Apple likely to be building a Snapchat-inspired app, and why not

Apple is set to enter the social media wars. Yes, news has it that the company is now building a Snapchat-like app, just like everyone else. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is building a video sharing and editing app. It is said to be already testing new related features for the iPhone and iPad. Focusing on services Needless to say, after slow down in its hardware products, the company is now focusing on the software services as it is trying to find newer ways to generate revenue. Apple has also dabbled in the past with its social iTunes-based network service Ping, but failed to create buzz. However, with Instagram, Snapchat and other social services are growing, Apple wants to ensure that it finds relevant services for youngsters. We’ve already seen Facebook’s obsession with owning Snapchat-like app . Recently, Facebook-owned Instagram has announced ‘Stories’ that lets you post content that disappears after 24 hours. Need we say more?  Google’s new Allo app will also bring incognito chats and Snapchat-like expiring messages. Apple wants to ensure that it isn’t late to the party, or is it already? Social media wars Apple is said to be doing so to integrate social networking features within its mobile products. This would also put Apple in the social space competing with the likes of Facebook ad Snapchat. In the past couple of years, these services have gotten to the forefront. When we see reports claiming that people usually install a handful of apps, messaging and social sites sit on the top of the list. Citing people familiar with the matter, the report said that in the past one year, Apple has developed and tested multiple related feature. One such is a spruced up version of its proactive assistance feature that recommends POIs, contacts, apps and so on. It looks like a push to sharing and connectivity. Another features being tested is how two users can see every communication between them - email, chat, and so on, in a single panel. However, the internal team is still evaluating the privacy implications, before any of these features are out. Creating and sharing videos There are no brownie points for guessing that there has a shift in the pattern of the way we consume data. Video sharing has seen tremendous growth. Apple is believed to be working on a new video sharing app, just like Snapchat. Users will be able to record videos, apply filters and share it with others via social channels. “The software is currently being designed to be used mostly with one hand and with the intention that video could be shot, edited, and uploaded in less than 1 minute, the people said. At least one of the prototype designs for the app would shoot video in an Instagram-like square shape,” the report claims, citing an anonymous source. Basically, it is looking at bring some cool and simple video editing tools, just like Snapchat and Instagram. Snapchat has claimed that about a third of its users create their own photos and video for Stories. This is in contrary to Facebook who has been struggling for original content creators. In April, Snapchat had said to have hit 10 billion daily video views, up for 8 million in February. And, the figure was achieved with a user base of about 100 million users.  No wonder, everyone wants a piece of Snapchat!