iOS 757: Apple Design Awards 2025 - CapWords, Feather, Taobao, & more!

Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard go over Apple's 2025 Design Award winners, exploring groundbreaking apps that showcase the best of Apple's platforms. From AI-powered language learning tools to visually stunning adventure games, these winners represent the pinnacle of mobile innovation and design excellence.

Delight and Fun Category

CapWords • - Revolutionary language learning app that transforms everyday objects into interactive stickers, supporting nine languages with AI-powered photo recognition Balatro • - Award-winning poker-inspired deck builder that cleverly teaches poker fundamentals while delivering addictive gameplay across multiple platforms

Innovation Category

Play • - Developer-focused app enabling interactive SwiftUI prototype creation with seamless cross-device syncing between iPhone and Mac PBJ, the Musical • - Quirky Shakespeare adaptation telling Romeo and Juliet • with condiments as characters, featuring original soundtracks and creative storytelling

Interaction Category

Taobao • - Pioneering Apple Vision Pro shopping experience with photorealistic 3D models allowing users to visualize furniture and products in their actual spaces DREDGE • - Atmospheric horror fishing adventure with seamless gameplay continuity across iPhone, iPad, and Mac platforms

Inclusivity Category

Speechify • - Accessibility-focused text-to-speech app supporting 50+ languages and hundreds of voices, designed for users with dyslexia, ADHD, and low vision Art of Fauna • - Beautiful wildlife puzzle game featuring vintage-style artwork with full voiceover support and innovative block-based puzzle mechanics

Social Impact Category

Watch Duty • - Critical wildfire tracking app providing real-time evacuation updates and emergency information faster than traditional services Neva • - Emotionally resonant adventure game exploring environmental themes through the relationship between a girl and her wolf companion

Visuals and Graphics Category

Feather • - Intuitive iPad app enabling users to transform 2D designs into stunning 3D models using touch and Apple Pencil interactions Infinity Nikki • - Visually spectacular open-world adventure game featuring magical outfits, whimsical creatures, and breathtaking rendering quality

Shortcuts Corner

• New "Use Model" action in Shortcuts enables cloud, local, or ChatGPT model integration for AI-powered automation • Apple's Shortcuts Gallery now features dedicated Apple Intelligence examples including leftover recipe generation and PDF summarization

App Caps

Mikah's Pick: Gigapixel

• AI-powered photo upscaling app that enhances image resolution and quality using sophisticated machine learning models • Features standard and low-res enhancement modes plus specialized face recovery for portrait photographs • Particularly useful for printing older photos or enlarging images without quality loss

Rosemary's Pick: Dark Noise

• Premium white noise app enabling custom sound mixing with extensive library of ambient sounds • Supports audio layering with other apps, iCloud sync across devices, and Siri Shortcuts integration • Includes whimsical features like "unnamed goose mode" and developer-friendly privacy controls

These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/ios-today/episodes/757 Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard