On this week’s “Sunday Reboot,” Liquid Glass will get an award, Tim Cook dinner heads to China as soon as once more, and a want for HomeKit to be extra cat-friendly.
Sunday Reboot is a weekly column overlaying a few of the lighter tales inside the Apple actuality distortion area from the previous seven days. All to get the subsequent week underway with a very good first step.
This week, Apple’s ambitions to develop its F1 protection acquired knocked again, hackers attacked provide chain companion Foxconn, and AI has managed to break Apple’s safety in new methods.
Appreciation for Liquid Glass
Since its introduction, Liquid Glass has been extensively criticized for not being ok for the perfection-seeking common person. It was an aesthetic that led to complaints that it was too clear, or when it wasn’t clear, that it wasn’t clear sufficient.
It was a change that you simply both preferred or hated, and that Apple labored to strive and make individuals like.
That is partially attributable to Apple having invested a lot time within the design. A lot with the intention to count on it to hold round within the iOS 27 and macOS 27 technology, and be enhanced additional.
Whereas its person base has seemingly underappreciated Liquid Glass, it nonetheless acquired its dues from the specialists. It obtained a Gold Dice honor on the 2026 Artwork Administrators Membership of New York Awards.
At a minimal, it means judges who know in regards to the arduous work and considering that goes into design acknowledge what Apple has accomplished. Even when there’s a vocal contingent who dislike it.
No, it wasn’t the one factor Apple acquired a Gold Dice for, because it was honored for its Apple TV rebrand and a few advertisements too. However Liquid Glass getting a gong is a giant factor for one thing that everybody complained about for the reason that outset.
After a 12 months of residing with it, Apple’s reached a very good place with the UI. As a contemporary interface, it is an aesthetic that I can definitely reside with, with out a lot complaining.
When WWDC hits in June, Apple will definitely be making extra modifications, however it’s acquired an honest base to work from. Simply hope it would not go too nuts with it.
Tim Cook dinner in China, as soon as once more
Present Apple CEO Tim Cook dinner is having fun with his previous few months within the sizzling seat, in preparation for the John Ternus period. Whereas he can take his victory lap with ease, Cook dinner continues to be the highest man on the firm for the second, and so continues to be being referred to as upon to do his CEO factor.
The newest is a headline that we’ve heard fairly just a few instances earlier than: Tim Cook dinner has gone to China.
President Donald Trump and Apple CEO Tim Cook dinner at a earlier assembly
We’re all accustomed to Apple executives visiting Asia for numerous causes, and Cook dinner has accomplished so fairly just a few instances already. He is visited shops, talked to builders, and even took half within the current anniversary celebrations there.
This time, it is considerably completely different. He is gone there with a bunch of executives from different firms, as a part of a gaggle following U.S. President Donald Trump to the nation.
Trump’s journey is one about commerce, a sizzling matter that he desires to speak to Chinese language President Xi Jinping about. Naturally, Trump wanted to convey over a bunch of CEOS to emphasise the purpose of America being critical about enterprise.
Cook dinner’s journey on a US-sanctioned package deal vacation continues to be of profit to Apple, regardless of actually being extra to assist Trump’s high-level dialogue. He has spent years constructing a working relationship with Trump to Apple’s appreciable benefit.
On the very least, it is going to be a option to pacify Trump as Cook dinner shifts from CEO to Govt Chairman within the fall. Cook dinner will nonetheless be round, coping with the political aspect of Apple on behalf of Ternus, who merely would not have a historical past with Trump in any respect.
The Trump journey would not have been that productive for Cook dinner on the time, however it’s one to assist preserve a relationship for Apple’s future. At the very least whereas Trump is in cost.
Cat enterprise and the necessity for HomeKit to adapt
As an Apple-focused web site, it will not shock anybody that our workforce makes use of HomeKit and the Apple Residence in numerous methods. We additionally know that cats rule the Web, so if there’s an excuse to speak at size and to place images of them up, we’ll take it.
On Friday, the 2 subjects mixed in a bit discussing the varied methods one AppleInsider author makes use of HomeKit along with his assortment of fluffy mischief missiles.
Nonetheless, as normal, HomeKit isn’t taking part in that huge an element right here in comparison with what it could possibly be doing. There’s some parts that may be HomeKit-powered, like cameras for monitoring and sensors for gates, however not the specialised stuff.
In Wesley’s case, that consisted of two product classes. One is an automated pet feeder and the opposite is an automated litter field.
Wesley’s cat Harvie dealing with enterprise within the Litter-Robotic 5.
Whereas I am unable to speak a lot in regards to the feeder, I can definitely enthuse about the advantages of an automatically-cleaning cat rest room. With 4 cats of my very own, it is one thing that makes the air clearer and the method of ejecting used litter significantly simpler, as I’ve talked about earlier than.
That stated, these kinds of merchandise are usually not instantly supported by HomeKit in any respect. There is no particular product class for a cat rest room, so we’re caught counting on a companion app.
My want is for Apple to open up HomeKit in WWDC to permit producers to specify the controls and sensors that HomeKit can entry on their {hardware}. To me, this does clearly imply enabling some capabilities for automated litter packing containers and different units in HomeKit.
The hope is that {hardware} could possibly be added to HomeKit no matter whether or not there’s current assist for explicit product classes. Positive, Apple might extra firmly outline what’s permissible to do with a litterbox in HomeKit sooner or later, however I simply need to have the ability to have a “Clear it now” button in HomeKit.
Positive, I would not thoughts having the corridor mild flashing purple if the litter field is “full” and desires cleansing. However actually, simply being able to place the essential controls into HomeKit in any respect can be nice.
Final week’s Sunday Reboot mentioned Apple’s chip troubles, trademarking oranges, and “Schmigadoon!” going fantastically in its life after Apple TV.
