Apple Inks Deal for 'Large Budget, Ambitious' Sci-Fi Series From Simon Kinberg, Known for 'X-Men' Movies

[ArtOfWarfare]

Apple should stick with the what made them famous, making computers, better than anyone else.

We're in a post-computer world, where most people have found that there are better devices than computers to serve their needs.

We're into the phone-saturated world, where people have phones that do what they want and they don't feel like buying new phones anymore.

Apple needs to do something new - find a new thing for people to need.

 

[wigby]

Apple should stick with the what made them famous, making computers, better than anyone else.

Haven't you heard, no one knows what a computer even is much less wants one anymore.

I'm half joking.

 

[Defthand]

These headlines about Apple's foray into content development feel bizarre. I can understand sponsoring the occasional music festival, holiday special, or awards ceremony but this is like a celebrity opening a restaurant.

 

[wigby]

This isn't a smart move in any way. Content creation is a money sink. There's no way Apple breaks even on this with the limited amount of marketshare they have. They simply cannot charge enough. Lump it in with Apple Music? That service is hardly a profit center for Apple as it is. Now you've just added significant costs to it. Even a service like Netflix which has done nothing but concentrate on expanding the number of screens it can be viewed on keeps having to raise prices.

Will this media service help Apple sell hardware? That would be the million dollar question for me because it's not worthwhile on its own. Unfortunately, that's not something you could easily measure so I would've said no. I still look at Youtube tv as something Apple could've already done if there's a play at media at all that's worthwhile. And Apple could've done this much better combined with apple tv as good as youtube tv is already. The whole goal after all was to make Apple tv hdmi one. Funny enough it's google (and others) doing more to help make it that way than Apple who basically shot itself in the apple tv foot by making deals with tv makers. Same with Homepod and making a product crushing deal with amazon by allowing apple music on alexa.

I think the point is that Apple can no longer go all in on either hardware or services in this tech economy. They must address both simultaneously in order to grow.

 

[Kaibelf]

This is why Apple sucks. They are involved in too many things that have nothing to do with their core strengths. I don't need yet another subscription service for new content, I need a service that lets me easily view the content I already enjoy from the major networks. For that I have Playstation Vue. I already have Netflix and Hulu.

Apple, please get back to releasing revolutionary kick-ass computing products and knock it off with these services. You suck at services, isn't that plainly obvious? (Hint to Cook: fire Eddie Cue, he's a moron).

Apparently you don't know the difference between a streaming service and a content studio. If you want their strategy to change, go and become an exec there. Otherwise, quit applying YOUR use case to the whole world. Plenty of these studios have theatrical releases or shows on network TV.

 

[wigby]

If they really plan on being a media company, they really should improve Apple Music on Android before introducing yet another app. The user experience of Music in that platform is awful and gives Apple a bad first impression (at least for outsiders). It's almost unusable. I also think they need a working Web app for it, so it is available everywhere.

I hear the same thing about Spotify too so I think most people tune out comments like these. It sounds like fanboys arguing over their favorite band or game console. Too subjective.

 

[ryanwarsaw]

They’re certainly making fewer iphones now

With developments like this they need to severely lower the price of the iPhone to sell massive amounts. Apple for all purposes needs to stop trying to sell high end "commodities" and start moving delivery devices to drip feed us content. Nobody (or not that many) in their right mind will pay $1,000 for a phone again, they need to move forward. I would love to hear how much cash they have on hand after paying for all of this stuff.

I hope Apple doesn't stop now until we are all a bunch of obese, diabetic binge watchers. It is becoming exceedingly clear what Apple has in mind for growth. This and the medical stuff.

 

[cardfan]

I think the point is that Apple can no longer go all in on either hardware or services in this tech economy. They must address both simultaneously in order to grow.

Apple doesn't exactly have a stellar record with services but that is a pretty big category. I agree with you. There's other services to consider that doesn't involve becoming a film studio and might actually be profitable.

 

[ryanwarsaw]

This isn't a smart move in any way. Content creation is a money sink. There's no way Apple breaks even on this with the limited amount of marketshare they have. They simply cannot charge enough. Lump it in with Apple Music? That service is hardly a profit center for Apple as it is. Now you've just added significant costs to it. Even a service like Netflix which has done nothing but concentrate on expanding the number of screens it can be viewed on keeps having to raise prices.

Will this media service help Apple sell hardware? That would be the million dollar question for me because it's not worthwhile on its own. Unfortunately, that's not something you could easily measure so I would've said no. I still look at Youtube tv as something Apple could've already done if there's a play at media at all that's worthwhile. And Apple could've done this much better combined with apple tv as good as youtube tv is already. The whole goal after all was to make Apple tv hdmi one. Funny enough it's google (and others) doing more to help make it that way than Apple who basically shot itself in the apple tv foot by making deals with tv makers. Same with Homepod and making a product crushing deal with amazon by allowing apple music on alexa.

