Apple Set to Unveil Major Design Updates for Phone, Safari, and Camera Apps at WWDC Next Week

Apple is set to unveil significant design updates for its core applications—Phone, Safari, and Camera—at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) next week. According to a report from Bloomberg, the Phone app will gain a new, streamlined view that consolidates favorite contacts, recent calls, and voicemails into a single, scrollable window. This feature will be optional, allowing users to revert to the traditional layout via a simple toggle within the app. The design adjustments are part of a larger strategy inspired by visionOS, Apple's latest operating system designed for its mixed-reality headset. As Bloomberg suggests, all of Apple's operating systems will receive a fresh look, aligning with the "digital glass" aesthetic that emphasizes transparency and a glassy appearance. These updated systems will be named iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26. Safari, one of the most widely used web browsers, will also undergo a transformation. Users can expect a more transparent and glass-like address bar, enhancing the visual experience while browsing. This change ties in with the digital glass theme, making the interface feel smoother and more integrated. The Camera app is another area of focus, with plans to simplify its user interface. This follows a hint from YouTuber Jon Prosser earlier this year. The simplification aims to make the Camera app more intuitive and user-friendly, ensuring seamless photo and video capture for everyday users. Additionally, Apple is rumored to introduce several new features in the Messages app. These enhancements include support for creating and sharing polls, similar to functionalities seen in other messaging platforms like WhatsApp. Users will also have the option to set background images that automatically sync across their devices, providing a consistent and personalized experience. Expanding its functionality, the Preview app, currently available on macOS, will make its way to iOS and iPadOS. This will enable users to open and annotate PDFs directly on their mobile devices, enhancing productivity and convenience. Bloomberg also detailed potential changes to a rumored new Games app, which is expected to have multiple tabs including Home, Arcade, Play Together, Library, and Search. Each tab is designed to offer a cohesive and varied gaming experience, from discovering new titles to connecting with friends. Despite speculation that Apple might overhaul its app icons, Bloomberg reports that these changes will remain largely cosmetic, with the overall shape and design staying consistent. While AI advancements are not expected to be the main focus of WWDC, Apple is rumored to introduce AI-powered live translation for phone calls and texts. However, users will likely have to wait for a future event for a fully updated version of Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant. In summary, the 2023 WWDC promises an array of operating system enhancements and design tweaks aimed at improving the user experience across Apple devices. Key updates include the consolidated view in the Phone app, a more transparent Safari, and expanded functionalities in the Messages and Preview apps. Stay tuned for the conference to see how these changes materialize.