iOS Today 756: WWDC 2025 – Detailed Summary
Release Date: June 12, 2025
In episode 756 of iOS Today, hosts Micah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard dissect the major announcements from Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025. Recorded on June 10, 2025, the episode offers listeners a comprehensive look into the latest updates and features across Apple’s ecosystem, focusing on iOS, iPadOS, and related technologies.
1. Overview of WWDC 2025
Micah kickstarts the discussion by highlighting the shift in WWDC's structure this year. Unlike previous iterations, where sessions were released incrementally, Apple opted to release all sessions simultaneously on day one. Micah remarks,
“Instead of doing a staggered release, they just decided let's get all of the sessions out there on day one so everybody can look at them throughout the week.”
[03:37]
Rosemary complements this by sharing her excitement about the event's impact:
“I'm wearing an Apple Park T shirt because... there was a big event at Apple Park yesterday and I thought it was appropriate and we should celebrate.”
[03:37]
2. New Design Language: Liquid Glass
A significant portion of the discussion revolves around Apple's new design language termed "Liquid Glass". Rosemary shares her firsthand experience with the beta version:
“I'm running the beta. I'm currently experimenting with the glass icons... it's gone transparent and everything's all glassy. It's fun, it's shiny, it's interesting.”
[05:06]
Micah elaborates on the principles behind the design:
“Hierarchy, harmony, and consistency... layering, depth, and vitality are the three other words they used.”
[06:20]
This new aesthetic introduces more transparency and depth, enhancing user navigation by providing a clearer sense of app layering and interaction.
3. Apple Intelligence Enhancements
Apple Intelligence saw notable updates, particularly in live translation and visual intelligence. Micah details the live translation feature:
“During a FaceTime call, you can see a caption that is in your language while the person speaking on the other end is speaking in theirs and vice versa.”
[10:15]
Rosemary adds excitement over visual intelligence integrations:
“I thought that that was really nice... integrating with apps like Etsy allows you to find similar handmade items effortlessly.”
[16:31]
These features emphasize Apple's commitment to on-device processing, ensuring user privacy while enhancing cross-language communication.
4. CarPlay Improvements
Rosemary expresses enthusiasm for the revamped CarPlay:
“We can now tap back to messages directly on the screen... giving options like thumbs up, thumbs down, a heart...”
[10:44]
Micah notes the introduction of widgets in CarPlay, which aims to provide more interactive and customizable controls, enhancing the in-car user experience.
5. Messages App Updates
The Messages app received significant enhancements:
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Polls Integration: Rosemary shares a practical example:
“Polls are now built into messages... we can vote on the one that I want and we can see my face pops up next to my vote.”
[25:27] -
Message Screening: Micah explains the new call screening feature:
“The call gets answered on the other end and then it pops up... showing why they're calling, so you can decide to answer it or not.”
[11:15] -
Apple Cash in Group Chats: Facilitates easy splitting of bills and payments within group conversations.
Additionally, customized backgrounds and image-backed group chats allow for a more personalized messaging experience.
6. Apple Games App
Micah introduces the new Apple Games app, drawing parallels to platforms like Steam:
“Seeing what I have on my device is really nice and I'm looking forward to seeing how it makes me... maybe reach out and play with some of my friends over the Internet.”
[27:04]
The app aims to centralize game libraries and enhance multiplayer interactions, fostering a more connected gaming community within Apple’s ecosystem.
7. Accessibility Features in iOS and iPadOS 26
Apple unveiled substantial updates in accessibility:
- Accessibility Reader: Enhances system-wide reading experiences.
- Braille Access: Improved interfaces for iPhones with connected braille displays.
- Personal Voice: Advances in speech synthesis for individuals.
Micah emphasizes the importance of these features:
“These are super, super cool and add so much functionality... making the iPad just that much more interesting for anyone.”
[34:28]
8. iPadOS 26 Enhancements
Renaming to iPadOS 26 signifies a year-long development cycle. Key updates include:
- Stage Manager Enhancements: Introduction of Mac-like window controls with close, maximize, and minimize buttons.
- Default App Settings: Users can set default apps for specific file types, streamlining workflows.
- Preview App: The macOS Preview app is now available on iPad and iPhone, offering advanced PDF and image handling with annotation capabilities.
Rosemary shares her excitement:
“So if you were doing that and you wanted to see... it's going to be pretty, it's pretty stinking cool.”
[35:54]
Micah adds:
“I know, I'm so excited. Because here's the thing... making that level of adjustment across the platform... it just feels like bring the iPad to new levels for sure.”
[38:17]
9. Background Tasks Feature
A new feature allows computationally intensive tasks to continue running in the background without interruption. Micah describes:
“Now it won't [get killed], because you can perform computationally intensive tasks in the background with a new feature called Background Tasks.”
[39:25]
This enhancement ensures that tasks like video exporting or data uploads run smoothly even when multitasking.
10. Shortcuts Enhancements
Rosemary discusses the expanded capabilities of Apple's Shortcuts app:
- Automations on macOS: Triggering shortcuts based on focus modes.
- New Actions in Messages: Ability to find and filter messages by various criteria.
- Integration with ChatGPT:
“You now have the explicit option to use a model... you can choose what kind of model you would like to use.”
[47:04]
Micah shares personal enthusiasm:
“This is something that's new that I'm very excited about... it honestly might be the thing that gets me to install the beta on my iPhone quicker than anything else.”
[19:49]
11. App Caps: Featured Apps
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Micah’s Pick: Hidden Folks Plus
A charming search-and-find game now available on Apple Arcade. Micah praises its interactive elements and expansive maps:
“It's a very clever seek and find game that takes things a step further than just being a simple, you know, sort of move around and try to find something.”
[52:17] -
Rosemary’s Pick: Aalo
A data roaming solution for travelers offering affordable eSIM options. Rosemary highlights its flexibility:
“You could say I'm going to get like the 1 gigabyte, like 7 day anywhere in the world SIM... so I could be like, I think I might have won.”
[56:00]
12. Conclusion and Community Engagement
The episode wraps up with promotions for Club Twit, encouraging listeners to join for exclusive content and community interactions. Both hosts provide their online handles for further engagement:
“You can follow me at ikasargent... head to Chihuahua Coffee where I've got links to the places I'm most active online.”
[61:10]
Notable Quotes with Attribution and Timestamps
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Micah on WWDC's Session Release Strategy
“Instead of doing a staggered release, they just decided let's get all of the sessions out there on day one so everybody can look at them throughout the week.”
[03:37] -
Rosemary on Running the iOS Beta
“I'm running the beta. I'm currently experimenting with the glass icons... it's gone transparent and everything's all glassy. It's fun, it's shiny, it's interesting.”
[05:06] -
Micah on Liquid Glass Design Principles
“Hierarchy, harmony, and consistency... layering, depth, and vitality are the three other words they used.”
[06:20] -
Rosemary on Live Translation Features
“I thought that that was really nice... integrating with apps like Etsy allows you to find similar handmade items effortlessly.”
[16:31] -
Micah on the New Background Tasks Feature
“Now it won't [get killed], because you can perform computationally intensive tasks in the background with a new feature called Background Tasks.”
[39:25] -
Rosemary on Shortcuts Automation
“You now have the explicit option to use a model... you can choose what kind of model you would like to use.”
[47:04]
Final Thoughts
Episode 756 of iOS Today provides a thorough exploration of WWDC 2025’s announcements, emphasizing Apple’s continuous evolution in design, intelligence features, and user customization. Hosts Micah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard effectively break down complex updates, making them accessible and exciting for their audience. Whether you're a developer eager to dive into the new Shortcuts capabilities or a user anticipating the enhanced iPadOS, this episode offers valuable insights into what Apple has in store.