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THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF APPLE

- ALEX SUMMERSBY

New unified design, new Al features

Apple announces sweeping update and unification of all its platforms

AT WWDC 2025, Apple introduced a new, unified interface design language across all its platforms. Along with Apple Intelligence features common to all (on supported devices), this brings iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro, and Apple TV closer together in appearance and user experience than ever.

As was widely leaked, the change is flagged with a new, unified naming convention based on the year — or at least, the year into which the Fall OS releases will take you — starting with iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and so on.

The design is based on a theme (Apple is calling it “a new material”, but it’s entirely virtual) called Liquid Glass, which it says was “inspired by the depth and dimensionality of visionOS.” Interface elements and controls are translucent, with colors changing according to context. Panels of controls sit in a distinct, floating layer and “fluidly transform” as you interact with them, much like how Dynamic Island changes shape. Widgets and new, layered app icons meld with the background, in light, dark, or anew “clear” look.

It remains to be seen how the new translucent effect and particularly this “clear” look work for users with visual impairments. If the location and size of screen elements and controls are changeable, do they meet accessibility or even basic usability guidelines?

APPLE INTELLIGENCE ENHANCEMENTS