+ Rash Guard Long Sleeve, UV/Sun Protection Swim Shirts, Water Beach Surf Swim Top, Side Henna White, Large

$19.95
at Amazon

$19.95
at Amazon

Cooling

Patagonia Men’s Capilene® Cool Daily Graphic Hoody

$75.00
at Patagonia

$75.00
at Patagonia

Rabbit Men’s UPF Deflector 2.0

$70.00
at Rabbit

$70.00
at Rabbit

Columbia Women’s PFG Uncharted Hoodie, Cirrus Grey Uncharted Waters, Small

$45.00
at Amazon

$60.00
Save $15.00

$45.00
at Amazon

$60.00
Save $15.00

This one has a face guard!

BALEAF Mens Sun Protection Hoodie Shirt, UPF 50+ UV SPF T-Shirts with Mask Rash Guard Fishing Lightweight, 01-gray, Large, Long Sleeve

$29.99
at Amazon

$29.99
at Amazon

Full zip

Soothfeel Women’s UPF 50+ Sun Protection Hoodie Jacket Lightweight Long Sleeve Sun Shirt for Women with Pocket Hiking Outdoor Green S

$25.49
at Amazon

$29.99
Save $4.50

$25.49
at Amazon

$29.99
Save $4.50

Apple’s new macOS Tahoe release isn’t the end of the road for Intel Macs, but it sends Apple’s clearest signal yet that it’s nearly finished with the Intel Mac era. The macOS 26 update will support just four Intel Macs, all released in 2019 or 2020, and it entirely drops support for all Intel versions of the MacBook Air and Mac mini.

Other models that run the current macOS 15 Sequoia release that won’t support macOS Tahoe include all 15-inch MacBook Pros, all 13-inch MacBook Pros with two Thunderbolt ports, and the 4K and 5K versions of the 2019 iMac.

The compatibility list for macOS 26 Tahoe.
Credit:
Apple

Apple has generally been pulling support for new macOS releases from Intel Macs more aggressively than it was in the mid-to-late 2010s, giving most systems six-ish years of new macOS releases followed by another two years of security updates. Some models fared better than others; for example, Intel MacBook Air models have been getting dropped more aggressively than MacBook Pros.

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As part of a wider software rebranding effort, Apple’s visionOS is jumping from version 2 to 26 with a new software update announced during the company’s developer conference this week.

visionOS 26 will reach Vision Pro users later this year, and it focuses on refining the focus of the device based on how users are actually using it rather than whatever wild ideas the company had during its initial development—including addressing common complaints about how the Vision Pro doesn’t support some features of popular competing mixed-reality headsets.

For example, the headset will soon support native playback of 3D video recorded by people other than Apple and downloaded from anywhere on the Internet—something you had to use a few, somewhat janky third-party apps to do until now, but which is an easier-to-access feature of some other mixed-reality headsets.

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iPadOS 26 is coming to supercharge your tablet’s productivity. At WWDC 2025, Apple previewed what it called the iPad’s biggest software update yet. You can finally resize app windows dynamically. Meanwhile, the menu bar brings drop-downs for more organized controls. It’s all wrapped in Apple’s new Liquid Glass redesign. All in all, iPad users craving a more Mac-like experience have plenty to chew on here.

The rumors about a Mac-like multitasking overhaul came to fruition. The new windowing system lets you “seamlessly close, minimize, resize, or tile [your] windows.” The resizing options aren’t limited like in the previous version of Stage Manager. You can resize them by dragging a handle on the lower right. Or, flick to tile all your windows toward the screen edges. Long-pressing reveals more tiling options. And when you reopen the app, your windows will return to their last position.

Exposé also makes its way over from Apple’s desktop. It shows your open windows in a tiled array, making it easier to jump between them.

Apple

The menu bar, a Mac mainstay from the get-go, arrives on the iPad. When using touch controls, you can use it by swiping down from the top. Or, click with your cursor when using a trackpad or mouse. As on the Mac, the active app includes familiar menu entries like File, Edit, View, Window, Format, Arrange and Help.

