Technological advancements change many aspects of our lives. Sometimes technology can have a global impact. Most of the time, when we think about world-changing technology, we aren’t talking about the planet. Maybe we should. The path to a solution for some of our climate change challenges may reside with advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI).

 Science and climate technology experienced significant advances over the last few decades. With these advances comes a massive amount of climate data. Climate scientists, meteorologists, and climatologists analyze this data to understand the impact of climate change better. They create advanced weather models and better prediction tools. However, leveraging AI and Machine Learning to aid this effort is a newer concept. 

 Some may still debate whether humans are responsible for significant changes in the global climate. However, it is hard to dispute the Earth’s changing climate. Disruptions to historical weather patterns, an uptick in dangerous weather, and melting glaciers are but a few data-proven climate changes. As a prominent Los Angeles iPhone app developer, we intimately understand the potentially devastating impact of climate change.

 No matter the side of the debate, we can leverage technology to understand climate change better and discover ways to reduce the impact of climate change.

AI and Climate Science

AI, and its subset of machine learning, have the power to analyze data and images at a speed and scale beyond human capabilities. From this analysis comes better prediction models and algorithms to detect patterns. These results help make informed decisions, find efficiencies, or solve complex problems. When applied to the challenges of climate change, AI and machine learning prove exceptionally beneficial. 

 Partnerships between data science and climate science create a new dynamic to combat climate change. Until recently, climate scientists relied on information collected from simulations and observations, which followed predetermined rules. With AI, and specifically machine learning, the data and imagery collected from around the planet feed into AI learning models. The process uses machine learning to ‘train’ algorithms using large amounts of climate-based datasets.

 Successful implementations of AI and climate change nationally include Japan and Brazil. Japan employs AI as an early warning against natural disasters. In the Amazon, AI monitors and predicts deforestation.

 When applied to climate change, advances in AI and machine learning create exciting opportunities for companies to innovate. Kayrros is one such example. They are a data analytics company that provides insight into climate risk by monitoring energy, natural resource, and industrial markets.

AI’s Use to Reduce Carbon Emissions

Of all the ways that AI could positively impact climate change, the goal of zero-carbon emissions may be the best bet. Many world governments and leaders across global economies pledged a goal of net-zero carbon emission by 2050. This pledge is a needed yet ambitious objective to bring global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions to a net-zero solution.

 The energy sector will have the most significant impact on the success or failure of this goal. Electric power produces 25% of greenhouse gases worldwide. Using AI to gain efficiencies by optimizing energy grids is a short-term application that could provide immediate benefits. AI can integrate and increase the use and efficiency of renewable energy sources combined with current energy grids.

 AI solutions return immediate benefits on a slightly smaller scale. The successful application of AI to operate commercial buildings’ heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) is one such example. On average, nearly 50% of a commercial building’s energy usage comes from HVAC systems, with more than half going to waste. Large warehouses, factories, or industrial centers see significant cost savings and emissions reduction from AI-controlled HVAC operations.

Potential Diminishing Returns Using AI

The energy and carbon emissions to power AI on the scale needed could be counterintuitive. Some analysis predicts that the data centers used to power AI could consume upwards of 25% of the world’s electricity.

 However, large tech companies are aware, and some have taken steps to mitigate the impact.  Google successfully deployed AI to mitigate excessive heat loss. Partnering with DeepMind to develop an AI recommendation system, AI systems control data center cooling. The results produced a near-immediate 30% energy savings.

Conclusion

Applying AI and machine learning could be a turning point against climate change. The collaboration of data science and climate science is still in the early stages. However, the positive impact already felt by AI’s use to run the heating and cooling of commercial buildings is a reality today. 

 AI and machine learning applications focused on combating climate change that impacts the environment are a field brimming with opportunities. If you or your company have a climate-focused idea for an AI or machine learning application, Dogtown Media is your partner to develop and deploy it. Take advantage of our free consultation to see how we can partner together to positively impact the environment.

When it comes to technology, maintenance is always better than repair. This is especially true with iPhone app development; failing to stay up-to-date means you risk losing your user base and becoming obsolete.

On the other hand, updating your mobile app pays off in spades. By delivering a faster, optimized experience, you’ll keep your audience coming back for more and future-proof your initial investment so more users can discover your product.

