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 referred to 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 regarded awfully much like these provided by impartial apps and builders. After all, we’re not going to complain about new capabilities in macOS, and Apple is way from the one firm so as to add options which have been carried out elsewhere earlier than. However should 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 collection of controls that stage up your Mac. That features an app and file launcher that’s accessed by 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 numerous duties. Beginning to sound acquainted?
It ought to, as a result of this intently mirrors the novel overhaul that Apple delivered to Highlight in macOS Tahoe. As an alternative of a easy search field, Highlight has now been empowered with a variety of recent talents. It may 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 methods up its sleeve that haven’t but made it into Highlight, resembling 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
Should you’re somebody who regularly has parcels delivered to your door, you understand how vital it’s to maintain monitor of all the things that’s on the best way. Most package deal junkies probably already use the feature-rich third-party app Route to remain on prime of their packages, however with iOS 26, that may be carried out 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, resembling monitoring numbers and service corporations. That is then collated within the Pockets app, providing you with a centralized place to control your parcels without having to obtain another apps. Better of all, it’s all carried out mechanically, so all you must 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. Thus far, 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 reveals present flight standing (resembling how lengthy till it’s as a consequence of land), the airplane’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, resembling 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 loads 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 system 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 rapidly and simply cover third-party icons out of your menu bar. It is a function that you simply’ll additionally discover in Bartender, and simply one of many essential 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 below existential risk from Apple simply but, because it affords much more performance that isn’t natively matched by macOS, with way more customization choices and a useful software palette that pops out beneath your menu bar. However for informal customers, Bartender simply acquired Sherlocked.
Bartender nonetheless has some close to methods, however Apple has made certainly one of its finest options irrelevant in macOS 26.
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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 by. It acquired 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 function, as an example, asks callers to elucidate why they’re contacting you, then reveals the leads to textual content in your display screen, letting you ignore the decision or decide it up whenever you’re prepared. For most individuals, that may be higher than figuring out spammers.
