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 finally 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 different known as Watson again within the 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 appeared awfully just like these provided by unbiased 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 executed elsewhere earlier than. However in the event you’re a fan of one among these apps, they won’t be round for for much longer.
Alfred
Alfred is a well-liked productiveness app that provides a collection 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, in depth 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 unconventional overhaul that Apple dropped at Highlight in macOS Tahoe. As an alternative of a easy search field, Highlight has now been empowered with a variety of latest talents. It could 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 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, 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.
Route
In the event you’re somebody who continuously has parcels delivered to your door, you know the way necessary it’s to maintain observe of every thing that’s on the best way. Most package deal 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 executed natively in your iPhone.
It’s achieved by utilizing Apple Intelligence to scan your emails and messages and pull out related supply data, corresponding to monitoring numbers and service corporations. That is then collated within the Pockets app, supplying you with a centralized place to keep watch over your parcels with no need to obtain another apps. Better of all, it’s all executed mechanically, so all you’ll want to 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. To this point, 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 exhibits present flight standing (corresponding to how lengthy till it’s on account of land), the aircraft’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, 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 answer that covers lots of the identical floor as Flighty.
The flight monitoring reside 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 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 that 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 disguise 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 essential the explanation 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.
For energy customers, Bartender most likely isn’t below existential risk from Apple simply but, because it provides much more performance that isn’t natively matched by macOS, with much more customization choices and a useful software palette that pops out beneath your menu bar. However for informal customers, Bartender simply obtained Sherlocked.
Bartender nonetheless has some close to tips, however Apple has made one among its greatest 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 keep away from 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 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 is perhaps higher than figuring out spammers.