The Files app gets an update to keep pace with the iPad’s new productivity chops. It has an updated List view that displays more information about your documents. It includes resizable columns and collapsible folders. You can also choose default apps for specific file types. (For example, edit photos with Photoshop, Darkroom, or Pixelmator.) You can even drag folders to the dock, like on macOS.

The Preview app also arrives in iPadOS 26, allowing you to view and edit PDFs. Using Apple Pencil Markup or touch, you can mark up your documents. It also has AutoFill, letting you fill out PDF forms without third-party software.

Apple

The big productivity overhaul follows years of subtler nudges in that direction. When it arrived 15 years ago, the iPad worked with physical keyboards, but only for typing. Trackpad support didn’t come until 10 years later. Later, iPadOS 15 added a context menu for window management. And the first Stage Manager brought a more mature multitasking environment. But each of those moves was only incremental. Power users begging Apple for something more “Pro” were left wanting. The new iPadOS 19 features look like a giant leap by comparison.

The productivity updates won’t be limited to iPad Pro and Air. The entry-level model and iPad mini get them, too.

iPadOS 26 is wrapped in Liquid Glass redesign coming to all of Apple’s new software at WWDC 2025. You’ll see translucent effects and rounder icons to match device corners. It’s all inspired by the software for Apple’s mixed reality headset.

Of course, the software’s naming scheme is also new. Apple unified its upcoming software by giving them all the “26” number. Before, the version ticked up once each year. But since the company’s platforms were on different numbers, it could confuse some. So, from now on, all Apple software will carry the name of the upcoming year. (Although the update arrives this fall, it will be the de facto software for the bulk of 2026.) Pour one out for the “iPadOS 19” that will never be.

Apple

There are also plenty of smaller updates. iPadOS 26 also includes Apple’s new dedicated Games app. The Phone app arrives, letting you make and receive calls from your tablet.

Expect the first iPadOS 26 developer beta to arrive soon after the keynote ends. Public betas will follow in July. The software’s final version will land this fall, likely in or around September.

Developing…

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/ipados-26-makes-apples-tablets-more-like-macs-174904597.html?src=rss

iOS 26 is official: Apple finally announced the newest update for iPhones during WWDC 2025. After months of leaks and rumors, we now know that the new “Liquid Glass” redesign is real, the Camera app is getting its first major overhaul in years, and live translation is coming to all supported Apple devices.

Apple isn’t planning on releasing iOS 26 to the public until some time this fall. However, you can try it out right now, if you have a compatible iPhone. That’s because Apple has officially released the first developer beta for iOS 26. The thing is, I wouldn’t recommend you try it out.

You probably shouldn’t install the iOS 26 developer beta

Betas, by their nature, are unfinished software. The whole point of a beta is to test a new update to look for bugs, instability, and incompatibility. Developers then fix those issues before releasing the software to the public at large.

Apple’s latest beta is even more specific, though—it’s a developer beta, which means it’s exclusively meant for software developers to install and test their apps with iOS 26. That way, they can update their own apps to work well with the new OS update, and report any OS-level issues back to Apple.

This is the buggiest iOS 26 will ever be, since Apple has another three months or so until their public release. As such, I recommend you avoid this version of iOS 26. It’s tempting, considering all the new features and changes Apple added this year, but you’ll be introducing an unstable version of iOS to your iPhone. You might find your iPhone difficult to use, or, in the worst case scenario, impossible to use. And if you need to wipe the beta from your iPhone, you’ll likely need to install a clean version of iOS 18, which could result in data loss if you normally rely on a backup.

Unless you have a spare iPhone lying around to test, I wouldn’t risk it. Apple will release the public beta in July, which, while not perfect, has at least gone through more testing and debugging than this beta.

How to install the iOS 26 developer beta

Apple’s developer betas used to be exclusive to developers with a paid $99 license. That barred most of the public from trying it out early, though some found downloads on the internet anyway. But in recent years, Apple made it free to at least sign up to be a developer, which is now all you need to access the dev beta.

To start, you’ll need to enroll your Apple ID in the Apple Developer program. Sign in with your Apple ID here, and agree to any terms. From here, open the Settings app, then go to General > Software Update > Beta Updates. Here, you should have the option to select iOS 26 Developer Beta once it’s available. Hit Back in the top left, allow iOS to load the beta, then hit Update Now.

