Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) WWDC Highlights: "Liquid Glass" design runs through entire ecosystem, iOS 26 leads six major system innovations.

On Monday local time, Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) held its highly anticipated Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), showcasing major updates to its software platforms in a comprehensive 90-minute presentation. Following the indefinite postponement of some artificial intelligence (AI) features announced last year, consumers and investors had high expectations for this conference. While Apple Inc.'s performance in the AI field this year remains conservative with limited upgrading features, it introduced a series of significant non-AI updates. The most notable is the new visual design called "Liquid Glass." As the name suggests, this design incorporates thinner, transparent elements, indicating that more devices will use glass materials in the future. It is reported that this design language is specially prepared for the 20th anniversary of Apple Inc.'s iPhone launch in 2027. As part of the brand's rebranding, Apple Inc. confirmed that it will use years rather than version numbers to identify its software. For example, the upgraded systems released in this conference include: iOS 26, iPadOS 26, tvOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, and visionOS 26. The following are the key new features set to be released this year: iOS 26 New interface design: adopts transparent icon options, redesigned navigation and menu bars in the style of Vision Pro headset New Game Center app: supports viewing friends' gaming activities, launching challenges, and integrating resources from the App Store and Apple Arcade Phone app upgrade: integrates recent calls, frequently used contacts, and voicemail, adds real-time reminder function for live answering Enhanced messaging features: group chat supports voting, background images, and Apple Cash payment function Smart filtering: upgrades spam filtering systems for phone and messaging apps Camera optimization: simplifies user interface, improves shooting efficiency Innovative lock screen: time display adaptive wallpaper composition, adds dynamic 3D wallpaper and intelligent slideshow function Safari browser: upgraded to a full-screen borderless layout Apple Music: added lyrics translation and pronunciation assistance Wallet app: integrates flight status tracking, airport maps, and luggage tracking (through the "Find" app), supports digital passport ID generation Maps upgrade: learns common routes intelligently, adds a section for visited locations iPadOS 26 Revolutionary multitasking: supports freely adjusting window sizes, stacking multiple windows, maintaining original layout when restarting apps, "dock" function for displaying all open applications New menu bar: can be summoned by sliding down from the top (or moving the mouse to the top), supports developer customization Preview app login on iPad: provides professional PDF and image viewing editing tools, supports automatic form filling New Notes app: Notes app login on iPad File management upgrade: collapsible folders with adjustable column widths, supports custom colors/icons/emojis Default app settings: support setting default opening method by file type or specific file Background task optimization: ensures high-load tasks like video exports do not interrupt when switching between multiple tasks Enhanced audio input: supports assigning independent microphones to different applications, enhances podcast recording experience watchOS 26 Fully adopts the Liquid Glass design language Intelligent contextual widgets: automatically display based on scene (e.g., entering the gym triggers fitness widgets) New fitness buddy feature: provides personalized guidance based on exercise history Gesture upgrade: adds wrist swing to reject incoming calls/notifications Environmental noise recognition: intelligently adjusts notification vibration intensity Notes app debuts on Apple Watch for the first time Control Center supports quick operations for third-party apps macOS Tahoe 26 New visual design: Dock, toolbar, and sidebar elements adopt Liquid Glass elements Game Center arrives on Mac: functionality consistent with iOS version Customizable Control Center and menu bar Personalized folders: supports color/emojis/symbols Phone app syncs with iPad version upgrades and upcoming improvements for iPhone. Real-time activity sync: support tracking iPhone activities such as Uber Eats orders on Mac Enhanced Focus search: One-stop search for files/events/messages/PDFs, etc. Notes app debuts on Mac, supports cross-device synchronization tvOS 26 Adopts the Liquid Glass design language, ensuring content viewing is not disturbed during operation Quick user switching: displays all user profiles upon awakening Streamlined streaming login: supports quick login via Apple account Karaoke innovation: iPhone can be used as a microphone, supports multi-person song selection and interactive emojis visionOS 26 New spatial widgets: can be freely placed and position memories preserved Enhanced virtual character creation: enhances side profile contours, skin texture details, adds accessories and frame options Shared space experience: supports multiple people watching movies/games/FaceTime calls in the same space Spatial photo enhancements: uses generative AI algorithms to create multi-view stereo scenes Full support for PS VR2 controllers: six degrees of freedom tracking/finger touch detection/vibration feedback Enterprise functionality upgrade: supports team device sharing and new software development frameworks Seamless unlocking: automatically unlocks associated iPhone when wearing Vision Pro Call answering: supports answering iPhone calls directly through Vision Pro