Right now, smartphone competition is between two operating systems: iOS and Android. Of course, Apple wants to keep iOS ahead of Android. In order to do so, they have made changes in hardware as well as software, keeping the requirements of their users in mind. Due to rapid innovation by Apple, iOS has become the most advanced operating system, allowing developers to create engaging apps and increase adoption. Let’s look at the current and upcoming iOS app development trends.
1. Swift 5 programming language
According to Piyush Jain, Founder of Simpalm, an iPhone app development company in the USA, Swift is a remarkable way to develop software, whether it’s for phones, desktops, servers, or other things that require coding. Apple released Swift 5 that is a safe, fast, and interactive programming language. It is a combination of the modern programming languages with an understanding of the Apple engineering culture and the diverse contributions from its open-source community. Apple has optimized the compiler for the performance and language for development, without compromising on either of them. It has a stable Application Binary Interface (ABI), and binary compatibility makes it user-friendly for new programmers. Swift 5 is source compatible with Swift 4, Swift 4.1, and Swift 4.2, as well as with X code 10.2. Swift code has been compiled and optimized to get the most out of modern hardware. The syntax and standard library are designed on the principle of simplifying code writing. It is also highly compatible with Linux which is another advantage of this software. It is easy for developers to increase their knowledge base for Swift 5 when designing apps.
2. Improved app security
Security is crucial to secure the privacy and sensitive data of users. We all use mobile apps for payment, banking, storing bank account details, credit card details and other sensitive data. Apple has strict policies that prevent anyone from hacking into its devices. They implemented Transport Layer Security (TLS) in iOS apps to offer App Transport Security (ATS). In 2019, Forbes published an article on iPhone security that is titled “iPhone Hack: Google Warns 1 Billion Apple Users They May Have Been Attacked.“ The iPhone 11 was launched at the same time and almost every iOS device was found vulnerable. Apple has fixed all the vulnerabilities in the latest iOS updates and to ensure app security, Apple regularly updates with new security patches.
3. Artificial Intelligence integrated iOS apps
For several years AI was in the development stage, but now companies have started to develop AI integrated mobile apps. iOS was the first platform to launch a voice assistant on their devices. Siri and many other applications in iOS have been made smart by integrating Artificial Intelligence. Siri is already working on principles of AI, as it keeps a record of things as instructed. Using it, users can make calls, type messages, and read out messages and emails. In the next few years, you can expect more AI-based iOS app development that will challenge the traditional way of doing almost everything.
4. IoT focused iOS apps
According to Andrei Klubnikin, Senior Copywriter at Softeq, with time, the Internet of Things (IoT) has improved the industry. From Apple watches to television, it is integrating with various devices. Now you can connect your devices like exterior lights, door locks, home security systems, speakers, televisions and Apple TV, streaming devices, phones and tablets, and refrigerators with the internet and control them using a Smartphone. We can see IoT integration in wearable devices such as Apple watches, Garmin multisport training GPS Adventure watches, and Fit bit. It collects and shares data with users to help them stay healthy and fit. It enables the products to securely communicate with each other and share and information at a simple click by the user. With the acceleration in innovation of IoT, Swift 3.0 can play a crucial role because it is the simplest programming language created by Apple.
5. Augmented Reality
Augmented reality is an astonishing technology. It is no longer limited to gaming and video experiences. The increasing adoption of AP and VR by Apple in iOS apps will create a significant impact. For the integration of AR in mobile apps, the world is looking at the custom iOS app development companies. Apple has ArKit, which has been customized for developing standalone AR-integrated iOS apps. It allows iOS developers to easily build AR Apps. Several industries have already started using AR technology. Pokémon GO, Lenskart, and Snapchat are few examples of successful integration of AR in mobile apps. This technology may also be a game-changer for apparel websites or ecommerce websites. Users will be able to try on clothes virtually and choose what looks good on them.
6. Core Machine Learning
With the release of the core Machine Learning 2, Apple made it easy for the developer to develop ML-enabled apps. Based on its capabilities to build intelligent apps for different Apple devices, Apple core ML has gained popularity and recognition in very little time. Its A12 Bionic chip can perform five trillion operations per second and is the fastest Apple-made machine learning framework of all time. Apple devices have a voice assistant, Siri that is developed using advanced machine learning technology. Apple’s Photos app is another example of an ML integrated iOS app. It categorizes your photos by using ML-based image classification, and searches through your photo gallery by category. This framework is going to become the norm for developers because it allows them to build intelligent apps with very little coding.
7. Cloud Integration with iOS apps
Cloud integration has brought several opportunities and benefits to the app industry. You can store vast amounts of data without fear of running out of local storage or losing data. They have become trustworthy platforms to store data that can be accessed anytime more securely, quickly, and smoothly. This is the main reason that most of the iOS apps are built using cloud technology.
Apple has also launched its iCloud services that allow users to securely store data. iCloud can be accessed on any device using your login id and password. Cloud-based apps do not occupy any physical space in your system, as you can run your data directly on the cloud. Users can easily use apps without worrying about storage.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that the new technologies in iOS app development are creating opportunities to create advanced and efficient mobile apps. Trends such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality, virtual reality, the Internet of things, Core machine learning, and cloud integration have made it easier for developers to build apps. Businesses can easily create apps that have the latest features at a lower cost due to the support provided by Apple in iOS Development framework.
