Apple has announced a series of important design and features for all its operating systems on WWDC 2025 and as every year, the company has been manufactured again in some features that were available in the past through third -party applications. In the world of Apple, this is called “Sherlocking”.
In the late 1990s, Apple launched a search app called Sherlock for MacOS 8 to allow users to search the web and files in local systems. Another company called Karelia software had an existing $ 29 search app called Watson, with plug-ins for better internet search. In 2002, Apple released Sherlock 3, which had Watson similar, forcing Karelia to finally close its implementation.
Since then, Tech Folk has used the term “sherlocking” to mention when Apple creates a new feature that is doing the same thing as an existing third -party application.
Here are the new features that the various applications have made in the past:
The new spotlight app on MacOS
SherLocked Applications: Raycast, Launcher
Yes, Raycast makes much more than strings shortcuts and provides a programmer platform. But when Apple showed the new Mac search during Keynote Monday, you couldn’t help think Raycast.
When you open Raycast, it shows you that you recommend applications and commands, which will exactly allow users for files, applications and shortcuts. Kicker, however, is Apple’s “actions”, which allow you to do all things such as placing an event in your diary, creating a gif or creating a folder, as well as Raycast allows you to do.
Spotlight now also allows you to access items from menus for any active windows. In addition, you can set a short string to perform specific actions – for example, you could set the “Newr” string to create a new reminder element. Spotlight also gets support for the API of intentions so that developers can add actions from their own applications.
Last year, Raycast extended to Windows and iOS with a AI features suite.
Flight tracking through living activities
SherLocked Applications: Daredevil
The Flightly, which allows you to track your own or your friends’ flights and manage check-in, which has previously won an Apple Design Award. With iOS 26, Apple updates the wallet to allow users to view and share the flight status through live activities.
Maps also take the ability to let you browse the airport with information such as gates, security, shops, bag claims, food and toilets. Flowy also offers some of these features.
Integration of AI model with XCODE
SherLocked Applications: Alex for XCODE
Apple now makes Chatgpt the default assistant for the XCODE 26 encoding tool and also allows developers to connect other AI models using API keys.
This gets an application supported by the Y-Combinator called ALEX for XCODE, which is an assistant that allows developers to perform web searchs, correct issues, execute terminal commands, use search codes, use local models, replace the Inline Code.
List podcasts on local level
SherLocked Applications:
In the iPad, a new local capture feature now allows creators to record videos using any video call app and share the recordings with others.
Riverside has helped users to do it for years and also provides a complete processing suite. It is not clear how useful or powerful Apple processing tools will be to record or edit podcasts.
Notes for Apple Watch
SherLocked Applications: Many applications with a similar functionality
Apple finally brought the official notes application to Apple Watch with Watchos 26 update.
This Sherlocks update several applications that make it easier for users to take notes on Apple Watch.
View Calls
SherLocked Applications: Robber; Slave
Apple says that the new iOS 26 call assistance capability may receive silent calls from unknown numbers, mark the name and reason of the caller and show you these details, allowing you to choose to accept or reject the call. You can also type an answer to ask the caller more questions.
Robokiller and Truecaller also offer this functionality, in addition to other features such as SMS Spam Protection.
Monitoring of parcels
SherLocked Applications: Monitoring of packages applications
Wallet can now track orders, also using Apple Intelligence to monitor and summarize the order status by studying the emails sent by traders or delivery services. This Sherlocks feature several applications on the market that allow you to track orders using tracking numbers.
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What is in front of
Given the history of Apple’s building on features made popular with third -party applications, those that offer a narrow range of functionality may not last long. However, developers have found that applying some of Apple features often leads to users to know these capabilities and many prefer to use third -party applications for a more customized experience. For example, previously sherlocked applications, Wreath For iphone mirror, and Join For web applications on Mac, new versions have been released with more possibilities for specialized use cases.