Which iPhones are compatible with iOS 26?

Of course, in order to install iOS 26, your iPhone needs to be compatible with it. Unfortunately, Apple axed the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR from this year’s update. That means the following iPhones are compatible with iOS 26:

• iPhone 16e

• iPhone 16

• iPhone 16 Plus

• iPhone 16 Pro

• iPhone 16 Pro Max

• iPhone 15

• iPhone 15 Plus

• iPhone 15 Pro

• iPhone 15 Pro Max

• iPhone 14

• iPhone 14 Plus

• iPhone 14 Pro

• iPhone 14 Pro Max

• iPhone 13

• iPhone 13 mini

• iPhone 13 Pro

• iPhone 13 Pro Max

• iPhone 12

• iPhone 12 mini

• iPhone 12 Pro

• iPhone 12 Pro Max

• iPhone 11

• iPhone 11 Pro

• iPhone 11 Pro Max

• iPhone SE (2nd generation)

• iPhone SE (3rd generation)

What’s new with iOS 26?

Apple announced a host of new features for this software update. There’s an all new design called “Liquid Glass,” which is based on the way light and objects appear through glass. That might sound pretentious, but, to be honest, I dig the design: It’s minimalist, and seems to have some great attention to detail. I’m looking forward to testing this one out.

Live Translation can translate audio and text alike, so you can have bilingual conversations without knowing another language. Visual intelligence, which lets you analyze subjects with your camera, now works with anything on your iPhone’s screen, which should make the feature even more useful. Genmoji and Image Playground now lets you combine two AI images into one, and Shortcuts now has Apple Intelligence support.

The Phone app gets a redesign, as well as some new features that should cut down on spam: Call Screening, which asks callers for their info before patching them through to you, and Hold Assist, which lets you know when a live agent is available on a call. You can screen texts in the Messages app, too, and implement custom backgrounds and generate polls. Group chats now support typing indicators.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: YouTube videos may be getting a bit more pernicious soon. Google’s dominant video platform has spent years removing discriminatory and conspiracy content from its platform in accordance with its usage guidelines, but the site is now reportedly adopting a lighter-touch approach to moderation. A higher bar for content removal will allow more potentially inflammatory content to remain up in the “public interest.” […]

Beginning late last year, YouTube began informing moderators they should err on the side of caution when removing videos that are in the public interest. That includes user uploads that discuss issues like elections, race, gender, sexuality, abortion, immigration, and censorship. Previously, YouTube’s policy told moderators to remove videos if one-quarter or more of the content violated policies. Now, the exception cutoff has been increased to half. In addition, staff are now told to bring issues to managers if they are uncertain rather than removing the content themselves.
“Recognizing that the definition of ‘public interest’ is always evolving, we update our guidance for these exceptions to reflect the new types of discussion we see on the platform today,” YouTube’s Nicole Bell told the New York Times. “Our goal remains the same: to protect free expression on YouTube while mitigating egregious harm.”

Most of the videos hosted on YouTube won’t be affected by this change, the company says. “These exceptions apply to a small fraction of the videos on YouTube, but are vital for ensuring important content remains available,” a YouTube spokesperson tells Ars. “This practice allows us to prevent, for example, an hours-long news podcast from being removed for showing one short clip of violence.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

The iOS 26 update announced at WWDC 25 isn’t just about the new Liquid Glass redesign. Apple is using this opportunity to redesign some fundamental features in the Phone and Messages apps, something that the company hasn’t done in, well, forever.

Apple is clearly taking inspiration from Google’s Pixel phones here, bringing in call screening features and a new multi-view layout that combines your favorites, recent calls, and voicemails all on one page. It’s the same story in Messages, where you’ll find some Pixel and WhatsApp style features like custom backgrounds.