Apple recently released iOS 13 for iPhone and iPod touch. With a plethora of new features and capabilities, this iOS update has something to offer everyone, whether they’re a consumer or enterprise. Read on to see why you should upgrade to iOS 13 as soon as possible.

iOS 13 Is Already Taking Over the World

If there’s one thing to know about iOS users, it’s that they love embracing new technology. Each iOS update sees faster adoption rates than the previous iteration. Case in point: By September 3rd, 2018, 85% of active Apple devices were using iOS 11. Less than a year later, on August 6th, 2019, Apple revealed that 88% of users were running iOS 12.

iOS 13 is no exception to this rule. Although it was only released on September 19th this year, it has taken over the lion’s share of iPhone users: 50% of all iPhone devices are already using iOS 13!

While this ratio is certainly impressive, it’s really just the beginning for iOS 13. This update is compatible with 15 Apple devices (iPhone 6S or iPhone SE or newer). On top of this, Apple’s reach has been consistently growing across both consumers and enterprise organizations. So you can expect to see iOS 13’s adoption metrics grow rapidly over the next few months.

New Features, Limitless Possibilities

We’ve been tinkering with iOS 13’s new features at our Los Angeles-based development HQ for quite some time leading up to its release. Here are some of our favorite features!

Faster Speed, Better Battery Life

Perhaps the first thing you’ll notice after installing iOS 13 is how fast it is. Apps should launch approximately twice as fast as before! That’s due to app downloads and updates being optimized to become 50% and 60% smaller, respectively.

Unlocking with Face ID is also roughly 30% faster and more seamless. This feature’s field of view is now wider, so you can even unlock your iPhone while it’s on your desk without ever having to lift it up.

Because the new iOS 13 platform is smarter at charging (it curtails power input at the right times), you should also notice better battery life for your phone.

“Picture Perfect” Is the Standard for iOS 13

Apple’s Camera and Photos apps both received a ton of new features in iOS 13.

Portrait mode in the Camera app now offers more customizable lighting effects so you can increase or decrease lighting intensity. There’s also a new “High Key Mono” mode available.

The Photos app upgrade brings a mix of robust editing tools that allow you to tweak aspects like contrast, noise reduction, and shadows. These editing capabilities also work for video (which you can now rotate!), and you can even edit photos without replacing or destroying your Live Photo properties.

iOS 13 makes it easier to navigate through your photos. By leveraging machine learning, the Photos app can automatically declutter your photos and remove duplicates. The Photos app also has a new “Photos” tab which gives you a new way to browse your images. You can scrub by years, months, and days to find thumbnails of your images and videos organized by events and time.

iOS 13 is Easy on the Eyes with Dark Mode

Dark Mode has finally arrived with iOS 13. By inverting white and light colors for black and dark grays, it’s much less eye-straining than the standard presentation. Dynamic Dark Mode allows you to change between light and dark in accordance with the sun rising and setting.

Not only can dynamic wallpapers change according to the time of day, but widgets do as well. Native iOS apps like Messages, Photos, and Notes all come with built-in support for this new feature.

Reminders Gets a Revamp

Reminders received a huge overhaul with iOS 13. Now, as you type reminders, it will try to guess when to remind you. Siri will also try to identify which words you want to make actionable. If your reminders contain any names, it will remind you about these in Messages. Lastly, Reminders now allows for attachments and can sort much better than before.

Prioritizing Privacy and Rock-Solid Security

Numerous new privacy and security features come with iOS 13. Users with the new update can now employ system-wide location tracking protection. You also now have the capability to give an app permission to use location “just once.” Alternatively, if you permit an app to always use location, iOS will now provide detailed reports on this activity.

Apple also added “Sign in with Apple,” which utilizes Face ID to start a new account with revealing personal information. You can now hide information like email thanks to this feature. Apple will create a random email that forwards any received messages to your actual email address. Of course, you can always disable these random emails if need be.

Shortcuts to Automation

Instead of having you download the Shortcuts app, it now comes built-in to every device running iOS 13. The Shortcuts app now has an Automation tab which allows you to create both personal and home automation sequences based on triggers. For example, you can set up an Automation to tell you the day’s weather when you turn off your alarm after waking up.

Adapt and Get Ahead With iOS 13

We hope you’ve enjoyed this rundown of some of our favorite iOS 13 features. Don’t let your app languish and fall behind. Business is all about adaptability. At Dogtown Media, we pride ourselves on building the mobile future. Work with us to make your iOS app a part of it!

