Apple Entrepreneur Week Kicks Off, App Earnings Hit New Highs

As Apple’s inaugural entrepreneur camp kicks off with 11 female founded app companies, app developer earnings cross new threshold. App developer earnings reach $120 billion since the 2008 App Store launch, an additional $20 billion in earnings since last summer alone.

On January 28th of this year, Apple opened its doors to attendees of its new entrepreneur camp - an innovative program designed to provide female app creators with the tools needed to thrive in today’s global app economy. A two-week immersive hands-on technology lab, the Entrepreneur Camp helps participants work on their apps with help directly from Apple experts. The program also has sessions on design, technology and App Store marketing. Each student also gets ongoing guidance and support from an Apple Developer Relations representative for a year. The curriculum encourages developers to use the latest Apple technologies such as optimizing for the A12 Bionic chip, integrating Core ML, building ARKit experiences and more. Each participating company will also receive two tickets to WWDC and complementary membership to the Apple Developer Program for one year.

“The App Store is the new digital Main Street, and creative developers are tapping into the vast potential of the global app economy.”

— Esther Hare, Apple Senior Director

“In the past, starting a small business often meant having to invest in overhead, inventory or retail space. Today, a world of opportunity opens up with some coding skills and an entrepreneurial spirit,” said Esther Hare, Apple’s senior director, Worldwide Developer Marketing and executive sponsor, Women@Apple. “The App Store is the new digital Main Street, and creative developers are tapping into the vast potential of the global app economy. We hope that this program helps to inspire women around the world to learn to code, join the iOS development community and share in the thriving app economy.”

The new camp will be held on a quarterly basis with up to 20 app companies accepted. Admission to the select program requires an app submitted by a female founded company with at least one woman on the product development team. More details are available here: developer.apple.com/entrepreneur-camp.

For this first session, the apps that have been selected include Bites by Warehouse Apps LLC; Camille by Ohhh, Inc.; CUCO: Lembrete de Medicamentos by CUCO Health; Deepr by Mental Mobile, LLC; D’efekt by Tatevik Gasparyan, Nané Toumanian and Vahagn Khachikyan; Hopscotch by Hopscotch Technologies; LactApp by LactApp Women Health; Pureple by Iceclip LLC; Statues of the La Paz Malecón by Estudio Chispa; WeParent by FamTerra Inc.; and Seneca Connect by Seneca Women.

Showcasing AR, New 3D Cameras Are Expected in New iPhones Slated for 2020

Apple Doubles Down on Cameras for New iPhones, Pushing Augmented Reality Experiences and Greater Depth Accuracy

According to a report published by Bloomberg, Apple is set to launch new iPhones next year with powerful 3-D cameras to make access to augmented reality features more consumer-friendly. The 3-D camera is expected to be rear-facing and to scan the nearby environment, creating three-dimensional reconstructions of the real world for up to 15 feet away. This is a significant leap from current technology that is forward-facing, uses infrared technology and only extends as far as 25-50 centimeters (0.82-1.64 feet) away and is used primarily to power up Face ID facial recognition technology.

The new system employs a laser scanner, a new third camera, a more powerful chip and better photo capturing tools. Together, these new features will offer an enhanced augmented reality experience with greater depth perception and accurate placement of virtual objects within an environment. This new system would enable an iPhone user to overlay visuals and data onto a real view world using AR technology and is expected to have multiple applications from construction to manufacturing. In addition, Apple is expected to also create an AR headset (instead of the existing VR headsets you can purchase today from other companies).

The third camera allows for a larger field of view, a wider zoom range and greater pixel capture. Also, the company is testing out features to automatically repair photos and videos where some footage was accidentally cut off the initial shot, both for photography frames and for video footage (via its Live Photos Feature) up to six seconds, pinning video from before and after each shot.

Laser Time of Flight (ToF) Camera System Can Improve AR

A time-of-flight (ToF) camera system employs a laser to calculate the time that a laser needs to bounce off objects in a room and then uses the data to create an accurate 3D image of the surrounding area. This system offers more accurate depth perception and better placement of virtual objects than prior existing models. Sony may be Apple’s supplier for the new laser system as the two companies are conducting sensor tests. The first use of this new system may be announced via a new iPad in 2020 before the new iPhones are released.

Updated iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR to have 3 Cameras in 2019

Apple is also expected to launch updated versions of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, code-named D42 and D43, as well as an update to the iPhone XR. Theses iPhones are also expected to have three cameras on the back. Despite declining sales of the iPhone at the end of 2018 as consumers are upgrading less often, Apple’s new line of iPhones with specialized cameras could spark new growth. All three high-end iPhone models will also have upgraded Apple processors and updated Face ID sensors for unlocking the smartphones and approving payments. Other expected changes include accommodating plants for 5G networks in 2020.

Apple is also testing out iPhones with a USB-C connector instead of the Lightning port. The USB-C connector is in wide use today and Apple has used the Lightning Port since 2012. The testing indicates that Apple may be planning a switch to USB-C.

Updated iPads, Dark Mode via iOS 13 and CarPlay Improvements

Additional updates include a newer low-cost iPad with a fast processor, 10-inch screen this spring that keeps its Lightning port and a newer iPad mini, the smallest tablet device. Apple’s newest operating system iOS 13 has a new dark mode option for easier nighttime viewing. CarPlay, the company’s software for automobiles, has also seen an upgrade. The new software also offers multiple page browsing of apps similar to web browsers, a new home screen and better ways to manage files. Apple also intends to include a magazine subscription service and original video content via iOS updates this year as well.

2019, A New Year, New Start

From all of us at Elf, we wish you a Happy New Year!

Hello, hello 2019! What do you have in store for us? :) A new year gives you a clear slate, to start afresh, re-examine old goals and update them to reflect your new wishes and 365 blank pages to write a beautiful new story for your life! What shall it be? Make it awesome!