Thought Leadership
New look instead of big AI promises: Apple customers can expect a fresh look for the user interface of the iPhone and other Apple devices this fall.
New functions with artificial intelligence under the hood are spread across various apps and tasks. These include real-time translations of video calls and phone calls as well as the ability to start a Google search for what is currently on the display with a screen recording.
Like glass, but liquid
Apple calls the new design “Liquid Glass”. It has more transparent elements that float above other content. The look is intended to be consistent across different Apple devices from iPhones and iPad tablets to Mac computers and computer watches. It is the first major redesign of Apple’s design language, which hundreds of millions of people interact with every day, in more than a decade. According to Apple, the company’s customers have more than one billion devices in use.
Apple is also changing the naming of its products’ operating systems. Previously, they followed their own version numbers. For example, iOS 18 is currently available for the iPhone and macOS 16 for Mac computers. In future, the numbers will be linked to the year. This means that all versions this year will have the suffix “26” with a view to the coming year.
AI in many functions
The iPhone company had announced a greatly improved version of the Siri assistance software at WWDC 2024, but this has been delayed. Apple’s plan is for the future Siri to be particularly helpful for users because the software has access to users’ personal information and can be active across various apps. Very specific usage scenarios were already presented a year ago. However, in March, Apple announced that it would take longer for this to be implemented – estimated to be “next year”.
At its developer conference a few weeks ago, major rival Google, which develops the competing mobile system Android, showed how the AI software Gemini, which can communicate with users and recognize objects, is to be integrated more deeply into smartphones. Apple, on the other hand, is once again focusing on improving individual functions with the help of AI.
For example, the translation can be displayed as subtitles during video calls. During phone calls, the software intervenes as a speaking translator. Competitors Google and Samsung also offer such functions.
“Apple Intelligence”
Apple is also giving developers access to the company’s AI language models so that they can integrate them into their applications. Several developers said on the sidelines of WWDC that this could be important for them because it could mean that they no longer have to conclude deals with providers of AI chatbots – such as ChatGPT from OpenAI.
Apple combined its AI offerings last year under the name “Apple Intelligence”. To date, the software has been able to reword and summarize texts and create new emoji from user descriptions, among other things.
The iPad becomes a little more like a touchscreen Mac
There has been a major change to the operating system of iPad tablets. With a menu bar and better options for working with multiple app windows, it is getting closer to the operation of Mac computers. “Basically, the iPad is becoming a touchscreen Mac with a different app selection,” said industry analyst Avi Greengart from the consulting firm Techsponential.
Apple is optimizing the Vision Pro computer glasses for use in companies. With the next operating system – the version number jumps from 2 to 26 – it will be easier for different people to use one headset. Several users can also work on a project – such as a virtual vehicle model – at the same time. In view of the price starting at 4,000 euros, companies are seen as an important target group for Apple glasses.
The Vision Pro can capture the surroundings with its cameras and reproduce them in high quality on the displays in front of the eyes. With the new operating system, it also learns a technically impressive trick for everyday use. Users will be able to place widgets such as clocks or virtual picture frames in a fixed location in the room – and always see them in this location when they are wearing the headset in this environment.
dpa