This list of new features barely scratches the surface of iOS 13’s potential — covering all of the new capabilities ranging from a smoother-sounding Siri to new Memojis would take quite a few more blog posts. If you have questions about specific aspects or benefits, contact our team of hardened techies today for a free consultation!

Have you ever had an idea for a mobile app but didn’t know where to start? It’s no secret that the journey from app ideation to launch can be intimidating and strenuous. This is especially the case if you’re not familiar with the nuances of mobile app development and design.

Since Dogtown Media first started out at our LA development HQ in 2011, we’ve launched over 200 apps in a variety of industries including mHealth, FinTech, artificial intelligence (AI), and more. So it’s safe to say we know a thing or two about the process of launching an app!

We’ve put together this short outline to help you with your mobile app journey. By the end of it, you’ll not only know how to launch your app properly but how to set it up for long-term success as well.

Step 1: Ideation

Like any innovation, your mobile app always starts as an idea. And your creative input at this first stage largely determines your final product’s quality. So you have to answer some hard questions at this point: Has your app idea been done before? If so, what makes yours special? How will you differentiate yourself from the competition?

Talk about tough! Well, luckily, you don’t need to tackle these questions alone. In fact, you shouldn’t. Utilize research and market validation to unlock crucial insights into your app concept. This feedback is integral to shaping your app idea into a successful, everlasting one.

You should concentrate on creating long-term value, and this is the step you figure out if your app will still be useful in one year, five years, and even further into the future. That’s why we recommend doing this before you start building your app.

And by the way, it’s totally okay if you receive inspiration from another mobile app. Apple’s App Store houses over 1 million apps. So there’s a good chance that someone has released a similar product to yours. In this case, your goal should be to make objective improvements to the current competitors on the market.

Here’s how Apple’s developer blog explains it: “Before creating your app, take a look at the apps in your category on the App Store and consider how you can provide an even better user experience.”

Step 2: Defining the Scope of Accessibility

After ironing out the details of your idea, it’s now time to define the scope of accessibility for your app. Do you want it available only on the iPhone and iPad? Maybe you’re aiming for Android. Or maybe you’d like all three?

Whatever option you choose, it’s imperative that you’re aware of the subtle nuances between each platform. User experience (UX), user interface (UI), and numerous other factors vary between each of them. So you should have a dedicated roadmap for each platform you’d like to release your app on.

This makes it much easier to account for the minute details that can make a big difference to your users. And getting a head-start on this now and doing it correctly the first time around means you won’t have to retread this step later on.

Step 3: UI/UX Design

Nobody likes a convoluted mobile app. You should strive to strike a balance between sophistication and simplicity. Leaning too much toward one or the other could actually get your app rejected during your App Store submittal. Aim to make your mobile app intuitive to operate but still provide enough valuable features that keep users coming back for more.

Getting this right ultimately boils down to your UI and UX design. Aspects like your branding assets, wireframes, graphical elements, and much more must mesh together to form a simple, elegant experience that users find practical. Like before, the feedback you get from prototype testing and market analysis can help you refine your product greatly in this regard.

Apple, in particular, has incredibly high standards for UI and UX design. But there is a silver lining: if you create UI and UX that users love, then it will probably resonate with the App Store evaluators as well since they are also human. To hone your UI and UX, utilize Apple’s official list of UI Design Do’s and Don’ts.

Step 4: Branding

The choices you make for your UI and UX should carry through to your overall branding. Remember, consistency is key to catching potential users’ eyes in the overcrowded app stores. To see this in action, just look at the top mobile apps for either Android or iOS. Here’s what you’ll find: they’ve all developed their own unique style.

So stay consistent with your UI and UX design choices. Factors like interface copy and color palates can be utilized in your peripheral material like social media. Do not use generic messaging. Your audience pays attention to details, so they won’t pay attention to you anymore if the experience you provide is not personalized and candid.

Caring about your branding is the first step you take toward making your audience care about your mobile app.

Step 5: Development

We’ve finally arrived at the development stage, where your vision starts to become a reality. We won’t sugarcoat this stage: things are going to get technical! So don’t worry about taking on this monumental task by yourself. It’s completely normal to seek out an expert to help you get this step right.

Ensure that the development partner you choose is well-versed in aspects such as core logic, database setup, and dynamic screen behaviors. All of these factors are necessary to deliver a seamless, immersive experience. To help you find a reliable partner, don’t just rely on reviews — download their previous work and give it a go. Use their app with a critical eye.

