Apple’s Liquid Glass Software explained in 10 points

Apple on Monday unveiled a new operating system interface called Liquid Glass at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, calling it the company’s broadest design update ever.

For the first time, the same interface will work across the company’s products, executive Alan Dye said Monday during a video presentation from Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California. The company also confirmed plans to open up its AI models to outside app creators.

As part of the changes, Apple is renaming its OS lineup to use the year rather than version numbers. The next generation of software for the flagship iPhone will be known as iOS 26.

Liquid Glass Software explained in 10 points:

• Liquid Glass is a translucent material reflects and refracts its surroundings, while transforming to help bring greater focus to content, delivering a new level of vitality across controls, navigation, app icons, widgets, and more, as per the tech giant.
• For the very first time, the new design extends across platforms — iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 261 — to establish even more harmony while maintaining the distinct qualities that make each unique.
• Controls, toolbars, and navigation within apps have been redesigned. Previously configured for rectangular displays, they now fit perfectly concentric with the rounded corners of modern hardware and app windows.
• Controls are crafted out of Liquid Glass and act as a distinct functional layer that sits above apps.
• In iOS 26, tab bars now shrink when scrolling to highlight content and expand on scroll-up for easy navigation.
• On iPadOS and macOS, redesigned sidebars in apps like Apple TV blend with the background, reflecting nearby content and wallpaper to maintain user context and enhance immersion.
• Apple’s new design spans iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS, enhancing system elements like the Lock Screen, Home Screen, desktop, and Dock. The time on photo wallpapers now appears in Liquid Glass, adapting fluidly behind subjects.
• Across platforms, elements like app icons and widgets use layered Liquid Glass for a sleek look and more personalisation, including new tints and a transparent menu bar in macOS Tahoe 26.
• Apple has introduced updated APIs for SwiftUI, UIKit, and AppKit to help developers adopt the new design system.
• By integrating Liquid Glass materials and refreshed controls, developers can update their apps to align with the new visual style, enhancing user interactions with a more intuitive and cohesive experience.

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