At their Worldwide Developers Conference by the tech industry giant “Apple” this week, it has unveiled its latest tools for iOS 12, which include new digital masks, stickers and special effects for the inborn iPhone camera app.
Created and Designed by Pancho Nonchalant, Flesh Mesh is a new app that enables you use the iPhone X’s TrueDepth camera to scan your friend’s face and then put that virtual mask on to smile, talk, and even look around.
As you can see here, the new effects provide a range of visual enhancements, similar to those available in Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook. The latest features will also be available to be used in FaceTime, which is now going to support group video chats of up to 32 people at once, on the other hand Apple’s also planning to introduce a new feature called ‘Memoji’, which will enable users to develop Bitmoji-like cartoonish characters of themselves, also to be used in messages and FaceTime conversations.
All of the three of these additions could affect Snapchat. While latest study demonstrations represent Snapchat usage is still strong among teens, if Apple’s features prove prevalent and more popular, they can occupy users on iPhone own apps, contrasting to opening up specific social tools to conduct similar offerings from other social media apps.
Of course, that will be affecting Facebook, Instagram and group video sharing app Houseparty as well, and the likelihood of Apple making a substantial update in usage is not high. But Memoji, in particular, looks interesting and fascinating, and could draw usage – especially given the popularity of the Snap-owned Bitmoji app.
But what’s also thought-provoking here is that Snapchat worked with Apple in developing their cutting-edge facial recognition and visual effects features and tools. During the introduction of the iPhone X last year, Apple noted that they’d collaborated with Snapchat to make their new and trendy digital masks and tools, which, at that time, give an impression to probable future alliances between the two companies.
Latest declarations appear to be a move away from that – and while really, Apple is just at work with consumer inclinations and considering to cater to widespread usage behaviours, it looks to be that all three declarations are likely to affect Snapchat the most, if they are launched.
Yet, of course, the target market who are probably going to utilize these features and tools are presumably not the same as those on Snap or Insta – the general population prone to communicate by means of FaceTime and utilize the iPhone’s local tools are likely less digital savvy. Given this, the declarations might be less about getting more and more users accross existing applications as they are tied in with presenting those less comfortable with such features to these choices – extending usage as opposed to re-guiding the users to other social apps.
Be that as it may, it’s another challenge to watch-out for. Group video chat usage is on the rise, users are searching for upgraded digital choices, AR is advancing. With local apps incorporated with iOS, Apple could take some significant share of the overall industry.
It appears to be to a lesser degree a worry for the real players, however one to a note in any case.
About the Author
Ramiz Al Jalbani
Ramiz is a content writer and a supply chain professional focused on IT and Trading. He has a wide experience of using the new and latest technology to trade businesses. A true Middle Eastern and South Asian Market insider, Ramiz shares his thoughts and opinions in the form of weekly essays that you can subscribe to via subscribing to blog of Ava IT Solutions or email. He has written numerous essays, articles and blogs which have been featured and quoted in different journals around the globe. The topics range from Digital Marketing, Social Media Trends, Technology Trends and Integration of Business Processes to IT.
