Everything You Need to Know About Apple’s New Services

Apple’s big Services-focused event just ended, and you probably just want to know exactly what they are all about. The company announced a bunch of new services. Here are the details:

Apple TV+

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This is the company’s new video streaming service that will compete with the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video:

  • What It Is: Apple’s new video streaming service will come with Apple’s own original content, as well as content from third-parties through a “channels” feature.
  • Original Shows: At launch, Apple is announcing: Oprah’s Toxic Labor and yet another multi-part story focusing on mental health, Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories, The Morning Show starring Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, and Steve Carell, Steven Knight’s See starring Jason Momoa and Alfre Woodard, Kumail Nanjiani’s Little America, Sesame Street’s Helpsters (for kids), and JJ Abrams and Sara Bareilles’ Little Voice.
  • TV Channels: HBO, Starz, SHOWTIME, CBS All Access, Smithsonian Channel, EPIX, Tastemade, Noggin and new services like MTV Hits
  • Availability: The new service will be available through the newly redesigned Apple TV apps on Apple devices, and the company is working with third-party companies like smart TV makers to bring the service to your TVs and other non-Apple devices. Apple TV+ will be available in 100+ countries this Fall. As for Apple TV Channels, they will launch this May.
  • Pricing: Pricing details for Apple TV+ is yet to be revealed.

Apple News+

And then there is the magazine/news subscription service:

  • What It Is: Apple’s new news subscription service Apple News Plus gives you access to magazines and news publishers for a monthly subscription. The service is built on Texture, a digital magazine service Apple acquired back in 2018.
  • Availability: The new service will be available through the Apple News apps on Apple devices, and Apple isn’t talking about whether the service will be made available outside of its own devices. It launches in the United States and Canada today and coming to Europe (starting with the UK) and Australia later in the year.
  • Pricing: The service will cost $9.99 a month, giving you access to around 300 magazines. It works with Family Sharing, so you just have to pay once and all your family members will get access to the same magazines and news publishers.
  • Publishers: At launch, Apple is announcing some big name publishers that will be available through the news subscription service: theSkimm, TechCrunch, The Cut, Los Angeles Times, The Star, and The Wall Street Journal.

Apple Arcade

Here’s the new game subscription service from Apple:

  • What It Is: a monthly subscription that gives you access to 100+ new and exclusive games across all of Apple’s devices
  • Availability: Available this Fall in 150+ countries.
  • Pricing: Unkown for now.
  • Everything Else: It will have a dedicated tab on the App Store, and have a pick-up-where-you-left-off feature that lets you play games across all your devices.

Apple Card

Apple is also getting into the finance industry with a new credit card today:

  • What It Is: a credit card built in partnership with Goldman Sachs that is deeply integrated into the iPhone
  • Features:
    • No fees
    • Daily Cash that lets you get cashback on your daily spending. You get 2% of your purchase amount every day you spend with Apple Pay, and 3% for spending directly on Apple products.
    • Includes machine learning features that help you track spending and spend money wisely
    • A physical titanium card with no card number, no CVV code, no signature, no expiry date. Just your name and an Apple logo.
  • Availability: Available later this summer in the United States

Aaaaand that’s about it. No AirPower.

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Conversation 65 comments

  • dontbe evil

    25 March, 2019 - 2:57 pm

    <p>apple fans get ready to be milked even more, to help your beloved company</p>

    • lvthunder

      Premium Member
      25 March, 2019 - 7:20 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#415262">In reply to dontbe_evil:</a></em></blockquote><p>How is it any different then any other subscription service? I think the TV stuff looks great.</p>

      • codymesh

        26 March, 2019 - 1:08 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#415381">In reply to lvthunder:</a></em></blockquote><p>it's different because it's only available on their hardware and will probably never come to any of the devices that you may already own</p>

      • Tony Barrett

        26 March, 2019 - 3:46 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#415381">In reply to lvthunder:</a></em></blockquote><p>Apple's TV stuff looks boring as sh*t. I can tell you it will be sanitised, sickly sweet and very expensive. This 'event' was just so… Apple. Utterly boring, contrived and self-centered. They act like they can walk into this market, with many established players already producing excellent content, and just say 'Apple's here, move along now, we're taking all your customers'. Yeah, I can just see that happening. Netflix are probably quaking right now ;-)</p>

        • pecosbob04

          26 March, 2019 - 8:49 am

          <blockquote><a href="#415481"><em>In reply to ghostrider:</em></a><em>Netflix may or may not be quaking, but you can be assured they have noticed and will take whatever steps it takes to remain at the top of the heap which works to everyones advantage.</em></blockquote><p><br></p>

        • lvthunder

          Premium Member
          26 March, 2019 - 11:42 am

          <blockquote><em><a href="#415481">In reply to ghostrider:</a></em></blockquote><p>Yeah you sound like you went into the event with an open mind.</p><p><br></p><p>Most of the content they talked about sounded interesting to me. So I'll give it a try when it comes out and see if I like it and go from there. I for one welcome the competition to get my entertainment money. The more competition the better.</p>

