How to Build an Application Modernization Strategy for Native to Cross-Platform Migration
Guilherme Rodrigues | Jul 29, 2025
Summary
- iOS 14 introduced major updates including a redesigned Home Screen with App Library, widgets on the Home Screen, and App Clips that allow users to access mini-apps without downloading them, all of which directly impact app visibility and user engagement.
- Privacy updates in iOS 14 require developers to be more transparent about data tracking, prompting businesses to rethink how and why they collect user information.
- New hardware including iPhone 12 with 5G and LiDAR, Apple Silicon Macs, and updated iPads open new opportunities for AR experiences, machine learning performance, and expanded app audiences across devices.
- Apple expanded its services ecosystem with Apple One, Apple Fitness+, and HomePod Mini, increasing competition for subscription-based apps while also creating new integration opportunities through Siri and connected devices.
As a leading iOS developer, going into 2021, we want to make sure you have all information at your fingertips on the various updates and announcements Apple has made throughout 2020. These enhancements could prove valuable to your business, or detrimental if you are not optimizing your applications.
As you review the below, keep in mind that Cheesecake Labs is happy to provide you a free consultation on how any of these updates could support your business and continue to build on a delightful experience for your users.
Here are the key takeaways which reveal significant updates to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac operating systems, as well as updates on other Apple products.
New Home Screen with App Library
The Announcement
iOS 14 will offer a new space at the end of Home Screen pages that automatically organizes all the apps in one simple and easy to navigate view. When installing an app, users will also be able to choose whether it should appear in the Home Screen, or stay in the App Library only.
Business Impact
While the App Library may help users organize their apps and easily search for the apps they need, your app might easily become forgotten. So you might need to explore how to deliver value to users – and keep your app easily accessible and visible – by offering a widget.
Increased App Visibility with Widgets
The Announcement
Widgets are a small and glanceable representation of an app, with a deep-link to bring users to a specific screen in the app. They will now become more accessible, as users will be able to drag them out of Today View and on the Home Screen.
Business Impact
With dozens of apps installed, your app might easily get lost in the Home Screen or App Library. Android has been offering widgets on the Home Screen for over a decade ago, and this is the opportunity to increase visibility of your iPhone app – with a spotlighted position in the home screen – and offering a shortcut to the most relevant feature of your app that will ultimately increase users engagement.
Discovering New Apps with App Clips
The Announcement
App Clips are mini-apps that require zero downloading — similar to Android’s Instant App. It supports Apple Sign In and Apple Pay to offer incredibly fast checkout, and it can be discovered and launched in different ways, including via NFC tags or QR codes.
Business Impact
With App Clips, you can dramatically reduce the friction that comes with discovering and installing an app. It’s a game-changing strategy to increase conversions, get new downloads, and encourage engagement for the long run.
Privacy updates and data tracking
The Announcement
With the release of iOS 14, users will be more conscious about when apps are accessing their personal information, including location and camera/audio recording. Privacy disclosure prompts will display to users when data linked to their identity is tracked, or data to track them across apps and websites is collected.
Business Impact
Be thoughtful about data tracking requirements during app design, and explain to users why you’re collecting such information or asking for specific permissions. If there’s not a clear value to the user experience, apply a different strategy and don’t track it.
New multimodal Siri interface
The Announcement
Instead of taking the user to a different screen, the new Siri UI will just show an icon on the bottom of the existing screen. A similar behavior will now happen to incoming calls, that will simply look like a push notification badge, allowing the user to keep working on the previous task.
Business Impact
Since Apple is leveling up the voice interface experience, you should consider extending the compatibility of your app with built-in Shortcuts to explore the automatic integration with Siri.
New Macs with Apple Silicon
The Announcement
Apple shifted away from Intel processors, meaning iOS and iPad apps will run out-of-the-box in the new Apple-Silicon-based Macs. You can opt-out MacOs distribution if you want.
Business Impact
Thanks to this significant hardware change, you have the option to expand the audience of your app with some additional QA effort. Be cautious though with the app usability across different devices – iPhone, iPad and Mac – as well as hardware requirements for some features, such as AR.
Apple Watch Series 6 and SE
The Announcement
Apple announced Watch Series 6, which includes a new sensor to measure the user’s blood oxygen level, amongst other improvements over previous versions. It also launched a less expensive version called Apple Watch SE.
