For the tenth year in a row, Apple has announced its list of App Store award winners for this year. These awards include apps for every one of the company's platforms, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and more. For 2022, the social media app BeReal won the app of the year award for iPhone while the notetaking app GoodNotes 5 was crowned for best iPad app.
A team of independent judges awarded Synium Software GmbH's MacFamilyTree 10, TelevisaUnivision Interactive's Vix streaming service, and Gentler Stories' Gentler Streak top honors in their respective categories at this year's Apple awards.
The newest in the Apex series, mobile game Apex Legends snagged the top award in the iPhone games category. X.D. Network's Moncage got the top prize in the iPad games category. Other gaming winners include Inscryption from Devolver for Mac, El Hijo from HandyGames for Apple TV and "Wylde Flowers" from Studio Drydock for Apple Arcade. Shenzhen Tencent Tianyou Technology's League of Legends Esports Manager won the China app of the year.
In 2020, BeReal became a social media sleeper hit, forcing giants like TikTok and Instagram to ape the format. The France-based company originally launched the app in 2020, but its format of getting an alert at random times of the day to post a photo combining front and back cameras within two minutes became popular this year--a stark departure from the formats of "Toca Life World" (a kids app) and "WakeOut!" (a workout app) that took home best crown app last year and the one before. BeReal was described by Apple in their awards blog as an app which provides "an authentic look into the lives of friends and family."
"This year's App Store Award winner highlight how apps are not only creative and challenging, but they have a transformational impact on people both professionally and personally," Tim Cook said in a statement. "For the solo creator who farms out their project to friends from around the world, or for small teams that need a diverse set of skills but stay rooted in one geographical area, there is room for everyone."
Apple took a stand this year by introducing a new Cultural Impact section to honor and acknowledge apps that have had a lasting impact on culture. They've chosen an eclectic selection of apps that include How We Feel Project's How We Feel app for logging in daily emotions; Rise-Home Stories Project's Home Stories Project to highlight stories of systemic housing injustices and their impact on people of color; ARTE Experience’s Inua - A Story in Ice and Time which allows users to explore events from Inuit tradition through the lens of Virtual Reality; Vitalii Mogylevets' Hydration Tracking app, Waterllama, which helps people keep track of their water consumption.
The Apple App Store has been tough to navigate over the past few years, primarily due to challenges in making payments and regulations. In 2018, Apple had to allow developers to use third-party systems for in-app purchases in South Korea, the Netherlands (only for dating apps), and the U.S. Of course, Europe is looking at ways to control app distribution monopolies across different app stores too. In response, Apple may have to loosen some of its tight restrictions on how apps are distributed and sold on their store.
Apple has been updating its rules for apps on a regular basis. Starting in March, Apple allowed "reader apps" like games to include external links for users to create and manage their accounts. It also relaxed some of its rules around binary content in the app and lottery-related apps in June. In October, it cracked down on digital collectibles within apps by restricting developers from using them to unlock new features, while requiring any NFT purchase system follow Apple's in-app purchase mechanism and give them a cut as well.
Reports have shown that the App Store's net revenue has dropped by 5% recently because of economic downturns, and fluctuating currency prices meant Apple had to raise the price of apps in multiple countries. Despite these difficulties, Elon Musk picked a fight with the company by claiming they threatened to withhold Twitter from the App Store.
Apple has released the top mobile apps and games throughout various categories, including free and paid.
Here are the top apps within the U.S.:
Top Free Apps
- TikTok
- YouTube: Watch, Listen, Stream
- Google Maps
- Google Search
- Gmail – Email by Google
- BeReal
- Cash App
Top Paid Apps
- Procreate Pocket
- HotSchedules
- The Wonder Weeks
- Shadowrocket
- 75 Hard
- AutoSleep Track Sleep on Watch
- TouchRetouch
- FILCA – SLR Film Camera
- SkyView
- My Macros+ | Diet & Calories
Top Free Games
- Wordle!
- Subway Surfers
- Roblox
- Stumble Guys
- Coloring Match
- Count Masters: Crowd Runner 3D
- Fishdom
- Call of Duty®: Mobile
- Parking Jam 3D
- Text or Die
Top Paid Games
- Minecraft
- Heads Up!
- Bloons TD 6
- Geometry Dash
- Monopoly – Classic Board Game
- My Child Lebensborn
- Five Nights at Freddy’s
- Plague Inc.
- Rovio Classics: AB
- Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
Top Apple Arcade Games
- NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition
- The Oregon Trail
- Angry Birds Reloaded
- Sneaky Sasquatch
- Cooking Mama: Cuisine!
- Bloons TD 6+
- Skate City
- Warped Kart Racers
- Solitaire by MobilityWare+
- LEGO® Star Wars™: Castaways
There are many mobile app developers in Denver, but not all of them are created equal. When choosing a developer, you need to consider their experience, portfolio, and reviews. Experience is important because it shows that the developer knows what they're doing and has a track record of success. Look for a developer who has worked on similar projects to what you're looking for. The portfolio is important because it gives you an idea of the developer's style and skills. Take a look at the apps they've created and see if they match your vision. Finally, check out reviews from previous clients to get an idea of the quality of work you can expect. A good mobile app developer will have positive reviews from happy clients.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to Contact Me.
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