Wrong way around. The installed base sells the services. The game is done for high price iPhones. Watch next launch the stock plunge if they even try to do the same thing as they did this year with some incremental upgrades. If anything Apple was a little late to get this going. Maybe all the crap like Karaoke Carpool and other stuff from last year was them just testing the waters. They need some serious Game of Thrones type killers.

If they make and own the content they stream it could do well. If they lease Friends for $100 million a year they may have problems.

 

[wigby]

Can someone explain what Apple’s role here is besides being a piggy bank? Besides they have a crap ton of money they need to find something to do with so decided to spend some of it on content? Is their anything we’re learning about this endeavor that indicates it will be differentiated from Amazon, Netflix, HBO etc.? Seems to me there’s a limit to the number of subscriptions people will chose and if they already have Netflix are they going to fork over another $15/mo for Apple’s service?

I’m a little surprised there hasn’t been more discussion around does it even make sense for Apple to become a media company (and no reselling content available elsewhere doesn’t make one a media company). It’s just assumed because Cook is pushing this “services” narrative that this makes sense but I’m not convinced.

That's strange. I'm so tired of people endlessly questioning Apple's intent to become a media company. Since Apple has so much money in the bank, this is a good way to shut up their investors who constantly complain that they aren't spending enough and not growing fast enough. Since Apple his very secretive about their hardware ambitions, and they know that Hollywood lives and dies based on rumors and announcements of new deals and content, they throw investors a bone with these steady stream of content announcements as they build hype towards their own new streaming service announcement.

In the broader sense, Apple knows that their hardware sales are flat so until they come out with the next big thing in hardware, they have to develop both hardware and content simultaneously for that hardware. That is the only way they will be able to demonstrate growth over the next 3-5 years.

 

[routine_analyst]

Will it require a dongle to view?

 

[hinesmj]

So it this streaming service going to be ANOTHER service to pay for monthly? What are the chances they bundle it in with Apple Music?

 

[allapple]

.......and this fixes Itunes how?

 

[0388631]

What's next, getting Singer signed onto something, too?

 

[gkarris]

"Sci-Fi" or "Comic Book Super Hero?" there is a difference...

Revive Stargate and I'll start listening...

 

[Rogifan]

That's strange. I'm so tired of people endlessly questioning Apple's intent to become a media company. Since Apple has so much money in the bank, this is a good way to shut up their investors who constantly complain that they aren't spending enough and not growing fast enough. Since Apple his very secretive about their hardware ambitions, and they know that Hollywood lives and dies based on rumors and announcements of new deals and content, they throw investors a bone with these steady stream of content announcements as they build hype towards their own new streaming service announcement.

In the broader sense, Apple knows that their hardware sales are flat so until they come out with the next big thing in hardware, they have to develop both hardware and content simultaneously for that hardware. That is the only way they will be able to demonstrate growth over the next 3-5 years.

Nothing you said here is a defense of Apple being a media company.

 

[cardfan]

"Sci-Fi" or "Comic Book Super Hero?" there is a difference...

Revive Stargate and I'll start listening...

Heh, I mentioned a long time ago, if Apple had to do this just go all sci-fi. I probably couldn't resist then. But then the cheerleaders chimed in about something that people have different tastes. Doesn't matter. In this space, rather than trying to be a jack of all trades and pleasing everyone, you carve your niche. Sci-fi would fit Apple like a glove.

 

[bpeeps]

I always hear about how Apple has a new deal for so many shows over the last year, but besides MacRumours, I never hear about these shows again.

Where are the shows even shown?

Carpool Karaoke is on iTunes. The rest are probably in various states of production.

 

[iRutherford]

I hear the same thing about Spotify too so I think most people tune out comments like these. It sounds like fanboys arguing over their favorite band or game console. Too subjective.

I really don't think it's a fanboy kind of thing. Spotify works great on iOS, Android and Web despite its shortcomings. You should really try using Apple Music on Android to experience what I mean. It's awful.
[doublepost=1547751616][/doublepost]

.......and this fixes Itunes how?

What is there to fix on iTunes?

