iOS 26 Beta: 3 Key Features Outshine Liquid Glass Design

Liquid Glass Design Controversy

• 💡 Apple's new "Liquid Glass" design, making buttons and menus appear as clear jelly, has sparked debate online regarding its futuristic appeal versus potential legibility issues.
• ⚠️ Concerns exist about the increased animations and "wobbly, blurry" interface, though accessibility options to toggle transparency are noted.

Visual Intelligence and Screenshots

• 🎯 A standout feature is Visual Intelligence, allowing users to take screenshots and search for information within them, similar to Android's "circle to search."
• 📅 This enables quick actions like adding event details from flyers or invitations directly to the calendar, simplifying organization.

Smarter Apple Maps

• 🧠 Apple Maps will now understand user routines, offering proactive advice even without active navigation, such as suggesting alternative routes for daily commutes.
• 🔒 The feature emphasizes privacy by keeping data on-device and requires explicit user opt-in.
• ❓ Questions remain about the accuracy of routine detection and place recognition, drawing parallels to occasional inaccuracies in the Apple Journal app.

Enhanced Phone Calls

• 🤖 Phone calls are being transformed with a call screening feature, acting like a robot secretary to identify callers and their reasons for calling before the user answers.
• 🗣️ Live translation is integrated directly into calls, breaking down language barriers and facilitating conversations between different languages without needing a separate app.

iPadOS and Future Features

• 💻 iPadOS is gaining a more Mac-like interface with resizable windows and menu bars, enhancing multitasking capabilities.
• 🚀 While AI and Siri were not heavily featured at WWDC, many new helpful assistants are present, albeit not explicitly labeled as Siri.
• 🔍 Future updates may see improvements in Spotlight search on Macs and new workout companions for Apple Watch.