Apple is Killing Eight Apps with Its 2024 Updates

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Just like every year, Apple used its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) presentation to show us everything it has in store for the fall.
Every year, one of Apple’s new features is bound to kill a third-party app. Why? Because for some people, why would they use a third-party alternative if Apple already offers it built-in for free?
This has happened so often that there’s even a term for it: “getting Sherlocked.” This phrase was coined because back in the day, before Apple’s Spotlight feature, Apple created a feature called Sherlock, which helped you search for files on your Mac and the web.
This feature was so popular that a company named Karelia Software, run by developer Dan Wood introduced an app called Watson that added powerful features Sherlock didn’t have. However, the app became so popular that Apple took notice and added all the extra features to Sherlock 3, making Watson practically useless.
Since then, people have used the phrase “getting Sherlocked” to refer to Apple creating a feature or app that will make their own third-party solution useless.
This year, here are just a few of the apps that Apple might kill because of its new features in iOS/iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia.
Password Manager Apps

During the macOS Sequoia portion of the presentation, Apple introduced a brand new app called Passwords.
As you can guess by the name, this is a password manager app that stores all your passwords, passkeys, and verification codes. It also syncs with iCloud so you can access all your passwords across all your Apple devices and even on Windows computers.
Needless to say, this app targets third-party password managers. Since it’ll do everything they do and be integrated across almost every platform available, many Apple users will drop third-party apps like 1Password and rely solely on Apple Passwords.
Window Tiling Apps

Using multiple apps on a Mac has always been a bit of a hassle unless you have the right app. Apple’s own multitasking features only let you place two apps next to each other, but they didn’t let you quickly customize them.
This is why many people started using apps like Magnet. This app can easily help you snap up to four apps on the same screen, making multitasking much easier than before.
However, now macOS Sequoia will offer a new app tiling feature that will allow users to quickly snap apps in the corners of their display. It’ll also have keyboard shortcuts so you can rearrange your apps more quickly.
Call Recording Apps

One of the biggest changes to the Phone app in iOS 18 will be the ability to record phone calls. As soon as you start recording, the other person will receive a notification, so everyone knows you’re recording.
While this feature is great, not everyone is as happy about it. In fact, other third-party call recording apps like Truecaller and TapeACall, which also let you make phone calls, might see fewer users once Apple’s new feature is available.
Calculator Apps for the iPad

For over a decade, third-party developers had the opportunity to create calculator apps for the iPad. However, those days might be gone now.
This is because Apple finally launched a new Calculator app for the iPad, and it’s fantastic. Not only can you use a basic and scientific calculator and switch between them with a few clicks, but there’s also a new Math Notes feature that will automatically solve math problems for you.
You can even automatically create graphs and use your handwriting to write these problems. All of that for free. It seems like third-party developers for calculator apps will be the ones taking the biggest hit with this software update.
Voice Transcription Apps

Apple is also adding voice transcription to the Notes app, making it easier than ever to write your thoughts or take some notes without actually having to write anything.
Of course, this will affect other third-party apps like Otter, which also transcribe your voice and turn it into a note. Note-taking apps come with a lot more features than that, but some people will prefer Apple Notes since it’s the first-party alternative.
iPhone Mirroring Apps

When it came to mirroring your iPhone in your Mac, Apple took a long time to even consider this possibility. This led to many great third-party developers creating their own iPhone mirroring apps.
The biggest example is Bezel, which would let you control your iPhone through your Mac, although you’d also need to install an app on your iPhone.
Now, with macOS Sequoia, you won’t have to use Bezel anymore because Apple improved the Continuity function on Mac to add iPhone Mirroring.
Soon, you’ll be able to access all the apps on your iPhone and control them however you like. You’ll also be able to receive iPhone notifications on your Mac, so you can leave your iPhone far away and not worry about missing something important.
Custom Emoji Creators

Apple introduced a cool new feature called Genmoji, which lets you create any type of emoji you want.
All you need to do is give your iPhone a description, and Genmoji will create the emoji alongside a few different art styles so you can choose which one you like best.
Of course, this isn’t something new; there’s already an app called Newji that does this. The app would also create any type of emoji based on your description and let you share it with your friends or family.
The issue is that Apple’s Genmoji will even let you automatically create emojis of your contacts. For instance, you can create a birthday emoji for your friend, and Apple will know what your friends look like based on your contacts and create it.
This will definitely be something really hard for Newji to overcome, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens in the future.
Custom Maps App

Another small but powerful feature Apple introduced is the ability to create custom trips for national parks.
You can create the trail you want to follow, download the map, and use it offline during your hike.
The issue is that other apps like Alltrails already do this, and they will probably be Sherlocked now that this feature is so easily accessible on all Apple devices.
No App Is Safe
Getting Sherlocked by Apple is part of every developer’s journey. Unfortunately, no app is safe from being “killed” by an Apple software update.
Of course, not every app will completely die because of these changes. Many people still prefer using third-party journal apps despite Apple introducing a new Journal app last year.
However, for newcomers or people looking for something different, Apple’s alternatives, which are mostly free and filled with fantastic features, seem like a better choice than the pricey options available on the App Store.