In March, Apple delayed its upgraded Siri, saying that “it’s going to take us longer than we thought to deliver” the promised features. At WWDC this week, Apple’s SVP of software Craig Federighi and SVP of worldwide marketing Greg Joswiak shared more details about the decision to delay in an interview with The Wall Street Journal’s Joanna Stern.
As part of its initial Apple Intelligence announcements at WWDC 2024, Apple said that the improved Siri would have awareness of your personal context and the ability to take actions for you in apps. While Apple was showing real software at that show, Siri “didn’t converge in the way, quality-wise, that we needed it to,” Federighi said. Apple wanted it to be “really, really reliable. And we weren’t able to achieve the reliability in the time we thought.”
“Look, we don’t want to disappoint customers,” Joswiak said. “We never do. But it would’ve been more disappointing to ship something that didn’t hit our quality standard, that had an error rate that we felt was unacceptable. So we made what we thought was the best decision. I’d make it again.”
Stern asked why Apple, with all of its resources, couldn’t make it work. “When it comes to automating capabilities on devices in a reliable way, no one’s doing it really well right now,” Federighi said. “We wanted to be the first. We wanted to do it best.” While the company had “very promising early results and working initial versions,” the team came to feel that “this just doesn’t work reliably enough to be an Apple product,” he said.
At WWDC, Federighi also spoke to YouTuber iJustine, and both Federighi and Joswiak were interviewed by Tom’s Guide’s Mark Spoonauer and TechRadar’s Lance Ulanoff. In Apple’s March statement, it said that anticipated rolling out the Siri upgrades “in the coming year,” which, to Spoonauer, Joswiak clarified to mean 2026.
Spotlight and themes are in the limelight. | Screenshot: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge
At WWDC, Apple announced its new Liquid Glass design language, which is coming to all of its devices, including Macs. I've been tinkering with the macOS Tahoe 26 developer beta on the M4 MacBook Air for about a day. So far, the aesthetic changes range from slick to slightly overwrought, but the new Spotlight search features are nifty and useful.
There are new touches of glassy transparency all over macOS 26, including the Dock, Finder, widgets, and built-in apps. It's more subtle than on the iPhone, mostly because the Mac's much larger screen real estate makes the Liquid Glass elements more like accents than whatever this mess is supposed to be. I'm not very fond of it just yet, but maybe it will grow on me, like UI changes tend to.
The Dock now has a frosted background that's more translucent than Sequoia's flatter design. The hazy, frozen glass aesthetic also extends to widgets, like the calendar and weather, and drop-down menus - though the latter have much higher opacity. The pop-ups for volume and brightness now use this distorted glass look as well, though they've moved to the top-right corner of the screen instead of being centered above the dock. Frankly, they're ugly, …
Apple's WWDC 2025 had new software, Formula 1 references, and a piano man crooning the text of different app reviews. But one key feature got the short end of the stick: Siri.
Although the company continuously referenced Apple Intelligence and pushed new features like live translation for Messages, FaceTime, and phone calls, Apple's AI assistant was barely mentioned. In fact, the most attention Siri got was when Apple explained that some of its previously promised features were running behind schedule.
To address what many saw as the elephant in the room, Apple's keynote briefly mentioned that it had updated Siri to be "more natural and more helpful," but that personalization features were still on the horizon. Those features were first mentioned at last year's WWDC, with a rollout timeline "over the course of the next year."
"We're continuing our work to deliver the features that make Siri even more personal," Craig Federighi, Apple's SVP of software engineering, said during Monday's keynote. "This work needed more time to reach our high quality bar, and we look forward to sharing more about it in the coming year."
Apple Intelligence was designed to leverage things that generative AI already does well, like text and image generation, to improve upon existing features.
Some users and designers are already panning Apple's new user interface dubbed Liquid Glass, even though it's a bit early. There are reasons to think it might improve — but also valid critiques.
Apple has announced updates to the AI models that power its suite of Apple Intelligence features across iOS, macOS, and more. But according to the company's own benchmarks, the models underperform older models from rival tech firms including OpenAI.
On Thursday, pioneering computer engineer and Apple veteran William "Bill" Atkinson died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Portola Valley, California, surrounded by family. He was 74. "We regret to write that our beloved husband, father, and stepfather Bill Atkinson passed away," his family wrote on Facebook. "He was a remarkable person, and the world will be forever different because he lived in it."
As Apple employee No. 51, Atkinson transformed abstract computer science into intuitive visual experiences that millions would use daily: His QuickDraw graphics engine made the Macintosh interface possible; he introduced the wider world to bitmap editing with MacPaint; and HyperCard presaged hyperlinked elements of the World Wide Web by years.
A screenshot of Bill Atkinson's MacPaint, released with the Macintosh in January 1984.
