Partway by way of WWDC 2025, I began monitoring each time I heard the phrase “pleasant.” I might need missed a couple of, however there have been not less than eight instances when some exec was insisting to me that a component of the upcoming iOS 26, macOS Tahoe and Apple’s different platforms merited the adjective. And perhaps some individuals really do really feel unfettered pleasure about UI design, however that is the type of perspective in these occasions that makes me roll my eyes.
Apple at all times tries very onerous to inject levity and character into its keynotes. More often than not, that winds up leaning on cringe from Craig Federighi, who appears fairly affable about being the punchline. Typically I smirk a little bit, however once more, as a rule, it is one other eye-roll. That was the case this yr, as Apple bludgeoned us with a tie-in for its upcoming F1 movie, which already leans fairly onerous on product placement.
Then there’s the developer devotion. Sure, Apple wants devs to make use of its instruments and applications. Sure, the corporate can and will give them some kudos. However typically, the adulation that I’ve heard heaped on the WWDC viewers up to now is so tacky, so over-eager that it flies well past sincerity and into schlock.
Simply as I used to be prepared to show off the stream, the curtain rose on a grand piano. And to my shock, the ultimate three minutes of a full band performing actual critiques of apps turned the precise spotlight of WWDC for me.
This is not an unique thought. Evaluations, good and unhealthy, are well-mined fodder for comedians and social media content material. Jimmy Fallon, James Corden and others have made musical gags a staple of current late night time discuss reveals. However the way in which Apple determined to do it this yr was, in a phrase, pleasant.
Every evaluate was heartfelt or dopey or each; see “saved my marriage” for Citymapper and “If this does not win greatest app of the yr, I am going to eat my shoe” for Misplaced in Play. It took the important web knowledge of “do not learn the feedback” and turned it into gold. This foolish little track managed to do all the pieces Apple needs to do at WWDC in a very amusing package deal. It is the dev props, it is the splashy manufacturing, it is legit leisure.
For anybody who, like me, was really buzzing the tune even after the stream ended, the video is up as a standalone on YouTube and was carried out by soul/R&B singer Allen Stone. And to no matter producer got here up with this concept: you might have my utmost appreciation. Six out of 5 stars certainly.
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