It wouldn’t be WWDC if Apple didn’t perform a little 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 preferred third-party various known as Watson again within the Nineteen 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 appeared awfully much 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 executed elsewhere earlier than. However for those who’re a fan of certainly one of these apps, they may not 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 numerous duties. Beginning to sound acquainted?
It ought to, as a result of this intently mirrors the novel overhaul that Apple dropped at Highlight in macOS Tahoe. As a substitute of a easy search field, Highlight has now been empowered with a spread of recent talents. 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 only a few faucets.
Apple previewed a way more highly effective Highlight search at WWDC.
Apple
Alfred nonetheless has a couple of tips up its sleeve that haven’t but made it into Highlight, comparable 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
In case you’re somebody who regularly has parcels delivered to your door, you understand how vital it’s to maintain monitor of every part that’s on the best way. Most package deal junkies possible already use the feature-rich third-party app Route to remain on prime of their packages, however with iOS 26, that may be executed natively in your iPhone.
It’s achieved by utilizing Apple Intelligence to scan your emails and messages and pull out related supply data, comparable to monitoring numbers and service corporations. That is then collated within the Pockets app, supplying you with a centralized place to control your parcels while not having to obtain every other apps. Better of all, it’s all executed routinely, so all you should do is purchase one thing.
Flighty
The iOS 26 replace has seen a serious 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. Up to now, no Sherlocking there.
However that each one modifications when you think about the Dwell Actions performance that has been added to boarding passes. There’ll now be a widget that reveals present flight standing (comparable to how lengthy till it’s as a consequence of land), the airplane’s arrival terminal and baggage declare desk quantity, airline data, and flight quantity, and extra. That intently matches the Dwell Actions provided by the favored flight-tracking app Flighty.
Flighty nonetheless has the sting in some methods, comparable to its fast 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 answer that covers a number of the identical floor as Flighty.
The flight monitoring dwell exercise constructed into iOS 26 is extraordinarily much 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 virtually each Apple machine 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 which may not have happy the builders of the favored Bartender app.
That’s as a result of in macOS Tahoe, you’ll be able to shortly and simply cover 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 major the reason why individuals 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.Â
For energy customers, Bartender most likely isn’t beneath existential risk from Apple simply but, because it gives much more performance that isn’t natively matched by macOS, with much more customization choices and a helpful software palette that pops out beneath your menu bar. However for informal customers, Bartender simply bought Sherlocked.
Bartender nonetheless has some close to tips, however Apple has made certainly one of its finest options irrelevant in macOS 26.
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 determine themselves earlier than they’re let via. It bought even higher in iOS 18.2 when Apple added a Dwell 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 example, asks callers to clarify why they’re contacting you, then reveals the leads to textual content in your display screen, letting you ignore the decision or choose it up if you’re prepared. For most individuals, that is likely to be higher than figuring out spammers.
