WWDC 2025 Proved That Apple Learned a Valuable Lesson

At its WWDC 2024 keynote last year, Apple previewed a more personalized version of Siri that has since been delayed until next year. Subsequently, Apple was hit with class action lawsuits that accuse the company of false advertising, and well-known Apple commentator John Gruber strongly criticized the company over the situation.

WWDC 2025 Apple Logo
Apple also missed its promised 2024 timeframe for launching next-generation CarPlay, which it first announced all the way back at WWDC 2022. The company finally announced the launch of CarPlay Ultra last month, with the software system rolling out in high-end Aston Martin vehicles in the U.S. and Canada to start.

It appears that Apple learned a valuable lesson.

During its WWDC 2025 keynote, there was a noticeable lack of new software features that Apple promised as coming later this year. The company did say that Apple Intelligence will be gaining support for additional languages later this year, but most of those languages had already been announced months ago. Over the past several years, on the other hand, there were typically quite a few "later this year" labels on Apple's software pages.

Still, not every new feature announced at WWDC 2025 is available in the first betas of Apple's latest software releases. The lack of "later this year" phrasing suggests that those features will be ready by time iOS 26 and the other updates are released in September, however, as opposed to subsequent versions like iOS 26.1 or iOS 26.2.

Overall, it is clear that Apple is being more cautious, as was expected. In a report last month about Apple's artificial intelligence shortcomings, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Drake Bennett cited sources who said that Apple planned to mostly stop announcing new features more than a few months before they are ready to launch. Based on the WWDC 2025 keynote, that does appear to be the company's approach for now.

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Colors

Apple Announces iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max With New Design, Larger Battery, and More

Tuesday September 9, 2025 10:59 am PDT by
Apple today introduced the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Both devices feature a new aluminum unibody design, with the Ceramic Shield now protecting both the front and back sides. Apple says the front side is now Ceramic Shield 2, which offers 3x better scratch resistance, while the rear Ceramic Shield is advertised as 4x more resistant to cracks compared to the back glass on previous...
Awe Dropping MR Live Coverage Article

Apple Event Live Blog: iPhone 17, iPhone Air, New Apple Watches, and AirPods Pro 3

Tuesday September 9, 2025 8:55 am PDT by
Apple's "Awe Dropping" event kicks off today at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, where we're expecting to see the iPhone 17 lineup, several updated Apple Watch models, and the third-generation AirPods Pro unveiled, and perhaps some other announcements. Apple is providing a live video stream on its website, on YouTube, and in the company's TV app across various platforms. We will also be updating...
airpods pro 2

Two Versions of AirPods Pro 3 Coming With These Differences

Monday September 8, 2025 4:51 am PDT by
Apple is preparing to launch two versions of the AirPods Pro 3 over 2025 and 2026, according to a Weibo leaker. Yesterday, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to debut the AirPods Pro 3 this year. They could arrive as soon as this week at Apple's "Awe dropping" event. Crucially, Kuo added that Apple is planning to introduce a successor to this year's AirPods ...
iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

New iPhone 17 Pro Details: Brighter Display, Best Battery Life, and More

Wednesday September 3, 2025 5:33 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models will feature a number of significant display, thermal, and battery improvements, according to new late-stage rumors. According to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital," the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature displays with higher brightness, making it more suitable for use in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. The iPhone 16 Pro and...
iphone air

Apple Announces iPhone Air With Ultra-Thin Design

Tuesday September 9, 2025 10:45 am PDT by
Apple today unveiled the iPhone Air, an all-new kind of iPhone featuring an ultra-thin design. The iPhone Air is just 5.6mm thick, making it the thinnest iPhone ever. The frame is made of titanium with a polished mirror finish. The device features Ceramic Shield 2 with 3x better scratch resistance and 4x better crack resistance, on both sides of the device for the first time. Apple says that ...

Top Rated Comments

delsoul Avatar
13 weeks ago
It seems they learned one lesson but failed to learn another. People want REAL upgrades, not just some cool colors here, some shiny graphics there. Many of these ‘features’ they release, majority of folks I dare say don’t even use them. There’s not a single thing released by Apple in recent times, software wise, that’s made me feel like wow I really have to have that. This also goes for Android, I’m really believing tech is out of actual fresh ideas and trying to buy themselves time to try and come up with something.
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Nik Avatar
13 weeks ago
Under-promise. Over-deliver. That's how it should be.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
poematik13 Avatar
13 weeks ago
The company is washed. They're just way too big now and not able to think clearly and cohesively on executing a singular vision. The "big reveal" is literally just a windows aero skin on the UI. Seriously? lol

The corporate structure is now 30-40 teams, each with a budget and headcount bigger than most startups, all fighting and competing against eachother internally for promotions.

You can tell by how robotic and soulless all the hosts were that all the employees care about is the stock price and their TC. Nobody cares anymore about being revolutionary or disruptive or making an iMac/iPod/iPhone-tier product- that era is over.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KENESS Avatar
13 weeks ago
I don't know if it is just me, but I'm really feeling update overload these days. Every couple of months, there's a "big" new feature coming in a point release. It's just kind of overwhelming and makes my brain "check out" and my general reaction when there's a new point release is... Ugh. Again.

I'm not complaining about lack of innovation or complaining that Apple has lost it's way or that Apple's quality control is going downhill or any of the other annoying mantras that infect the forums, I don't have an issue with any of those things.

I just feel like every time I turn around there is a significant upgrade and significant (or semi-significant) new feature.

I kind of just wish they'd release all their new features each year in the x.0 release, and then all subsequent releases for the year would be just bug fixes and refinements. And that's it. Not ready for the x.0 release? Then wait until next year!

The x.0 release should DEFINE the feature set of that release. The point updates should be fixes.

Just my opinion.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AlexStudios Avatar
13 weeks ago

It seems they learned one lesson but failed to learn another. People want REAL upgrades, not just some cool colors here, some shiny graphics there. Many of these ‘features’ they release, majority of folks I dare say don’t even use them. There’s not a single thing released by Apple in recent times, software wise, that’s made me feel like wow I really have to have that. This also goes for Android, I’m really believing tech is out of actual fresh ideas and trying to buy themselves time to try and come up with something.
Truth be told, the tech industry is running out of features they're able to add on an already packed device.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hurley999jb Avatar
13 weeks ago
Seems like a heartfelt apology from Tim would have gone a long way! All he would have had to do was note that they missed the mark, and would do better in the future.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)