iOS still rule the app world with vast major of profitable apps running on iOS alone. With the App Store enjoying the clear lead among all app marketplaces, the key to innovations and new creative approaches will also be spearheaded by iOS. So, the question is whether we can expect something revolutionary new from Apple in 2017. And if yes, how far the mobility can be transformed through innovations? While the answers to these questions can only be subjected to speculation, there are few things we are almost certain about.
First of all, Apple has reserved some cool technologies that have not been made available in the device updates of recent times as Apple is going to make 2017 a big year in its annals just as part of the company's 10th year anniversary into the mobile universe. Many experts including some frontline iPhone app development companies believe that in 2017 we can expect a completely refurbished iPhone experience in every aspect. New apps like iPhone based automobile apps and a variety of wearable apps are going to be more common. The upcoming iPhone in 2017 will be an entirely different device with a lot of value additions for the users. Apple is also expected to take a whole new approach to app development in the coming years.
Time is ripe for Augmented Reality
As per the recent comment of Tim Cook, Apple is going to focus more on augmented reality. In the coming year, we can expect the platform to offer some cool features allowing smart interactions with the world around. As augmented reality has already gone into many niches of apps outside of games, next iOS version can come with some dedicated features for AR based app development.
Dedicated and independent Apple Watch app
Until now smartwatch apps work only in conjunction with mobile apps and they are not independent. Many observers and experts believe that Apple will once again take the lead in introducing watch with separate OS ecosystem of apps.
With a dedicated and separate app for Apple Watch, a new ecosystem of apps will proliferate. While the attention span for smartwatch apps is much lower, a different wearable app strategy with quick to interact design will be in place.
iOS version of Instant apps
Previously we have seen Apple take a firm stand on boosting quick accessibility through app thinning. Though the step has been significant in terms of allowing users quick access a part of app features and contents, critics were skeptical about the relevance as ‘app thinning’ will only provide a very limited scope to interact and access an app. Honestly, in comparison to the ‘Instant Apps’ of Android, ‘App Thinning’ is devoid of any real value for the user. The instant apps unveiled by Google earlier this year offers a fuller and robust approach by providing a complete app version that can be accessed instantly without downloading it. In contrast, app thinning just provides a very partial access to apps.
As mobile storage space is increasingly becoming important for the users as limited space always interfere with their user experience directly, offering quick access to apps without requiring them to download a full app version has become crucial more than ever. Can Apple come with a future-proof solution that can take the advantages of instant access further for iPhone users?
A bigger push for native enterprise apps
The partnership with SAP and particularly the unleashing of SAP HANA Cloud Platform SDK for iOS offered a revolutionary possibility for enterprise developers to build native iOS apps quickly using Swift, Apple’s latest programming language.
The leading enterprise solution provider coming hand in hand with leading mobile platform will spearhead the growth of sophisticated iOS apps for enterprise apps in the coming year. SAP Fiori for iOS is a design language which is based on the SAP Fiori UX built to adapt with iOS. The new enterprise-grade iOS development platform combining the latest SAP Fiori UX design protocols and iOS features will make app development and design faster with reusable components and building blocks. This will help to accelerate the app development process while maintaining consistency and user friendliness in design throughout an app development lifecycle. Besides fast paced development it will also ensure intuitive and seamless user experience in the enterprise iOS apps of the future.
Haptic feedback beyond keyboard
All of us have heard the buzz around haptic feedback, and it is continuing to become louder with every subsequent iPhone upgrade. While it was first introduced as a salient feature in the name of 3D Touch, in iPhone 7 we could see the feature to become richer with more tactile responsive capabilities. As the smartphone devices of today are reaching their limit in terms of visual potential, touch is increasing drawing the attention of the audience to spearhead next level of innovation in user experience.
So, for the next generation of iPhone devices and apps integration of tactile engine and providing haptic feedback will be more important than ever. The tactile engine used in iPhone 7 offers haptic feedback for primary keyboards, notifications, and certain actions. The feedback is mainly limited to vibration as of now. The development of the tactile engine soon will make it possible to feel the texture of various on-screen elements. iPhone app developers and designers besides will have to take the touch-based feedback more into account.
