Apple Sends Out Media Invites for an 'It's Show Time' Event on March 25

[Tomasulu]

I know the black and white theme probably refers to inside a cinema but it’s the laziest and most austere looking design I’ve seen from Apple. Reminds me of the announcement of Steve jobs’ passing.

Apple today sent out invites for a media event that will be held on Monday, March 25 at the Steve Jobs Theater on the Apple Park Campus. As with most Apple events, it will start at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time or 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

The event features the tagline "It's Show Time," which is in line with rumors suggesting it will focus on services rather than hardware. Apple is expected to use the event to unveil its rumored Apple News service and a streaming TV service.

Image via TechCrunch's Matthew Panzarino​

The Apple News service will add paid subscription options to Apple News, allowing Apple customers unlimited access to magazines and paywalled content from sites like The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and The New York Times for a $9.99 per month fee.

It's not yet clear which news sites will be included, as Apple is said to be still negotiating financial terms with some news sites. Apple has asked for 50 percent of the revenue from the service. Magazines are on board with the fee, but news sites with independent revenue streams from their own subscribers are reluctant to jump on board.

​

As for the TV service, Apple is planning an announcement, but an actual launch is months off. Apple has more than two dozen original TV shows in the works, many of which have been cast, that will eventually debut through the streaming service.

Major stars that include Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Garner, and Steve Carell, all of whom have roles in Apple shows, have been invited to attend the event.

There are multiple hardware products that are rumored for a spring launch, but so far, rumors have indicated that these devices will not be announced at the event. Instead, we could see these new products unveiled via press release right around the time of the event.

The iPad mini 5, seventh-generation iPad, AirPower, updated AirPods, and a seventh-generation iPod touch are all in the works and will be coming soon, but none of these updates are major enough to warrant time on stage so it makes some sense for them to debut more quietly.

It's still possible, of course, that the products we're expecting in the spring will see some stage time, despite rumors.

According to an announcement posted on the main Apple website and the Events website, Apple will livestream the "It's Show Time" event on its website and through the events app on the Apple TV.

Following the event, Apple will likely release the iOS 12.2 update that's currently being beta tested in order to make the Apple News subscription service available. Signs of a subscription service have already been spotted in the update, suggesting Apple is planning for a post-event iOS 12.2 release.

Article Link: Apple Sends Out Media Invites for an 'It's Show Time' Event on March 25

 

[52485]

Guys think of accessories that they could sell that would compliment the streaming service. Also, could an iPod comeback be in store?

 

[Baymowe335]

So, I pay $15 a month for Apple Music for a family subscription. $9.99 a month for iCloud Storage. Around $15 a month for Netflix. Amazon Prime is over $100 a year. Then cable and cell phone service. Now I have to pay another $9.99 a month for News and who knows what for the video service.

I tap out.

Maybe you need more income. That’s not that much for services you want. Prime is the biggest expense and gets you very little other than faster shipping. Even non prime shipping is decent. You really like Prime Video?

 

[mrgraff]

Final Cut Pro XI ?

 

[aaronhead14]

Personally I see the current generation iPads Pros as the new Mac Pro.

I can't tell if you're serious or joking... but that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

 

[ipponrg]

If Apple really wants to make a push with services, they need to release it in the same way they did Apple Music. Make it multi-platform.

The good news is that they seem to be going that direction with Airplay and iTunes. The bad news is their track record as a services company outside of their ecosystem (or arguably in their ecosystem) is mediocre at best. We'll see though!

 

[Cosmosent]

Tim Cook & Co have ONE & ONLY ONE priority right now, Generating (as much) Incremental Revenue (as possible), so they don't get Forced Out !

If AAPL's Stock had NOT rebounded in Jan, Cook & many of those who Report directly to him would have been Forced Out by the Board.

They got a Reprieve.

But they need to Deliver.

As such, I expect a whole slew of minor updates, across a whole slew of products.

And I'll bet the #1 Question they asked themselves wrt each product, "Is It Good Enough ?" (to entice people to upgrade).

IMO, AAPL is an extremely predictable company right now, & we'll ALL see that on March 25th.

 

[44267547]

Guys think of accessories that they could sell that would compliment the streaming service. Also, could an iPod comeback be in store?

The iPod needs a comeback ‘now or never’. It’s been neglected and consumed by the iPhone for years. If Apple makes the aporiate changes to the iPod without pushing the price to far north, it has a chance to be revised successfully. Of course, it will also require necessary mareting, which many consumers have forgotten it exists.

 

[citysnaps]

What lost customers? Lower unit sales doesn't mean you lost customers...it means people didn't upgrade. The active installed base grew 100M y/y.
[doublepost=1552338836][/doublepost]
No, their hardware margin is somewhere around 31%, just disclosed.

Spot on!

There are so many here refusing to let facts weigh them down, and instead continue bouncing off the walls making stuff up as they go.

 

[52485]

The iPod needs a comeback ‘now or never’. It’s been neglected and consumed by the iPhone for years. If Apple makes the aporiate changes to the iPod without pushing the price to far north, it has a chance to be revised successfully. Of course, it will also require necessary mareting, which many consumers have forgotten it exists.

iPods still have a market in the youth department. Like was said so many times around here some parents don't want to give their babies cell phones just the games/entertainment aspect if them. iPod people!

