Apple fires a $4.99 shot across the bow of rival streaming companies. Photo: Apple
It’s rare that the take-home message from an Apple keynote is, “Wow, that’s far more affordable than I expected.” But that’s exactly the reaction Apple prompted when it revealed the $5-a-month price tag for its new Apple TV+ streaming service.
In one fell swoop, Apple just threw down the gauntlet to its streaming rivals. Your move, Netflix!
Tim Cook has been outspoken about user privacy. Photo: Apple
In an age when almost every detail of an Apple keynote leaks ahead of time, Tim Cook managed to pull some genuine surprises from the hat Tuesday. Taking the stage at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple HQ, Cook and Co. announced at least three big things we weren’t expecting at all.
This in itself is a surprise. Even though Cook pledged that Apple is “doubling down” on secrecy, most of the big details about new Apple products typically trickle out ahead of time. Most of the main features of the 2019 iPhones already leaked. Every Apple blog and YouTube channel under the sun has been playing with detailed iPhone mockups and models for weeks.
Still, Cook’s surprise trifecta did not consist of insignificant things. All three were fairly big and meaty announcements — and there wasn’t a peep about them ahead of time. Here’s what took us by surprise during the “By Innovation Only” event.
See is going to be a true Apple Original. Photo: Apple
What do you get when you put the epic scope of Game of Thrones, the sight-challenged hook of Bird Box, the environmentalism-as-blockbuster ambitions of box office bomb Waterworld and the costume design of Battlefield Earth in a jar, then shake it up?
Answer: See, one of the first shows coming to Apple TV+ when the subscription video service launches this fall. Apple showed the first full See trailer today during the iPhone 11 event. Some of us can’t unsee it.
Take a deep breath and dive into the new features with us. Photo: Apple
Apple’s big event today lasted for an action-packed 105 minutes but if you don’t have time to watch the entire presentation, Apple’s got the perfect video for you.
Along with publishing all the new product videos it showed off today, Apple also created its own summary video of the entire keynote. In less than two minutes the video manages to cram in all the new features on the iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11, Apple Watch Series 5, iPad, Apple Arcade, Apple TV+ and more at a frenzied pace.
Tim Cook was in a hurry to reveal Apple's new goodies. Photo: Apple
Tim Cook promised a “huge” morning full of “big” announcements, and boy was he not kidding.
Apple kicked off its 2019 iPhone keynote by diving straight into Apple Arcade. Cook and his colleagues didn’t let off the gas until they squeezed all the juice possible out of Apple’s product lineup 105 minutes later. After promising attendees that innovation would be on full display, Apple revealed it’s coming for your wrist, your pocket, living room, TV, gaming console, DSLR and much more.
Tim Cook showing off some of the titles Apple TV+ will bring to users. Screenshot: Apple
Apple TV+ is coming to screens on November 1, with a surprisingly low price of just $4.99.
While only a few shows will be available on launch, more will be added every month. There’s also some great Apple TV+ pricing news for anyone thinking of buying a new Apple device in the future.
Get ready for Apple's latest innovations. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
The stage of the Steve Jobs Theater is set for the biggest Apple keynote of the year — and we can’t wait to watch the iPhone 11 unveiling with you.
Rather than live-blogging the Apple “By Innovation Only” event, Cult of Mac is hosting a live chat so all our writers and readers of the site alike can nerd out on all the glory Tim Cook and the gang have in store. We know for sure we’re getting new iPhones but there’s still plenty of room for some surprises.
Could we see a new Apple TV set-top box? A Tile-style tracking device called Apple Tags? An Apple TV+ price tag and launch date? The anticipation is killing us. Apple’s iPhone 11 keynote kicks off Tuesday at 10 a.m. Pacific. Of course, we’ll be getting wild in the chat beforehand, so come in and join the fun.
These stars are coming to Apple TV+, and many more too, but not all at once. Photo: Apple
Apple will almost certainly answer the last burning questions about its upcoming streaming video service at a big press event tomorrow: we’ll finally get the price and the debut date.
But there’s a phrase that probably won‘t be uttered when talking about Apple TV+: binge watching.
Apple is promising tons of innovation. Photo: Apple
A whole lot of innovation is in the offing for Apple’s biggest hardware event of the year. CEO Tim Cook recently promised that Apple will unleash its strongest product lineup ever, and next week’s “By Innovation Only” event could be just the tip of the iceberg.
Thanks to a glut of leaked info, we have a pretty solid idea about what new hardware to expect during the event. iPhones obviously will steal the spotlight, but Apple might unleash a few surprises as well.
This is what we think we’ll see during the 2019 iPhone keynote, which starts at 10 a.m. Pacific on September 10. Apple will live-stream it from the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park in Cupertino, California.