Apple’s Phone app brings a new view, Call Screening, and Hold Assist

Credit: Apple

First, there’s a new design for the Phone app, and a new tab bar with a big Search icon that could come in handy. The new Phone screen shows your Favorites pinned to the top, and then you’ll see all your recent calls and voicemails in a single view. According to Apple, though, this is going to be an optional feature, so it should be possible to roll back to the old look, although we don’t exactly know how that will work yet.

Next is Call Screening, a feature similar to one on the Google’s Pixel phone series. When you get a call from an unknown number, your iPhone will pick up the call in the background, and will hear what the caller saying. If it’s something actually useful, and not spam, your iPhone will ring, and you’ll see a transcription of what the caller is saying. You can then choose to answer the call, if you wish.

Credit: Apple

Lastly, there’s the Hold Assist feature, which could help save you from hours of hold music. This feature automatically detects hold music and activates a background mode for the call. You are now free to leave the Phone app, or even lock your phone. When an agent connects, your iPhone will call you, and will also tell you when what the Agent said while you were away.

Live translate in phone, messages, and everywhere

iMessage chats are about to get livelier, too. Like on WhatsApp and Telegram, you’ll now be able to set custom backgrounds for any chat. There’s also a new Polls feature, something that’s really popular on WhatsApp.

In group chats, you’ll also finally see typing indicators. And you’ll be able to send a receive Apple Cash directly in group chats.

The Live Translate feature is also coming to Messages, so you’ll be able to automatically translate audio messages and text on the fly.

Apple is even bringing a spin on its call screening features to Messages. Texts from unknown senders will be sent to a dedicated new folder, and they won’t be added to your main texts list until you accept them. However, this won’t apply to things like one-time passwords, delivery updates and other important information.

While text messages are an easy way to communicate with people, one of the downsides is unsolicited or unwanted messages—particularly ones that are trying to scam you. But today at WWDC 2025, Apple introduced a new way to handle them in the Messages app.

With iOS 26 (the new naming scheme for Apple’s software), the Messages app will now include on-device spam detection, allowing you to screen spam text messages as they come through. The Messages app will automatically flag texts from unfamiliar numbers in a separate folder under Unknown Senders. From there, you can mark a phone number as known, get more info, or delete it; messages from these Unknown Senders will be silenced until a user accepts them.

The Messages app will let you easily filter out those spam messages so then they’re not in your main conversation view and you can focus on your important threads. Apple says the new on-device spam detection feature in the Messages app will be launching with iOS 26, which is coming later this year for compatible iPhones.

For more WWDC 2025 announcements, follow our live blog.

Apple unveiled the next version of macOS today during the Worldwide Developers Conference. Codenamed Tahoe, macOS 26 gets a visual refresh with the same “Liquid Glass” look that Apple is introducing across all of its operating systems this year. Apple has also changed the version number, jumping directly from version 14 to version 26 as it shifts to unified year-based version numbering across all of its operating systems.

Liquid Glass goes all-in on translucency and transparency, changing the look of icons and windows across the operating system. Most significantly, the macOS menu bar has become entirely invisible, and the Control Center has adopted a new, glassy, translucent appearance. The same color-tinting customization features available on iOS and iPadOS are coming to the Mac this year, giving users multiple customization options on top of the standard light and dark modes and accent colors.

The invisible menu bar and glassy Control Center in macOS Tahoe.
Credit:
Apple

The new look will probably define the release in the minds of most users, but it’s bringing the standard handful of new features and refinements across the built-in apps. For the Finder, folders can be customized with colors and emoji labels to help them stand out from a big list of folders.

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Apple continues to improve gaming features on Macs with Metal 4 for Apple Silicon on its latest version of macOS Tahoe 26 announced at WWDC 26. The new graphics platform introduces two new technologies designed to make graphics look better and run faster, MetalFX Frame Interpolation and MetalFX denoising. 

MetalFX Frame Interpolation generates an intermediate frame for every two input frames to boost frame rates with minimal computing overhead, while MetalFX Denoising “makes real-time ray tracing and path tracing possible in the most advanced games,” the company said. It pointed out that upcoming titles like Crimson Desert and InZOI will use technologies like MetalFX Upscaling to improve performance and visuals via technology like ray-tracing available with the company’s M3 and M4 family of chips.