 

[bpeeps]

Wow, they are investing a lot in this area. What worries me is the fact that I will probably have to put another point to the list of features that are not available in my country (for example subtitles), at least for the first 5-6 years or so:
- no siri in a local language (google recently added support for the Polish language for its google assistant),
- no other siri functions (sports, restaurants, movies, etc.),
- no predictive input in quicktype keyboard,
- no multilingual typing,
- no person to person payments,
- no transit info in maps,
- no nearby function in maps,
- no speed limits in maps,
- no flyover in maps,
- no indoor functions in maps,
- no ECG at Apple Watch,
- no cellular version of Apple Watch supported,
- no stainless steel versions of Apple Watch available,
- no HomePods,
- no apple tv app,
- no news app.

This is so irritating... and I'm quite sure that I forgot about some of them (it's quite difficult to remember them when they are not available). I really wish Apple focused on fixing those gaps first...

This is like walking into the marketing department of Apple and screaming at them about the lack of 5G modems. The people who work on maps are not the people who work on Apple's content division.

 

[psylence2k]

This isn't a smart move in any way. Content creation is a money sink. There's no way Apple breaks even on this with the limited amount of marketshare they have. They simply cannot charge enough. Lump it in with Apple Music? That service is hardly a profit center for Apple as it is. Now you've just added significant costs to it. Even a service like Netflix which has done nothing but concentrate on expanding the number of screens it can be viewed on keeps having to raise prices.

Will this media service help Apple sell hardware? That would be the million dollar question for me because it's not worthwhile on its own. Unfortunately, that's not something you could easily measure so I would've said no. I still look at Youtube tv as something Apple could've already done if there's a play at media at all that's worthwhile. And Apple could've done this much better combined with apple tv as good as youtube tv is already. The whole goal after all was to make Apple tv hdmi one. Funny enough it's google (and others) doing more to help make it that way than Apple who basically shot itself in the apple tv foot by making deals with tv makers. Same with Homepod and making a product crushing deal with amazon by allowing apple music on alexa.

These services aren't meant to be direct big money makers in themselves. It's all to help boost hardware sales.

That's been Apple's philosophy that's been working for a while now. Getting people to buy into the ecosystem. That's one of the main reasons people who end up trying multiple Apple products/services end up sticking with Apple. The services/hardware ecosystem.

and it's becoming even more important nowadays as hardware sales are starting to slow, Apple is forecasting the trends and looking towards the future. You need to adapt and evolve to survive. The services is where the growth through the ecosystem is going to be at.

As far as helping hardware sales go, If you can get enough talked about content to spread interest in your streaming service then when you go to the Verizon or ATT store to get a new phone, you can either pick the Android or get a Iphone that you'll buy on a installment plan but that installment plan will pay for the phone AND a streaming service ?

You don't think that'll be the deal maker for alot of people who are often on the fence between Android and Iphone ? Especially in 5,10,15 years when the catalog could potentially be massive and filled with quality offerings ?

You're talking about how this is a money sink but doing something like Youtube TV would've been better ? How ?

Constantly having to pay the content owners indefinitely for content consumers can get from a multitude of other places ?

or paying for your own content, you just have to pay for ONCE, and it belongs to Apple forever AND it's exclusive ? That way the only way consumers can get it for free is to keep buying your hardware or service ?

You really think that's a money sink and something like Youtube TV isn't ?

 

[9081094]

Apple should stick with the what made them famous, making computers, better than anyone else.

Or just making the best devices with the best software to justify their exorbitant high prices compared to the competition.

Tim Cook & Co believe they’re still offering and that’s my biggest fear. They’ve become out of touch with reality.

 

[lunarworks]

Heh, I mentioned a long time ago, if Apple had to do this just go all sci-fi. I probably couldn't resist then. But then the cheerleaders chimed in about something that people have different tastes. Doesn't matter. In this space, rather than trying to be a jack of all trades and pleasing everyone, you carve your niche. Sci-fi would fit Apple like a glove.

Why is that? Because Apple is a computer company, computers are the domain of nerds and geeks, and nerds and geeks like sci-fi?

I'm so sick of this assumption.

Apple's target demographic has never been nerds and geeks. The Apple II was designed to look good in a living room. The Macintosh was "the computer for the rest of us". The iPod? The iPhone? I can go on.

 

[FightTheFuture]

I’m a little surprised there hasn’t been more discussion around does it even make sense for Apple to become a media company (and no reselling content available elsewhere doesn’t make one a media company).

Apple wasn't a music company before the iPod made it one and almost all distributors are also media companies if you think about it. NBC will pick up shows from Sony or Buena Vista and also produce their own. I get the idea that there's sub-fatigue, but people are smart enough to turn these off during busy times (turning off Netflix when school season starts) and turn them back on (April when HBO has new shows).

 

[Nunyabinez]

If my resume included Jumper, Chappie, and the Fantastic Four, I would ask people to put those at the bottom or even leave them off. While The Martian was a great film, the others we pretty awful.