Apple is cracking down on fake news. By helping fight the scourge of disinformation, Apple is taking a pre-emptive step to protect itself as it prepares to launch a new subscription news service.
In other words, Apple’s battle against fake news comes at the perfect time.
Don't expect the service to be a comprehensive one on day one. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Major newspapers including The New York Times and Washington Post are yet to sign up to Apple’s news subscription service, a new report claims.
With less than one week to go, Apple will be working overtime to hammer down partners for its Apple Music-of-publishing service. However, while there are some big names on board, others could be absent.
Apple's streaming service may have an ace up its sleeve.
This week on The CultCast: Apple’s “it’s show time” event is just around the corner, and this is the first event ever that focuses purely on services. Is Apple’s streaming TV service going to suck? Don’t miss our “show time” keynote predications. Plus: Leander unveils the details on his new Tim Cook book, out April 16th!
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Apple is expected to launch a number of new services this spring. Photo: Apple
The first Apple event of 2019 is nearly here. Tim Cook and friends are set to take the stage at the Steve Jobs Theater on March 25 to unveil the company’s newest goodies, only instead of unveiling some shiny new gadgets you can buy, Apple is supposedly going to bust out some services you can subscribe to.
The Apple rumor mill has been working in overdrive leading up the event, so we have a pretty solid idea of what we’ll see.
If you hate Apple keynote spoilers, stop reading now.
Apple News is about to get magazines too. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple News’ magazine subscription service looks like it will be available on iOS and macOS when it’s unveiled later this month.
After digging into the latest macOS 10.14.4 beta, developer Steve Troughton-Smith found some new references that confirm the magazine subscription service is on the way. Even better, Apple’s code provides some new details about it that we didn’t know.
Apple is expected to launch a number of new services this spring. Photo: Apple
Apple will hold its next special event on Monday, March 25, in the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino.
The “It’s show time” event is expected to bring a number of new services, including new TV content and a paid Apple News service. Fans have been eagerly anticipating confirmation of Apple’s next keynote, with rumors surrounding new subscription services circulating. The tagline for this one suggests it will focus on Apple’s upcoming video service, with hardware taking a backseat.
This could be Apple's last big update for iOS 12.2. Photo: Apple
iOS 12.2 inched closer to a public launch today with the release of the fifth beta of the software update to developers this morning.
Coming just one week after iOS 12.2 beta 4 was released, the new beta build packs a ton of bug fixes and performance improvements for iPad and iPhone to go with some UI changes and new features Apple added in previous builds.
iOS 12.2 adds even more goodies for iPhone and iPad. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
iOS 12 is proving to be Apple’s most widely adopted software updates for iPhone and iPad in years.
Apple published its latest adoption percentages for iOS 12 today revealing that 80% of all iOS devices in the world are now running iOS 12, far outpacing iOS 11’s adoption last year.
Apple is gearing up to launch its subscription news service. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Some publishers are not impressed by the ad revenue they’re receiving from Apple News. Ad rates from the platform can reportedly be shockingly low — with one publication earning “low five-figures” per month, and another making less than $1,000 each month.
One big reason for this may be Apple’s privacy stance. This makes it hard for advertisers wanting to get hold of user data. That’s because Apple News doesn’t allow certain types of data gathering or user targeting.
Will Apple's subscription news service be a hit? Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple is reportedly having no problem signing up publishers for its proposed 50-50 revenue split deal for its news subscription service.
Despite the massive cut Apple is demanding, a new report claims that it has “already signed many publishers to deals.” These companies are banking on Apple being able to pull off an iTunes-style rescue of the news business. As such, they believe they’ll get a smaller piece of a big business, rather than a big piece of a small one.
Look out for CBS All Access on July 29. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
The long wait for Apple’s TV streaming service might finally be coming to an end.
With a rumored March 25 event on the horizon, Apple is reportedly planning to launch its TV streaming service in April or early May, but some of the biggest names in the streaming won’t be part of the platform.
