<p>After <a href="https://stuartbreckenridge.net/netnewswire-6-out-now/" rel="noreferrer">five-ish years</a> of NetNewsWire 6—and many Summer, Autumn, and Winter nights of coding through 2025 and into 2026, and a sizeable TestFlight window—The <em>World’s Favourite Open Source RSS Reader</em>^TM has reached <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/netnewswire-rss-reader/id1480640210" rel="noreferrer">version 7</a>. (Note: we discovered and fixed a lot of bugs during TestFlight, so thanks go to the testers!)</p><p>Similar to the <a href="https://stuartbreckenridge.net/netnewswire-7-for-mac-out-now/" rel="noreferrer">Mac release</a>, NetNewsWire 7 for iPhone and iPad:</p><ul><li>requires the OSs 26</li><li>adopts Liquid Glass</li><li>is a significant under-the-hood overhaul that adopts Swift Concurrency</li></ul><figure class="kg-card kg-gallery-card kg-width-wide"><div class="kg-gallery-container"><div class="kg-gallery-row"><div class="kg-gallery-image"><img src="https://stuartbreckenridge.net/content/images/2026/02/Simulator-Screenshot---iPhone-17-Pro-Max---2026-02-03-at-06.58.23.png" width="1769" height="3146" loading="lazy" alt="" srcset="https://stuartbreckenridge.net/content/images/size/w600/2026/02/Simulator-Screenshot---iPhone-17-Pro-Max---2026-02-03-at-06.58.23.png 600w, https://stuartbreckenridge.net/content/images/size/w1000/2026/02/Simulator-Screenshot---iPhone-17-Pro-Max---2026-02-03-at-06.58.23.png 1000w, https://stuartbreckenridge.net/content/images/size/w1600/2026/02/Simulator-Screenshot---iPhone-17-Pro-Max---2026-02-03-at-06.58.23.png 1600w, https://stuartbreckenridge.net/content/images/2026/02/Simulator-Screenshot---iPhone-17-Pro-Max---2026-02-03-at-06.58.23.png 1769w" /></div><div class="kg-gallery-image"><img src="https://stuartbreckenridge.net/content/images/2026/02/Simulator-Screenshot---iPhone-17-Pro-Max---2026-02-03-at-06.58.38-2.png" width="1769" height="3146" loading="lazy" alt="" srcset="https://stuartbreckenridge.net/content/images/size/w600/2026/02/Simulator-Screenshot---iPhone-17-Pro-Max---2026-02-03-at-06.58.38-2.png 600w, https://stuartbreckenridge.net/content/images/size/w1000/2026/02/Simulator-Screenshot---iPhone-17-Pro-Max---2026-02-03-at-06.58.38-2.png 1000w, https://stuartbreckenridge.net/content/images/size/w1600/2026/02/Simulator-Screenshot---iPhone-17-Pro-Max---2026-02-03-at-06.58.38-2.png 1600w, https://stuartbreckenridge.net/content/images/2026/02/Simulator-Screenshot---iPhone-17-Pro-Max---2026-02-03-at-06.58.38-2.png 1769w" /></div><div class="kg-gallery-image"><img src="https://stuartbreckenridge.net/content/images/2026/02/Simulator-Screenshot---iPhone-17-Pro-Max---2026-02-03-at-06.59.02.png" width="2000" height="1125" loading="lazy" alt="" srcset="https://stuartbreckenridge.net/content/images/size/w600/2026/02/Simulator-Screenshot---iPhone-17-Pro-Max---2026-02-03-at-06.59.02.png 600w, https://stuartbreckenridge.net/content/images/size/w1000/2026/02/Simulator-Screenshot---iPhone-17-Pro-Max---2026-02-03-at-06.59.02.png 1000w, https://stuartbreckenridge.net/content/images/size/w1600/2026/02/Simulator-Screenshot---iPhone-17-Pro-Max---2026-02-03-at-06.59.02.png 1600w, https://stuartbreckenridge.net/content/images/size/w2400/2026/02/Simulator-Screenshot---iPhone-17-Pro-Max---2026-02-03-at-06.59.02.png 2400w" /></div></div></div></figure><p>But, but, but...unlike the Mac release, which was quite easy, the iOS release has required a lot more work. On the latest episode of <em>The Talk Show, </em>Brent <a href="https://podsearch.david-smith.org/episodes/7902" rel="noreferrer">rightly pointed out that</a> <em>"iOS apps are just more complicated"</em>. </p><p>To summarise my <a href="https://stuartbreckenridge.net/tag/design-diaries/" rel="noreferrer">Design Diaries</a> and some additional items, NetNewsWire 7 makes 30 major changes:</p><ul><li><strong>[Sidebar] </strong>Converted from <code>UITableView</code> to <code>UICollectionView</code>. This was needed in order to adopt modern styling across iPad and iPhone. iPad uses the <code>.sidebar</code> style, and iPhone uses <code>.insetGrouped</code>. This is similar to the behaviour you see in Mail.</li><li><strong>[Sidebar] </strong>The current <em>Refresh </em>status is now located in the navigation bar as a subtitle, having previously been the footer.</li><li><strong>[Sidebar (iPad)] </strong>Like the Mac refresh, the Feeds view <em>floats</em> and allows Timeline content to slide underneath.