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Apple’s iOS 26 Unveils Liquid Glass, A ‘Revolutionary’ UI Redesign Drawing Comparisons to Windows Vista’s Aero
At its annual WWDC 2025 event, Apple has unveiled iOS 26, featuring a sweeping visual redesign called Liquid Glass, which has been met with criticism and comparisons to Windows Vista’s Aero interface. Despite Apple’s claims of a ‘most immersive and responsive UI’, the tech community on social media has not been impressed, with many drawing instant comparisons to Microsoft’s nearly two-decade-old design. This article explores the key features of Liquid Glass, the reactions from tech experts and social media users, and what this means for Apple’s design legacy.
The unveiling of iOS 26 at Apple’s WWDC 2025 event has sent shockwaves through the tech community, with the introduction of Liquid Glass, a new design language that promises to deliver a more ‘alive, ambient’ feel to users. However, instead of receiving applause, the design has been met with criticism and jokes, with many drawing comparisons to Windows Vista’s Aero interface, a translucent design introduced by Microsoft nearly two decades ago. But what exactly is Liquid Glass, and why has it sparked such a strong reaction from the tech community?
What is Liquid Glass?
According to Apple, Liquid Glass is a new design language that reimagines the user interface with translucent layers, curved edges, and fluid animations. The design adapts in real-time to lighting environments, offering users a more immersive and responsive experience. The core apps, including Safari, FaceTime, Photos, and Music, have all been redesigned with new aesthetics, promising a unified look across the Apple ecosystem. Apple claims that Liquid Glass builds on a legacy of translucent design, tracing its roots back to MacOS X’s Aqua in 2001 and the Big Sur refresh in 2020.
Key Features of Liquid Glass
Some of the key features of Liquid Glass include:
* Real-time rendering, allowing for a more dynamic and responsive user experience
* Dynamic reflections, creating a sense of depth and immersion
* Glass-like textures, giving the interface a premium and sophisticated feel
* Adaptive design, responding to different lighting environments and user interactions
Reactions from Tech Experts and Social Media Users
The reaction to Liquid Glass has been overwhelmingly negative, with many tech experts and social media users drawing comparisons to Windows Vista’s Aero interface. David Pierce, writing for The Verge, noted that one cannot look at Liquid Glass “without thinking of Windows Aero”, citing the similar “glassy and translucent design language” of the two. Wes Fenlon, Senior Editor at PC Gamer, has referred to Liquid Glass as ‘Apple Aero’, stating that Microsoft had similar ideas roughly 18 years ago.
Social media users have also been quick to criticize the design, with one user on X (formerly Twitter) saying, “Apple’s Liquid Glass = Windows Vista Aero 2.0. I know, I know. ‘Everything old is new again’. But this just seems like a glossy, lame fraud.” Another user shared a picture of a Windows Vista Aero screenshot, writing, “Can’t wait to use ‘liquid glass’ on my Mac!”
Quotes from Tech Experts
Some notable quotes from tech experts include:
* “Apple’s Liquid Glass is a good idea, but it’s not new. Windows Aero was doing this 18 years ago.” – Wes Fenlon, Senior Editor at PC Gamer
* “Liquid Glass and Windows Aero have similar glassy and translucent design language. It’s hard to look at one without thinking of the other.” – David Pierce, The Verge
* “Apple may tout Liquid Glass as ‘merging the optical properties of glass with a fluidity unique to Apple’, but I’m sceptical. This is just Apple’s version of Windows Aero.” – Wes Fenlon, Senior Editor at PC Gamer
Conclusion
The unveiling of iOS 26 and Liquid Glass has sparked a heated debate about the originality and innovation of Apple’s design. While Apple claims to have created a ‘revolutionary’ new design language, many in the tech community are sceptical, drawing comparisons to Microsoft’s nearly two-decade-old Aero interface. Whether or not Liquid Glass will be a success remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – the design has sparked a lively conversation about the state of design in the tech industry.
Keywords: Apple, iOS 26, Liquid Glass, WWDC 2025, Windows Vista, Aero, design, technology, innovation, user interface, user experience, Apple ecosystem, MacOS X, Big Sur, Windows 7, PC Gamer, The Verge, social media, Twitter, X, tech experts, tech community.
Hashtags: #WWDC25 #WWDC2025 #iOS26 #LiquidGlass #Apple #WindowsVista #Aero #Design #Technology #Innovation #UserInterface #UserExperience #AppleEcosystem #MacOSX #BigSur #Windows7 #PCGamer #TheVerge #SocialMedia #Twitter #X #TechExperts #TechCommunity.
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