By NMT | No Comments
Last updated: Tuesday, January 4, 2011

2010 was a big year for iPhone apps, as it saw more than 300,000 active apps in the App Store. From these, many noteworthy trends emerged that will undoubtedly continue to change the iPhone (and iPad, iPod) experience. Here are some of the best: Social tracking . Apps like Foursquare , Gowalla , and SCVNGR saw unparalleled success this year, as connecting on-the-go, checking in, finding friends, and earning badges became of utmost social concern. Though many of these apps were released before 2010, they absolutely transformed the mobile sphere in the past year, changing the face of social networking. Social buying . Discount communities, like Groupon , Rue La La , and GILT , took the web and mobile realms by storm this year as well, enabling people to obtain quality services and products at a fraction of the price. These apps and services gave a new face to recession chic, proving that designer items are really within reach; all it takes is enough demand from a social public. Augmented reality . While this trend has been around for a while as well, it has only recently achieved heightened popularity. Augmented reality has taken over a range of apps, enhancing the world around us, and enabling a whole new way to see and experience reality. It has been particularly popular with GPS and travel apps, but has also found its way into more novelty and game endeavors. See SpyGlass , Panoramascope , Robotvision , and Cyclopedia for some exceptional examples. Foodie finds . 2010 was big for lovers of fine cuisine, with the introduction of apps like Foodspotting , Localeats , and other downloads that enable people to scout out savory selections and desirable deals, as well as connect with other avid diners, get the dish on unique and mouthwatering places, and elevate their eating experiences to a whole new level. Photographic fun . With introductions to the app market like Instagram , photography apps are putting a new lens on the iPhone. Especially since the iPhone 4 introduced a second camera, photography and documentation have never been such hot topics, especially as they can be used not only to enhance memories, but also to enhance experiences and create a new social realm of enjoyment. In-app trends . This past year, developers realized the importance of a number of factors that would increase app popularity. For instance, in-app purchasing for free apps opened up a whole new economy and enabled a solution that would please customers in a downturned market but still bring in the necessary profits. Furthermore, apps that keep updating and re-engaging customers, like Angry Birds, have been extremely successful on keeping buyers hooked, playing, and looking forward to new additions, developments, and sequels. Finally, push notifications have proved extremely important, especially in the social networking sphere, and have led to roughly 3X greater customer retention. What is to come? I feel that these trends are just the beginning. I fully expect these trends to continue to expand and dominate in 2011. For instance, I believe we have not yet reached the peak of Augmented Reality or social networking, and I expect the coming year to bring a lot more social gaming (especially with iOS 4’s Gaming Center). Furthermore, while I anticipate social networking and social tracking to continue to see enormous success, I think that the ability to engage in more selective social networking, such as is done through Neer, will become increasingly popular, as people begin to re-value privacy and the ability to tailor specific updates to certain groups. I also anticipate that apps will emerge that not only combine various social tracking services, but also introduce augmented reality into the mix, so you can literally see which friends are nearby. Additionally, video calling should become much more of a universal experience, not only as apps like Skype follow suit to FaceTime, but also as Apple and Google TVs are expected to introduce video options and more devices emerge with multiple cameras (such as the upcoming iPad 2). Finally, as more gaming consoles are introducing the element of movement, like the Kinect and the Wii, I am curious to see if movement is the next step for apps as well, taking not only games but also fitness apps (and maybe also augmented reality) to unprecedented reaches. 2010 brought an extraordinary amount of developments to the mobile sphere, and I can only begin to speculate about all the excitement that 2011 will bring. What do you think were the most notable achievments of 2010, and where do you think 2011 will take us? What would you like to see the future bring?

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Top Trends in 2010

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