Developing for the connected world
What the recent partnership of Big Data giant IBM and Apple signifies? Well, finally the robust analytics solution is going to be at the fingertips of iPhone users. As most of the smart home gadgets have their iPhone apps and as Home API is continuing to play a crucial role in bridging the gap between the mobility and emerging IOT environment, we can expect significant iOS developments in the coming year to allow developing more feature rich apps for the connected environment. Besides advancing the integration across connected devices further with more sophisticated app features, Apple can also come with an IOT platform of its own.
Time is ripe for Augmented Reality
As per the recent comment of Tim Cook, Apple is going to focus more on augmented reality. In the coming year, we can expect the platform to offer some cool features allowing smart interactions with the world around. As augmented reality has already gone into many niches of apps outside of games, next iOS version can come with some dedicated features for AR based app development.
Dedicated and independent Apple Watch app
Until now smartwatch apps work only in conjunction with mobile apps and they are not independent. Many observers and experts believe that Apple will once again take the lead in introducing watch with separate OS ecosystem of apps.
With a dedicated and separate app for Apple Watch, a new ecosystem of apps will proliferate. While the attention span for smartwatch apps is much lower, a different wearable app strategy with quick to interact design will be in place.
iOS version of Instant apps
Previously we have seen Apple take a firm stand on boosting quick accessibility through app thinning. Though the step has been significant in terms of allowing users quick access a part of app features and contents, critics were skeptical about the relevance as ‘app thinning’ will only provide a very limited scope to interact and access an app. Honestly, in comparison to the ‘Instant Apps’ of Android, ‘App Thinning’ is devoid of any real value for the user. The instant apps unveiled by Google earlier this year offers a fuller and robust approach by providing a complete app version that can be accessed instantly without downloading it. In contrast, app thinning just provides a very partial access to apps.
As mobile storage space is increasingly becoming important for the users as limited space always interfere with their user experience directly, offering quick access to apps without requiring them to download a full app version has become crucial more than ever. Can Apple come with a future-proof solution that can take the advantages of instant access further for iPhone users?
A bigger push for native enterprise apps
The partnership with SAP and particularly the unleashing of SAP HANA Cloud Platform SDK for iOS offered a revolutionary possibility for enterprise developers to build native iOS apps quickly using Swift, Apple’s latest programming language.
The leading enterprise solution provider coming hand in hand with leading mobile platform will spearhead the growth of sophisticated iOS apps for enterprise apps in the coming year. SAP Fiori for iOS is a design language which is based on the SAP Fiori UX built to adapt with iOS. The new enterprise-grade iOS development platform combining the latest SAP Fiori UX design protocols and iOS features will make app development and design faster with reusable components and building blocks. This will help to accelerate the app development process while maintaining consistency and user friendliness in design throughout an app development lifecycle. Besides fast paced development it will also ensure intuitive and seamless user experience in the enterprise iOS apps of the future.
Haptic feedback beyond keyboard
All of us have heard the buzz around haptic feedback, and it is continuing to become louder with every subsequent iPhone upgrade. While it was first introduced as a salient feature in the name of 3D Touch, in iPhone 7 we could see the feature to become richer with more tactile responsive capabilities. As the smartphone devices of today are reaching their limit in terms of visual potential, touch is increasing drawing the attention of the audience to spearhead next level of innovation in user experience.
So, for the next generation of iPhone devices and apps integration of tactile engine and providing haptic feedback will be more important than ever. The tactile engine used in iPhone 7 offers haptic feedback for primary keyboards, notifications, and certain actions. The feedback is mainly limited to vibration as of now. The development of the tactile engine soon will make it possible to feel the texture of various on-screen elements. iPhone app developers and designers besides will have to take the touch-based feedback more into account.
Developing for the connected world
What the recent partnership of Big Data giant IBM and Apple signifies? Well, finally the robust analytics solution is going to be at the fingertips of iPhone users. As most of the smart home gadgets have their iPhone apps and as Home API is continuing to play a crucial role in bridging the gap between the mobility and emerging IOT environment, we can expect significant iOS developments in the coming year to allow developing more feature rich apps for the connected environment. Besides advancing the integration across connected devices further with more sophisticated app features, Apple can also come with an IOT platform of its own.