Apple's iOS 28: The Game Changer or Just Hype?

Apple's iOS 28 is already causing a stir, and it hasn't even been officially unveiled yet. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently hinted that this update will be a 'far more significant' shift than the upcoming iOS 27. But what does that actually mean?

The Gurman Tease

In his Power On newsletter, Gurman dropped the bombshell without offering much in the way of specifics. He did, however, reveal that iOS 28 is codenamed 'Bell' while macOS 28 goes by 'Poppy.' With Apple set to launch its 20th-anniversary iPhone next year, iOS 28's debut seems perfectly timed to coincide with this milestone. But does 'significant' mean revolutionary new features or just another series of tweaks?

The iOS 27 Prelude

Next week, iOS 27 will hit the spotlight at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, focusing on a revamped Siri and more personalized Apple Intelligence features. Expect a personalized version of Siri that promises context-aware responses, like knowing your mom's flight details or your lunch reservations. There'll also be a new Siri app, allowing for conversational interactions akin to chatbot services like ChatGPT.

But let's be real: while these updates sound flashy, they're mostly iterative. The real question is whether iOS 28 will break new ground or simply build on these incremental changes.

Why iOS 28 Could Matter

Now, let's talk about why you should care about iOS 28. The next major update will likely be unveiled at WWDC in June 2027. That's a long wait, sure. But if Gurman's hints hold water, we're looking at a potentially transformative change that could redefine how we interact with our iPhones. Will it finally justify the sky-high prices of Apple's flagship devices?

Ask the workers, not the executives, about what it takes to deliver a substantial update. If Apple's pushing iOS 28 as significant, they'd better deliver more than just a shinier interface and slightly enhanced features. The productivity gains went somewhere. Not to wages. So, where are they really going?

In the end, mark your calendars and speculate all you want. Just remember: in tech, hype doesn't always match reality. The jobs numbers tell one story. The paychecks tell another.