Apple goes for a fresh but familiar new look
Also, Apple is finally matching the year to their software updates.
With everyone hoping Apple will finally make announcements that Siri is finally catching up to the competition, the iPhone, iPad, and Mac maker decided that a fresh new look called “Liquid Glass” would be the focus of its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2025.
To be fair, it’s gorgeous, and really complements and highlights the beautiful hardware Apple makes. But I can’t help but think I’ve it seen it somewhere before — on Windows 7 and its Windows Aero glass style.
But just because it’s been done before, doesn’t mean you can’t do it again, while making it really good. And from the previews shown at WWDC, Apple seems to have nailed the experience.
I love how it reacts to items in the background, your input, and how it shapes around the hardware. It’s a great redesign, and one that I can’t wait to try out for myself.
Meanwhile, Apple also announced a change in their numbering system for its operating systems. It’s moving all of its operating systems into the same number based on the year, which makes a lot of sense given how messy it was with new operating systems such as visionOS being way behind on the numbering scheme.
Now, if Apple were to also use the same numbering system for their upcoming hardware (or something similar), that would be great. We’ll have previews at Can Buy or Not for what to expect in the future coming soon.
And in case you’re wondering, Siri didn’t get an update. Instead, Apple’s SVP of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, only made a quick mention, stating that work on Siri to make it more personal was still ongoing and needed more time.
This feels like a way too long delay, considering how its competitors have already advanced by leaps and bounds. But Apple being Apple, will hopefully get it right and blow us all away when they finally release (fingers-crossed).
Anyways, this week, we check out the best budget phone you can buy, a no-frills 27-inch Mini-LED and Honor’s excellent mainstream tablet, the Pad V9.
Thin, modular, and sporting a brilliant OLED screen, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is a budget phone that's designed to kill its competition. At S$399, this phone features a cool modular system that lets you add lenses, stands, or even a magnetic rear that works with MagSafe products.
The Prism+ PG27X Pro is one of the first Mini-LED monitors from the Singapore brand. What this display technology offers over a traditional LCD panel is plenty of dimming zones that can lead to deeper blacks, as well as mitigate issues like blooming. The S$449 from Prism+ features a 240Hz and peak brightness of 1,000 nits and delivers a great bright, vibrant, and deep blacks compared with normal monitors.
The Honor Pad V9 is a great Android tablet that feels more expensive than its mid-range specs suggest. While it may borrow some design elements from the iPad, it's a complete package, especially with its keyboard and pen accessories, that for some users, can be a lightweight alternative to a laptop. At S$659, it strikes a good balance between affordability and performance.