It’s that time again! Thought I’d throw a quick list together of the top things I wish Apple would do in next software versions at this year’s WWDC. Kind of a grab bag, but thought I’d put a flag in the ground now.
- Make entire play history available in Apple Music, not just library tracks. I want to leverage Last.fm or PlayTally but it can be a challenge to get an inclusive list of all of the songs I’ve played across the devices I use.
- Allow users to have more control over blocking images in email. For example, people in my contacts should be exempt.
- Allow 3rd party rendering engines. I want to see Chrome and Firefox push Apple to make Safari better.
- Allow content blockers to work across any webview.
- Improve notifications by adding a notification history, easier actions and smarter prioritization. Clearing a notification should clear the badge.
- Find a way to “fix” spam texts and calls. It’s become really bad in the past year and I feel like Apple isn’t even trying here.
- Always on Lock Screen like the Google Pixel phones. This should be possible, right?
- Allow widgets to do some simple actions like play/pause of audio.
- Allow apps to integrate with control center. Could you imagine all of the amazing Shortcuts and app actions you could see there if Apple provided an API for it?
- “Tracker blocker” API similar to content blockers. We should have something like little snitch for iOS.
- Better tab persistence on iPadOS. So much RAM, and tabs just feel flimsy.
- Better multitasking on iPadOS. Video + other apps is a mess and so is the current “buddy system” of multiple iPadOS apps.
- External monitor support on iPadOS. Like, REAL external support.
- Make use of the “status bar” on iPadOS. Notification icons? Menubar options?
- Global keyboard shortcuts – preferably user-configurable. I’d love to wire up Shortcuts to keyboard commands.
- More control over widgets – I want to use them in the Lock Screen, all over the place in iPadOS, etc.
- Make a better Lock Screen that rolls in notification updates as well as possibly widgets. See above.
- Siri should handle commands without an internet connection when possible (timers, audio playback, etc). This is so obnoxious when in low-connectivity areas.
- More robust Shortcuts actions for media playback at home. I’d love a shortcut that could adjust my home speakers volume to a set level and play a playlist on all of the speakers.
- Timers set on one HomePod should be controllable from any HomePod as well as notify all HomePods if the timer isn’t turned off at the source.
- Have some standards around Catalyst apps that make them feel like Mac apps. Keyboard shortcuts, basic Mac conventions. I might as well use an Electron app if the current crop of apps is the best we can expect.
- Allow users to allow any trigger to start any Shortcut. No more notifications or prompts for “power users”.
- Siri needs “continued conversations” on all platforms like Alexa and Assistant.
- Similarly, Siri needs to be able to combine commands “turn on the lights AND set a timer for 30 minutes”.
- Allow users to hide the tabs for Apple services they aren’t interested in. I don’t begrudge them for pushing the stuff but if I don’t want it, they should respect that and allow me to hide the tabs.
- PIP for all tvOS apps.
- A fully liberated from iOS Apple Watch (even if some functions wouldn’t work as well).
- A redesigned Home app that’s a bit more useful. Better automations, easier to navigate and more information dense.
- Overall, can we move away from 3-dot menus for everything?
- Key repeat settings for iPadOS. I hate how long it takes to backspace through things.