Report: Apple wants to try social again by taking on Snapchat


Bloomberg:

Now Apple is starting to develop a video sharing app that allows users to record video, apply filters and drawings to the media -- much like Snapchat does -- and send it to contacts or via existing social networks such as Twitter Inc., according to the people familiar with its development. 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, one of the people said.

Messages in iOS 10 is a significant overhaul to win over users who prefer to use various other chat apps. While all these apps are popular on iOS, their portability makes it easy to switch to Android. On the other hand, if people's network primarily use iOS Messages, people will probably be more likely to stick with iOS.

Whether a stand-alone app or more Messages features make sense given Apple's big push to improve Messages.