Apple's Fresh Features: A Double-Edged Sword for Developers

There is a lot of talk about new features coming to Apple devices. The tech giant recently showcased a bunch of updates for its operating systems. Some developers might not be thrilled with these updates. Why? Because Apple has a history of copying features from third-party apps. This practice is known as "sherlocking. " It happens when Apple creates an app or feature that mimics third-party apps. The term "sherlocking" comes from an old story about a search tool in OS X. Apple added features to this tool that were similar to a third-party app called Watson. The developers of Watson were not happy. They accused Apple of copying their product without paying them. Since then, "sherlocking" has been used to describe when Apple replaces third-party apps with its own. So, what new features in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, and watchOS 26 might be causing concern? One example is the enhanced Spotlight feature. It suggests apps, commands, and shortcuts. Users can create calendar events or make GIFs directly from search. This could be bad news for apps like Raycast and LaunchBar. Another feature is Call Assist with Screening. It handles calls from unknown numbers silently. It captures the caller's name and reason for calling. Users can then choose to accept or reject the call with typed responses. This might affect apps like Robokiller and Truecaller. There is also a new parcel tracking feature in the Wallet app. It uses Apple Intelligence to track and summarize order status. This could impact various package tracking apps. Flight tracking is another new feature. Users can track and share flight status through Live Activities in Wallet. They can also get airport navigation with gate and amenity information in Maps. This might be a problem for apps like Flighty. Developers might also be worried about the AI Model Integration in Xcode. It makes ChatGPT the default assistant for Xcode 26. Developers can connect other AI models using API keys for coding assistance. This could be an issue for apps like Alex for Xcode. There is a new feature for iPad users. It allows creators to record videos locally using any video calling app. They can share recordings with others for podcast creation. This could affect apps like Riverside. The Notes app is also getting an update. It is coming to Apple Watch with watchOS 26. Users can take notes directly on their wrist. This could be a challenge for various note-taking apps for Apple Watch. There is a new feature in macOS Tahoe's System Settings. Users can control which third-party apps are allowed to display menu bar items. This could be a problem for apps like Bartender and Ice. Finally, there is a new Spotlight Clipboard Search feature in macOS Tahoe. Users can search and view previously copied content in their clipboard history. This could be an issue for apps like Paste and Pastebot. However, it is not all bad news. Some of these apps might still offer additional functionality beyond what Apple has implemented. Developers of sherlocked apps sometimes find ways to improve their apps. They do this to differentiate them from Apple. So, there is still hope for many of these apps. In the end, it is a double-edged sword. Apple's new features might be convenient for users. But they could also be a challenge for third-party developers. It is a reminder that the tech world is always changing. Developers need to be ready to adapt and innovate.