This Week in Apps is a weekly series on the latest in mobile OS news, mobile applications and the overall app economy.
According to the latest year-end reports, the number of downloads and consumer spending in the app stores combined will be a new record in 2021. App Annie said that global spending on Apple's products is up to $135 billion in 2021, and that figure will likely be higher when its annual report is released next year. Consumers downloaded 10 billion more apps this year than they did in 2020.
The apps are a big business. Mobile-first companies had a combined valuation of $544 billion, which was 6.5x higher than those without a mobile focus. The amount of capital poured into mobile companies in 2020 was up 27% from the previous year.
This week in apps, you can find the latest news, updates, startup fundings, mergers and acquisitions, and suggestions about new apps and games to try.
Do you want to receive This Week in Apps every Saturday? You can sign up for techcrunch.com'snewsletters.
The top stories.
Some apps have been accused of snooping on their users. They collect data and share it with third parties without users knowing. The tables have been turned as users will be able to snoop on their apps thanks to Apple's new App Privacy Report feature. The transparency feature in the app lets a user see what their apps are actually doing, including which apps are accessing the data and the sensors on your phone, as well as where that data is being shared. Through the feature, it is possible to see which third-party websites an app is communicating with. Some may be for analytic purposes, but others may be adtech sites.
The image is from Apple.
You can use the feature by going to Privacy > App Privacy Report. You will be able to see how apps accessed your data over the past seven days, with timestamps for every action. Apple should be applauded for making this information more transparent, but there is concern that the report will leave users feeling less powerful. A favorite app may be reaching out to a strange domain, but what data was shared? If it were explained, would the user be okay with it? What are they supposed to do if they don't like it?
Apple is betting that making this information public will push the app industry toward better behavior that is more respectful of user privacy. It is not clear what extent this new feature will be adopted by mainstream users, as they never read long user agreements when installing software.
There is a version of the phone called the Android 12 Go edition.
The image is from the internet search engine, Google.
When the first devices running the new version of the software will be launched in 2022, the company has more information about the features and updates that will be available. The apps on Go Edition will launch up to 30% faster and with smoother animation, which means they will open instantly, instead of presenting users with a blank screen. The new SplashScreenAPI will help the developers provide a smooth experience for their users.
The updated OS will save battery life and storage by hibernating apps that haven't been used for long. The Files Go app allows users to recover files within 30 days so they can safely remove files when space is at a premium.
Other new features include guest profiles on the lock screen, offline sharing with nearby devices via Nearby Share, a privacy dashboard that shows app activity, permissions and access to sensors, and the ability to select approximate location instead of precise location.
Some of the new features were brought over from the main OS to Go Edition, while others were designed for the needs of low-end users. More than 200 million people use an Android phone.
There is weekly news.
The second major update to its operating system was released by Apple. The App Privacy Report, which lets users know which apps are accessing their private information, is one of the features that was delayed from the original release. It also includes an Emergency SOS update, the Apple Music Voice Plan, support for Legacy Contacts who can access your Apple ID when you die, and more.
Developers using Swift packages as a dependency are being impacted by an issue with the latest Xcode release.
The image is from the internet search engine, Google.
The Jetpack Glance Alpha was launched by the search engine. The new framework is built on top of the Jetpack Compose runtime and is designed to make it easier and faster to build appwidgets for the homescreen and other surfaces.
The camera and fingerprints of the Pixel 6 were fixed in the update.
The new series, called "Notes from Google Play," will give insights and best practices to inspire app developers by focusing on their creativity. The first edition features Mohammed Kamara, a developer who is trying to create a better world for women of color.
There is augmented reality.
Someone spotted a job ad for someone to work on an augmented reality OS. Is it possible that Google Glass is coming back? Wonder if it runs apps?
It's the field of Fintech/Crypto.
Cash App will allow users to gift stock.
Social.
The image is from TechCrunch.