 

[Coconut Bean]

Disagree that updated AirPods won't merit on stage time at some event. Depending on what is added, could be significant feature, such as health monitoring, and on stage is best place to explain new features like that plus Siri, etc. Ditto for Airpower. Sounds like this will be materially different than any other charging pad out on the market and Apple may want to take a couple minutes to explain why the likely price differential is worth it, and to show off their engineering skills.

Apple is very very very far away from putting health features in the Airpods. Those things can barely hold enough battery, not to talk about fairly advanced sensors. The new Airpods will have at most three features, that can only be exaggerated as major updates in the Apple Ecosphere...
1. Wireless Charging of the case - probably with a price bump like the Apple Pencil 2
2. Hey Siri on Airpods. I seriously don't understand how this is still missing. My BT headphone for $40 coupled with a three year old Android can do Hi Google for almost 2 years now. WHAT IS APPLE STRUGGLING WITH?!
3. Added color(s)

There is literally nothing to demo here.

 

[caskin8a]

SE2 Baby COME ON

I literally bought an iPhone XS a week ago. I’d be so dark.

 

[mikeppc225]

Ahh - an announcement about professional video content by a company that used to make hardware and software for creative professionals until they decided they'd rather focus on phones and tablets. One thing helped build this company, one will tear it down. Care to guess what it will be?

 

[fumi2014]

I really don't care about this event whatsoever. Where is the AirPower, new iPod, hell, any new hardware at all?
We already have at least half a dozen streaming services and who pays to read the news?

 

[jinnyman]

You know, if Apple's a new service is not platform dependent and offers better options than the current competitors offer, then why not?

Personally, if they offer Apple music like service for all the periodical prints such as magazines, etc, then I'd be thrilled.

Otherwise, if Apple's service is platform dependant, then screw it.

 

[44267547]

I really don't care about this event whatsoever. Where is the AirPower, new iPod, hell, any new hardware at all?We already have at least half a dozen streaming services and who pays to read the news?

Have you followed the latest news regarding the Airpower? It was delayed due to rumored production concerns with the design _before_ it released. It’s been rumored it will be returning since it’s been revised. Either way, I would have a product I paid for being right the first time versus released early that may have had manufacturing concerns.

 

[Glockworkorange]

The good news is that they seem to be going that direction with Airplay and iTunes. The bad news is their track record as a services company outside of their ecosystem (or arguably in their ecosystem) is mediocre at best. We'll see though!

And can they do it cross platform and still maintain user privacy?

 

[magicschoolbus]

wheres the hardware at.. jeez.

 

[NPC Compliant]

Will Apple finally announce a good desktop computer that doesn't destroy your bank account?

That’s a great copy/paste. Really fresh, too.

 

[Abazigal]

Does anyone else think this streaming service is going to be a colossal failure? What could they possibly do different that YouTube TV, or Netflix isn't doing? If they try to combine all of the stations like cable, it probably will not be any cheaper. The interface might be a little nicer, but I doubt Apple will be very competitive in the price. If it is like Netflix it'll be around $9.99. If it's like YouTube TV it'll be around $39.99. Something tells me they are making a Netflix clone which - who wants it? The state of TV in general is so abysmal - I know I don't want to subscribe to 10 different streaming services to check out ONE show that maybe halfway decent.

What I suspect Apple will do in the beginning is make their video streaming service free to all Apple Music subscribers. There simply isn’t enough content right now to justify spinning it off as a standalone service, and this can help make Apple Music a more attractive proposition as well.

Maybe in a couple of years, when Apple has more content, each with multiple seasons under their belts, then maybe Apple can consider charging for it. But Apple nevertheless has the advantage here in that they don’t need their video streaming service to be profitable (yet), so they can afford to play the long game. .

Another thing I can see Apple doing is to allow users to subscribe to other streaming services directly from the TV app, with perhaps dramatically reduced commission rates (say 5%?) in order to sweeten the pot for these companies to hop on.

The reason for this would be to add value to their ecosystem. While we will likely see this service being made available on other platforms as well (perhaps a TV app for Android?), the ultimate goal is to drive users towards their own hardware for users desiring a premium Apple experience.

Contrary to what some critics make it sound, Netflix isn’t invincible (not least because it still hasn’t turned a profit), and the streaming wars have only just begun (now that heavy hitters like Disney are joining the fray as well).

The next few years will be fun to watch.

 

[Glockworkorange]

wheres the hardware at.. jeez.

Looks like we are going to have to wait until WWDC for Macs.

 

[danny842003]

I wish for a new Apple TV to go along with this! AirPower and AirPods 2 would be good though

What do you want from a new Apple TV?

 

[iZac]

Imagine an App Store subscription ...

 

[kazmac]

The only “event” I’ll be tuning in for that day is the season 2 premiere of Knightfall at 10:00 p.m.

 

[Greymacuser]

Must be the debut of three new emojis.