Best Apple Apps of 2019
The much-awaited list is out. Apple has announced it’s best apps and games across devices and categories in a small event that happened in New York City where the developers of apps, the press, and Apple Executives were present.
Selection Criteria:
As a brand that values creativity and innovation, the parameter to choose the best app is neither the one that’s most downloaded nor the one that makes more money but the ones that have the best user experience, creativity, design, and storytelling. Though popularity is also considered, it’s not gauged by numbers like downloads and dollars.
Selecting Team:
As we know, App Store has its own team of editors who review every app and game that enters into the Apple ecosystem to ensure the standards of design and UX are met and maintain or enrich the “The Apple Experience”. This year, 130 such editors participated and picked the best apps from around the world. They sit together, discuss, argue, and finally vote which app should be in the best list. After finalising, they present the list to Mr Phil Schiller, the senior vice president of worldwide marketing.
Here are the winners!!
As explained earlier, the awards are divided into categories (Apps, Games, Arcade) and devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV).
App of the Year:
iPhone: Spectre Camera (Lux Optics) https://spectre.cam/
It is a shutter to iPhone powered by AI which lets users click amazing long shot pictures. Long exposures always had a technical disability from holding the camera straight to estimating the amount of light in real life. Spectre has solved this problem with its super tech AI and Apple has loved it.
iPad: Flow by Moleskine (Moleskine) https://moleskinestudio.com/
It’s a new age digital notebook that lets the user write, sketch or scribble whatever they want. It has tons of features taking from basic notebook variation such as plain, lines, grid to professional tipped markers. The imagination in your brain will only be a limitation.
Mac: Affinity Publisher (Serif Labs) https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/publisher/
A next-generation professional publishing website with design tools that help the user create wonderful brochures, magazines, posters etc. It can all be done without much professional experience which means democratizing the creation of art.
Apple TV App of the Year: The Explorers (The Explorers Network) https://theexplorers.com/landing
How about watching the lives of people in their original version? Like seeing the life of an explorer, the images of a photographer, the tests and results of a scientist, all in ultra HD 4K or 8K with a minimal payment. Explorers app let you do that along with more such as chatting with explorers and community members.
App Trend of 2019: Storytelling Simplified
Storytelling can be done in any form. One should have the creativity to portray a story in whatever they do. Sometimes numbers tell stories and sometimes the artistic expression of a stage actor. This year’s trend is creating tools to help content creators express. Apps like Canva to create posters, images, Anchor to record a podcast, Wattpad to write stories, Spark Camera, Unfold, Steller, Over Inc, etc. have been the top selection under App trends of 2019.
Game of the Year
iPhone: “Sky: Children of the Light” (thatgamecompany) https://thatskygame.com/
The child flies in through 7 ‘dreamlike realms’ and can collaborate with players around the world in chasing the adventures. With great impressive graphics and features, this game is available for free. Yes, you heard it right.
iPad: “Hyper Light Drifter” (Abylight S.L.) https://heartmachine.com/hyper-light
With award-winning graphics and music, this game is a hit on all platforms. Yet, the founder of the game admits this game is best played on iPad Pro.
Mac Game of the Year: “GRIS” (Devolver / Nomada Studio) https://nomada.studio/
It’s a character game. Gris is the protagonist who moves in a colourful world with puzzles around. The Gris girl gains new abilities as she travels further.
Apple TV: “Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap” (DotEmu) http://www.thedragonstrap.com/
The famous but forgotten game of the ’80s is brought back to life with hand-drawn animation and a re-orchestrated soundtrack. Millennials can show their kids the games they have played back then.
Game Trend of 2019: Blockbusters Reimagined
Many of the yesteryears’ games have been relaunched this year with a new storytelling and graphics adapted to the current generation. The Nintendo games Mario Kart Tour and Dr. Mario World, Mojang’s Minecraft Earth, DeNA Cos Pokemon Masters, Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Rebellion, Microsoft’s Gears Pop!, Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls: Blades, D3PA’s Alien: Blackout, and Activision Publishing’s Call of Duty: Mobile are in the list.
Apple Arcade: “Sayonara Wild Hearts” (Simogo) http://simogo.com/work/sayonara-wild-hearts/
Apple has introduced Apple Arcade in 2019, a subscription model that lets users play games without any ads and in-app purchases. There are 100+ games currently available in this platform and Apple has selected ‘Sayonara Wild Hearts’ as the outstanding one.
Well, that’s the end of the list. Apple is known for its quality and strictness in terms of design and user experience. There are millions of Apps and Games in the Apple ecosystem which has generated more than $120bn for developers. Cheers to all Product Managers whose amazing work is the reason for the above result.
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