A self-described "certified Apple hater" at TechRadar is reconsidering his allegiance after Apple's WWDC 2026 keynote. Hamish Hector, senior staff writer, admitted on the TechRadar Podcast that he found himself defending Apple's new AI-bolstered Spatial Reframe tool — a moment he likened to "falling into DC's Bizarro World." The event, he writes, was "the best consumer AI showcase I've seen."
Privacy and Safety: Apple's Differentiator
Hector notes that Apple is "ticking a lot of my technology boxes" with its messaging. He specifically praises Apple's focus on keeping young people safe online while allowing parents to decide what their children are ready for — "a tightrope no one else has walked with such detail." Additionally, Apple's "continued push for privacy tools stands in clear contrast to some of the less-than-ideal approaches its rivals have taken."
Spatial Reframe and Spatial Computing
One of the standout features at WWDC 2026 was Spatial Reframe, which uses Apple's 2D-to-3D image conversion tools. Despite some skepticism from colleagues, Hector sees value: "if it can help some people save a couple of shots from their last vacation or make a one-off family photo look better, I don't see the harm." He also highlights Apple's sustained investment in spatial computing, noting that despite the Vision Pro's imperfections, it and its software continue to see "surprising support" compared to other Apple products like the HomePod. The Vision Pro's influence is evident in the Liquid Glass design language and in tools like Spatial Reframe.
The Walled Garden Appeal
Hector, an Android user with a growing Samsung ecosystem, admits he is beginning to understand the benefits of Apple's walled-garden approach. He has already recommended the MacBook Neo to others as "an affordable productivity machine that's full of fun." With rumors of Apple smart glasses and a foldable iPhone — two device categories he says he can't get enough of — he is "seriously prepared to consider a switch if Apple can maintain its current momentum."
A Measured Conclusion
Hector acknowledges that a total switch is unlikely because he is "so embedded in non-Apple ecosystems." Still, he writes, "to everyone out there who thinks I have a complete loathing of Apple, let this be a reminder that we tech reviewers are complex beings — and we can sometimes admit that Apple can do great things, even if it hurts a little to say." For enterprise decision-makers, the lesson may be less about consumer devices and more about the power of integrated, privacy-focused ecosystems to win over even the most skeptical users.
Sources:
