WWDC 2025: Features Apple Integrated from Third-Party Apps
At WWDC 2025, Apple unveiled a variety of significant design and functionality updates across its operating systems. Among these, the company introduced new built-in features that replicate functionalities previously offered by external third-party applications — a practice in the Apple ecosystem known as “Sherlocking.”
The term "Sherlocking" has its origins in Apple’s late 1990s search tool Sherlock for macOS 8, designed to search the web and local files. When Apple released Sherlock 3 in 2002 with capabilities similar to Karelia Software’s search app Watson, it led to Watson’s discontinuation. Since then, “Sherlocking” refers to Apple incorporating features that previously existed only in third-party apps directly into its platforms.
Spotlight's Revamped Capabilities on macOS
Apps affected: Raycast, Launchbar
The updated Spotlight in macOS now presents suggested applications and commands akin to what users experience in Raycast. It also introduces "Actions" to perform diverse tasks, such as adding calendar events, creating GIFs, or making folders, paralleling Raycast’s workflow capabilities.
Spotlight enhances accessibility by allowing interaction with active window menus and supports the Intents API, enabling developers to integrate app-specific actions. Last year, Raycast expanded its AI-powered productivity tools to Windows and iOS.
Flight Tracking through Live Activities
Affected app: Flighty
With iOS 26, Wallet can now display real-time flight status updates via Live Activities, allowing users to track their own or friends' flights and share the information easily. Apple Maps also gains detailed airport navigation, including gate, security, and service information, features also available in Flighty.
AI Assistant Integration with Xcode
Comparable app: Alex for Xcode
Apple has incorporated ChatGPT as the default coding assistant within Xcode 26 and permits developers to connect additional AI models using API keys. This mirrors the capabilities of Alex for Xcode, an assistant app providing web search, bug fixing, terminal command execution, and local model utilization directly in the coding environment.
Local Podcast Recording on iPad
Compared to: Riverside
The introduction of the Local Capture feature enables creators to record video using any video calling app on iPad and share the recordings. While Riverside offers extensive podcast and video recording alongside editing tools, the extent of Apple's editing capabilities remains uncertain.
Notes App for Apple Watch
Existing solutions: Various apps on the App Store
Apple has brought its official Notes app to the Apple Watch with the WatchOS 26 update, providing users with an easier note-taking experience directly from their wrists. This move comes after numerous third-party apps have offered similar functionality for some time.
Call Screening Features
Existing apps: Robokiller, Truecaller
iOS 26 introduces Call Assist, which silently handles calls from unknown numbers, annotates caller identity and reasons for calling, and displays this information for user decision. It also allows users to respond with text to ask further questions, providing core functionalities offered by Robokiller and Truecaller alongside broader spam protection features.
Package and Parcel Tracking
Similar apps: Various package tracking apps
Wallet now tracks orders by parsing merchant and delivery emails with Apple Intelligence, summarizing the status of package deliveries. This feature competes with many existing apps that use tracking numbers to offer similar services.
Looking Forward
Apple’s growth into integrating features popularized by third-party apps suggests that apps with limited niche functionalities may face challenges to longevity. Nevertheless, many developers find that Apple’s adoption often raises user awareness of certain capabilities but users tend to prefer third-party apps for personalized experiences. For instance, apps like Bezel for iPhone Mirroring and Unite for web app integration continue to evolve, offering advanced features for specialized use cases.
DeepFounder AI Analysis
Why it matters
Apple’s recurrent approach of incorporating functionalities initially developed by third-party apps highlights its influence in shaping user expectations and ecosystem standards. For startups and founders, this signals a shift toward competing not only against other independent apps but also anticipating potential direct integration by platform providers, which could redefine market boundaries and user habits.
Risks & opportunities
Several market risks emerge, including the potential obsolescence of apps offering narrow or basic functionalities that Apple staff incorporates into the operating system. On the other hand, it opens opportunities for startups to innovate beyond core functionalities, offering advanced or niche features that Apple might overlook. Historical examples include apps that have survived by creating highly specialized experiences or integrating deeply into specific workflows.
Startup idea or application
A promising startup avenue could involve creating specialized extensions or customizable layers on top of Apple’s native features, particularly focusing on user customization, cross-platform interoperability, or enhanced analytics. For example, a startup could develop an AI-powered productivity assistant that integrates with Apple’s Spotlight and Xcode assistant but adds personalized workflows, team collaboration capabilities, or supports a variety of AI models beyond basic integrations.
Apple Sherlocked WWDC 2025 Apps AI Integration
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