With its list of Apple Design Awards finalists, Apple is celebrating indie apps and startups over bigger tech companies — including those that offer AI chatbots.
At a time when its App Store model has been challenged by lawmakers and regulators alike, Apple’s annual list of the best and most technically innovative software available on its platform turns its attention to the little guy. For example, there is no ChatGPT on Apple’s list of finalists. Instead, Apple favors small to mid-sized app makers Copilot Money, SmartGymrecipe application Croutoncreative application Create dreams, Milder streak and more, as well as from venture-backed startups like the Rooms creativity app and the redesigned web browser Arc search.
The latter has built-in AI with an agent that navigates for you and a new feature that lets you ask questions by holding the phone up to your ear in “Call Arc,” but it’s the only app on the list with a description that mentions the technology that’s taken it by storm the App Store – and the tech industry at large – over the past year.
Although ChatGPT was launched last year to record downloads, both Apple and Google have refrained from naming it “app of the year”. The ADAs would give Apple another chance to support innovation, but it’s still being ignored.
Rather, Apple’s list of finalists looks like indie games Rhythm from Copenhagen Floppy Club; a match-three puzzle finiteness in Apple Arcade; The Shipwreck by an independent game studio based in Paris The Pixel Hunt; The bear from the self-proclaimed German “strange creations” Muck Games; and others.
The non-gaming apps that Apple has chosen to highlight this year are also often indie efforts, such as Think, a meditation timer from India-based indie developer RhythmicWorks Software. a sun tracking app Sunlit, by a small team led by Italy-based indie developer Nicholas Mariniello. design application Dudel Draw from indie outfit Stupid little apps in the USA; calendar application It brings Gratitude by Australian developer Isuru Wanasinghe. and Things Inc Rooms, a creative app for designing imaginative spaces in 8-bit style, designed by ex-Googlers and powered by a16z. (Apple has doubly blessed Rooms by designating it in two categories, in fact.)
That’s not to say there aren’t some bigger developers on the list, like South Korea’s Neowiz, a contender for Lies of P title, 505 Games’ Death Stranding Director’s Cut; Honkai: Star Rail by the creator of Genshin Impact HoYoverse. and Activision Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile, for example. But in these cases, Apple makes its choices in part due to the use of Apple technologies such as MetalFX or optimizations for M1 and higher chips (… or perhaps the use of in-app purchases!).
Other titles getting the nod this year include; What car?, NYT Games, Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Cityscapes: Sim Builder, How We Feel, Front: Emotions Coach, The bear, Lost in Play, Wave length, Little Nightmaresand a small handful of apps and games built for the Vision Pro, such as Black box, Loona, Synth Ridersplus djay, NBA and Sky Guide. Notably, several of these were originally built for iOS and then ported to Vision Pro.
Inclusiveivity also strengthens Apple’s global app community, including members in the EU, where regulation is ongoing through the Digital Markets Act. In this section, Apple’s nominations include an app for users with low vision ok (Belgium), focusing on diversity Complete Anatomy 2024 (Ireland), an app for neurodeviant users, Tiimo (Denmark), plus games Unpacking sold by the digital storefront Humble PackageQuadline by Ukrainian Kovalov Ivan, and Crayola Adventures.