</li><li><strong>[Sidebar] </strong>Smart Feeds and Account headers now adopt modern <em>secondary</em> styling.</li><li><strong>[Sidebar (iPad)] </strong>Selected feeds have a modern capsule background and the text is <strong>bold.</strong></li><li><strong>[Sidebar] </strong>Folders have been redesigned to match modern standards—they now have the same indentation as any other feed, but the enclosed feeds are indented further.</li><li><strong>[Sidebar] </strong>Folders will highlight when Feeds are being dragged and dropped into them.</li><li><strong>[Sidebar] </strong>Separators have been realigned.</li><li><strong>[Sidebar] </strong>Unread counts are larger and are no longer backed by a filled capsule.</li><li><strong>[Sidebar] </strong>Unread counts for folders are only displayed when the folder is closed.</li><li><strong>[Sidebar] </strong>Swipe actions reveal icons.</li><li><strong>[Sidebar (iPad)] </strong>Users can resize the sidebar (within reason).</li><li><strong>[Timeline] </strong>Converted from <code>UITableView</code> to <code>UICollectionView</code> (during TestFlight builds!) This was needed in order to adopt modern cell styling—e.g., selected and swipe status—across iPad and iPhone. </li><li><strong>[Timeline] </strong>Now uses <code>UICollectionViewDiffableDataSource</code>.</li><li><strong>[Timeline] </strong>Navigation bar images have been removed.</li><li><strong>[Timeline] </strong>Unread counts are now located in the navigation bar subtitle.</li><li><strong>[Timeline] </strong>Adopts hierarchical text colours for titles and summaries.</li><li><strong>[Timeline (iPad)] </strong>The search bar has been moved to the app-wide toolbar and behaves similar to search on the Mac.</li><li><strong>[Timeline (iPhone)] </strong>The search bar has been moved to the bottom toolbar.</li><li><strong>[Timeline (iPad)] </strong>The Timeline width is user adjustable (again, within reason).</li><li><strong>[Timeline] </strong>Timeline cells have been redesigned in Interface builder and now have the rounded corner selection style in addition to hierarchical text colours for title and summary.</li><li><strong>[Timeline] </strong>The Mark All as Read image (on both iPad and iPhone) has had alignment changes to make sure it sits in the middle of an <em>englassified</em> button.</li><li><strong>[Article (iPad)] </strong>Articles can be read in three-pane view without hiding the Sidebar.</li><li><strong>[Article (iPad)] </strong>The top toolbar inherits search capabilities.</li><li><strong>[Article] </strong>The bottom toolbar buttons have been grouped in a 2-1-2 formation with the <em>Next Unread </em>button sitting in the throne seat.</li><li><strong>[Sidebar, Timeline, Article]</strong> Visual state is restored on relaunch.</li><li><strong>[Widgets] </strong>Home Screen widgets have been redesigned to make better use of horizontal space.</li><li><strong>[Widgets] </strong>Added a new Lock Screen widget with Today, Unread, Starred counts.</li><li><strong>[Settings] </strong>Timeline Customiser has been redesigned and includes both icon and non-icon previews.</li><li><strong>[About] </strong>Tending to the dark corner of the garden, the About view on iOS has been redesigned and inspired by the Credits from <a href="https://www.macstories.net/reviews/vesper-review-collect-your-thoughts/" rel="noreferrer"><em>Vesper</em></a>.</li></ul><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption"><img src="https://stuartbreckenridge.net/content/images/2026/02/Simulator-Screenshot---iPhone-17-Pro-Max---2026-02-03-at-07.04.47.png" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1769" height="3146" srcset="https://stuartbreckenridge.net/content/images/size/w600/2026/02/Simulator-Screenshot---iPhone-17-Pro-Max---2026-02-03-at-07.04.47.png 600w, https://stuartbreckenridge.net/content/images/size/w1000/2026/02/Simulator-Screenshot---iPhone-17-Pro-Max---2026-02-03-at-07.04.47.png 1000w, https://stuartbreckenridge.net/content/images/size/w1600/2026/02/Simulator-Screenshot---iPhone-17-Pro-Max---2026-02-03-at-07.04.47.png 1600w, https://stuartbreckenridge.net/content/images/2026/02/Simulator-Screenshot---iPhone-17-Pro-Max---2026-02-03-at-07.04.47.png 1769w" /><figcaption><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">The new About view.</span></figcaption></figure>