Apple put a fair amount of emphasis on gaming during this year’s developer conference. It revealed the new Games app that will come pre-installed on Mac, iPhone and iPad with macOS Tahoe 26 and iOS 26 this fall. The company also reminded us of new games arriving on macOS, including Cyberpunk 2077, Cronos: The New Dawn, Architect: Land of Exiles, Lies of P: Overture, HITMAN World of Assassination, EVE Frontier and Where Winds Meet.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/metal-4-for-macos-tahoe-26-introduces-new-gaming-features-like-frame-interpolation-183247623.html?src=rss

Apple is bringing Preview, macOS’s built-in image and PDF viewer, to the iPad. Starting with iPadOS 26, Preview will now come preinstalled on iPads. On desktop, Preview allows users to view and edit documents and images; Apple is bringing this functionality to its tablet by leveraging Apple Pencil.

Using Apple Pencil Markup, users can annotate and edit PDFs and images. If you don’t have an Apple Pencil, touch will work as well. Preview will have direct access to compatible documents and pictures saved in iPadOS’s Files folder so users can select what to work on without leaving the app.

Another common use of the Preview app is filling out PDF forms, which iPadOS will support with AutoFill. Once edits are complete, Preview can export your file in a number of different formats and sizes.

Apple kicked off WWDC 2025 today where it announced a slew of new software features across mobile and desktop devices as well as updates to Apple Intelligence and more. AI integration has been the main focal point at this year’s developer conference, along with a top-to-bottom UI redesign that unifies all OS versions in the Apple device lineup.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-is-bringing-preview-to-ipados-175643371.html?src=rss

During the WWDC 2025 keynote, Apple unveiled a big design revamp for iOS 26, the successor to iOS 18. The Liquid Glass redesign takes a lot from visionOS, and adopts a glass-like transparent look for key UI elements. Three apps that have benefited from this new look are Camera, Photos, and FaceTime.

The Camera app streamlines controls

Credit: Apple

The Camera app in particular has been in need of streamlining for a while, and Apple has made an attempt to address it, and the Photos app, which already got a redesign last year, now has a bit more refinement with iOS 26, starting with a new icon, which looks quite a bit like the camera lens from Apple’s good old Aperture for Mac. This is a significant improvement over the rather generic iOS Camera icon that’s been around for a few years.

Apple has also given the Camera app a simplified design, which highlights just the two buttons, one for photos and the other for videos. Tapping these buttons opens up more options, which makes it easier to navigate. When you’re in the Videos tab, you can swipe to access different video modes, and the same thing applies to the Photos tab. You’ll see the Liquid Glass design show up when you’re trying to select video recording modes, for example. 

The Photos app builds on that controversial redesign

Credit: Apple

The Photos app also has a few neat changes for iOS 26, building upon the changes in the controversial overhaul the app received last year. The biggest change, other than the Liquid Glass UI, is the positioning of the buttons. Apple has moved the search button to the bottom-right corner of the display, where you can actually tap it without stretching your finger like a yogi. Two other buttons, Library and Collections, are in the bottom-left corner, and all three buttons follow the Liquid Glass design, obviously.

FaceTime moves things around

Credit: Apple

FaceTime also has embraced iOS 26’s Liquid Glass redesign. All the call controls buttons have been moved to the bottom right, which is a welcome change given how big iPhones have become over the years. The FaceTime photo (aka screenshot) button has moved to the top-right, and the buttons fade out once the call begins, but you can tap the screen to access them again.

Apple‘s WWDC isn’t usually known for a lot of a hardware news, but the company previewed a couple intriguing updates coming to AirPods with its latest batch of software updates. The earbuds are getting built-in camera control features that allow you to snap photos or control video recording.

With the update, users will be able to control the camera on iPhones, iPads and compatible third-party camera apps by pressing and holding on the stems of their AirPods. No word yet on which non-Apple camera apps might support this feature, but it could be particularly handy for creators if it’s widely adopted by social media and video editing apps.