Apple wants a giant piece of publishers’ action Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple is reportedly taking a hard line with publishers during its negotiations for a proposed news subscription service.
Aiming to become the “Netflix of news,” Apple’s as-yet-unannounced service would give customers unlimited access to articles from popular publishers for just $10 per month. However, news organizations are reportedly balking at Apple’s proposed revenue split, which sounds downright greedy.
iOS 12.2 public beta 1 is more than just a collection of bug fixes. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The first fairly significant update to iOS in months is available now for the general public to update. iOS 12.2 will have a scattering of new features, not just the bug fixes and tweaks in recent updates.
The end of beta testing for this version could bring new iPad and iPod models. And AirPods 2 as well.
Magazine subscriptions are coming to Apple News. Photo: Ste Smith/CultofMac
The launch of Apple’s news magazine subscription service could be just weeks away.
Images found in the first iOS 12.2 beta appear to show that Apple is already in the testing phase of the magazine subscription service. Rumors have been circulating about its potential launch pretty much ever since Apple acquired Texture. Now it looks like the iPhone-maker is finally ready to capitalize by bundling it with other content.
Apple News has finally landed in Canada, eh. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
iOS developers didn’t have to wait long for Apple to bust out new software for testing after the company put out iOS 12.1.3 just a few days ago.
The first iOS 12.2 beta was seeded to developers this morning bringing a host of new fixes and under-the-hood improvements. There are also a couple of new features, including support for Apple News for users in Canada for the first time ever.
Apple purchased Texture back in early 2018. Photo: Apple
Apple is planning to launch its own paid magazine and newspaper subscription service, which will serve as a premium part of the existing Apple News app.
It is based on Texture, the $9.99 a month magazine service Apple purchased back in March. As happened with the Beats Music technology that went into Apple Music, Apple will use its acquisition as the basis for its own branded product offering.
Update to macOS 10.14.2 today for a handful of small improvements. Photo: Apple
September brought macOS Mojave 10.14 with a wide array of new features like Dark Mode. October saw the introduction of version 10.12.1 with Group FaceTime. And today there’s macOS 10.14.2 with… well, what are definitely some very minor improvements.
Apple also just introduced iOS 12.1.1 with improvements for FaceTime and Face ID. In addition, tvOS 12.1.1 was released with some minor bug fixes.
The Apple News app relies less on algorithms than other tech companies in the news business. Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac
Apple products have changed the way we live. Can it save journalism?
If the Apple News app is part of the solution, Apple will be one tech company curating the stories and information the old fashioned way – with human editors.
You need these apps now! Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
After wrapping our “50 Essential iOS Apps” series, we sorted the winners to make it easier for you to download the best of the best. (Plus, we added Cult of Mac readers’ picks for must-have alternatives.)
You’ll find that list and much more in this week’s issue of our magazine. It’s free and it looks great on an iPad or iPhone. Get your free subscription to Cult of Mac Magazine from iTunes now. Or read on for this week’s top stories.
Apple News is Apple's attempt to steal the news crown from Facebook. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple News is doing better than ever for Apple, but many publishers are still making barely anything from the platform.
According to a new report, lots of publishers are seeing big increases in traffic from Apple’s News aggregation service. However, due to the fact that Apple News keeps users inside its app, rather than redirecting to the original websites, this doesn’t necessarily translate into ad dollars for publishers. Far from it, in fact!
Apple is trying to get three of the biggest newspapers in the U.S. to join forces for a new subscription service.
The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post have all allegedly been in talks with Apple this summer. Apple is proposing that the newspapers join its digital magazine service, Texture.
Apple has a new head of news business. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple has hired ex-Condé Nast executive Liz Schimel to work as part of its Apple News team. Schimel joined the company earlier this summer, and will serve as the “head [of Apple’s] news business.”
It’s another illustration of how Apple is increasing its focus on this area. This comes at a time when rival tech giants like Facebook are more worried than ever about their role in helping disseminate news online.