First, what is sherlocking?

Simply put, sherlocking is when Apple introduces a new feature or app that offers the same functionalities as an existing third-party app on the App Store. Since the same features are now accessible on an Apple device such as the iPhone or iPad, there is no point for users to download a separate app from the App Store with the same features.

The history behind the term ‘sherlocking’ is quite interesting.

In the late 1990s, Apple had launched a desktop search tool called Sherlock named after the popular fictional British detective. But Sherlock could only look for files on the desktop and translate content, along with a few other basic functions. It wasn’t long before a developer built Watson, a programme that made it possible to access information on the internet through Sherlock.

Watson’s popularity soared but it was short lived because Apple released an updated version of its in-built search tool that had all of the same capabilities. Hence, Watson became obsolete and was the first software programme to get sherlocked.

This year’s victims of sherlocking

Let’s take a look at all the apps that have been sherlocked this year based on Apple’s announcements during the WWDC keynote, as per a report by TechCrunch.

– Raycast, Launchbar: These apps have been sherlocked by the upgraded version of the Spotlight app in macOS Tahoe. Spotlight basically helps find items on Mac.However, the new version of the search app offers more personalised results and lets users undertake ‘hundreds of actions’ simply by typing in a few characters such as ‘sm’ or ‘ad’.

– Flighty: This app is used to track flights and manage check-ins. As part of iOS 26, the updated Apple Wallet allows users to see and share the status of their flight via Live Activities. Apple Maps has also been updated to show users locations within an airport such as shops, restrooms, boarding gates, etc.

– Truecaller: In a bid to tackle spam calls, iOS 26 will come with a new call screening feature that gathers information from an unknown caller and shows it to the user in order to help them decide whether they should answer the call. It also offers the same functionality in the Messages app to help users avoid spam SMSes.

– Riverside: The new Local Capture feature in iPadOS 26 lets users record videos using any video calling app, and share the recordings with others.

– Alex: It is an AI coding assistant specifically designed for Xcode, the suite of developer tools for building apps for Apple platforms. The Y-Combinator-backed app lets developers use an AI assistant to search codebases, rewrite inline code, run terminal commands, and fix issues. However, at WWDC 2025, Apple announced a new version of its app development environment, Xcode 26, with OpenAI’s ChatGPT integrated as the default AI assistant. Though, developers can also integrate other AI models using API keys.

– Notes for Apple Watch: With watchOS 26, Apple is bringing the Notes app to Apple Watch. Users will be able to create new notes using Siri, dictation, or the keyboard. They will also be able to pin and unlock notes as well as complete checklist items.

– Package tracking apps: Apple Wallet in iOS 26 has been upgraded with a new Apple Intelligence-powered feature that automatically identifies and summarises order tracking details from emails sent from merchants and delivery carriers. The feature works even for orders not paid for using Apple Pay.