Connected 556: WWDC25 Recap, iPadOS Window Management, and Liquid Glass Design

WWDC25 Keynote and Community Vibes

• 🤝 The event structure at Apple Park, while efficient, led to less mingling between press and developers, with the F1 movie screening being a rare moment of community gathering.
• 💡 Suggestions were made to open up Apple Park's central areas to foster a more festival-like atmosphere for attendees.

iPadOS Window Management Revolution

• 🚀 iPadOS 26 introduces a completely new windowing system, moving away from Stage Manager to a more Mac-like free resizing and positioning experience.
• 📱 This update is available on all iPads running iPadOS 26, including Mini models, and allows for fluid window management with keyboard and trackpad support.
• ⚠️ While impressive for a beta, some edge cases and gesture refinements are still expected.

Liquid Glass Design Language

• ✨ A new design language, dubbed "Liquid Glass," is being rolled out across Apple's operating systems, featuring a glass-like aesthetic.
• 📱 The design is most dynamic on iPhone and iPad, reacting to touch, while on macOS it appears more consistently but is sometimes seen as less logical.
• 🎨 Initial reactions to the design are mixed, with some finding it fresh and others comparing it to older aesthetics, but the consensus is that it's a significant visual shift that will evolve.

OS Versioning and Naming Conventions

• 🔢 Apple has unified its OS versioning, with most systems now numbered '26' (e.g., iOS 26, iPadOS 26, visionOS 26), except for macOS Tahoe (macOS 26).
• 🗓️ This change aims to simplify tracking annual updates and align product releases more clearly.

End of an Era: Intel Macs and Rosetta

• ⏳ macOS Tahoe will be the last release to support Intel Macs, with security updates provided for three years.
• ⚙️ Rosetta 2 support will also end with macOS 27, marking a significant transition for users still relying on Intel-based applications on Apple Silicon Macs.

Apple Intelligence and Developer Access

• 🧠 Apple Intelligence features are being integrated across platforms, including a "Workout Buddy" and enhanced Siri capabilities.
• 🛠️ Developers gain access to an on-device 3-billion parameter Apple Foundation Model via the Apple Foundation Models framework, allowing for custom prompting and integration into apps.
• 🔗 This on-device model can be used alongside cloud-based models like ChatGPT, with safeguards in place to guide output, and updates are delivered over-the-air.

New Apps and Features

• 🎮 Apple has launched a new "Apple Games" app, aiming to centralize gaming experiences, though its exact utility is still being explored.
• 💡 VisionOS gains an eye-tracking scroll feature and support for VR game controllers, signaling Apple's continued investment in spatial computing.
• ✍️ Shortcuts now includes a "Use Model" action, enabling users to interact with on-device and cloud AI models, and receive structured variable outputs, a significant development for automation.

The Rickies Game Recap

• 🏆 Federico Vitici is crowned the new Keynote Chairman and Benchman after a strong performance in the WWDC prediction game.
• 💰 Losers contributed to The Trevor Project, with Stephen donating $125 due to incorrect flexi picks.