5 in style iPhone and Mac apps in severe hazard of being Sherlocked this fall

It wouldn’t be WWDC if Apple didn’t do some stealing. Actually, Apple has such a longtime behavior of introducing new software program options that overlap and finally overtake third-party Mac apps there’s even a time period for it. Sherlocking comes from Apple’s Sherlock app, one of many first to usurp a preferred third-party various known as Watson again within the Nineties.

This observe was on show once more at WWDC 2025, the place Apple launched a number of new options in iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe that seemed eerily just like these provided by unbiased apps and builders. After all, 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 finished elsewhere earlier than. However in the event you’re a fan of certainly one of these apps, they won’t be round for for much longer.

Alfred

Alfred is a well-liked productiveness app that provides a set of controls that degree 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 intently mirrors the unconventional overhaul that Apple delivered to Highlight in macOS Tahoe. As a substitute of a easy search field, Highlight has now been empowered with a spread of latest skills. It will probably 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.

Alfred nonetheless has a number of tips up its sleeve that haven’t but made it into Highlight, corresponding 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.

Apple

Route

When you’re somebody who incessantly has parcels delivered to your door, you know the way necessary it’s to maintain observe of the whole lot that’s on the way in which. Most bundle junkies doubtless already use the feature-rich third-party app Route to remain on high of their packages, however with iOS 26, that may be finished natively in your iPhone.

It’s achieved through the use of Apple Intelligence to scan your emails and messages and pull out related supply data, corresponding to monitoring numbers and service firms. That is then collated within the Pockets app, providing you with a centralized place to control your parcels while not having to obtain every other apps. Better of all, it’s all finished robotically, so all it’s essential to 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 geared up with an AirTag or different FindMy tracker. To this point, no Sherlocking there.

However that each one adjustments when you think about the Stay Actions performance that has been added to boarding passes. There’ll now be a widget that exhibits present flight standing (corresponding to how lengthy till it’s as a result of land), the aircraft’s arrival terminal and baggage declare desk quantity, airline information, and flight quantity, and extra. That intently matches the Stay Actions provided by the favored flight-tracking app Flighty.

Flighty nonetheless has the sting in some methods, corresponding to its speedy delay alerts that may attain you earlier than even the airline’s personal notifications. However there’s little question that Apple has swooped in and launched its personal resolution that covers numerous the identical floor as 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 side of that in macOS is that the menu bar can now be completely clear. However there’s one other menu bar tweak that may not have happy the builders of the favored Bartender app.

That’s as a result of in macOS Tahoe, you possibly can shortly and simply cover third-party icons out of your menu bar. This can be a characteristic that you just’ll additionally discover in Bartender, and simply one of many primary the 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 most likely isn’t underneath existential risk from Apple simply but, because it affords much more performance that isn’t natively matched by macOS, with much more customization choices and a helpful device palette that pops out beneath your menu bar. However for informal customers, Bartender simply received Sherlocked.

bartender

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 establish themselves earlier than they’re let via. It received 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, for example, asks callers to clarify why they’re contacting you, then exhibits the ends in textual content in your display screen, letting you ignore the decision or choose it up if you’re prepared. For most individuals, that may be higher than figuring out spammers.