Credit:
Benj Edwards / Apple
"I say this with no hyperbole: Bill Atkinson may well have been the best computer programmer who ever lived," wrote veteran Apple analyst John Gruber on Daring Fireball in a tribute. "Without question, he's on the short list. What a man, what a mind, what gifts to the world he left us."
Imagine that you have a song file—drums, guitar, bass, vocals, piano—and you want to rebalance it, bringing the voice down just a touch in the mix.
Or you want to turn a Lyle Lovett country-rock jam into a slamming club banger, and all that's standing between you and the booty-shaking masses is a clean copy of Lovett's voice without all those instruments mucking things up.
Or you recorded a once-in-a-lifetime, Stevie Nicks-meets-Ann Wilson vocal performance into your voice notes app... but your dog was baying in the background, and your guitar was out of tune. Can you extract the magic and discard the rest?
Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off on Monday with the company's standard keynote presentation—a combination of PR about how great Apple and its existing products are and a first look at the next-generation versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and the company's other operating systems.
Reporting before the keynote rarely captures everything that Apple has planned at its presentations, but the reliable information we've seen so far is that Apple will keep the focus on its software this year rather than using the keynote to demo splashy new hardware like the Vision Pro and Apple Silicon Mac Pro, which the company introduced at WWDC a couple years back.
If you haven't been keeping track, here are a few of the things that are most likely to happen when the pre-recorded announcement videos start rolling next week.
Apple tends to announce exciting product updates at WWDC. This year, all eyes will be on if Apple can change the narrative on its behind-schedule AI software, Apple Intelligence.
Apple
Analysts expect Apple's WWDC 2025 event on Monday to feature updates to its user experience.
Apple faces challenges with AI development, tariffs, and production shifts from China.
OpenAI's new partnership with iPhone designer Jony Ive also puts pressure on Apple to innovate.
Apple is limping into its big summer event this year.
The iPhone giant is setting the stage for its Worldwide Developers Conference — its annual software-focused event that Apple fanatics and investors alike look forward to.
On Monday, developers will descend on Apple's campus in Cupertino, California, where CEO Tim Cook and other executives are set to debut their famous keynote. The event has become known for exciting product reveals, such as the Apple Vision Pro headset and a sneak peek at the latest version of its iPhone operating system, iOS.
This year, however, Apple will have three elephants in the room on its big day: biting China tariffs, an already-behind-schedule Apple Intelligence, and questions around the company's long-term vision for its hardware.
Forrester analyst Dipanjan Chatterjee doesn't expect much fireworks.
"The WWDC announcements will be relatively incremental and muted, perhaps except for a likely visual design overhaul of the user experience," Chatterjee told Business Insider.
In 2024, Cook and Co. introduced the world to Apple Intelligence, Apple's play on artificial intelligence. It built an iPhone around the AI. Nearly a year later, Apple Intelligence hasn't lived up to analysts' expectations for driving more iPhone upgrades.
Apple delayed its promise of a more personalized Siri, which was showcased at WWDC 2024. In April, the company told the unaffiliated Apple blog Daring Fireball that it would take "longer than we thought" to be ready for release.
Monday is a "critical opportunity" for Apple to address key questions about its AI, such as where its roadmap for Apple Intelligence is headed, said Gadjo Sevilla, analyst at EMARKETER, a sister company to BI.
"The company's AI transition has been fraught with delays and the company's inability to showcase its own AI capabilities," Sevilla said.
Apple's terrible, horrible, no good start to 2025
Apple hasn't had the easiest start to 2025.
The company has been raked by legal battles involving its app store, unpredictable tariff announcements that caused a supply-chain scramble, and ongoing challenges in China, a key region for iPhone sales and manufacturing.
During Apple's earnings call in early May, Cook told investors to expect $900 million in tariff costs in the June quarter.
Then, on May 23, President Donald Trump said iPhones produced outside the US would face a tariff of at least 25%. Analysts previously said shifting iPhone production away from countries like India and China to the US could take up to 10 years and cause iPhone prices to skyrocket.
Chatterjee said these tariff changes could have "grave consequences" for the company.
Apple also suffered a major setback last month in its yearslong court battle with Epic Games. A judge ruled that it will no longer be able to collect a 27% fee from US developers who direct users to make purchases externally.
As a developer-focused event, WWDC could be an opportunity for Apple to smooth things over with app builders.
"This is Apple's chance to mend ties with developers frustrated by its restrictive ecosystem and high fees," Sevilla said.
Apple didn't respond to a request for comment by Business Insider.
Meanwhile, OpenAI, which partnered with Apple last year to bring ChatGPT to Siri, recently tapped Apple's former design lead Jony Ive to work on wearable AI hardware. Ive famously worked closely with the late Apple cofounder, Steve Jobs, to design some of the company's most iconic gadgets before leaving the company in 2019.
