APD Colony Counter App PRO is a productivity tool for iOS that uses image processing to count colonies on agar plates.
Product velocity
Dormant
Daily rank 🇺🇸
—
Productivity
Sentiment
1.0
2 reviews
Nemesis
AI Lab
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
Researchers hire this app to automate repetitive manual counting tasks and avoid the high cost of laboratory equipment, so the app must maintain high detection accuracy to justify its utility.
For Science students and laboratory researchers requiring portable, automated colony counting tools for reports and publications.
What does it look like?
Key features
Image processing algorithm identifies and counts colonies on agar plates from camera or local storage inputs
Adjustable thresholding and cropping tools for image preparation prior to analysis
Manual edit function to add or remove tags with adjustable color and size settings
Self-contained processing engine requiring no internet connection for image analysis
How much does it cost?
Paid model at $2.99 price point positions the app as a low-cost alternative to specialized laboratory equipment.
Velocity
Dormant developmentShow more...
The app has not received a single update since its launch on November 26, 2018. With no release activity for over 7 years, the development momentum is classified as zombie. There is no evidence of ongoing maintenance, feature development, or live operations support.
Who built it?
Samuel Gan
10 apps tracked · Productivity
User Sentiment
What do users think recently?
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
Not enough recent reviews to extract reliable themes yet.
Read the full review analysisCompetition
Competitive landscape for APD Colony Counter App PRO
How's the Productivity market?
The app holds a #92 Paid rank in the AU Productivity category, but the 1-star rating across 2 reviews signals that the current market position is failing to convert users.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
By Swift Management AG
AI Lab competes directly by offering advanced on-device image processing and classification, which overlaps with the core automated colony detection functionality of this app.
- Offers a downloadable model library, allowing users to expand detection capabilities beyond initial app installation.
- Includes social sharing features that facilitate collaborative research and data dissemination among laboratory peers.
- Leverages on-device image classification, providing a more modern technical foundation than this app's legacy processing.
Unlock the head-to-head verdict: where this rival wins, and where it loses.
Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for APD Colony Counter App PRO
Where is it heading?
The scientific productivity market is shifting toward AI-integrated tools that offer broader classification capabilities, leaving single-purpose apps like this one exposed. Without a major technical refresh to address the 1-star rating, the app will likely be removed from the store or rendered obsolete by more versatile competitors.
- The app has not received an update since 2018, which creates significant compatibility risks with modern iOS versions and erodes user trust.
The SWOT
- Offline-first processing engine enables field use without internet connectivity
- Specialized focus on colony counting provides a streamlined workflow for microbiologists
- Implement community-driven features to increase engagement
- Modernize image processing engine to compete with AI-based classification tools
Next best moves
Audit image processing engine because the 1-star rating suggests core functionality failure → improve user retention
The counter-intuitive read
The app's lack of internet connectivity is a feature, not a bug…
Read the full takeFeature gaps
Downloadable model library (available in AI Lab) +1
Since the last report: The product remains in a zombie state with no functional updates, but the intelligence report now more clearly links the lack of maintenance to specific threats like App Store removal and poor price-to-value perception.
Bottom line
The app provides a useful niche utility but is effectively in maintenance mode, so the PM must prioritize a technical audit to address the 1-star rating before attempting to compete with modern AI alternatives.
Unlock 3 critical frictions, 2 market threats and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeReport last updated