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Among the announcements from Apple at WWDC 2018 was that Siri, its virtual assistant, would be receiving an upgrade to allow greater interactivity with apps. With SiriKit, iOS and watchOS apps can work with Siri, providing developers new possibilities to increase user retention, discovery and usage.
Apps
Apple’s WWDC 2018 has come to a close after a week full of announcements, events and seminars. The tech company announced several upcoming products and updates to iOS and Mac, which may impact the app ecosystem in the coming future. Let’s break down all the important announcements from WWDC 2018: iOS 12 It was no shock when Apple announced that iOS 12 will be coming to Apple devices later this year. In true Apple fashion, the company made the statement early on in their keynote presentation and claimed that iOS 12 will include enhancements to speed and performance even for older devices. The update also includes new features, such as:
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Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference 2018 (WWDC) is steadily approaching and will be held June 4th-8th in San Jose, CA. This massive event will feature hundreds of sessions, labs, speakers and events, along with highly anticipated announcements on the latest products and software. While WWDC 2017 shook up the app world by redesigning the entire App Store, WWDC 2018 surely won’t disappoint, based off rumors of new hardware, software and more. Here’s what to expect from WWDC 2018: Product & Software Rumors Rumors have been circulating about what Apple will announce at WWDC, leaving many to speculate what else the tech giant has to offer. In the past, WWDC has been the perfect platform to introduce the latest OS. WWDC 2017 introduced macOS High Sierra and the highly anticipated iOS 11 that came with a full App Store redesign, and even the 2016 show introduced macOS Sierra and iOS 10. In true Apple fashion, we can expect to see announcements for the next macOS release and possibly the reveal of iOS 12, as well as watchOS 5 and tvOS 12. App developers should keep a close eye on the new iOS announcements, as they will need to prepare to update their apps accordingly. In addition to software announcements, there is a chance that new hardware will be revealed as well. As previous events have unveiled iPhones 3G, 3GS and 4, the expectation is that Apple will announce a new iPhone SE or iPad Pro, perhaps even a new MacBook. While we do not know the specifics of what will be revealed, there is no doubt that WWDC will include big announcements for upcoming Apple products and software.
A common phrase known around the world is “there’s an app for that.” If there’s an app for nearly every need, why aren’t more companies making mobile apps? Well, big-name businesses like Starbucks, Macy’s, and more have successfully shifted their business platforms to incorporate mobile. Thanks to their efforts, they’ve managed to capitalize on m-commerce, which alone is forecasted to reach $284 billion (roughly 45% of total US e-commerce) by 2020. Businesses big and small recognize that having a website alone is no longer enough. Apps are the future of communicating and engaging with customers, so businesses should start incorporating mobile apps into their business models sooner rather than later.
Google has been quietly removing the feature graphic from their Google Play Store, as seen by devices running the latest OS and play store versions. While the update began in late April 2018, more users are reporting that the feature graphic has been removed completely. While it’s uncertain if all Android devices are affected, it’s presumed that the change will soon appear. Since the feature graphic is essential for converting users, its loss will have an impact on all developers. How should they update their ASO strategies to prepare for the change? What’s the Impact? The feature graphic plays a vital role in driving user downloads on the Google Play Store. Our internal research has shown that the feature graphic accounts for up to 30% of all conversions. The removal of the feature graphic could have a detrimental effect on apps that do not update their other creative assets (icon, screenshots and preview video) accordingly. In the absence of the feature graphic, the role of converting users will heavily rely on the app’s screenshots and video, which now position higher on the screen to compensate. Additionally, to fill the gap left from the removal of feature graphic, Google has lifted the restrictions on screenshots sizes, giving developers leeway to add landscape or portrait images of any size to their Google Play Store product page.
Have you ever wanted to try an app before downloading it? Developers are constantly looking at new strategies and tools that will help them improve conversion and retention, but many suffer from users that download their app and either open it once and uninstall, or never even open it.
Not all users provide the same value to an app. Multiple casual users provide different benefits than a few dedicated ones who constantly use the app, for while all users are important, the ones that continually use it provide more to an app’s success than those who just download it.
Visual assets are an app’s key tool for increasing conversions in the app stores. The icon is the first thing a user sees when browsing through the Google Play Store and screenshots are important to call out the apps core features, but the feature graphic is equally important. For Google Play, the feature graphic should not be underestimated. While icons initially attract users, the feature graphic is
Google I/O 2018 concluded May 10th, following several exciting days at the tech company’s annual conference. There were a number of announcements, including the release of Android P Beta, new information about Instant Apps, two new software tools for apps and more. Here are a few key highlights that users and developers should know: Android P As many expected, Google focused on the new Android P operating system and how it will help users more than past operating systems. Google is introducing new AI changes, including a system that uses gestures and swiping to view apps. The upcoming OS adds several new features, such as a new Android dashboard that lets users know how much time they spend on individual apps. If users want to reduce their usage, a new “Shush” feature allows them to gray out certain apps. They can also automatically set their device into Do Not Disturb mode by placing it face-down. The Android P OS is not yet released, but the Beta is available for anyone with a developer account and Pixel device.
With Google I/O taking place from May 8 to May 10, technology enthusiasts and developers alike can expect major updates and new additions to Google products and services. If you can’t make the massive conference, Google will be providing ways to follow events and announcements online through live streaming sites like YouTube, Twitch and Mixer, as well as the Google I/O conference app. As Google Play Store updates are released throughout the year, changes related to App Store Optimization (ASO) at Google I/O tend to be light. However, it’s still an important conference for the future of app development, as well as emerging technologies. Here are a few things you can expect at Google I/O 2018: