Apple is gearing up for a sweeping set announcements at WWDC, kicking off on June 9, as reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
We’ve been hearing about a significant redesign coming as part of iOS 19 for iPhone and iPad, as well as design updates for macOS 16 too. However, it turns out Apple’s ambitions are even greater. In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman says that both watchOS and tvOS will also see significant redesigns, and visionOS will get some touch-ups as well.
This means Apple’s new modern design language would touch all of Apple’s software platforms for its devices. Apple is aiming for a degree of consistency and unification across its operating systems. Users can expect more liberal use of transparency and glass-like materials, changes to navigation hierarchies inside apps, new icons, and more.
Top comment by matteo
TvOS is in dire need of a redesign. Especially native apps like Photos. My only hope is that Apple doesn't mess it up though... But I would love to able to see shared albums, faces, places, memories in an easier way on the AppleTV.
A further request would be to have "Home" on the AppleTV. I know Apple is about to launch a dedicated device. But the AppleTV sits right in the middle of the house and I find it baffling that the home integration is basically zero. It serves as a Matter controller and a Thread router and, despite that, Home is nowhere to be seen.
I would also like a faster switching of accounts (let's say when I switch from mine to my daughter's or my wife's, I'd love for Netflix, Disney+ etc to show their account as a default. As it stands accounts on AppleTV are pretty useless. Finally: WIDGETS. On the Home Screen instead of only the icons of apps why not allow widgets for Home, Weather, clock, stocks (for those who like it) and other apps?
The apps on the top row show content on the screen, but I'd much prefer to have widgets and "bigger app icons" like on iOS where I can see the last played thing in the app, or a preview of some sort. Granted: that, together with a better account switching, would require AppleTV to recreate the Home Screen every time an account switches. Which requires more memory, a faster CPU....... Basically a new device. These could be enough features to entice people to buy a new AppleTV (it would for me anyways) add games to that...
You can see some of this hinted at in the WWDC artwork (pictured above), which features a glassy, reflective 3D icon of the Apple Park rainbow stage. Expect to see the same tones of translucency and glassy elements in the operating systems.
While the Apple Watch software has been revamped several times, the operating system for Apple TV has stayed relatively unchanged since it was introduced in 2015. Right now, tvOS also feels pretty distinct from the visual design language employed on iOS. It sounds like that may be about to change as all the platforms looks’ are brought closer together in the biggest Apple OS visual overhaul since iOS 7.
Much of the redesign is expected to be inspired by the visual style introduced with visionOS in the Apple Vision Pro last year. However, even that will see some UI ‘adjustments’ according to Gurman, as Apple looks to bring design harmony across all of its platforms.
We’ll see this all officially unveiled in two weeks time. Stay tuned to 9to5Mac as we bring you full coverage from WWDC 2025. The main keynote kicks off at 10 AM Pacific Time on June 9.
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