OmniTech Newsletter 06: Everything’s 26!

🤙 Hello!

It's Tom Koch from OmniTech: Apple/Mac Tech, Security and Tutoring.
Welcome to the 6th edition of the OmniTech Newsletter!

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🍎 Apple's Latest Operating Systems: What You Should Know

Apple's latest OS upgrades — macOS 26 "Tahoe" for Macs, and iOS/iPadOS 26 for iPhones and iPads — bring a fresh new look and some powerful new features, but they haven't been without a few bumps along the way.

🙂 Remember: an upgrade is always optional. There's no rush.

📱 iOS & iPadOS 26 (iPhone and iPad)

This upgrade brings Apple's new Liquid Glass look and feel to your iPhone and iPad, along with new features like:

• Live Translation using AirPods Pro
• Smarter more unified search at the bottom of most apps
• Improvements to Phone, Messages, CarPlay, Music, Maps, Camera, and Wallet

If you're thinking of upgrading, be aware that some users report battery drain, overheating (especially on older devices), sluggish animations, and interface glitches. Also, the new design isn't for everyone either—some find it harder to read or focus on.
Check out "Things to Do Before…" below.

If you have already upgraded, and you're not too sure about some of the new changes, check out "TIP" and "Simple Ways…" below.

✅ Good News: Apple addressed this in iOS 26.1 update with options to reduce transparency and have continued to improve performance recently with iOS 26.3.

🖥️ macOS 26 "Tahoe" (Mac)

Tahoe brings Apple's new Liquid Glass design to your Mac, featuring:

• Transparent menus
• Customizable icons and folders
• More control over the Menu Bar and Control Center
• It looks modern and personal, and many of the new tools genuinely improve everyday use

⚠️ If you're thinking of upgrading to Tahoe: Consider that some users — especially on older Macs — have reported slower performance, freezes, shorter battery life, and warmer laptops. Some apps also haven't fully updated for Tahoe yet, which can cause glitches or odd behavior.

‼️ If you have already upgraded to Tahoe: If your Mac feels "off," check for updates to see if Apple has pushed out any fixes. Also, doing a full shutdown (Apple Menu — Shut Down) then restarting often helps.
Most of the changes are skin deep—the look and feel is different, but for the most part, many of the apps work exactly as you'd expect: Mail, Safari, Word, etc.

✅ Good news: Apple has already released several updates (currently Version 26.3), to address some of the interface and performance issues, and will continue improving with future updates.

👍 Simple Ways to Make 26 Feel Better

The new 26 operating systems do feel a little overwhelming at first, but a few small tweaks can make a big difference.

And remember: if a new feature doesn't suit you, some can now be adjusted or turned off entirely— Apple gives you more control than it might seem at first glance.

If the screen looks too "glassy" or busy

• iPhone/iPad: Settings → Accessibility → Display & Text Size.
  Turn on Reduce Transparency and try Increase Contrast
• Mac: System Settings → Accessibility → Display.
  Turn on Reduce Transparency
• Increase text size if needed — clearer text helps a lot

If battery life seems worse

• Give it 24–48 hours after updating (background clean-up tasks take time)
• Check Settings → Battery (iPhone) or System Settings → Battery (Mac) for heavy battery-using apps
• Do a complete shut down once after updating—simple, but often effective:
  Mac: 🍎 Menu → Shut Down.
  iPhone: Swipe down from the upper right corner of the iPhone screen. This is called the Control Center: Push and hold the Power Icon (circle with vertical line) at the upper right, then swipe to Shut Down.
  Push and hold the power button on the right side of the iPhone to turn back on.

If things feel slow or glitchy

• Make sure you're on the latest 26.x update
• Quit apps you're not using
• Shut down the device (see above)
• On iPhone: Settings → General → iPhone Storage → check to see if your iPhone's storage is full and remove unused apps or large Messages, application downloads, or attachments
• On Mac: check System Preferences → Search for Login Items at the top left and disable anything you don't need
• Make sure your apps are up to date

If you don't like a new feature

• Remember: many features can be adjusted or turned off
• You're not required to use Apple Intelligence features — you can turn this off in Settings/System Settings → Apple Intelligence
• It's okay to keep things simple — comfort beats "new"

📝 Things To Do Before You Upgrade to 26

Before clicking "Upgrade"

• iPhone/iPad: Make sure you have an iCloud or computer backup
• Mac: A Time Machine backup is a must
• Make sure you have plenty of free space (upgrades and updates need breathing room)
• Plug in your device or confirm it has enough battery—Apple won't allow upgrades or updates on iPhones/iPads or Laptops unless it has at least 50% battery
• Set aside time — upgrades can take longer than expected!

Check your apps and hardware

• Confirm important apps are compatible with the new OS
• If you rely on older or specialty software, consider waiting
• For Macs with external displays or accessories, check for driver updates if necessary. Most external peripherals "just work" without drivers

Think about timing

• The worst time to upgrade is right before travel, deadlines, or events
• If your device is working perfectly, it's okay to wait for the next update
• Always wait for a few point-updates before you upgrade to any new operating system
• 👉 See my Newsletter 02 for helpful hints about upgrading and updating

New upgrades bring great features, but they also change some things. A few minutes of prep can save hours of frustration later — and make the upgrade feel like an improvement, not a surprise.

That's it for now. I hope you found this Newsletter informative and enjoyable!

And, as always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about Mac/iOS 26, or any other Apple question you may have.

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