Another AirPods update likely to appeal to content creators is the addition of “studio quality recording” for AirPods. According to Apple, the change will allow “interviewers, podcasters, singers, and other creators can record their content with greater sound quality” even in noisy environments. The company is also improving audio quality for phone calls and FaceTime, as well as third-party CallKit-enabled apps. Other apps will also benefit from AirPods’ improved audio, including the camera app, Voice Memos, Messages (specifically, its dictation features), as well as third-party camera and video conferencing apps.

All of the upgrades will arrive as a firmware update that’s part of iOS 26, PadOS 26 and macOS Tahoe 26 and will be available for AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with ANC and the second-gen AirPods Pro. While those updates won’t officially drop until later this year, developers enrolled in Apple’s beta program will be able to start experimenting with the changes today, while those registered for the company’s public betas will be able to get their hands on it next month.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/apple-is-adding-a-camera-remote-and-upgrading-audio-recording-on-airpods-180211014.html?src=rss

During Apple‘s WWDC keynote event today in Cupertino, company execs announced, among other things, the latest Apple Watch software: watchOS 12, er, watchOS 26. Like iOS, macOS, iPadOS and the rest, the latest generation of watchOS will now be appended with the upcoming year, instead of a sequential number. What would have been watchOS 12, is now watchOS 26. 

Aside from the new name, there’s a new look for watchOS, too. Apple gave its entire suite of software a redesign, one that takes aesthetic cues and the “physicality and richness” of visionOS, the software used in the company’s VR headset, the Vision Pro. It’s the biggest redesign since iOS 7. The look is called “liquid glass” and dynamically reacts to movement and responds to the content on screen. Menus now better fit to the rounded corners of the hardware. Notifications and other information now involve translucent backgrounds, giving the interface a glass-like appearance. 

The watchOS 26 also brings new features including Workout Buddy, an AI that will verbally talk you through your next run while also congratulating you on your accomplishments. The text-to-speech model is built on the voices of Fitness+ trainers and draws on data from your Workout and Health history. This is one of the first significant applications of Apple Intelligence to the Apple Watch. 

Workout Buddy will be available on Apple Watches Series 6 or later, the Apple Watch SE (2nd generation), and Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2 and you’ll need an Apple Intelligence-supported iPhone nearby along with Bluetooth headphones connected to your watch.  

Apple Intelligence upgrades will also make the Smart Stack more useful with a predictive algorithm that gathers information such as your location, time of day and routine to better bring up relevant apps in the Stack. The example given was showing you a workout card when you arrive at the gym in the morning. 

Apple’s AI will also make Messages smarter in watchOS 26. Now, an analysis of your incoming messages will generate suggested replies, expanding on the current suite of quick replies — meaning you may actually want to use one of the canned responses. That should make it easier to communicate without puling out your phone. 

Apple

A new gesture will also let you dismiss messages — or other notifications — that you’re not ready to deal with by flicking your wrist. A quick twist of your wrist away from you and back will return you to the watch screen. The wrist flick is available on the Series 9, Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. 

This latest suite of features join those announced during last year’s WWDC, in which Apple previewed watchOS 11. The best of the bunch (for me anyway) was the ability to pause your Rings for a day in the Activity app. Other features included a Training Load metric that rates your efforts during exercise, comparing it with your output over time, and the Vitals app, which tracks overnight health metrics for those who wear their watch to bed. 

This story is developing, refresh for the latest updates…

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/watchos-26-everything-apple-announced-for-its-wearable-at-wwdc-2025-174915653.html?src=rss

Last year, Apple introduced Visual Intelligence, which uses your camera to translate text, identify objects, or start searches by pointing your phone at something. But if the thing you want to know about is on your phone instead of in front of it, you’ve been out of luck. Until today’s WWDC announcement, that is.

The new Visual Intelligence update will let users take a screenshot of what’s on their phone and perform searches on the image’s content. If you’re looking at an object, the feature can search to find where you might be able to buy it online. You can also pull up a ChatGPT box to ask questions about what you’re looking at.

Perhaps the most useful, Visual Intelligence can suggest calendar events from images you screenshot. So, you can remember all those music festivals, conventions, or shows at your local bar that you find on Instagram. Frankly, this might be the coolest, most helpful AI feature I’ve seen on any platform in a while.