Final week, most likely as a result of I used to be the least busy with precise work on the time, I occurred to be the Macworld staffer who first noticed the WWDC 2025 announcement in my inbox. And for a second I used to be fairly excited: WWDC, in spite of everything, is the second greatest date in Apple’s calendar, an occasion whose raft of software program reveals units the tone for the yr to return.
However then I thought of it a bit extra and realized that I didn’t care. I’m executed with WWDC. And if I wasn’t contractually obliged to cowl it for work, I strongly doubt that I’d even watch.
Look, don’t get me mistaken: I perceive that WWDC 2025 is necessary for Apple. The corporate’s final 12 months have been fairly shockingly unhealthy on the software program facet, punctuated by failures, delays, and damaged guarantees, and it wants to indicate builders and prospects that it may possibly flip issues round. As Jason Snell places it, Apple should repent its errors, not repeat them.
I’m simply struggling to really feel something apart from apathy on the prospect of watching Apple’s prime brass both admit their failings or, extra probably, act like nothing went mistaken. One end result is miserable and boring; the opposite miserable and infuriating. Neither appears like a enjoyable method to spend a night (as it is going to be right here within the U.Ok.).
Let’s speak for a minute about what Apple ought to do on June 9. Tim Cook dinner, Craig Federighi, and whoever else is on stage must be fully sincere. A number of reputational harm was executed when final yr’s claims in regards to the next-gen contextually conscious Siri, a function that was used to promote iPhone 16 handsets, turned out to be nothing greater than sizzling air. If that function remains to be coming, Apple ought to say exactly when, and in exactly what type. If not, it ought to admit that and clarify exactly what went mistaken. The corporate must regain belief. Now is just not the time for razzle-dazzle.
Speaking of razzle-dazzle, I took half within the Macworld podcast this week, and my colleague Karen Haslam made what I believed was a superb suggestion. This yr, Apple shouldn’t announce any new options in any respect. It ought to do what it did with the launch of Mac OS X Snow Leopard in 2009: a zero-frills stability replace. (Or what Snell extra sympathetically calls “a clean-up and consolidation section.”) Repair what’s there as an alternative of cramming in additional issues to go mistaken in flip. Have the braveness to be boring however good, as an alternative of zeitgeisty however ineffective. That will be the fitting factor to do. However it will be much less fascinating than soil science.
Not that there’s a lot likelihood of WWDC 2025 taking part in out that method. Right here’s a much more believable itinerary:
- 10.01: Welcome to WWDC! The iPhone, the iPad, and the Mac are about to vary in a giant method. Greater than ever earlier than! Greater than a home!
- 10:02: Take a look at this graph. Apple Intelligence is probably the most beloved AI platform on the planet! [citation needed]
- 10:04: Let’s begin with the iPhone. In iOS 19, Siri will have the ability to learn minds, predict the longer term, and prepare dinner boiled eggs precisely the way in which you want them…
And whereas that is all occurring, the assembled devs smile and nod and grind their enamel. They give thought to all of the options introduced final yr that by no means arrived and scratch their heads making an attempt to think about a single function in iOS 18 that delivered any tangible profit. After which Craig Federighi makes a joke about working for Lumon.
I get it, after all. Shareholders demand development and hype, and Apple feels it has to play ball. So as an alternative of specializing in and truly delivering the options promised final yr, it rushes forward with the following set of options. It’s juggling knives on a treadmill. However I’ve misplaced my style for blood.
Both method, WWDC 2025 goes to be a distasteful spectacle. Both Apple admits it acquired the whole lot mistaken, and we now have to observe John Giannandrea apologize for 90 minutes earlier than being ceremoniously lowered right into a volcano. Or we get plastered-on smiles, but extra guarantees, and infinite boring Apple Intelligence hype. WWDC 2025 goes to be terrible. There’s just one query: terrible in what method?
Foundry
Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which incorporates all of the Apple information you missed final week in a helpful bite-sized roundup. We name it Apple Breakfast as a result of we predict it goes nice with a Monday morning cup of espresso or tea, nevertheless it’s cool if you wish to give it a learn throughout lunch or dinner hours too.
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Podcast of the week
Apple Intelligence and Siri have been making plenty of noise currently, and all for the mistaken causes. Within the newest episode of the Macworld Podcast, we speak about how Apple has made a large number of issues, leading to delays, administration modifications, and unhealthy PR.
You possibly can catch each episode of the Macworld Podcast on Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our personal website.
Critiques nook
The rumor mill
Your desires of a small iPhone simply died (once more).
Apple could also be working on a radically new all-glass Apple Watch.
Thrilling particulars emerge of Apple’s LiquidMetal folding iPhone hinge.
The Apple Watch might get a brand new life as a camera-equipped AI machine…
…whereas the Apple Watch SE may not have a future in plastics in spite of everything.
2026 Porsche fashions seemingly abandon plans for next-gen CarPlay.
Software program updates, bugs, and issues
Don’t be fooled by ‘unrepresentative’ iOS 19 screenshots, leaker warns.
New Apple Watch function means you’ll by no means sleep by way of an alarm once more.
iOS 18.4 AirPods Max replace will add lossless and extremely‑low latency audio.
And with that, we’re executed for this week’s Apple Breakfast. If you happen to’d prefer to get common roundups, join our newsletters, together with our new electronic mail from The Macalope–an irreverent, humorous tackle the most recent information and rumors from a half-man, half-mythical Mac beast. You can even comply with us on Fb, Threads, Bluesky, or X for dialogue of breaking Apple information tales. See you subsequent Monday, and keep Appley.