Apple was notably late to the AI game. The recent OpenAI hire has analysts concerned that Apple's position as a frontrunner in innovation is slipping.
"This raises expectations for Apple to counter with its own AI innovations — especially since the narrative of the 'next big thing' happening outside Apple, led by its former star designer, is one the company will likely want to dispel," Sevilla said.
Apple has a key advantage in the AI race, however — a massive, global distribution channel for its software. After all, the iPhone is the most popular smartphone in the world.
The tech world will be watching to see if Apple makes moves at WWDC to course-correct after its stumbles in AI over the last year.
Business Insider will be liveblogging Cook's WWDC keynote, which kicks off Monday at 1 p.m. ET.
This year’s WWDC kicks off in less than a week, which means Apple is likely to announce a string of software changes in short order, some of which are designed to improve Apple’s latest pair of premium earbuds. Thankfully, if you haven’t yet pulled the trigger on the second-gen AirPods Pro, they’re once again on sale at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy for around $169 ($70 off), matching their best price of the year.
If you’re an iPhone user, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better pair of noise-canceling earbuds than Apple’s latest AirPods Pro with USB-C. The second-gen model ratchets up the noise cancellation and sound quality, providing dynamic, rich sound and ANC that can go toe-to-toe with Sony’s XM5 and other like-minded rivals. Unlike the cheaper AirPods 4 with ANC, they also feature convenient swipe-based controls and four sets of silicone tips, whereas Apple’s entry-level earbuds still rely on an open-style design that allows more ambient noise in.
As for why they’re the perfect fit for iPhone users, well, that’s easy. The Pro are chock-full of Apple-only features, including head tracking spatial audio, robust Find My support, and automatic device switching. The included speaker-equipped charging case also features a U1 chip for more accurate tracking, and thanks to a software update in the fall, Apple’s high-end earbuds can now protect your hearing and serve as clinical-grade hearing aids. That makes them well-suited for those with mild to moderate hearing loss — or your next Turnstile concert.
It’s by no means a necessity, but I’ve been ogling the Vestaboard Note ever since the spendy split-flap display went up for sale last month. The nostalgic 24.5-inch board is currently available for preorder from Vestaboard ahead of its December launch starting at $899 ($400 off), and while it only features 45 split-flap mechanisms (as opposed to 132 on the original), it still looks like a delightful way to showcase any message, pattern, or image you create using the accompanying web interface or mobile app.
Ugreen’s FineTrack Smart Finder is available for just $9.99 (about $7 off) from Amazon and Ugreen right now, which is the best price we’ve seen on the inexpensive location tracker. Sure, it’s not quite as capable as an AirTag, but it still comes with a two-year replaceable battery, a built-in ringer, and the ability to tap into Apple’s extensive Find My network as necessary. Hell, it even comes with a lanyard hole, which isn’t something we can say about Apple’s tracker.
Meta’s entry-level VR headset, the Meta Quest 3S, is on sale once again at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy, where you can pick it up with a copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow and a three-month trial of Meta Horizon Plus for an all-time low of around $269 ($30 off). It’s sort of the middle child in terms of Meta’s headset lineup, as it features the same chipset as the Quest 3 but remains reliant on the same lenses and field of view as the Quest 2. Still, it can play most of the same standalone games as the former, as well as PC-based virtual reality titles if you own a gaming PC. Read our review.
A parliamentary investigation answered some — but not all — the questions related to a spyware scandal involving the use of the Israeli company’s spyware, Graphite.
It’s hard to be a new parent, we know. And it’s even harder to take care of yourself while trying to keep a new human alive. Thankfully, there’s a lot of tech out there that helps ease the burden for moms and dads — from tablets and earbuds to a rattle that could help avoid an infant meltdown. Tech won’t help with the mountains of dirty diapers – at least, not until robotic diaper nannies are a thing – but it can at least help new parents stay sane.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-gifts-for-new-dads-110049541.html?src=rss
On Tuesday, classic computer collector Joe Strosnider announced the availability of a new 3D-printer filament that replicates the iconic "Platinum" color scheme used in classic Macintosh computers from the late 1980s through the 1990s. The PLA filament (PLA is short for polylactic acid) allows hobbyists to 3D-print nostalgic novelties, replacement parts, and accessories that match the original color of vintage Apple computers.
Hobbyists commonly feed this type of filament into commercial desktop 3D printers, which heat the plastic and extrude it in a computer-controlled way to fabricate new plastic parts.
The Platinum color, which Apple used in its desktop and portable computer lines starting with the Apple IIgs in 1986, has become synonymous with a distinctive era of classic Macintosh aesthetic. Over time, original Macintosh plastics have become brittle and discolored with age, so matching the "original" color can be a somewhat challenging and subjective experience.
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