Business Impact
The availability of the SE version might increase the number of users on the Apple Watch, so you should consider supporting the core feature of your app on this device, like our client Lockitron. And fitness-related apps should explore new ways to deliver value to users with the new blood oxygen measurements.
Apple Fitness+
The Announcement
Apple unveiled a new fitness experience, available on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV and powered by Apple Watch, with a variety of workouts by the world’s top trainers – and for just $9.99/mo.
Business Impact
Apple Fitness+ service will include workout content that will compete with digital products like PEAR, Peloton, and MIRROR. If you have a fitness or health app, you should analyze its value proposition and understand if Apple should be considered a competitor.
iPad Air and iPad 8
The Announcement
Apple introduced the eighth-generation iPad, featuring the powerful A12 Bionic chip that brings the Neural Engine to the entry iPad for the first time.
Business Impact
The performance of iPad apps that use machine learning capabilities, like people occlusion and motion tracking in augmented reality (AR), will be much faster.
Apple One
The Announcement
Briefly, Apple is offering a new bundle of services that competes with Netflix, Spotify, Google Drive and Xbox Game Pass – all in one package, for only $14.95/mo.
Business Impact
The business impact of this service bundle is the increased competition for subscription-based streaming, music, cloud storage and gaming services.
HomePod Mini
The Announcement
Apple launched a tiny, intelligent home speaker and smart home control powered by Siri, for a more affordable price than existing HomePod. It features intercom, stereo pair, personalized experience based on user’s voice recognition – and other capabilities existing on Amazon Echo since 2 years ago.
Business Impact
With people spending more time at home because of COVID and the increasing affordability of smart home controls, user adoption of this technology might increase and more homes should be connected. You should explore the potential to extend the features of your app to offer a more personalized and connected experience across different devices, as well as Siri integration.
iPhone 12
The Announcement
In addition to the usual chip performance, camera capabilities, and design upgrades, the new iPhone supports 5G and the Pro Max version features a LiDAR Scanner for more realistic AR.
Business Impact
Users with iPhone 12 Max will be expecting apps to allow them to explore more seamless AR experiences. Also, your business should consider how to deliver a 5G experience to your users, intensifying the usage of the cloud, exploring more connected devices, and new solutions for streaming and entertainment. Conversely, keep in mind that your audience might not have 5G immediately and that low-connectivity scenarios still need to be considered when designing and building the best experience of your app.
As a leading iOS Developer, according to Clutch, we are happy to provide you a free consultation and iOS app assessment to understand how to best leverage these updates from Apple.
If you don’t evolve, it is highly likely that your competition will, so you can not afford to overlook these updates. Here’s how you can get in touch with Cheesecake Labs. Someone will respond to you within one business day.
Here’s to a healthy and prosperous 2021!
References:
Apple’s WWDC 2020 Keynote
Apple’s September 2020 product announcements
Apple’s October 2020 hardware announcements
FAQ
What is the App Library in iOS 14 and how does it affect app visibility?
The App Library is a new space at the end of Home Screen pages that automatically organizes all installed apps in one simple view. Users can choose whether new apps appear on the Home Screen or only in the App Library, which means apps could become forgotten. Developers are encouraged to offer widgets to maintain visibility and engagement.
What are App Clips and what business benefits do they offer?
App Clips are mini-apps that require no downloading, similar to Android's Instant App. They support Apple Sign In and Apple Pay for fast checkout and can be launched via NFC tags or QR codes. They reduce friction in app discovery, increase conversions, drive new downloads, and encourage long-term user engagement.
How do iOS 14 privacy updates impact app development?
iOS 14 introduces privacy disclosure prompts that notify users when apps access personal data such as location or camera and audio. Developers should be transparent about why data is collected and ensure there is clear value to the user experience, adjusting their data tracking strategy accordingly.
How does Apple Silicon affect iOS app distribution?
Apple's shift from Intel to Apple Silicon processors means iOS and iPad apps will run natively on new Apple Silicon Macs out of the box. This gives developers the opportunity to expand their app audience with minimal additional effort, though usability across iPhone, iPad, and Mac and hardware-specific features like AR should be carefully tested.
How should fitness app developers respond to Apple Fitness+ and Apple Watch Series 6?
Apple Fitness+ competes directly with platforms like Peloton and MIRROR, so fitness app developers should reassess their value proposition with Apple as a potential competitor. Additionally, Apple Watch Series 6 introduces blood oxygen measurement, offering new opportunities to deliver health insights, while the more affordable Apple Watch SE may expand the overall Apple Watch user base.
About the author.
