Photo filter apps for smartphones and tablets: A vanishing category?

GOLDEN, Colo., Oct. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- A study just released by Suite 48 Analytics, the leading research and analysis firm for the mobile photography market, reveals that 62% of the 508 top ranking photo and video apps now offer filter or effects features, up from 51% three months ago.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121004/CG87530)

At the same time, photo or video enhancement as the main use case has decreased among top ranking apps, and another use case, "combine" (enabling users to combine photos with other elements, such as other photos, text, frames, clipart, or speech bubbles), is closing in among the newer apps.  Combine apps now trail enhance apps by just 6% among apps released less than 180 days ago.

"As we've previously seen with photo apps that started adding sharing features, filters or effects are becoming must-haves for most photo apps.  They are no longer the exclusive domain of photo enhancement apps," says Hans Hartman, Principal Analyst at Suite 48 Analytics and lead author of the report.

While photo enhancement apps still get most of the limelight, in particular after Facebook's $1 billion acquisition of Instagram and more recently Google's acquisition of Nik Software, makers of the popular Snapseed app, app developers are starting to explore new ways to stand out among the 23K photo and video apps currently offered in the Google and Apple stores.  

According to Hartman, "For many mobile photographers, photos are a means for exercising their personal creativity. With filters and effects now offered in so many apps, developers are exploring alternatives for mobile photographers to uniquely express themselves – apps that combine photos with other photos or cool elements are definitely getting traction in the rankings." 

The 108-page Photo/Video App Market Analysis October Report includes:

• Analysis of nine US app store rankings 
• Android, iPhone, iPad – each for free apps, paid apps, and top grossing apps
• Descriptions of the top 50 apps for each ranking
• Analysis of 508 top ranking apps by:
• Main use case
• Intro date (age of the app)
• Pricing
• User ratings
• In-app purchasing options
• Categories (photo-only, video-only or hybrid categories
• Crosstab segmentation analysis for the same six factors 
• Frequency distribution analysis of 36 features offered by the top ranking apps
• High level analysis of non-US app store download and sales data

The report includes 48 graphs and 38 tables.
For more information: suite48a.com/Photo_Apps.html 

About Suite 48 Analytics
Suite 48 Analytics, the leading research and analysis firm for the mobile photography market, conducts app market analysis and research among smartphone and tablet users.  

Reports include "The 6Sight Social Imaging Survey," "The Photo & Video App Market Analysis June Report," both published by 6Sight/PMA, and the "Photo Product Ordering in Photo Apps" free white paper.  For more information: suite48A.com. 

SOURCE Suite 48