According to a report by CNBC citing unnamed Meta employees as sources, the photo sharing service has surpassed 2 billion MAUs worldwide. The news paints a picture of a company unaffected by the recent congressional scrutiny and whistleblowing. It is like a nod to Wall Street that while there are some bad things being said, we are still doing okay. The report noted that it took three years to hit 2 billion users on the photo sharing website. That growth is hard to ignore. It is notable that users aren't abandoning one app for the other, as it's an indication that they are still using both.
The auto-captions feature on the platform makes videos more accessible. A popular way to watch videos without sound is with a caption, and it's common to find one on TikTok-like feeds.
The third-party integration feature on TikTok Jump allows creators to link out to other services, such as movie and TV reviews and other information. Quizlet and Jumprope are previous partners of TikTok Jump.
The local version of LinkedIn in the region was taken down just months after the launch of the new app in China. The new app, InCareer, is designed to help Chinese mainland professionals find jobs in China.
TikTok will change its formula to make sure people don't consume too much harmful content, like things that could lead to eating disorders or depression. The changes came about after social companies were hauled in front of lawmakers to defend their track record on user safety.
TikTok is an image.
New creative tools include an updated Green Screen effect with support for GIFs from GIPHY, support for HD videos, new musical and animal effects, and a "Visual Enhancement" button to make videos look better. The company launched its own server.
60-second videos are being tested on the platform. The company expanded the Reels from 30 to 60 seconds. The company said it was just a small test.
Over 12,000 creators have been paid over $250 million by the company over the course of the next two years. The popular cartoon style 3D lens, which went viral in its first week, was used by 65% of Spotlight submissions.
The option to reply to comments using videos has been rolled out by both Pinterest and Instagram. The feature allows users to reply with an idea pin. The TikTok clone Reels feature is on the photo sharing website.
Photo and video.
Story Studio is a new app that helps creators make professional content. The app allows creators to add text, popular music and augmented reality to their videos. The app is only available in the U.S., Canada and U.K. for now.
There is a message.
Messenger and Ellen Degeneres collaborated to bring her mobile game Heads Up! to both Messenger and Instagram. Animals Gone Wild, That's So 90s, and Act Your Face Off are the four card packs that will be used to play Heads Up!
Streaming and entertainment.
The image is from Disney.
The Disney+ app for Apple devices will allow users to watch Disney+ content with friends and family. There are up to 32 people watching at the same time.
The app is adding Apple-like ratings. The new system will allow users to rate a show on a scale of 1 to 5, but won't support written reviews.
The Voice Plan for Apple Music directs users how to speak their requests for music to their own voice assistant, instead of using the Apple Music app. The app has a simplified interface that shows them recent requests. The $4.99 per month plan is only available to users of the HomePod and AirPods.
There is gaming.
Player spending on eight mobile games surpassed $1 billion in 2021, according to Sensor Tower. The games included Honor of Kings from Tencent, Genshin Impact from MiHoYo, Coin Master, Candy Crush Saga, and Garena Free Fire. The five games that hit the $1 billion figure last year were:
According to a 2020 report, Wildlife Studios is facing allegations of gender discrimination.
Government and policy.
The U.K. antitrust regulators said that Apple and Google have been able to leverage their market power for years to create self-contained ecosystems. The findings show that the U.K. will take action against the tech giants.
The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection in Poland is investigating if Apple is trying to eliminate competitors in the personalized ads market in order to promote its own Apple Search Ads business.
The data protection authority in Norway fined Grindr $65 million for passing its user data to advertisers without consent. There will be consequences to tracking users without their consent, as a result of the fine.
Privacy and security are related.
The new app for Apple's Macbooks and iMacs is called "Tracker Detect." It allows users of the device to detect AirTags nearby. The app will be able to identify trackers that are separated from their owner and compatible with Apple's "Find My" network, which also includes the Chipolo ONE Spot tracker.
Apple removed references to its CSAM detection tech from its website after privacy concerns. The tech was supposed to automate the detection and reporting of child sexual abuse material. Privacy experts were concerned that the system could be abused by authoritative governments who used it to implicate innocent people. The system would be delayed in order to collect more input. It is not clear whether the feature is being dropped completely or if it is being removed from the web.