Apple will unveil new iPhones next week. Photo: Apple
With Apple’s next keynote event just days away, Apple has updated its Apple Events app for Apple TV. If you own an Apple TV and want to watch Tuesday’s event from the comfort of your couch, this is the app you need.
The September 10 “By innovation only” event kicks off at 10am Pacific/1pm Eastern. A new wallpaper hints at the event’s theme, which many are predicting refers to the new color options for the iPhone 11.
Apple TV+ could have 26 million paying subs by 2025; 2.6 million currently Photo: Apple
You’ll need a subscription to enjoy to Apple TV+ when it lands later this year, but you may not need to purchase an Apple TV. The new video streaming service is also coming to Samsung Smart TVs.
Tim Cook reportedly wants to make Apple TV+ shows aspirational in tone. Photo: Apple
Cupertino’s costly decision to cancel an Apple TV+ series starring Richard Gere due to the show’s darker tone is the latest bit of evidence that Apple wants only family-friendly fare for its upcoming streaming video service.
A diet of uplifting, positive messages is certainly laudable. But that sort of high-minded approach could pose a major challenge for Apple. Should fans be worried?
Apple TV does more than just stream video. It will also be tied into Apple Arcade. Photo: Apple
The first new Apple TV set-top box in two years is reportedly coming soon. The updated tvOS player supposedly will be powered by the same chip that’s in the iPhone XS series, potentially making it a better way to play Apple Arcade games than its predecessors.
The series got the green light from Apple at the end of last year and was supposed to star Gere in the lead role, with Howard Gordon and Warren Leight set to serve as showrunners. Now the duo will have to find another company to produce it.
Gender politics is on full display in Apple’s first trailer for Dickinson. The original Apple TV+ series offers a reimagining of the life of American poet Emily Dickinson.
Watching The Mandalorian on Disney+ will probably make Apple money. Photo: Disney/Cult of Mac
Apple and Disney are launching streaming video services this fall. Despite these being rivals, Apple will make money off both. There will be Disney+ apps for iOS and Apple TV, and consumers will be able to subscribe with in-app purchases, which means Apple gets a hefty cut of the revenue.
Plus, Star Wars fans can be assured they’ll be able to watch The Mandalorian when it debuts Nov. 12 with their iPad or other Apple computer.
Use the image of an apple in a logo and the tech company Apple calls its patent attorneys.
Now Apple finds itself on the other side of a design patent question with the logo for the upcoming series The Morning Show, which looks strikingly similar to the logo for Elon Musk’s The Boring Company.
Jason Momoa‘s “See” is expected to draw subscribers to Apple TV+. Photo: Apple
Apple TV+ could lure a whopping 12 million subscribers in its first year, an analyst predicts.
The streaming video service, which Apple plans to launch this fall after spending more than $1 billion on original shows, will be be playing serious catchup with rivals like Netflix. But Cupertino wields some key advantages.
Spending big on star power for Apple TV+ is really smart. Photo: Apple
On the surface, Cupertino’s decision to spend massive piles of money on its upcoming Apple TV+ streaming service seems crazy.
Is this a company with too much money being suckered? Is it a huge display of hubris (as some say of Apple Park)? Or is it, just possibly, a clever strategy that could win Apple the streaming war?
Here’s why I think that third answer is the correct one. Dig a little deeper, and Apple’s spending spree looks nothing short of brilliant.
Apple TV+ might allow subscribers to take a few shows with them offline. Photo: Apple
When it debuts this fall, Apple’s streaming video service will reportedly let viewers download episodes of shows to be watched without taking up their mobile data. Or even viewed when completely offline.
It’s not surprising — many rival services offer this capability. Today’s unconfirmed report is just evidence that Apple TV+ will have this feature too.
Apple is paying for top talent, like Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carell, to make The Morning Show a hit. Photo: Pikachu/Mega
Apple’s original series The Morning Show has yet to air a single episode and already, the show has made television history.
Apple TV+, the upcoming streaming service, is reportedly spending more money to produce a single episode of the morning news drama than HBO did for episodes during the epic final season of Game of Thrones.
Price tag would put Apple TV+ in line with Apple Music. Photo: Apple
Apple’s new streaming TV service could cost the same as Apple Music, a new report claims.
Bloomberg says that Apple TV+ will be launching by November. It could launch with five shows and a $9.99 price tag. And, yes, like Apple Music there will probably be a free trial!
The first Apple TV+ show is, err, about the making of a TV show. Photo: Apple
The first full trailer for The Morning Show makes Apple’s upcoming series look a lot more serious than the goofy onstage presentation at Cupertino’s March keynote let on.
The Apple TV+ show, which stars Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carell, looks very #MeToo-era. It could prove pretty darn interesting if it lives up to the trailer, which Apple released this morning.