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!

Siri is steadily becoming more prominent each day, meaning iPhone app developers will want to keep Siri in mind when developing their apps. By doing so, developers can potentially increase their app’s retention and discoverability. Two ways of doing this are through Siri Shortcuts and deep linking.

1. Siri Shortcuts & SiriKit
2. Deep Linking
3. Getting Started with Siri Shortcuts & Deep Linking

Siri Shortcuts & SiriKit

Included in the iOS 12 release was Siri Shortcuts, which gives users the ability to create custom Siri voice commands. Siri Shortcuts present a slew of new opportunities for developers that can lead to increased retention, usage and rediscovery. With Siri Shortcuts, users can speed up common tasks like searching for music, booking an Uber and ordering a custom Starbucks coffee.

Using SiriKit, developers can build an extension within their app that integrates with the Shortcuts App, enabling custom shortcut capabilities. This is key for developers, as shortcuts increase ease of app usage and creates an overall better user experience. If they receive an improved experience, users are more likely to continue using an app. Finally, once a shortcut is enabled, users have the ability to quickly and constantly come back to the app by simply saying “Hey Siri…”

By integrating SiriKit and enabling Siri Shortcuts, developers can strengthen their app’s use. In addition to using Siri to grow an app’s usage, developers can also work with Siri to increase their app’s discoverability through deep linking.

Deep Linking, Spotlight Search & App Packs

Deep linking is the process of specifying keywords within an app’s content. When users are searching via Siri Search Suggestions (Spotlight), links to relevant apps appear. For example, searching “coupon” yields apps that are targeting “coupon” in their build. Apps already installed on users’ phones containing relevant deep linked keywords appear as well.

In addition to this, deep linked apps can also appear in Google Search within App Packs, which is a content block containing apps relevant to the search query in Google’s online search results.

This is important to note because when users are searching via Siri, it provides both an opportunity to discover and rediscover your app. To ensure that developers are maximizing their discoverability potential and App Store Optimization strategy, deep linking is highly recommended.

Getting Started with Siri Shortcuts & Deep Linking

As Siri becomes further prominent in the Apple ecosystem, so will it in users’ lives. It is important that developers take this into consideration when developing their apps, as Siri can potentially increase app discoverability and usage. With Siri Shortcuts, developers are able to create extensions that make their app’s functions easier to navigate via Siri. Additionally, by deep linking searchable keywords in an app’s build, they are made easier to discover via Siri. Overall, iOS 12 and Apple present new methods for developers to create better experiences for their users. By taking advantage of Siri’s integration, developers will be increasing their user retention and discoverability.

For information on how Dogtown Media can help with designing and developing your app, talk with their mobile app development team. To learn more about app store optimization and Gummicube visit https://www.gummicube.com.

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.

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!

The day has finally come: it’s September 12th and tech reporters and Apple cognoscenti will soon pile into the brand new Steve Jobs Theater on the Apple Park campus to hear all about those new iPhones. But as any iPhone app developer who has not been in a coma over the past few months will tell you, they are expecting relatively few surprises. Leaks have always been a big part of the Apple hype cycle, but this time it really seems like all the good stuff is already out on the table. Of course, the loyal Apple fans are still holding out hope for some twists (and are excited to finally get their hands on the new iPhones). But there is a sense heading into the event that the company is not going to blow our minds as it celebrates the tenth anniversary of the phone that changed it all.

By now, it’s no secret to iPhone app developers that there are three new iPhones on the way: the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and the $1,000+ luxury iPhone X. The latter’s steep price can be blamed in part on the crisp OLED display courtesy of Samsung (according to reliable sources). These displays are also rumored to be in short supply, which means there could be delays on the X’s release. Apple is also ditching bezels for the most part, with only the notch for the front-facing camera breaking up the sleek display.

Los Angeles iPhone app developers expect a lot of hype around the 3D face-scanning technology and the ARKit, given that they are among the biggest and flashiest changes to the iPhone family. We will be most impressed by the face-scanning technology if it turns out to be secure enough to connect with Apple Pay — a stretch, perhaps, but it’s something that has repeatedly come up in gossip surrounding the new iPhone. As for ARKit, it will give Apple “the largest AR platform in the world.” When ARKit was unveiled at this year’s WWDC, there was no indication that Apple views the camera as the new automatic search function like Google and Facebook do. But they clearly believe augmented reality is the future, and the demos so far have been pretty exciting.

Plenty more will be revealed in the next couple hours, including stuff about 4K Apple TVs, the new Watch, the HomePod, and more. Maybe there will be a few surprises for iPhone app developers. It would be nice if the reports from the event didn’t read the same as the tired previews. After all, this is the tenth anniversary for the iPhone, a product that really did change the world.

The retail giant launched its new currency with the promotion that will see all Kindle Fire owners gifted with 500 Coins. The coins can be used to purchase apps and in-app items on the Kindle Fire.

The new currency is aimed at increasing Kindle Fire apps buy and putting more money in the hands of developers. Revenue sharing on apps and in-app purchases will operate in the same manner it did before Coins. Developers will get a 70 percent cut of the revenue with Coins.

Amazon Vice President of Apps said “We will continue to add more ways to earn and spend Coins on a wider range of content and activities,” George said. “Today is Day One for Coins.”

Apple’s App Store and Google Play remain the App heavyweights while BlackBerry World and the Windows Phone Store remain distant challengers though they still should not be ignored,’ said Tim Shepherd, Canalys Senior Analyst. BlackBerry version 10 now has more than 100,000 apps available in its storefront, showing good growth from the 70,000 it boasted at launch.  iPhone app developers will still maintain iPhone application development as their main focus, however it appears that some interest is being taken by emerging operating systems like Android.