In brief
Prisma topped both Apple and Google Play’s 2016 app selections, while Clash Royale and Pokémon GO won their respective game awards. The article expects new technologies such as AI to shape app development and anticipates growing interest in AR / VR apps in 2017.
Apple and Google both released their lists of the best apps of 2016.
Apple named Prisma its App of the Year and Clash Royale its Game of the Year. The former is a photo-editing app that uses artificial intelligence and neural network technology to transform users’ images into various artistic styles in seconds; the latter is a multiplayer tower defence game.
Apple’s outstanding app and game honours went to Meldy and Chameleon Run respectively. The former is a music player, while the latter is a running game.
Google 2016 Apple Store Apps of the Year Selection
The outstanding apps selected by Google Play reflect popularity in the Android smartphone app market.
Google Play also named Prisma its App of the Year, while Pokémon GO rode its wave of popularity to win Game of the Year.
The App Market in 2017 Forecast: Will AR / VR Products Take Off?
From 2011 to 2015, Apple’s Apps of the Year were Instagram, ActionMovie FX, Duolingo, Replay Video Editor and Enlight respectively. Apart from Duolingo, a language-learning app, the other four were apps for photo or video post-production.
As in previous years, photography, video recording and music production apps took several places on Apple’s list this year, once again demonstrating Apple’s determination to position its devices as productivity tools. What sets this year apart is the use of new technologies.
Prisma’s artificial intelligence technology, for example, extracts features from users’ photos to the cloud and uses neural networks to combine the photos with famous paintings, producing results far beyond ordinary filters. These new technologies give apps fresh vitality and are expected to become a trend in app development.
Google’s selections for best app over the past few years have covered a wider variety of categories, including social and utility apps. What changes will Google Play see next year? Industry observers believe that, as Google opens up its Daydream platform, it is likely to accelerate the development of mobile VR. AR / VR apps are expected to start gaining popularity on Google Play next year.
The same trend applies to Apple. Media reports suggest that Apple will introduce AR / VR content at WWDC in 2017, encouraging developers to release related apps on IOS.
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