Funding and M&A.
Supergreat raised $20 million in a round led by Greenoaks and was joined by existing investors, including Benchmark, TQ Venture and Shrug Capital. This is the first investment in the creator economy by Shopify, and follows a test of one-click integration with businesses on the platform.
The company confidentially filed paperwork for an eventual public offering, but didn't reveal the total number of shares to be offered or valuation. The company raised $410 million in August and is worth $10 billion. The round was supposed to close at $700 million.
The private social networking app Honeycomb raised $4 million in seed funding. The app allows families to share their stories privately.
The valuation of the Indian social networking app ShareChat has increased to $3.7 billion, up from $3 billion in July, after it raised $266 million in new funding. This is the third funding round ShareChat has had this year. Other investors include Singapore.
Stocktwits, a social media app for investors, raised $30 million in a round led by Alameda Research Venture, which pushed the app's user base up by 50% to 6 million. The company is worth $210 million.
WestCap, a growth equity firm founded by former Blackstone and Airbnb executive, led the round. The founding investor Atomic was one of the investors. The company said its annual run rate grew by 6x in the year 2021.
The List raised $3.5 million in seed funding. The company launched its app that gives access to luxury brands and retailers through a personalized shopping experience.
The Qonversion platform raised $2 million in seed funding. The company will use the funds to set up its headquarters in London and expand across the globe. The company has a lot of customers.
The game streaming site and app raised $60 million in funding as it reached 2 million clips shared per day. The funding includes a $65 million round led by Ventuers and others.
First Round Capital led the seed round of Wisdom. The app connects people with mentors.
Papaya raised $50 million in Series B funding to give people a new way to pay bills by snapping a photo of their bill then submitting their payment through the app.
Biz Stone, Facebook's former VP of International Growth Ed Baker, and others invested $2 million in Tagg, a social branding app for Gen Z. Young creatives can use the app to connect and collaborate.
The London-based HungryPanda raised $130 million in series D funding, bringing its total raise to $220 million. The funds will help the app grow.
CreditBook raised $11 million in pre-Series A funding led by Tiger Global.
The company plans to integrate Whooshkaa's technology into Megaphone, as it already offers the other tools Whooshkaa had provided.
Downloads.
The image is from the movie, "Pixelmator."
The popular photo-editing app has now brought its powerful tools to the iPhone. The new app offers users over 30 color adjustment tools, based on the first ones developed for the Mac. It supports over 600 formats, including Apple's new ProRAW format. An automatic photo enhancement tool that lets you improve a photo with a tap is one of the tools that leverage machine learning. You can crop photos, remove camera noise, and enhance photos with artificial intelligence. The new app is compatible with both iPad and iPhone. If you own the iPad version, you will get the iPhone version. It is 50% off at launch.
Swift Playgrounds 4.
The image is from Apple.
The latest version of Apple's Swift Playgrounds app allows users to build apps for the iPad with SwiftUI. This feature requires iPadOS 15.2 or later. An App Preview feature lets you see the changes as they are applied and a full-screen preview lets you view your app edge-to-edge. App Store connect integration lets you upload your finished app to the App Store when you are done. The Swift Playground app includes a new open project format based on Swift packages, as well as inline code suggestions, tools to move projects from Xcode and back, project-wide search results, a Snippets Library with hundreds of SwiftUI controls, symbols and colors, and more.
The Creative Cloud Express is from Adobe.
The image was created by Adobe.
The Creative Cloud Express is a new app that combines features from its Creative Cloud Suite and Acrobat PDF tools into a single application. The app is meant to help users quickly create anything, from posters to social media posts, using templates, stock images and other assets. There will be a free tier and a $9.99 per month version with additional capabilities and an expanded library of more complex templates. Premium users get access to 175 million Adobe Stock photos, 20,000 fonts, and access to Photoshop Express and Premiere Rush, while free users get 1 million images and other assets.