        • blackcomb

          26 March, 2019 - 12:12 pm

          <blockquote><em><a href="#415481">In reply to ghostrider:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Apple seem to think it's 2003 or something. Their music streaming platform is not the hottest thing. Same thing will happen to this video streaming service.</p>

          • dontbe evil

            28 March, 2019 - 10:01 am

            <blockquote><em><a href="#415619">In reply to blackcomb:</a></em></blockquote><p>"think different"</p><p>"good artists copy, great artists steal" (s. job… ehm p.picasso)</p>

  • GeekWithKids

    Premium Member
    25 March, 2019 - 3:10 pm

    <p>So Apple News is texture rebranded and restricted to iOS devices… A shame. </p><p><br></p><p>Tried texture when it first launched, it was ok but never really read enough magazines to make it worth it. Seems said that it's now locked in the Apple garden.</p><p><br></p><p>As for the rest I saw nothing special being offered. Maybe AppleTV+ will have a compelling show but in the end it's just an apple flavoured streaming service. </p>

    • lvthunder

      Premium Member
      25 March, 2019 - 7:16 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#415268">In reply to GeekWithKids:</a></em></blockquote><p>No Apple News+ is texture rebranded and mixed into Apple News.</p>

  • Lordbaal

    25 March, 2019 - 3:11 pm

    <p>A credit card? What the APR? 70%?</p>

    • lvthunder

      Premium Member
      25 March, 2019 - 7:19 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#415269">In reply to Lordbaal:</a></em></blockquote><p>If it's like every other credit card it all depends on your credit score.</p>

    • lvthunder

      Premium Member
      25 March, 2019 - 10:25 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#415269">In reply to Lordbaal:</a></em></blockquote><p>If you look at the footnotes on the website it says this.</p><p>Variable APRs range from 13.24% to 24.24% based on creditworthiness. Rates as of March 2019.</p>

  • ejuly

    25 March, 2019 - 3:38 pm

    <p>"Pricing: Pricing details for Apple TV+ is yet to be revealed"</p><p> This is why you never put "EVERYTHING" in a header or title. Yes I did shout.</p>

    • Skolvikings

      25 March, 2019 - 4:33 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#415294">In reply to ejuly:</a></em></blockquote><p>This is just a summary of what's Apple announced. It's the meat of the announcement in a condensed format.</p>

  • karlinhigh

    Premium Member
    25 March, 2019 - 3:46 pm

    <p>All the "Plus" branding… just as Google is ending theirs. Hmm.</p>

  • ejuly

    25 March, 2019 - 3:46 pm

    <p> WSJ is $16 a month for digital only so Apple News is $10 plus other content or is there an additional fee for WSJ. I also do LAtimes for $4 a month (I don't live in Calif)</p>

  • m_p_w_84

    25 March, 2019 - 3:53 pm

    <p>Three words: Apple. Cash. Grab.</p>

    • JoePaulson

      25 March, 2019 - 8:56 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#415310">In reply to m_p_w_84:</a></em></blockquote><p>How is it a cash grab? Are they charging for something they offered for free that became popular? No.</p>

      • Tony Barrett

        26 March, 2019 - 3:42 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#415405">In reply to JoePaulson:</a></em></blockquote><p>Nothing from Apple is free. Nothing. There's always a cost to the consumer buried in there somewhere.</p>

        • lvthunder

          Premium Member
          26 March, 2019 - 11:43 am

          <blockquote><em><a href="#415479">In reply to ghostrider:</a></em></blockquote><p>The same applies to every company.</p>

  • wright_is

    Premium Member
    25 March, 2019 - 3:55 pm

    <p>At least I got the credit card shot in. A plain white card with an apple logo… With rounded corners. </p>

  • datameister

    25 March, 2019 - 6:16 pm

    <p>Actually I need to know the Price of Apple TV+ too.</p><p><br></p><p>You probably need to change your headline so it is true.</p>

    • Chris Payne

      26 March, 2019 - 12:42 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#415358">In reply to DataMeister:</a></em></blockquote><p>Seriously, title should've been "Everything that was announced at the event," not "Everything you need to know." The quality on this site has gone down.</p>

  • lvthunder

    Premium Member
    25 March, 2019 - 7:17 pm

    <p>You have the Apple TV+ wrong. The channels feature is separate than the Apple TV+. Channels is coming to the TV app in May. Apple TV+ is coming to the TV app in the fall.</p>

  • Bats

    25 March, 2019 - 7:44 pm

    <p>The credit card is pretty good. I like it! If people want this card or need a card, then I would recommend this card for you. However, for someone like me, I am going to pass unless there is a really cool promotional bonus such as $500 back if one spends $4-5K in 90 days. If that happens, then I am on it and just tuck the card away in a drawer since there is no annual fee associated with the card……unless Medhi printed fake news. </p><p><br></p><p>2% Cashback is a very good multiplier. If it doesn't sound much to you, then you are a bonehead who knows nothing. If one uses it as his/her "workhorse" credit card, the points add up. My question is….is this a Visa or Mastercard?</p><p><br></p><p>The titanium card is cool. One of my main cards, the American Express Gold, is made out of metal. LOL…none of this cheap plastic for me. So is my Amex Platinum and my Chase Sapphire Reserve. All metal. </p><p><br></p>

