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iOS 26: new Liquid Glass design, Apple Intelligence, more

Coming to core iPhone apps

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iOS 26

Apple has officially introduced iOS 26. It brings a revamped design, advanced AI capabilities, and more new features. These are coming to |core apps like Phone, Messages, CarPlay, Apple Music, Maps, and Wallet.

A Fresh Look with Liquid Glass

iOS 26 introduces Liquid Glass. It’s a new translucent material that enhances app icons, widgets, and navigation elements. The Lock Screen and Home Screen now offer dynamic customization, with adaptive time placement and spatial effects that respond to movement.

Apple Intelligence Gets Smarter

Apple Intelligence expands with Live Translation. It enables real-time multilingual communication in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone. Visual Intelligence allows users to search for products, recognize events, and integrate details into their calendars seamlessly.

Additionally, Genmoji and Image Playground let users create custom emoji and AI-generated images. There’s also an optional ChatGPT integration for more advanced styles.

Enhanced Connectivity and Privacy

The Phone app now combines Favorites, Recents, and Voicemails into a unified layout. Meanwhile, Call Screening helps users filter unwanted calls. Hold Assist notifies users when a live agent is available, reducing time spent on hold.

In Messages, users can screen texts from unknown senders. They can also create polls and set custom backgrounds. Group chats now display typing indicators and support Apple Cash transactions.

Upgrades to CarPlay, Apple Music, and Maps

CarPlay receives a compact call view, pinned conversations, and Live Activities for real-time updates. Apple Music introduces Lyrics Translation and AutoMix. The latter seamlessly transitions between songs like a DJ. Apple Maps now tracks Visited Places, helping users recall locations while maintaining privacy with end-to-end encryption.

Availability

iOS 26 is available for developer testing today. Like the rest of the WWDC 2025 things, public beta launches in July 2025. The full release is expected this fall. It supports iPhone 11 and later models.

For more details, visit [Apple’s official iOS 26 announcement.

News

Apple reportedly gives up on the Vision Pro

But Apple will continue to sell the current model.

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When they unveiled the Vision Pro in 2023, Apple touted the wearable as the next big thing after the iPhone. Now, almost three years removed from the launch, the Vision Pro hasn’t really taken over the coveted spot occupied by the iPhone. Apple, according to a report, is allegedly canning the short-lived wearable.

According to MacRumors, Apple has reportedly given up on making the Vision Pro a thing. The team handling the wearable has supposedly been subsumed by other teams within Apple.

If true, the wearable’s end is unfortunate but not surprising. Despite being out for years, the Vision Pro has sold only a little more than half a million units with numerous returns from customers. Most recently, Apple updated the wearable with the M5 chip, but the move hasn’t revitalized the device’s status in Apple’s lineup.

Most of the complaints about the device stem from its exorbitant price or its cumbersome battery pack. Besides costing a whopping US$ 3,499, the Vision Pro is also difficult to move around with, especially because of its total weight and a battery pack that can get in the way.

To be clear, Apple has not officially discontinued the Vision Pro yet. The company continues to sell the version with the M5 chip. Apple can also restart development in the future.

However, the meantime retirement on future development does coincide with the recent restructuring inside the company. Tim Cook recently decided to step down as CEO with John Ternus as his replacement. Canning the Vision Pro might be Ternus’ first step in redefining Apple according to his plans.

SEE ALSO: Apple Vision Pro gets M5 chip upgrade

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Apps

YouTube makes picture-in-picture mode free for everyone globally

The update is rolling out globally now.

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Picture-in-picture (or PiP) mode is a godsend for multitaskers. The feature lets users watch videos in a tiny floating window while doing other tasks. However, the feature isn’t readily available for all users. Or wasn’t, at least. YouTube is now rolling out PiP mode for free globally.

Previously, PiP mode was exclusive to YouTube users who pay for Premium or Premium Lite. It was also exclusive to the United States.

Now, YouTube is making the feature completely free for users all over the globe. It will be available for both iOS and Android versions of the app.

There’s still a catch, though. The free version is available only for “longform, non-music content.” The same goes for Premium Lite subscribers. Music is still an exclusive feature for those who pay for the regular version of Premium. Basically, there is no change for paying users or users in the United States.

Using PiP mode is simple. All you need to do is load up a video you want to watch in the background. Then, just exit the YouTube app and go about your other tasks. The video will be inside a floating, resizable window while you look at other things.

There’s no timeline on when the update will reach your device. However, YouTube has promised that it will roll out globally within the coming months.

SEE ALSO: YouTube remains top PH video platform; advertisers urged to continue investing

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Enterprise

OnePlus has reportedly merged with realme

Both brands were previously rumored for restructuring early this year.

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OnePlus 13

OnePlus has a problem. For a while now, rumors have swirled about the company’s dissolution. For their part, the company has continued to deny the reports, citing business as usual. Likely to their dismay, the reports just keep coming. Today, sources have hinted that OnePlus has merged with realme.

Back in January, it was rumored that OnePlus would be closing up shop this year. Since the company very quickly denied the rumors, the report hardly made waves. However, a suspected merger with realme is more difficult to debunk.

For one, realme is itself in a very interesting position. Also back in January, realme was reportedly moving back into being a sub-brand of OPPO. Coupled together with the OnePlus debacle, all this internal restructuring seems par for the course.

According to Digital Chat Station on Weibo, OnePlus and realme have already concluded the merger. The two brands have reportedly united their Chinese and international operations under one roof. Likewise, their marketing will be the same. Pete Lau will still be the main head for this new division.

As with anything of this nature, take this with a grain of salt. OPPO, OnePlus, and realme have not issued any official statements concerning a merger or a shutdown for any brand.

SEE ALSO: realme is reportedly going back to being an OPPO sub-brand

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