The Mac apps community offers an incredible array of utilities designed to enhance your computing experience. Tools like Alfred, Raycast, AlDente, and Rectangle are among the most recommended for macOS users today. The thriving open-source community has also cultivated various applications that I rely on every day, proving how essential these utilities can be.
Between the lines, it’s clear that these apps address gaps that Apple has yet to fill natively in macOS. Meanwhile, Windows has implemented many of these features for years. As we await macOS 26, one can’t help but wonder if it will finally offer some in-house solutions to these longstanding issues.
What happens if Apple continues to hold back? I hope macOS 26 brings bold innovations, particularly in AI, to streamline mundane tasks. Apple doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel; it can draw inspiration from existing solutions and develop its own. Just imagine a tool akin to Copilot but tailored under the Apple Intelligence banner.
Why Should Apple Care?
That’s an excellent question. Let’s focus on some fundamental aspects of computing. Take clipboard history, for instance. The absence of a native clipboard in macOS is astounding for a platform like this. Why does the world’s most integrated operating system lack a basic clipboard function? Only Apple can answer that.
The missing clipboard functionality is frustrating. For those of us who work with text daily—copying and pasting citations, terminologies, and endless variations—it becomes an exhausting routine of Command+C and Command+V. It can be tiresome, to say the least.
Windows users benefit from a universal clipboard that allows copying text and media seamlessly. This feature offers significant relief, especially for people working in Office or similar suites. Some might argue that clipboard functions can mishandle sensitive data. However, one shouldn’t copy sensitive information like passwords. Moreover, options like selective wipe or auto-delete could be implemented to safeguard privacy. With Apple’s robust privacy commitment, it certainly has the capability to craft a solution that balances functionality and security. Until then, I advocate for excellent third-party alternatives like Maccy.
The Problems Run Deep
Window management on macOS remains frustratingly basic, especially when you’re working with external monitors. The tiling and resizing capabilities Windows offer far outpace what macOS currently provides. Thankfully, developers have stepped in to fill the void. Swift Shift is one of my favorite window management apps for macOS. It’s free and open-source, making the process of resizing and arranging app windows a smooth experience. Recently, I’ve also enjoyed Loop for its intuitive design.
It is surprising that Apple hasn’t utilized the MacBook’s notch more effectively. Apps like Boring Notch turn this feature into a productivity hub, enabling music playback and calendar views, addressing the clutter in the menu bar. Once again, third-party apps are leading the charge in fixing these problems.
Even basic tools like scratch pads seem absent from macOS. A recent trial with Antinote helped me realize just how much ground macOS has yet to cover. Additionally, when can we expect screenshots to appear on the clipboard, dear Apple?
Apple’s inconsistency in creating essential features can be baffling. It’s especially striking when you consider that Apple views macOS and iPadOS as related but distinct platforms. However, macOS is still missing many key iPadOS functions, such as native icon theming and deeper customizations. A third-party app is again necessary to introduce layout flexibility for different desktops and work profiles. Wouldn’t it be beneficial if Apple simply integrated the Control Center adjustments from iPadOS into macOS?
AI to the Rescue?
If Apple hasn’t addressed these foundational issues up to now, it seems unlikely that WWDC 2025 will unveil all the necessary solutions. However, macOS 26 is rumored to undergo a design overhaul, with exciting AI functionalities said to be on the horizon.
I’m not here to rally behind every AI trend, but there are times when AI proves helpful in everyday tasks. My favorites include Deep Research and NotebookLM, which help break down complex research into digestible formats. Such features could be monumental for macOS, but they need to be thoughtfully integrated for user benefit.
Apple’s partnership with OpenAI has already led to ChatGPT integrations within its ecosystem. Now is the time for Apple to broaden access to AI tools in both internal apps and third-party solutions, similar to the advances seen in Windows 11 with tools like Gemini and Copilot.
Recently, I had the chance to try Windows Recall on a Copilot PC, and I found myself wishing for a similar memory bank system for macOS. Apple possesses the technological prowess to realize such enhancements. There are talks of expanding in-house models to developers, so let’s remain optimistic as we approach WWDC 2025.
The state of macOS demands attention. Apple can either fill existing gaps with innovative features or capitalize on the ongoing AI revolution to redefine productivity in this new era. Agents like ChatGPT Operator or Project Astra are already transforming how we interact with our devices. For macOS 26, a defining moment is crucial, and I hope Apple takes the leap toward a future where productivity meets privacy seamlessly.
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