Apple WWDC: What tech fans got right (and wrong) about iOS 27, Tim Cook, and more

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Apple's WWDC keynote went live on June 8th, setting the stage for announcements on upcoming features and software updates, but not without the usual predictions and speculation.

Also: Everything announced at Apple WWDC 2026 - including Siri, iOS 27 dev beta, and more

This year, we wanted to hear what you thought. We asked ZDNET readers five questions relating to features and software updates in round one of our Big Guessing Game contest. For every correct answer, we'll give you an entry into a drawing to win the latest Apple Watch in September.

The results for Round 1 are in, but if you missed it -- don't worry, there will be two more rounds of questions you can still partake in.

The first question was a freebie. If you answered it, you got an entry into the contest. We wanted to hear what you considered a more useful feature than Apple gave it credit for. Hot takes encouraged, of course.

There were some common themes: almost 10% of responders mentioned advanced voice control and natural language, which was an integral part of Siri's evolution. Some noteworthy responses that highlight our readers' insight:

"The 'quiet plumbing' features that turn the camera and OS into a real-time understanding layer."

"Siri becoming a true system-level context engine instead of 'just a voice assistant.'"

Nearly 10% of respondents called out AI-generated wallpapers and backgrounds, something Apple mentioned while showing off the new Image Playground features. During the demo, we saw generative AI creating backgrounds for group texts and the lockscreen.

Also: 3 new MacOS 27 features make it worth upgrading right away for me - Siri included

We also got several responses for a universal back button -- something Android has locked into the core OS, regardless of what app you're in. On an iPhone, there's no "universal back", it depends on the app's interface. The closest equivalent is to swipe up and access the App Switcher window.

We have the number, and it's exactly 106. While no respondent guessed that exact number, we'll say anyone with an answer number plus or minus 10 gets it right. Several people fall into that category, with quite a few saying "100", and the closest response was just 5 away.

Tim Cook introduced the show and closed it out at the very end, with a (very) subtle acknowledgement of his stepping down as CEO, his statement that "it's been an honor of a lifetime" punctuating the end of his nearly 15-year tenure at the company's head.