<p>NetNewsWire 7 for Mac is <a href="https://netnewswire.com" rel="noreferrer">out now</a>. </p><p>This release is significant: it adopts Swift Concurrency (which you shouldn't see), Liquid Glass (which, despite the transparency, you should see), and supports macOS 26 (as a minimum). From a UI perspective: </p><ul><li>The Sidebar adopts standard Liquid Glass behaviours which means it <em>floats</em> and allows timeline content to slide underneath</li><li>Unread indicators are no longer backed by a filled capsule. They are now just a simple unread count</li><li>The Toolbar has seen a minor reorganisation which moves the sidebar toggle from the timeline into the sidebar. In addition, toolbar buttons adopt the standard Liquid Glass button look-and-feel</li><li>Tending to the dark corner of the Lucida Grande garden, the About window has been redesigned</li></ul><p>Nick Heer, <a href="https://pxlnv.com/linklog/netnewswire-7/" rel="noreferrer">Pixel Envy</a>:</p><blockquote>This is a rather tasteful implementation of Apple’s new visual design language</blockquote><p>The iOS release is just around the corner. </p>

Even LLMs struggle with triple-negatives.

iOS 26.1 introduced an infuriating change to the tabViewBottomAccessory behaviour.

Wort Wort Wort

See you on YouTube.

A look at some of the technical changes made to Singapore Buses.

Your commute companion is ready for testing.

Arrivals, Routes, Advertising, and Settings are the final few areas left to cover, in the last of this series of posts.

...and more on the subject of drunk UI.

Bringing the 24th century to NetNewsWire.

A release candidate seems close.

The Tab Bar Strikes Back.

Rumours about an eSIM-only iPhone trigger a little rant on eSIM fees.

Users in the US will be able to view blood oxygen measurements on their phone.

A more detailed map for Singapore.

A new start with a new design, Fediverse connectivity, membership, and private analytics.

A look at Liquid Glass changes coming to NetNewsWire on iPad and iPhone.

A look at some of the changes coming to NetNewsWire on the Mac.