Once you’ve started work on the development phase with a suitable partner, test your work-in-progress regularly for each of the platforms you plan to launch on. This quality assurance can help catch any potential bugs, glitches, and hiccups before your users see them. And it will also save you lots of money, time, and effort down the line.

Step 6: Launch

Congratulations! You’ve put in a ton of hard work by this point. And now, we find ourselves at the scariest step for most people in the mobile app industry: submitting your product.

There are some large differences between submitting your mobile app to Google Play versus Apple’s App Store. For example, Google Play submissions are usually available to the general public mere hours after submittal. On the other hand, Apple’s App Store can take upwards of 10 business days to approve (or reject) your app.

As if that’s not scary enough, 30% of submissions to the App Store end up getting rejected. And it’s usually due to issues that could have been addressed during the previous steps we covered. Fortunately, if you’ve been following this guide, you’ll be in better shape than most!

If you do find yourself facing rejection, don’t fret. It can happen. And it isn’t the end of the world. Just take this feedback to heart and implement the suggestions you receive from the evaluators. In turn, this can actually help you be a stronger contender in your market once your app finally hits the App Store.

Step 7: Maintenance and Growth

By now, many people assume that this is where the process of launching your app goes on auto-pilot. That’s a fatal fallacy. In truth, your first users give you profound insight into how you can improve your mobile app (and, in turn, its standing in the app stores).

So don’t rest on your laurels just yet. This step often makes the difference between success and failure. You should be ready and expect to adapt your mobile app according to this market feedback. Maintenance and growth can be tricky, and it’s a step that never really ends.

If you remain open-minded and adaptable, not only will you gain traction much faster, but you’ll also be setting yourself up for stable growth and longevity.

If this short guide has fired you up to implement some app ideas, don’t hesitate to reach out! Contact our team at Dogtown Media to see how we can help make your mobile app vision a reality.

At Dogtown Media, we specialize in mobile app development, grounded with expert knowledge in the internet of things, fintech, medical tech and user interface design. We are determined to take on your next project and create an app that will help your business grow.

Clutch, a company that publishes unbiased reviews of B2B companies, has featured us once again in a recent press release of top California mobile app development companies.  We’re excited to share that we have been featured highly in their directory list of the top mobile app developers in California. This honor adds to our previous recognition as a top California Mobile App Development Company on DesignRush.

Clutch’s ranking algorithm takes many pieces of information into account when displaying companies on their directory pages; the most important part of Clutch’s ranking algorithm is client reviews. To date, we have received over 20 positive reviews. Our clients aren’t shy to share their successes with Clutch:

“Dogtown Media developed a solution for a project considered impossible to do in the tech world.”

“They were extremely responsive and supportive and I never felt like I was working on anything on my own.”

“Their work has made my life easier by automating features in the app that I was doing manually.”

In addition to our feature on Clutch, we were also mentioned on their sister-site, The Manifest.  We are pleased to announce that we were listed as one of the top mobile app development companies in the world on The Manifest.

Here at Dogtown Media, we are ready to improve your business by creating vital apps that will allow your business to access your consumers at all times.  Our team will work directly with your business to assess how to stand apart from competitors as well. We look forward to taking on your next project!

Each year, Clutch publishes a press release naming the top service providers within certain industries. We’re proud to announce that Clutch has named Dogtown Media among the world’s leading mobile app developers this year.

We’ve also been listed on Clutch’s sister website, The Manifest, a B2B news website that helps buyers through the process of selecting a vendor. Manifest also ranked Dogtown as one of the top app development companies in the world.

Founded in 2011, Clutch is a Washington, D.C.-based research firm that leverages unparalleled market insight to determine the leaders across numerous industries. With unbiased case studies, industry trend analysis, and business market comparisons, Clutch’s data-driven platform allows clients to find and connect with top-tier companies who can solve difficult challenges.

Clutch’s directories adhere to this meticulous, data-centric approach; it’s organized to list the most credible firms first. Credibility is gained by attaining client testimonials and market presence. Essentially, the directories allow potential buyers and clients in need of partnerships to visualize their different options with a holistic perspective of each company.

Check out some of the reviews we’ve received so far below!

Webdam is a digital asset management software company. We re-developed their platform from the ground up. Here’s what they had to say:

“Dogtown Media’s work was a massive improvement from the previous app version and received high praise from customers… They were extremely responsive and supportive, and I never felt like I was working on anything on my own.”

