Aswhinged last week , I ’m not expecting much at WWDC 2025 this June . I ’m sick of Apple Intelligence and depressed by the likelihood it will dominate the conversation for a second year in a row . But there ’s another likely theme that pall me even more : the rumour Io 19 redesign .
In fact , the level to which Apple will revamp iOS ’s look ( and potentially navigational element ) this yr is the bailiwick of some dispute . Last month leaker baron Mark Gurman identify Io 19 as “ the boastful redesign since iOS 7 , ” andpredictedthat operate , image , buttons , even “ user port kinetics and mechanisms ” would all be altered to accomplish greater consistence between iOS and macOS . That ’s before we even get to system - wide glassy essence and “ rejiggering some app for a novel coevals of users to well realize . ”
That sound passably major . But Jon Prosser , who is more of a leaker jester , right away demonstrate off alleged screenshots of Io 19 and insisted that the changes would n’t amount to very much at all . And Gurman responded tothatresponse by state the screenshotsweren’t representativeand that the operating system was n’t finished yet . It all became rather knocker for Thematic Apperception Test . Is iOS 19 alter radically , or is it staying essentially the same ? correctly now we do n’t make out .
Personally , I go for it ’s the latter . When it comes to operating system interface , the means by which we pilot tech machine on a casual basis , sudden radical change is generally a bad idea . It should only happen when it absolutely has to .
Take thatiOS 7update mentioned by Gurman , a less - than - positivistic experience for the vast majority of iPhone exploiter . WWDC might seem like a big deal to members of the Apple mass medium coordination compound , but most iPhone owners did n’t determine the keynote that summer and did n’t have it off what was coming . Hence , the entire esthetic inspection and repair , complete with new app icons and flashy color palette , came as a terrible shock , and search dealings for full term like “ how to go back to iOS 6 ” spike on Macworld for weeks afterwards . It did n’t help that focusing so much on the broad design speech communication mean factors like productivity and motion sickness went inconsiderate , but the aspect alone would have ensure a mixed reception no matter .
We can debate about whether it was a better or worse design than iOS 6 ( and do hold in judgement that the initial launching was peculiarly garish , and was toned down in later adaptation ) , but above all , it was different : radically , on the spur of the moment , and disconcertingly unlike . When an interface is dissimilar it ’s concentrated to get things done because all the signposts you use to orient yourself have changed . You become dull , conservative , fearful . It ’s like being a tech fledgling all over again . It ’s disempowering , at least in the short term .
In the long condition , of path , it could be argued that iOS 7 ’s changes were necessary and positive . For one thing , it make good sense that a gimmick might need a thorough interface revamp six years after launch , given the impossible action of get everything right first sentence and the difference in context between a innovational new twist for former adoptive parent and a mature megahit . moreover , the iPhone ’s original user interface — create for a less digitally literate era that like bank bill - have apps to look like physical notepad — had outgrown its purpose . Apple could have cover the transition more sensitively , but I would agree that skeuomorphism ’s sentence had run out and change was necessary .
But if Apple feel it necessary to reconstruct the very foundations of iOS atthisstage , a full 18 years into the intersection ’s lifecycle , my first three questions would all be variants of , “ Oh God , why ? ” And then my fourth interrogative would be “ Why did n’t you do this long time ago ? Like , peradventure in 2013 , when you were change things anyway . ” Because as bad as major port change can be , it ’s a whole pile good thanrepeatedmajor interface modification .
Still , it might not be as bad as I ’m making out . If Jon Prosser is correct and Mark Gurman is incorrect , we should be looking instead at blue iterative change , which is the only kind of modification an operate on organization of this age should go through . Which will free up Craig Federighi to spend most of WWDC25 talking about Apple Intelligence , and let me to sleep in peace .
The only trouble is that this rely on the accuracy of a human who once claimed Apple was going to rebrand iOS asiPhoneOS , and got another prediction so badly improper that he had toshave off his eyebrows . So you’re able to probably see why I ’m not looking forwards to WWDC .
Foundry
Welcome to our hebdomadary Apple Breakfast column , which includes all the Apple news show you missed last workweek in a handy bite - sized roundup . We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday aurora cup of umber or tea , but it ’s cool if you need to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too .
The thought ofApple ’s AI doctoris making the Macalopea little queasy . Whereas Dan Moren ca n’t wait tomake an appointment .
Hey iPhone users , do n’t flow forVerizon ’s 3 - yr price lock .
I examine thefuture of multitaskingon the Mac and it wasamazing and uncomfortable .
Ca n’t decide betweenAirPods ProandPowerbeats Pro 2?Don’t buy either … yet .
Here ’s the50 - year - old Microsoft source codethat inspired thefirst Apple computer .
Has your Apple Account beenhacked ? Here’show to love – and fix it .
No , theiOS 19 code nameisn’t aclue about its blueprint .
Podcast of the week
You have thoughts about WWDC25 , iPhones without port , iPads without Apple Intelligence , and more , and we talk about them on the latest episode of the show .
you’re able to get every episode of the Macworld Podcast onSpotify , Soundcloud , thePodcasts app , orour own land site .
Reviews corner
The rumor mill
New ‘ silicon chip - and - ship’M5 iPad Pro and MacBook Proupdatesset for vacation first appearance .
The iPhone 17 Pro’simproved telephoto camerais detailedin a new report .
Three iPhone modelsare reportedly about tolose iOS support .
Can we expectany new productsfrom Apple inApril ?
Software updates, bugs, and problems
iOS 18.4has make it ! Here aremore than a dozen reasonsto upgrade now .
Although … a weirdiOS 18.4 bugis reportedly installingapps you do n’t want .
Andyet another iOS 18.4 bugbreaksCarPlaythis time .
How‘Lucid ’ effort iMessageto sendencrypted phishing attacksto your iPhone .
Here ’s whyyour AirPods Max do n’t havelossless sound recording over USB - Cyet .
