Here’s Everything Apple Unveiled At It’s ‘It’s Show Time’ Event

Michael Grothaus 25/03/2019 – 6:46pm

A Netflix competitor, a news subscription service, and MORE!

Apple usually hosts a spring event where it announces updates to some of its less important product lines—for example, entry-level iPads and MacBooks. However, this spring event was different: it firmly cemented the company as a service company and not just a hardware company.

Dubbed “It’s Show Time,” the event focused on what Apple hopes will be its new revenue drivers, including a video streaming service and a news subscription service, as well as an iOS update, and more. The event took place today at the Steve Jobs Theater on the company's Apple Park campus. Here’s everything Apple unveiled:

Apple News+

One of the biggest announcements today was the Apple News+ service. This is Apple’s new news subscription service that gives subscribers access to over 300 popular magazines, leading newspapers and digital publishers including Vogue, National Geographic Magazine, People, ELLE, The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, and more.

Apple News+ will be available in Canada and the United States to start, with a subscription costing $9.99 USD per month. Subscribers can access their News+ subscription on Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

"Apple TV Channels" In The Apple TV App

Apple also introduced the new Apple TV app with support for Apple TV Channels. These are existing channels like HBO, Showtime, Epix, CBS All Access, and more. Subscribers will be able to subscribe to any channel they want ala carte and the shows will be presented on-demand and ad-free with online and offline support.

The new app will be available in May on Mac and iOS devices as well as on Roku and the Amazon Fire TV, in addition to smart TVs from LG, Sony, Samsung, and Vizio. It will be available in over 100 countries.

Apple TV+ Video Subscription Service

This is Apple’s new original content video streaming service. All the content will be ad-free with online and offline support. The original content will include shows from/with Hollywood superstars like J.J. Abrams, Steve Carell, Steven Spielberg, Reese Witherspoon, and more. It will be coming this autumn to over 100 countries.

“We’re honored that the absolute best lineup of storytellers in the world — both in front of and behind the camera — are coming to Apple TV+,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “We’re thrilled to give viewers a sneak peek of Apple TV+ and cannot wait for them to tune in starting this fall. Apple TV+ will be home to some of the highest quality original storytelling that TV and movie lovers have seen yet.”

Apple Arcade

The company also introduced Apple Arcade—a gaming subscription service covering games on iOS, macOS, and tvOS. But don’t get too excited, this isn’t a true “Netflix for games” that gives you access to all iOS games on the App Store. Instead, Apple Arcade will give subscribers access to over 100 new and exclusive games, including original releases from renowned creators Hironobu Sakaguchi, Ken Wong, Will Wright and dozens more.

Apple hasn’t revealed pricing for the service yet, but it will go live in over 150 countries later this autumn.

Apple Card

Yep, Apple came out with a credit card! Apple frames the credit card as a way for people to maintain better financial health (versus regular credit cards). From Apple’s press release: “Apple today announced Apple Card, an innovative, new kind of credit card created by Apple and designed to help customers lead a healthier financial life. Apple Card is built into the Apple Wallet app on iPhone, offering customers a familiar experience with Apple Pay and the ability to manage their card right on iPhone. Apple Card transforms the entire credit card experience by simplifying the application process, eliminating fees, encouraging customers to pay less interest and providing a new level of privacy and security.”

iOS 12.2

In addition to the major unveilings above, Apple also released a new major update to iOS 12.2. The iOS 12.2 update expands Apple News to Canada, adds air quality indicators in Maps, features a redesigned Apple TV remote app in Control Center, and HomeKit support so users can control their third-party smart TVs through the Home app on their iPhone or iPad.