We also got the opportunity to help the University of Oklahoma improve its app with more student-centric functionalities and geolocation capabilities. Here’s their feedback:

Another client required an app for the University of Oklahoma. Here’s what they had to say:

“Dogtown Media’s expert team inspires confidence throughout the project by communicating clearly from the start. They bring creative ideas to the table at a reasonable value… Their work has made my life easier by automating features in the app that I was doing manually.”

The past few weeks have been surreal for Dogtown Media. Recently, we made the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing companies in the United States for the second year in a row. Not long after, we were honored again by being included on Clutch’s list!

Both are incredible awards we couldn’t have imagined attaining when we first started developing in L.A. in 2011. We’d like to give a big thanks to Clutch, Inc., our team, clients, and community — none of this would be possible without you.

From humble beginnings as a mobile app developer in Los Angeles, we’re extremely proud of the work we’ve accomplished so far and we’re also very excited to see where the future takes us. We can’t wait to create more amazing mobile experiences for the world to enjoy.

If you have an idea but don’t know where to begin, reach out anytime — if you can dream it, we can build it!

In this fourth and final feature of our special series about Apple’s broadest iOS update yet, we’ll talk about why enterprises everywhere should update to iOS 12.

Why Does it Matter?

Apple’s iOS 12 update is coming to 23 Apple devices, making it the most backward-compatible upgrade yet. This means you’ll be able to reach more users than ever before. Updating to the newest API and removing deprecated code will make your app bug-free and faster.

If you still haven’t updated from iOS 10 to iOS 11, your app may not work anymore when iOS 12 rolls around. iOS 11 required an update from 32-bit to 64-bit apps, and if you put this on hold, you can’t afford to wait any longer! Any app still running on iOS 10 code desperately needs a codebase update, and it will certainly eventually lead to user count stagnating or decreasing.

Keeping code quality optimized and up-to-date with industry and Apple standards is the best measure your enterprise can take to remain trustworthy to consumers. Keep your initial investment working for you; update your app’s code ASAP to avoid Apple threatening to retire your app.

If your app uses augmented reality, machine learning, or artificial intelligence, you’ll especially want to upgrade your codebase because Apple is giving those development toolkits some serious revamping.

Users Adopt Quickly

Users take only a few months to reach high adoption rates for the newest iOS version, so updating your app to comply with iOS 12 code will avoid any hiccups and keep things running smoothly. For example, here are Apple’s official stats of iOS distributions in December 2017:

And here it is again in May 2018:

In less than half a year, the number of iOS 11 users grew by nearly 25%!

In 2016, of 300 IT professionals interviewed, 91% said their organization is using Macs, and 99% said their organization uses iPhones or iPads. In Q1 of 2017, 72% of all enterprise smartphones activated were iPhones, and iPads were activated in 81% of all enterprise tablet activations.

Apple’s reach is undoubtedly huge across consumers and enterprises alike, and you’ll increase your app’s reach when you take care to upgrade to iOS 12.

Maintenance Is Better Than Repair!

Prioritize maintenance over repair; don’t let your app have any downtime, risking user loss or customer frustration. It’s a similar situation to car maintenance. If you don’t update to iOS 12, will your car still run? Probably. But will it run with the highest efficiency and performance? Definitely not. And it will eventually stop working if it’s not taken care of!

If you wouldn’t skimp out on improving operations, updating cybersecurity protocols, or investing in salesmen, why miss a huge opportunity to grow your user base, reach more consumers, and deliver a superior user experience?

Don’t fall behind. Business is all about adaptability. We want you to be more than ready when September rolls around. Reach out to Dogtown Media today through this link for a free tech consultation! Our main iPhone app development HQ is in Los Angeles, but we’ve got offices in NYC, Toronto, Dallas, and even London — wherever you are, let’s make your app dreams come true by partnering with one of the top enterprise software development companies worldwide!

Want to know how to update your app to iOS 12? Click here for a Free Consultation.

In our third entry of our special series about iOS 12, Apple’s newest and biggest operating system update ever, we’ll talk about the benefits that it brings to enterprises.

Higher Compatibility

Since the OS update is coming to over 20 devices, there is better backward compatibility for even older iPhones, iPads, and the last iPod Touch. This makes the new upgrade the broadest yet, and it’ll bring speed and higher performance to even the slowest Apple devices. Every device that supports a 64-bit chip will receive the update sometime in September this year.

