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macOS Tahoe forces all app icons into iOS squircles
a year ago
- Apple's Craig Federighi denied merging iOS and macOS in 2018, but evidence in macOS 26 Tahoe suggests otherwise.
- macOS Tahoe enforces iOS-style squircle app icons for all apps, including third-party ones, automatically applying them if not provided.
- The change affects Finder, open panels, and Safari Extensions Settings, causing inconvenience and costs for indie developers.
- Older apps on Tahoe display newer app icons, possibly due to the Launch Services framework using bundle identifiers.
- macOS Tahoe's Appearance System Settings now resemble iOS, further indicating a merge between the two operating systems.
- Despite the changes, macOS Tahoe introduces new customization options for the Dock.
Apple's new interface approach: The choice is yours
a year ago
- Apple is shifting from its traditional 'my way or the highway' design philosophy to offering users more interface choices.
- Examples include Safari's location bar options in iOS 15 and Mail's List View mode in iOS 18.
- Recent updates, like the Phone app redesign, emphasize optional changes to reduce user frustration.
- Apple acknowledges that drastic changes can be jarring, given the critical role of smartphones in daily life.
- However, maintaining old interfaces risks calcification, making it harder to introduce future improvements.
Apple Container Walkthrough/Example
a year ago
- Apple introduced a native containerization framework called Apple Container at WWDC, built entirely in Swift and optimized for Apple Silicon.
- Apple Container allows developers to pull, build, and run OCI-compliant container images without Docker or Podman, offering full compatibility with existing container ecosystems.
- Key features include pulling from any standard container registry, building and pushing OCI images effortlessly, and being 100% Swift native.
- Prerequisites for using Apple Container include macOS 15, Xcode beta 26, and an Apple Silicon Mac.
- Installation involves downloading the package from Apple's GitHub, installing it, and starting the service via terminal commands.
- Users can build and run containers, interact with them, and even publish images to Docker registries.
- Advanced commands allow control over memory and CPU allocation, building images for different architectures, and inspecting container configurations.
- Apple Container is positioned as a faster, leaner alternative to Docker and Podman on macOS, maintaining compatibility with OCI-compliant platforms.
My Mac Contacted 63 Different Apple Owned Domains in One Hour – While Not Is Use
a year ago
- A MacBook Air M2 contacted 63 different Apple domains in one hour while not in use.
- 25% of DNS queries from the MacBook Air M2 were to Apple domains, despite blocking Apple's native telemetry.
- A 2019 Intel MacBook Pro with the same DNS settings had less than 3% of DNS queries to Apple domains.
- Apple domains contacted include services like Push Notification, CloudKit, iTunes, Location Services, and more.
- Some domains are already blocked by the user, including Apple News, Apple TV, and Siri-related services.
VisionOS 26 keeps pushing Apple's newest platform toward the future
a year ago
- visionOS 26 introduces significant improvements, including enhanced Spatial Personas with better detail and realism.
- Geographic persistence allows items to remain in place even after rebooting, improving usability and convenience.
- New widget support enables placing interactive elements like clocks and photos on physical surfaces.
- Immersive Environments gain interactivity with features like adjustable time passage in the new Jupiter environment.
- Improved 3-D photo algorithms provide more realistic perspective changes when viewing images.
- Consensual viewing allows shared VR experiences between multiple Vision Pro users in the same space.
- Support for wide field-of-view video formats enhances immersive video playback.
- Spatial Browsing in Safari offers a 3-D reading experience with automatic conversion of images.
- Future potential includes hand controller support for gaming, expanding the platform's appeal.
Apple's Craig Federighi on the long road to the iPad's Mac-like multitasking
a year ago
- Apple introduced a new multitasking UI in iPadOS 26 at WWDC.
- Craig Federighi presented the update with sarcasm, acknowledging long-standing requests for iPad to function more like a traditional computer.
