iOS 26.2's Apple News app has a fresh, enhanced design, as revealed by 9to5Mac. Apple's release of the first beta version to developers introduces significant design changes. The update aims to make the News app's expanded features more accessible and user-friendly.
Apple News initially focused solely on news articles. However, over time, it has evolved to include a range of features, such as daily puzzles, food recipes, cooking guides, dedicated sports and politics sections, and more. iOS 26.2's beta 1 version streamlines these additions, making them easier to access.
The new design introduces four quick links at the top of the Today screen: Sports, Puzzles, Politics, and Food. These links directly navigate users to their respective sections, often eliminating the need for an extra tap. By relocating the Sports section from the tab bar to this new top menu row, Apple has created space for a new 'Following' navigation tab.
The 'Following' tab consolidates content that was previously hidden behind the Search button, making it a dedicated section. This change enhances search functionality, aligning it with Apple's other services like Music and TV, which offer similar search recommendations.
Despite the overall design remaining similar to its previous version, the updates to navigation options and feature streamlining are significant improvements for regular News app users. The question remains: How do you feel about these design changes? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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