Updating your app’s codebase to iOS 12’s newest API additions and removing deprecated code will help your app run bug-free and faster for users. And if you’ve still not upgraded from iOS 10 to iOS 11, don’t fall behind — your app may not work at all already since iOS 11 required an update from 32-bit to 64-bit apps.

Any app still running on iOS 10 code desperately needs a codebase update, and this may explain why your app’s user count has stagnated or gone down. Keeping code quality high, optimized, and up-to-date with industry and Apple standards will ensure your app is set up for success.

Solid Security

Of course, the update in operating systems means an update in security protocols. This is a huge benefit for consumers and app developers alike. Between streamlined two-factor authentication, end-to-end encryption on FaceTime, and better password manager features, Apple’s focusing on cybersecurity for every user.

At our Los Angeles iPhone app development studio, we ensure your app’s secure and protected from the get-go; our co-founder, Rob Pope, is a cybersecurity expert and ethical hacker, so you can rest assured that we’ll take every measure available to keep your app safe.

Reach More Users Than Ever Before

With the update coming to the widest range of Apple devices yet, your app will reach more users than ever. At this year’s Apple WWDC (World Wide Developer Conference), the company said it doesn’t intend to combine MacOS and iOS, but it later released a iOS 12 beta feature that easily allows app developers to create a MacOS version of their app. Although most Apple customers are repeat buyers for other devices in their household, your app can now reach MacBook users who don’t have iPhones, greatly broadening your ability to get more customers.

Apple’s revenues hit an all-time high in Q1 of 2018 when it reported its iPhone X was highly profitable. Apple’s stock has increased by 240% since Steve Jobs passed away. More consumers are buying iPhones, especially iPhone X, and most of them will be upgrading to iOS 12 after September. Make sure you are reaching everyone you can to boost your app downloads.

More Updates = More Possibilities

Apple’s augmented reality development toolkit, ARKit, is still growing and expanding. If your app uses AR technology, you’ll want to update your app quite often, since Apple is rapidly releasing updates to ARKit. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg — iOS 12 is also bringing a plethora of updates to machine learning, MedTech, device connectivity, and much more.

After Jobs left Apple in 2011, iOS has been getting updated 50% more often. This means the iOS landscape is always changing, improving, and being patched up. And while all users don’t update their phones immediately, the month-over-month adoption rates are high.

Set Yourself Up for Success!

If you wait too long, your app could be unusable, unstable, and unsecured, driving consumers to your competitors. Updating your app sooner, rather than later, ensures you’ll stay ahead of the curve (and your competition) from iOS 12’s Day 1 release.

Don’t know where to begin? Have no fear; Dogtown Media is here! Reach out today for a free tech consultation through this link — we respond to 99% of messages the same day!

With upgrades spanning AI, MedTech, AR, and device connectivity, not only will iOS 12 be the broadest iOS update ever, but the largest one as well. iPhone app developers, buckle in — big changes are coming!

Siri’s Getting Smarter

You can now create custom actions in your app so users can say a custom command to Siri. It can be as simple as triggering your app to open and land where the user last left off. Or it can be as complex as allowing the user to post something with just a voice command.

Another major update to Siri is Siri Shortcuts. This pairs users’ day-to-day habits with third-party apps. Essentially, user engagement is getting a serious upgrade! Users can also create their own Shortcuts and trigger them with voice commands.

Augmented Reality Upgraded

The ARKit upgrades in iOS 12 include more accurate measurement tools, face tracking, 3D object detection, better rendering, and shared experiences.

Knowing a user’s position and movement is key to creating a seamless AR experience. Add in 3D object detection and face tracking, and we should start seeing new, innovative AR apps soon after the release of iOS 12. And with shared experiences, iPhone users across the world can immerse themselves in the same AR experience at the same time. iOS 12 will let users send AR objects using Messages and Mail, so a whole new world of possibilities is ready for the taking. Our L.A.-based developers are already having some fun testing this out with our remote employees!

Another awesome tool for apps is the AR USDZ file format; this format is like an “AR Quick Look” and can be shared across Files, Messages, Mail, and Safari. Autodesk, Adobe, and Sketchfab are already working on integrating this format across their products so you can move AR objects within multiple programs without losing quality.

Maximizing Machine Learning

An update to Apple’s Core ML engine makes models faster, smaller, and easier to handle. The new Create ML framework allows developers to easily create and train models, even if they’re not the foremost authority on ML.