- The update includes a Mac-like interface, improved file manager, and better background task support.
- Despite seeming obvious, the implementation took years due to past hardware restrictions and incremental updates like the buggy Stage Manager.
- The article reflects on the evolution of iPad functionality over its 15-year history.
Apple previews new import/export feature to make passkeys more interoperable
a year ago
- Apple introduced an import/export feature for passkeys to address their lack of transferability across different operating systems and credential managers.
- Passkeys created on one OS or credential manager were previously bound to that environment, making transfers to non-Apple devices or other managers impossible.
- Critics argued passkeys locked users into specific ecosystems, and users feared losing access if their device was lost or stolen.
- The FIDO Alliance is working on making passkey syncing more flexible, with companies like Google, Dashlane, and 1Password developing import/export tools.
- Apple's new feature, coming to iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and visionOS, aims to give users more control over their credentials and choice of credential managers.
Apple gets over its hang-ups, and the iPad enters a new era
a year ago
- Apple has changed its approach to the iPad, allowing it to function more like a Mac with features such as Mac-like windows, stoplight buttons, and Expose.
- The iPad now supports advanced features like local microphone audio recording during VOIP calls, improved multitasking, and a Menu Bar, enhancing productivity for professional users.
- iPadOS 26 introduces significant improvements including arbitrary window resizing, better background task management, and enhanced Files app functionality.
- The new iPadOS version addresses previous limitations such as the inability to perform background exports in apps like Final Cut Pro and the lack of a clipboard manager.
- Apple aims to balance simplicity for casual users with advanced features for professionals, ensuring the iPad remains accessible while catering to power users.
Apple's Liquid Glass is prep work for AR interfaces, not just a design refresh
a year ago
- Apple's Liquid Glass at WWDC 2025 is a strategic move for the next decade of human-computer interaction.
- The shift from skeuomorphic to flat design in iOS 7 set a precedent for industry-wide adoption of new design languages.
- Liquid Glass prepares users for augmented reality (AR) by making interfaces translucent and contextually aware.
- Apple's vertical integration allows Liquid Glass to showcase hardware-software synergy, creating a competitive edge.
- The design shift emphasizes Apple's focus on user experience over competing in the LLM AI arms race.
- Liquid Glass may face initial usability challenges, similar to iOS 7, but Apple is likely to refine it over time.
- The new design language will influence the entire tech industry, reinforcing Apple's ecosystem advantages.
- Apple is positioning itself for a future of spatial computing, blending digital and physical interfaces seamlessly.
Liquid Glass – WWDC25 [video]
a year ago
- Liquid Glass is Apple's new design language, unifying the look and feel across its ecosystem.
- It introduces dynamic, flexible layers that bend and shape light, creating a more organic and immersive user experience.
- Liquid Glass responds to touch and movement, making interfaces feel alive and responsive.
- The design is inspired by natural phenomena like lensing, providing intuitive visual cues.
- It adapts to different contexts and environments, ensuring legibility and clarity.
- Liquid Glass is composed of multiple layers that work together, including highlights and shadows that respond to content underneath.
- There are two variants: Regular (versatile and adaptive) and Clear (more transparent, for media-rich content).
- Tinting elements can emphasize primary actions, but should be used selectively to avoid visual noise.
- Accessibility features like Reduced Transparency and Increased Contrast are built into Liquid Glass.
- Liquid Glass is designed to create a unified, fluid, and dynamic experience across all Apple platforms.
Apple Retreats
a year ago
- Apple's WWDC opening video featured executives in an F1 movie parody, setting a surreal tone.
- Craig Federighi admitted Apple failed to deliver promised AI features from last year's WWDC.
- Apple's AI promises, particularly for Siri, remain unfulfilled, raising concerns about their AI capabilities.
