Apple announced a slew of major design and feature updates for all its operating systems at WWDC 2025, and just like every year, the company has again built in some features that were previously available through third-party apps. In the Apple world, this is called “Sherlocking.”
In the late ’90s, Apple launched a search app named Sherlock for macOS 8 to let users search the web and files on local systems. Another company called Karelia Software had an existing $29 search app called Watson, with plug-ins for better internet search. In 2002, Apple released Sherlock 3, which had features similar to Watson, forcing Karelia to eventually shut its app down.
Since then, tech folk have used the term “Sherlocking” to allude to when Apple builds a new feature that does the same thing as an existing third-party app.
Here are the new features that Sherlock what various apps have done in the past:
The new Spotlight app on macOS
Sherlocked apps: Raycast, Launchbar
Yes, Raycast does much more than stringing shortcuts together, and it provides a developer platform too. But when Apple showed off the new Spotlight search for Mac during the keynote on Monday, you couldn’t help thinking of Raycast.
When you open Raycast, it shows you suggested apps and commands, which is exactly what the new Spotlight will let users do for files, apps, and shortcuts. The kicker, though, is Apple’s “Actions,” which let you do all sorts of stuff like putting an event on your calendar, making a GIF, or creating a folder, just like Raycast lets you do.
Spotlight now also lets you access items from the menus for any active windows. Plus, you can define a short string to perform specific actions — for example, you could set the string “newr” to create a new reminder item. Spotlight is also getting support for the Intents API so developers can add actions from their own apps.
Last year, Raycast expanded to Windows and iOS with a suite of AI-powered features.
Flight tracking via Live Activities
Sherlocked apps: Flighty
Flightly, which lets you track your own or your friends’ flights and manage check-ins, previously won an Apple Design Award. With iOS 26, Apple is updating Wallet to allow users to see and share flight status through Live Activities.
Maps is also getting the ability to let you navigate the airport with information like gates, security, shops, bag claims, food, and restrooms. Flighty also offers some of these features.
AI model integration with XCode
Sherlocked apps: Alex for Xcode
Apple is now making ChatGPT the default assistant for the Xcode 26 coding tool, and is also allowing developers to hook up other AI models using API keys.
This takes on a Y-Combinator-backed app called Alex for Xcode, which is an assistant that lets developers perform web searches, fix issues, run terminal commands, search codebases, use local models, replace inline code, and more.
Record podcasts locally
Sherlocked apps: Riverside
On the iPad, a new Local Capture feature now lets creators record videos using any video calling app, and share the recordings with others.
Riverside has helped users do this for years, and also provides a full editing suite. It’s not clear how useful or powerful Apple’s editing tools will be for recording or editing podcasts.
Notes for Apple Watch
Sherlocked apps: Plenty of apps with similar functionality
Apple finally brought the official Notes app to Apple Watch with the WatchOS 26 update.
This update Sherlocks several apps that make it easier for users to take notes on Apple Watch.
Call screening
Sherlocked apps: Robokiller, Truecaller
Apple says iOS 26’s new Call Assist feature can take calls from unknown numbers silently, note the caller’s name and reason for calling, and show you these details, letting you choose to accept or reject the call. You can also type in a response to ask the caller more questions.
Robokiller and Truecaller both offer this functionality, in addition to other features like SMS spam protection.
Parcel tracking
Sherlocked apps: Package tracking apps
Wallet can now track orders, too, using Apple Intelligence to track and summarize order status by studying the emails sent by merchants or delivery services. This feature Sherlocks several apps on the market that let you track orders using tracking numbers.
/
What lies ahead
Given Apple’s history of building in features made popular by third-party apps, those that offer a narrow range of functionality might not last long. However, developers have found that Apple’s implementation of certain features often results in users becoming aware of those capabilities, and many prefer to use third-party apps for a more customized experience. For example, previously Sherlocked apps, Bezel for iPhone Mirroring, and Unite for web apps on Mac, have released new versions with more features for specialized use cases.