Using the new Natural Language framework, your app can intelligently analyze natural language and portal this data to custom natural language processing models.

Health Record Sharing

Health records through HealthKit let users share their medical history with your app. The data is multi-dimensional: it can tell apps about the user’s conditions, diseases, vitals, lab results, medications, and more. Your app can then use this data to create a more personalized user experience, like suggesting recipes that don’t contain allergens.

Better Developer Tools

A new Network framework essentially adds another option for developers working on network data transfer. The new framework can also replace calls to low-level socket APIs, which can reduce load times and improve your app’s sensitivity to user input.

Apple’s always updating its API, meaning many API calls are deprecated. Basically, if your app was built with iOS 11 or earlier operating systems, deprecated API calls need to be replaced immediately. Apps using OpenGL ES will need to be updated with Metal, a better framework for accessing the modern GPUs that new Apple devices employ. Although it’s a change in code, your users will notice the faster rendering and higher graphic quality right away.

When apps are ready to be tested, developers can send users a public link from TestFlight.

Interconnected Devices

Even if you only have an iOS app in the App Store, Apple’s going to make it easier to create Mac apps using the UIKit framework. It will officially roll out in 2019, but it’ll create a faster development cycle so that users can continue using your app on their laptop or desktop.

If your app works with Siri’s watch face, it’ll now show up on the lock screen watch face. And for iPhone X users, developers can adjust apps to take advantage of the all-screen Retina display. For users that rely on CarPlay, the CarPlay dashboard may display your app if it’s navigation-related.

These changes mean a better, more accessible experience is coming for users with multiple Apple devices.

Are You Ready for iOS 12?

iOS 12 is bringing many updates for users, developers, and third-party apps. A more cohesive experience is the goal, and this OS upgrade is certainly heading in the right direction.

Are you ready to make the upgrade to iOS 12? Reach out to us today through this link! Let’s get started on making your app ideas into a reality.

Whether you’re an Apple user or iOS app developer, you’ve probably heard about the newest operating system upgrade coming to over 22 devices, Apple’s iOS 12. This is the broadest update Apple’s rolled out, and it’s coming with tons of design updates, functionality upgrades, and security enhancements.

A New Era for iOS

At our iPhone app development headquarters in Los Angeles, we’ve been playing around the with the developer beta since June 4th. The public beta rollout came on June 25th, and we expect the first stable version of 12.0 to be released sometime in September.

If your mobile app runs on iOS, you absolutely need to upgrade your code to iOS 12. In this four-part series, we’ll go over the design details, feature enhancements, benefits of updating your code, and why enterprises should adopt iOS 12.

As an enterprise, your mobile app will be visited by iOS 12 users from all over the world. If your app’s behavior and functionality don’t fit into the overall app and OS ecosystem that iOS 12 sets up, you could risk losing your user base.

All-Over Enhancements

Phones running iOS 12 will have better animations, touch features, and app switching capabilities. With this update, the keyboard displays up to 50% faster and apps launch almost twice as fast, even under a heavy load.

Users can swipe 70% faster to the Camera app, and if your app uses the phone’s camera, you can build in new ways of interacting with images with the updated Portrait Segmentation and Depth APIs.

The speed boost will even affect older iPhones and iPads; all devices will experience better battery life, meaning users can use their phones for longer.

Your finger will have much more power in iOS 12; lock-screen notifications will be more interactive, and you can set your app up to trigger custom actions with a simple swipe.

More Privacy

iOS 12 will come with built-in encryption, on-device intelligence, and more to let users set customized privacy options. Unique, strong passwords will automatically be created and saved on the phone within your app.

You can integrate password manager apps with Password AutoFill using the AuthenticationServices framework. Or create a cross-device authentication stream using the new ASWebAuthenticationSession class.

More to Come

We’ve only briefly touched upon Apple’s design updates as they can relate to your app and its users. In the next feature, we’ll talk about the functionality upgrades and what they mean for your app.

Due to the seamless convenience they offer, we often take smartphones for granted. But you can’t deny this fact: the device you pick up and use dozens of times a day is one of the most sophisticated pieces of technology that’s ever graced human hands.

The Association for Competitive Technology (ACT), also known as the App Association, just released the sixth edition of their “State of the App Economy” Report; it sheds new insight on just how transformative mobile app development has been for humanity. We gathered together some of our favorite takeaways, just for you.