- John Gruber criticized Apple for overpromising and underdelivering on AI features.
- Apple declined to participate in Gruber's live show for the first time since 2015, sparking speculation.
- Marco Arment suggested Apple is retreating to safety, avoiding unscripted interviews.
- WWDC's headline feature was Liquid Glass, a new unified design language across Apple's OS.
- Liquid Glass emphasizes Apple's hardware-software integration, a retreat to core strengths.
- Apple announced Continuity features enhancing device integration, like Live Activities on Mac.
- Apple introduced the Foundation Models framework, enabling on-device AI for third-party apps.
- Apple deepened its partnership with OpenAI, integrating ChatGPT into more services.
- Apple hinted at potential App Store changes, possibly separating games from other apps.
- The Ninth Circuit Court denied Apple's request to maintain anti-steering restrictions on apps.
- Apple's retreat to core competencies contrasts with its struggles in AI and cloud services.
- The article compares Apple's AI missteps to Microsoft's Windows 8 failure and subsequent recovery.
Apple's New Speech APIs Outpace Whisper for Fast Transcription
a year ago
- The author's son introduced him to Apple's new SpeechAnalyzer and SpeechTranscriber modules, which impressed with their speed and accuracy.
- A command-line tool named Yap was quickly developed to transcribe audio and video files using these new technologies.
- Yap demonstrated significantly faster transcription times compared to existing tools like MacWhisper and VidCap, with no loss in quality.
- The speed advantage of Yap becomes substantial when processing multiple or lengthy videos, offering a 55% speed gain over competitors.
- SpeechAnalyzer and SpeechTranscriber represent a major advancement in transcription technology on Apple platforms, potentially replacing Whisper as the standard.
The hacked iPhone camera Apple built to shoot real race scenes for F1 The Movie
a year ago
- Apple engineers built a custom camera module using iPhone parts for an upcoming F1 movie to replace standard onboard F1 broadcast cameras.
- The custom rig includes an iPhone camera sensor, A-series chip, iPhone battery, and a neutral density (ND) filter, running on custom iOS firmware.
- Footage was captured in ProRes Log for flexibility in color grading and matching with the rest of the film.
- Due to F1 regulations prohibiting active radios, Apple created a custom iPad app connected via USB-C to control camera settings.
- The F1 movie featuring this footage releases internationally on June 25 and in U.S. theaters on June 27.
- Apple TV+ is available for $9.99 per month, offering popular shows like Ted Lasso and Severance.
One last look at software support as macOS 26 Tahoe winds down the Intel Mac era
a year ago
- Apple has been analyzing support for Intel-based Macs during the transition to Apple Silicon.
- macOS 26 Tahoe will be the last version to support Intel Macs.
- Apple will provide security updates for Intel Macs for two years after macOS 26.
- Apple's policy on security updates has been consistent but unspoken for decades.
- A comparison is made between the Intel transition and the PowerPC-to-Intel switch.
- Data includes every PowerPC and Intel Mac since 1998, detailing introduction, discontinuation, and macOS support.
Preview app adds Dark Mode toggle for PDFs on macOS Tahoe, iOS and iPadOS 26
a year ago
- Apple introduces Dark Mode toggle for PDFs in Preview app on macOS Tahoe, iOS, and iPadOS 26.
- On macOS, the option is under 'View' menu as 'Use Dark Appearance for PDF'. On iOS/iPadOS, it's under the overflow menu as 'Dark Background'.
- Implementation is thoughtful—text and graphics are inverted while images remain unchanged, improving readability.
- Users can add a custom keyboard shortcut for the dark mode toggle in macOS via System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts.
- The feature may reduce reliance on third-party PDF readers like PDF Viewer by PSPDFKit, which previously offered dark mode.
'F1' and Apple's Movie Strategy
10 months ago
- Apple CEO Tim Cook and Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton collaborate on the high-budget film 'F1 the Movie', starring Brad Pitt, set to release on June 27.
- The film represents a significant investment for Apple, aiming to impact pop culture and filmmaking, while also showcasing Apple's camera technology integrated into the latest iPhone.
- Apple's strategy with 'F1' and its broader Apple TV+ service focuses on quality storytelling and leveraging technology, rather than directly boosting hardware sales like iPhones.