    • JoePaulson

      25 March, 2019 - 8:55 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#415390">In reply to Bats:</a></em></blockquote><p>I use my Fidelity card because it puts my 2% back into my Roth IRA</p>

    • lvthunder

      Premium Member
      25 March, 2019 - 10:24 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#415390">In reply to Bats:</a></em></blockquote><p>It's a Mastercard.</p>

  • provision l-3

    25 March, 2019 - 9:02 pm

    <p>The Apple TV+ bit here isn't really correct and to be fair I think Apple did a gawd awful job explaining it. Once I read it on their website it all made more sense. </p><p><br></p><p>Basically there are two components to it. The TV app and Apple TV+.</p><p><br></p><p>The TV App will do the following:</p><p class="ql-indent-1">Act as a front for the iTunes store and allow you to buy/rent content as well as be the home for your iTunes content</p><p class="ql-indent-1">Aggregate content from other streaming services (Hulu, Amazon Prime …)</p><p class="ql-indent-1">Allow for live TV if you have a cable provider</p><p class="ql-indent-1">Sell channel subscriptions </p><p><br></p><p>It will also be added to the Mac, smart TVs, Roku and Amazon Fire products.</p><p><br></p><p>AppleTV+ is basically a channel in the TV app that people can subscribe to and will have Apple original content. </p>

  • locust infested orchard inc

    25 March, 2019 - 9:43 pm

    <p>Now I can use an Apple Titanium-constructed card to purchase an iPad on which I can purchase an Apple News+ subscription, where I can read the monthly magazine MacWorld, and become further self-indoctrinated and self-deluded by the Apple cult.</p>

    • naven87

      Premium Member
      25 March, 2019 - 11:25 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#415414">In reply to locust infested orchard inc:</a></em></blockquote><p>3% cash back on everything mentioned, it basically pays for itself…</p>

      • locust infested orchard inc

        26 March, 2019 - 7:41 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#415439">In reply to naven87:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Kindly explain how 2% cashback on everything and 3% on Apple stuff "basically pays for itself" ? A rhetorical question because it doesn't.</p><p><br></p><p>But I will not argue that 2% on all purchases would be the most generous cashback-paying credit card in the UK, having checked with the finance guru, Martin Lewis', on his highly-regarded and well-respected MoneySavingExpert.com.</p><p><br></p><p>The best cashback performing card after Apple's is the 'American Express Platinum Cashback Everyday', a fee-free card with a 5% introductory rate for the first three months (on the first £2,000 of spending, so max. £100), then tiered ongoing cashback – 0.5% cashback on up to £5,000/year and 1% above this). A minimum of at least £3,000 of purchases during the year to receive any cashback.</p>

        • Chris Payne

          26 March, 2019 - 12:43 pm

          <blockquote><em><a href="#415501">In reply to locust infested orchard inc:</a></em></blockquote><p>I've also heard the credit card game is not very strong in the UK. Here in the U.S. 2% reward rate is fairly common. </p>

    • steenmachine

      26 March, 2019 - 9:16 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#415414">In reply to locust infested orchard inc:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Highly unlikely you'd have the credit score to qualify… ;-)</p><p><br></p>

  • bbold

    25 March, 2019 - 10:09 pm

    <p>Lame.</p>

  • StoneJack

    26 March, 2019 - 1:38 am

    <p>This is a first time Apple seriously is moving into a content production. Hollywood is going to love it (already can be seen from the presentation). Neither of big 4 internet companies except Amazon did it. </p>

  • dontbe evil

    26 March, 2019 - 1:53 am

    <h1><strong>Everything You Need to Know About Apple’s New Services</strong></h1><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>[finished]</p>

  • waethorn

    26 March, 2019 - 1:07 pm

    <p>Apple: Pushing hardware upgrades, one monthly service at a time.</p>

  • scarper86

    26 March, 2019 - 6:38 pm

    <p>Apple TV will be fine if you're a kid or have kids, but their fare will be sanitized, broad entertainment (a la Disney) that lacks any sort of edge. Apple has already said that few, if any, of their shows will have a TV-MA rating so I don't think Netflix, Hulu and Amazon have to worry about Apple stealing their adult viewers. I don't know too many adults who would find "Family" entertainment satisfying if it were a strict diet.</p>

  • hoomgar

    27 March, 2019 - 11:26 am

    <p>"Everything You Need to Know About Apple’s New Services"</p><p><br></p><p>Don't drink the Kool-Aid?</p>

  • Patrick3D

    27 March, 2019 - 11:47 am

    <p>Keynote summary: sizzle reals and ego-inflation, News+ $9.99/month. Apple Card that can only be used for online shopping at retailers that accept Apple Pay due to lack of a credit card number, exp. data, and CVV code.</p>

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