Endless Innovation

The report succinctly summarizes the impact of smartphones in its very first sentence: “Smartphones have become the single most rapidly adopted technology in human history, outpacing innovations like the printing press and the steam engine.”

This may be hard to fathom, but when you think of all the ways that smartphones have integrated with society, it makes sense. By being at the forefront of modern computing technology, the global app ecosystem has grown to a value of $950 billion.

Enterprise & IoT

Previous reports on the app economy by ACT mainly focused on consumer technology, but this can no longer be the case. As ACT predicted in last year’s report, enterprise apps and the Internet of Things have added billions of dollars of value to the app economy in terms of productivity, connectivity, efficiency, and data usage.

Yes, consumer downloads reached a new value of 175 billion last year. But, per a 2016 Adobe report, two out of three businesses utilize enterprise apps for a variety of purposes (employee training, communication, etc.). That’s a huge ratio, and it was back in 2016. It’s most likely only grown, given the advancements in IoT development.

ACT estimates that there are already 28 billion app-enabled IoT devices embedded in systems worldwide. And this is just the beginning — BCG predicts that companies will spend at least $276 billion on IoT tech by 2020. After that, IoT spending will experience hockey-stick growth over the next ten years!

Employment Opportunity Defines an Economy

In light of these amazing statistics, ACT also emphasized possible hurdles that the app economy could face in the near future. The report also discussed how tackling these obstacles could help sustain this incredible growth in the app industry. Employment was one such pivotal aspect.

With a $950 billion valuation and more than 3.4 billion smartphone users globally, it should come as no surprise that the app economy offers ample opportunity for job creation and growth. Currently, 4.7 million Americans work in the app economy. Jobs range from software engineers and developers to teachers and system managers. The average salary for a worker in the app economy is $86,000 — almost double $48,000, the national average.

By 2024, ACT estimates that the app industry will create 440,000 new job opportunities in the United States. This sounds like good news, but because we’re not prepared, it could end up being problematic. While the United States is leading the app economy, only about 59,000 U.S. college graduates got a computer science degree last year. There are 503,000 computing jobs across the country. That means only one out of every eight computing jobs is getting filled.

The U.S. isn’t producing enough graduates to fulfill its app economy’s demands. And traditional education doesn’t seem to offer the solution. Only one in five high schools are teaching modern computer science skills. For K-12 schools, this number doubles to 40 percent, but that still leaves room for improvement. ACT believes the answer could be found in apprenticeships. The on-the-job training that these positions offer could bolster the number of Americans ready to tackle the needs of the future app economy.

Can Encryption Protect the App Economy?

Another area that could tip the app economy in either direction is cybersecurity. Currently, the app industry is in need of 285,000 more cybersecurity professionals. With mostly sub-standard security protocols in place, the app economy is in serious danger of cybercrime, which costs consumers around the world more than $3 trillion.

The ability to protect user data will become the foundation of the future of the app economy. As apps become more integral to each part of our everyday lives, we’re starting to use them in ways we never considered just a decade ago. Check your finances? Sure. Access your medical records? Why not. As long as it remains safe to do so, of course.

ACT’s report thinks that end-to-end encryption is still one of the best ways to secure data. And fortunately, more developers of both enterprise and consumer apps are employing this method. It could take hackers billion of years to crack an encryption key. This strong protection will allow us to keep moving forward in what we trust apps with.

Connectivity Defines the App Economy

The last major issue that left an impact on us is the fact that 34 million Americans can’t access the app economy. Millions of people are missing out on the great advantages that modern technology offers due to their lack of access to sufficient broadband.

This is a malady in need of an urgent remedy. Luckily, ACT believes that 5G and use of unlicensed spectrum may be able to solve this problem. Not only will 5G add a substantial number of job opportunities, but it will also bring $200 billion in value to the app industry alone. Along the way, we hope it allows the U.S. to bridge the gap between those with access to app technologies and those without it.

Thank You!

In its detailed report, ACT also covered the innovators, movers, and shakers in each state that are helping to sustain and accelerate the app economy’s growth. We’re extremely grateful to be mentioned in California’s section!

After more than 100 mobile apps in AI, healthcare, finance, and IoT, our little L.A.-based development studio has come a long way from its humble beginnings, and it’s awesome to be recognized for our hard work. Thank you for the honors, ACT!

Check out ACT’s full report here. It has made us extremely excited about the future. Being in the mobile app industry so far has been a wild, fun ride. But if there’s one main point we took away from the report, it’s this — the best is yet to come!