- Eddy Cue, Apple's executive behind its entertainment push, sees 'F1' as a passion project that could inspire audiences and elevate Apple's standing in the film industry.
- Apple's approach to entertainment emphasizes building rather than buying, staying true to its ethos of innovation and quality, with a focus on original content that aligns with its brand values.
One Week Out, Some Brief Thoughts and Observations on WWDC 2025
10 months ago
- Apple focused on shipping features this fall rather than just announcing future plans at WWDC 2025.
- Apple's switch to year-based version numbers (e.g., iPadOS 26) simplifies tracking and aligns all platforms under a cohesive 'Apple OS 26' experience.
- iPadOS 26 introduces a new windowing system, moving away from split screen and Slide Over, while retaining Stage Manager for complex window organization.
- Liquid Glass, a new design language inspired by VisionOS, aims to create a more intuitive, beautiful, and unified experience across Apple's platforms.
- Liquid Glass, like Aqua before it, is fresh and exciting but may need refinement over time.
- Apple's rigorous annual OS update schedule reflects Tim Cook's leadership style, contrasting with the more erratic releases under Steve Jobs.
Transparent Ambition
10 months ago
- Translucent user interfaces (e.g., Aqua, Aero, Vibrancy, Acrylic) aim to 'look cool' but often reduce usability.
- Liquid Glass prioritizes visual appeal over functionality, making UI elements harder to parse and reducing legibility.
- Apple’s design philosophy increasingly minimizes UI presence, sometimes at the cost of usability (e.g., macOS System Settings).
- Liquid Glass focuses on visual effects rather than user control, unlike functional breakthroughs like the iPhone X’s gestural interface.
- The obsession with translucency and aesthetics often sacrifices predictability and usability in UI design.
- Liquid Glass resembles car chrome—visually striking but inefficient for interaction, highlighting a misaligned design priority.
The iPad Is About to Become a Much Better Video Editor
10 months ago
- iPadOS 26 will enhance the iPad's capabilities for professionals, especially in video editing.
- Background tasks feature allows rendering and exporting videos in the background while using other apps.
- Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve will benefit from this new functionality.
- Background Tasks API enables developers to support long-running tasks in their apps.
- Compatible with iPads from 2018 A12X iPad Pro to the latest M-series models.
- iPadOS 26 narrows the gap between iPad and Mac, making it more viable for professionals.
- Public beta of iPadOS 26 expected in July, with a full release in the fall.
Apple to open App Store to competitors in EU as it seeks to avoid fines
10 months ago
- Apple is opening its App Store to competitors in the EU to avoid fines.
- The Financial Times offers various digital subscription plans starting at $75 per month.
- Subscriptions provide access to quality journalism, expert analysis, and exclusive features.
- Options include annual payments with discounts and organizational access.
- Over a million readers subscribe to the Financial Times.

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#apple

macOS Tahoe forces all app icons into iOS squircles

Apple's new interface approach: The choice is yours

Apple Container Walkthrough/Example

My Mac Contacted 63 Different Apple Owned Domains in One Hour – While Not Is Use

VisionOS 26 keeps pushing Apple's newest platform toward the future

Apple's Craig Federighi on the long road to the iPad's Mac-like multitasking

Apple previews new import/export feature to make passkeys more interoperable

Apple gets over its hang-ups, and the iPad enters a new era

Apple's Liquid Glass is prep work for AR interfaces, not just a design refresh

Liquid Glass – WWDC25 [video]

Apple Retreats

Apple's New Speech APIs Outpace Whisper for Fast Transcription

The hacked iPhone camera Apple built to shoot real race scenes for F1 The Movie

One last look at software support as macOS 26 Tahoe winds down the Intel Mac era

Preview app adds Dark Mode toggle for PDFs on macOS Tahoe, iOS and iPadOS 26

'F1' and Apple's Movie Strategy

One Week Out, Some Brief Thoughts and Observations on WWDC 2025

Transparent Ambition

The iPad Is About to Become a Much Better Video Editor

Apple to open App Store to competitors in EU as it seeks to avoid fines