At WWDC 2025, Apple has once again made headlines by announcing a series of significant design and feature updates across all its operating systems. As always, the tech giant has incorporated several features that were previously available through third-party applications, a practice colloquially known as “Sherlocking.” This term traces its roots back to the late 1990s when Apple launched a search application named Sherlock for macOS 8, allowing users to search both the web and their local files.
The concept of Sherlocking came into play when Karelia Software introduced its $29 application, Watson, which offered enhanced internet search capabilities through plug-ins. When Apple released Sherlock 3 in 2002 with features akin to those of Watson, Karelia was ultimately forced to discontinue its app. Since this incident, the tech community has utilized the term “Sherlocking” to describe situations where Apple integrates features that rival existing third-party applications. Here’s a look at the new features introduced by Apple that reflect this trend:
The revamped Spotlight app on macOS has effectively Sherlocked several apps, including Raycast and Launchbar. While Raycast offers a comprehensive suite of functionalities beyond merely stringing shortcuts together, Apple's new Spotlight search for Mac showcases suggested apps and commands in a similar manner. The standout feature, “Actions,” empowers users to perform various tasks like adding calendar events, creating GIFs, or organizing folders, mirroring the capabilities of Raycast.
In addition, Spotlight now allows users to access menu items from active windows, enhancing usability. Users can also define custom short strings for specific actions, such as creating a new reminder with a simple input like “newr.” With the integration of the Intents API, developers can now enrich Spotlight with actions from their own applications, broadening its functionality.
Apple is enhancing the Wallet app with new flight tracking capabilities, effectively Sherlocking the popular app Flighty. With iOS 26, users can now view and share flight statuses through Live Activities. Additionally, the updated Maps app provides navigation assistance within airports, including information on gates, security, shopping, dining options, and restroom locations. These features mirror those offered by Flighty, which has previously won an Apple Design Award.
In a move that aims to streamline the development process, Apple is integrating ChatGPT as the default assistant for the Xcode 26 coding tool. This new feature also allows developers to connect other AI models through API keys, directly competing with the Y-Combinator-backed application, Alex for Xcode. Alex has offered functionalities such as web searches, issue resolution, terminal command execution, and inline code replacement, which now seem to be mirrored by Apple’s updates.
Apple has introduced a Local Capture feature on the iPad, enabling creators to record videos using any video calling application and share those recordings seamlessly. This feature Sherlocks Riverside, a platform that has historically provided similar capabilities alongside a comprehensive editing suite. However, the depth and effectiveness of Apple's editing tools for podcast creation remain to be seen.
With the WatchOS 26 update, Apple has finally launched an official Notes app for the Apple Watch, effectively Sherlocking various third-party apps that facilitate note-taking on the wearable device. This addition significantly enhances the functionality of the Apple Watch, making it easier for users to jot down notes on the go.
The new Call Assist feature in iOS 26 empowers users to manage calls from unknown numbers. The feature can silently take calls, note the caller's name and reason for calling, and present these details to the user, who can then choose to accept or reject the call. This functionality closely resembles offerings from third-party apps like Robokiller and Truecaller, which provide similar call screening and SMS spam protection services.
Apple is also stepping into the realm of order tracking with the Wallet app, allowing users to track their orders by utilizing Apple Intelligence to analyze emails from merchants and delivery services. This new capability Sherlocks various package tracking applications that have historically offered tracking based on tracking numbers, enhancing the user experience in managing online purchases.
As Apple continues to evolve its ecosystem, the introduction of these features highlights the ongoing trend of Sherlocking, showcasing how the company integrates functionalities that previously existed within third-party applications. Users can look forward to these enhancements as they roll out, further enriching the Apple experience.
