It wouldn’t be WWDC if Apple didn’t do some stealing. Apple has such a long-standing behavior of introducing new software program options that overlap and ultimately overtake third-party apps, there’s even a time period for it. Sherlocking comes from Apple’s Sherlock app, one of many first to usurp a well-liked third-party various known as Watson again within the Nineteen Nineties.
This follow was on show once more at WWDC 2025, the place Apple launched a number of new options in iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe that regarded awfully just like these provided by impartial apps and builders. In fact, we’re not going to complain about new capabilities in macOS, and Apple is much from the one firm so as to add options which were performed elsewhere earlier than. However when you’re a fan of one in all these apps, they may not be round for for much longer.
Alfred
Alfred is a well-liked productiveness app that provides a collection of controls that stage up your Mac. That features an app and file launcher that’s accessed via a floating text-entry bar, in-app controls that may be activated utilizing your keyboard, intensive clipboard historical past, and textual content snippets that act as shortcuts for varied duties. Beginning to sound acquainted?
It ought to, as a result of this carefully mirrors the novel overhaul that Apple delivered to Highlight in macOS Tahoe. As a substitute of a easy search field, Highlight has now been empowered with a variety of recent talents. It may possibly work inside apps to launch menu bar controls, comes with parameters for filling out emails and textual content messages, has deep integration with Shortcuts, and even makes use of textual content snippets to kickstart actions with just some faucets.
Apple previewed a way more highly effective Highlight search at WWDC.
Apple
Alfred nonetheless has a couple of methods up its sleeve that haven’t but made it into Highlight, akin to 1Password integration and visible theming, however the gulf between it and Highlight has been closed considerably. And Apple is probably going solely simply getting began.
Route
When you’re somebody who ceaselessly has parcels delivered to your door, you understand how vital it’s to maintain observe of every little thing that’s on the best way. Most bundle junkies possible already use the feature-rich third-party app Route to remain on high of their packages, however with iOS 26, that may be performed natively in your iPhone.
It’s achieved by utilizing Apple Intelligence to scan your emails and messages and pull out related supply data, akin to monitoring numbers and provider corporations. That is then collated within the Pockets app, supplying you with a centralized place to regulate your parcels while not having to obtain some other apps. Better of all, it’s all performed routinely, so all you should do is purchase one thing.
Flighty
The iOS 26 replace has seen a significant improve for digital boarding passes saved within the Pockets app, with instructions to your terminal gate and assist discovering misplaced baggage outfitted with an AirTag or different FindMy tracker. Up to now, no Sherlocking there.
However that every one adjustments when you think about the Stay Actions performance that has been added to boarding passes. There’ll now be a widget that reveals present flight standing (akin to how lengthy till it’s as a result of land), the airplane’s arrival terminal and baggage declare desk quantity, airline information, and flight quantity, and extra. That carefully matches the Stay Actions provided by the favored flight-tracking app Flighty.
Flighty nonetheless has the sting in some methods, akin to its speedy delay alerts that may attain you earlier than even the airline’s personal notifications. However there’s little doubt that Apple has swooped in and launched its personal resolution that covers lots of the identical floor as Flighty.
The flight monitoring dwell exercise constructed into iOS 26 is extraordinarily just like Flighty.
Apple
Bartender
At WWDC, Apple lifted the lid on its Liquid Glass visible redesign. Impressed by visionOS, this brings transparency and glass-like results to nearly each Apple gadget and working system. One facet of that in macOS is that the menu bar can now be completely clear. However there’s one other menu bar tweak which may not have happy the builders of the favored Bartender app.
That’s as a result of in macOS Tahoe, you may rapidly and simply conceal third-party icons out of your menu bar. It is a characteristic that you just’ll additionally discover in Bartender, and simply one of many most important explanation why folks love the longtime utility. There’s no telling how a lot time Bartender has saved customers by eliminating the necessity to bounce between app settings.
For energy customers, Bartender in all probability isn’t underneath existential menace from Apple simply but, because it affords much more performance that isn’t natively matched by macOS, with way more customization choices and a useful device palette that pops out under your menu bar. However for informal customers, Bartender simply obtained Sherlocked.
Bartender nonetheless has some close to methods, however Apple has made one in all its greatest options irrelevant in macOS 26.
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Truecaller
We’ve all been confronted with undesirable spam calls that interrupt our day, starting from the mildly annoying to the downright malicious. For years, the Truecaller app has helped iPhone customers avoid scammers and telemarketers by figuring out unknown callers, blocking spammers, rooting out fraudulent textual content messages, and requiring callers to determine themselves earlier than they’re let via. It obtained even higher in iOS 18.2 when Apple added a Stay Caller ID Lookup API with real-time spam blocking.
Sadly for Truecaller, iOS 26 can now do a few of these issues by itself. The Name Screening characteristic, as an illustration, asks callers to elucidate why they’re contacting you, then reveals the leads to textual content in your display screen, letting you ignore the decision or decide it up once you’re prepared. For most individuals, that could be higher than figuring out spammers.
