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Latest Mobile Dev Insights: iOS, Android, Cross-Platform

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MobilePro #178: Swift lands on Android, Siri eyes Claude, Xcode gets smarter, Apple loosens EU App Store rules, and more...

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Hi ,

Welcome to the 178th edition of MobilePro! This week’s edition highlights Swift welcoming Android support, buzz about Siri getting an overhaul with help from external models, and Anthropic launching Claude-powered Artifacts:

📱 Swift on Android: Swift officially adds Android support via a new working group
🗣️ Siri’s AI reboot: Apple explores OpenAI and Anthropic models to overhaul Siri, with Claude reportedly outperforming Apple’s in-house LLMs in internal testing.
🗺️ Maps SDK update: Google Maps Navigation SDK v6.3.0 adds destination building highlighting using placeID for clearer navigation guidance.
🧱 Claude Artifacts: Anthropic launches Claude-powered Artifacts, letting users instantly create and share AI apps by describing their functionality in natural language.
🛠️ Xcode 26 Beta 2: Xcode 26 Beta 2 boosts AI-assisted coding, advanced debugging tools, and UI improvements to streamline Apple platform development.
🔓 EU App Store shift: Apple overhauls EU App Store rules under DMA, allowing external payments and introducing a tiered fee system after a €500M antitrust fine.

Stick around for this week’s Developer Tip to learn why developer joy—fueled by curiosity, fewer frustrations, and real breaks—is key to long-term productivity and team success.

Let’s dive in!

P.S.: If you have any suggestions or feedback, or would like us to feature your project on a particular subject, please write to us. Just respond to this email!

📱 What's Happening in Mobile Development?

If there’s any major news in the world of mobile app dev in the last week, MobilePro has you covered.

Android

Swift officially adds Android support with new working group: Apple's Swift programming language is now being officially extended to support Android app development through the establishment of a dedicated Android Working Group within the Swift open-source project. This initiative aims to enable developers to use Swift to build applications for Google's mobile operating system using official tooling and infrastructure.
Google Maps Navigation SDK for Android adds destination highlighting: The June 25, 2025 release (v6.3.0) of Google's Navigation SDK for Android introduces visual highlighting for destination buildings specified with a placeID. This feature aids users in distinguishing and navigating to their intended destinations by visually emphasizing the target building.
Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2.1 resolves key system bugs: Released on June 25, 2025, Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2.1 addresses several critical issues, including an invisible "Approve" button in Device Admin settings, lockscreen sound toggle discrepancies, intermittent back button failures, and launcher crashes when swiping up. These fixes enhance overall system stability and user experience on supported Pixel devices.
Android Studio Narwhal Feature Drop 2025.1.2 introduces AI agent mode and enhanced testing tools: The latest Android Studio Narwhal Feature Drop (2025.1.2) introduces Gemini Agent mode, enabling developers to automate multi-step tasks like fixing build errors and generating UI components across multiple files. These enhancements aim to streamline development workflows and improve app quality.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Apple looking at OpenAI and Anthropic models to power Siri overhaul: Apple is evaluating third-party large language models, including OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude, to enhance its AI-powered Siri assistant. Internal tests suggest Claude currently outperforms Apple's in-house models, prompting the company to consider external partnerships. This initiative follows leadership changes and delays in Siri's redevelopment, with Apple exploring options to integrate advanced AI capabilities into its ecosystem.
Anthropic launches Claude-powered Artifacts for Instant AI app creation: Anthropic has introduced Claude-powered Artifacts, enabling users to build, host, and share interactive AI applications directly within the Claude app. By simply describing their desired functionality, users can have Claude generate the necessary code, facilitating the creation of games, educational apps, and writing assistants. These AI-powered artifacts are accessible to all users in beta on Free, Pro, and Max plans.

Others

Xcode 26 Beta 2 enhances AI coding and debugging tools: Xcode 26 Beta 2 introduces advanced AI-assisted coding features, including natural language code generation and inline documentation tools, powered by on-device large language models. Developers benefit from improved debugging instruments like Processor Trace and CPU Counter, as well as enhanced SwiftUI performance visualization tools. The update also includes a redesigned tab interface and expanded localization support, streamlining the development process across Apple platforms.
Firebase June 26 update enhances AI SDKs and Unity performance: On June 26, 2025, Firebase released updates across multiple SDKs. The Android BoM was updated to version 33.16.0, featuring enhancements to Firebase AI and Analytics libraries. Additionally, the Firebase Unity SDK version 12.10.1 introduced iOS-specific improvements to AppDelegate swizzling logic, addressing startup delays and crashes.

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Developer happiness isn't a distraction—it's the secret to sustained productivity. In this InfoQ article, Trisha Gee and Holly Cummins argue that fostering joy through curiosity, reducing friction like flaky tests, and taking meaningful breaks leads to better code and more engaged teams. Could this be the mindset shift developers need to thrive?

In case you have any tips to share with your fellow mobile developers, do reply to this mail and we’d be glad to feature you in a future edition of MobilePro.

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💭 What is the Mobile Community Talking About?

What are mobile app developers discussing? Do you have any concerns, advice, or tutorials to share?MobileProbrings them to you all in one place.

Simpler XAML in .NET MAUI 10: .NET MAUI 10 introduces global and implicit XML namespaces in XAML, allowing developers to streamline their code by centralizing namespace declarations and eliminating repetitive prefixes. This enhancement simplifies UI development, making XAML files cleaner and more maintainable. To explore these improvements in detail, check out the insightful article by David Ortinau.
Using Gemma for Flutter apps: Gemma 3N brings multimodal AI—including text, image, and audio processing—directly to Flutter apps via the flutter_gemma package, enabling offline functionality, enhanced privacy, and zero server costs. Could this be the on-device AI breakthrough Flutter developers have been waiting for? Explore the full guide by Csongor Vogel to get started.

📚️ Latest in Mobile Development from Packt

MobilePro presents the latest titles from Packt that ought to be useful for mobile developers.

Available now in Early Access, Simon Jun's Design Beyond Limits with Figma, is ideal for experienced UI/UX designers, developers, and product managers who want to improve team collaboration and elevate their Figma workflows.

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Design Beyond Limits with Figma

Shop the Early Access copy now at $31.99 27.99!

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Apple has overhauled its EU App Store policies to comply with the Digital Markets Act, allowing developers to guide users to external payment options and introducing a two-tier fee system. This move follows a €500 million fine for restricting app makers from directing users to cheaper alternatives outside the App Store. Could this be the beginning of a more open app ecosystem in Europe?

Sourced from Apple.

👋 And that’s a wrap. We hope you enjoyed this edition of MobilePro. If you have any suggestions and feedback, or would just like to say hi to us, please write to us. Just respond to this email!

Cheers,

Runcil Rebello,

Editor-in-Chief, MobilePro