Breaking Down Apple’s Services Announcements (Premium)

This week’s Apple services event was anticlimactic, full of bluster but only vague promises for the most part.

And no offense to the Apple faithful, but if the single available service that came out of that event---News+, which is really just about magazines---is any indication, there’s not a whole of there, there. If you know what I mean.

To make my case, I am evaluating some key aspects of each service announcement. And instead of being wordy, I’ll cut right to the chase.
Availability
Only the least-interesting of the new services is now available, and only in two markets.

Apple TV+. Expected “later this fall.” No word on availability by country. But the new Apple TV app is requires should be available via iOS and tvOS this May, Apple TV this fall, Samsung smart TVs in the spring, and other smart TVs and set-top boxes, vaguely, “in the future.”

Apple Card. Expected “this summer,” but for “qualified customers” only in the U.S. only.

Apple Arcade. Expected in Fall 2019, in over 150 countries, in iOS, macOS, and tvOS.

News+. Available now, but only in iOS 12.2+ or macOS 10.14.4+ and only in the United States and Canada.
Cost
Looking for details on pricing? Keep looking.

Apple TV+. To be announced “later this fall.”

Apple Card. No fees, but the interest rate is unknown (and will likely vary according to credit rating)

Apple Arcade. No word on pricing or when we’ll find out.

News+. $9.99 per month. To read magazines.
Unique features
Aside from working with the devices you already own, Apple’s services do each offer a range of functionality that is either unique or at least seamless with those devices.

Apple TV+. Content aggregation from compatible services, unique content from Apple partner studios

Apple Card. Clearer labeling of merchants in bills, weekly and monthly spending summaries with advice, good privacy and security functionality, less rewarding (but secure) physical card for those places that don’t take Apple Pay.

Apple Arcade. Nothing. This is the vaguest of the announcements.

News+. If you are one of the few people who read digital magazines and your subscriptions are available from within News+, and you only want to read them on Apple devices, you may save some money.
Obvious problems
Apple doesn’t highlight the negatives of its offerings. I’ll do it.

Apple TV+. We already have too many streaming video services. Amazon Fire TV offers the same functionality. Apple’s control over in-house content is troubling. Apple isn’t offering subscription access to its movie and TV show libraries, which would be far more interesting. Where’s the content? Apple was very vague about the particulars and spent much of the announcement letting people from Hollywood slap each other on the back. Like we need more of that.

Apple Card. There are much better cash-back offers on credit cards out there, and no-fee credit cards are common too. Apple Pay doesn�...