Apple Stepping Up Plans to Expand News App to More Countries

[cgs1xx]

Apple News is such a mess. There's no way to separate news sources and magazines. It's all or nothing, everywhere.

Also, I don't like that there's no "reader" option for the magazines. I don't like the "article view", Readly get it right: you have the option to read the magazine as if you had it in your hands (more or less).

And Apple News is super expensive ... I mean 7.99 would make more sense instead of 12.99 ...

 

[neuropsychguy]

This is dead service. I think Apple will drop this eventually. I guess it is convenient, but Apple is not a news company. Unless this is very cheap for them to run, and they can add just another bullet point to the apple+ subscription.

If this was not making Apple money, Apple would drop it. The fact that Apple is looking to expand it shows that it's doing just fine from a user engagement and revenue standpoint.

Would I pay for it? Not if it was separate from the Apple One subscription. Because it's included, I use Apple News about every week or two.

 

[neuropsychguy]

No. Just no.

Why should a USA company have any role in feeding UK news, especially local UK news, to me?

The BBC uses AWS to handle a lot of web traffic and content delivery. Amazon is a USA-based company. If your UK news sources have any AP articles (AP does produce articles covering UK news), that's also a USA company (non-profit, but the idea is the same). It's hard to get away from a "USA company [having] any role in feeding UK news".

 

[one more]

We used to have Apple News in France until last summer, then they just disappeared, I wonder why. 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[cube4ever]

I still prefer indie sites like upstract.com that are free of algorithms and just rely on a chronological view.

 

[elrojo69]

The News App is so bad. Probably the most unApple Apple App. A lot of the News+ suggested articles have a strong sexual type heading and there are so many ads. Also, there is a lot of media biased suggested articles.

 

[Razorpit]

I quite like the news app but it takes a hell of a lot of training, going through and blocking all the topics and channels you don’t like - and even then ‘Apple News editors’ still insist on showing you stories from the things you’ve blocked.

finally having the puzzles will be nice (it’s about time!)

That's the main reason why I don't use it. Blocking channels is like replying to spam emails "to be taken off of their list." It almost appears Apple amplifies the "news articles" from the same sources I tell them I don't want to see.

 

[ksec]

I quite like the news app but it takes a hell of a lot of training, going through and blocking all the topics and channels you don’t like - and even then ‘Apple News editors’ still insist on showing you stories from the things you’ve blocked.

finally having the puzzles will be nice (it’s about time!)

No. Just no.

Why should a USA company have any role in feeding UK news, especially local UK news, to me?

I assume all have seen this (or some other report of the issue)?

Apple says it will update AI feature after inaccurate news alerts

Apple says it will update AI feature after inaccurate news alerts

One alert claimed BBC story said Luigi Mangione, alleged murderer of US healthcare CEO, had killed himself

www.theguardian.com

Apple news is essentially the same as Facebook. They get to dictate what you read without actually being the media.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Nice! I love the iNews app so much I deleted it from my phone.

 

[titanium alloy]

hopefully we'll finally see news in places like the netherlands, as ive used the widget for 8+ years before it suddenly got pulled. had local news and was a genuine insight to my day. i use inoreader now but its not the same

 

[theluggage]

The BBC uses AWS to handle a lot of web traffic and content delivery. Amazon is a USA-based company.

OK, so the post you replied to was maybe too broad, but there's a world of difference between Apple/Amazon providing the hardware/compute power to deliver the content vs. Apple/Amazon having an editorial role in curating that content (and controlling the algorithm that picks which stories you see is an important editorial role - even if the user has turned off the "use AI to make up nonsense headlines" option...)

 

[AnotherOpinion]

When "Newsstand" came out for the iPad as a digital replacement for magazines, it was an underwhelming experience. The ONLY feature that will get me to "subscribe" to Apple News (just so I can read magazines on my iPad) is the auto--zoom-zone functionality we have in Comixology. It's brilliant, intuitive, and is perfect for magazines and graphic novels. Otherwise, I will get my news directly from websites.

 

[M66Call]

I don't need the NEWS app - give me the SPORT app. I don't understand where Apple sees the problem in not releasing the SPORT app to the whole world. OMG

 

[MacGizmo]

I love Apple News (the service), but the app is just horrible on the Mac. Everything is so tiny on a 5k screen.

 

[CheffyDude]

Apples "News" App is more an Amazon Hub than anything else. As a challenge, I spent fifteen minutes scrolling through feed, marking how much ACTUAL news there was compared to how many ads or shopping stories. It's a ratio of 70%-30%, 70% being shopping and ads.

 

[neuropsychguy]

OK, so the post you replied to was maybe too broad, but there's a world of difference between Apple/Amazon providing the hardware/compute power to deliver the content vs. Apple/Amazon having an editorial role in curating that content (and controlling the algorithm that picks which stories you see is an important editorial role - even if the user has turned off the "use AI to make up nonsense headlines" option...)

Certainly, I just object to such sweeping statements and ones that come across as xenophobic (i.e., Apple News is bad because it's from the USA).

 

[widestload]

How about finishing the job on the UK version first? Where are the games that those in the US get?

 

[StanleyOmar]

Not sure why so many people seem to think the News app is so pointless. I use it a lot for news sites and magazines that would be too expensive to pay for individually.

 

[polyphenol]

The BBC uses AWS to handle a lot of web traffic and content delivery. Amazon is a USA-based company. If your UK news sources have any AP articles (AP does produce articles covering UK news), that's also a USA company (non-profit, but the idea is the same). It's hard to get away from a "USA company [having] any role in feeding UK news".

I should have made it clear I was thinking of reporting, editorial, etc.

AWS providing tech facilities, and others owning and managing undersea cables, satellites, etc., is not quite the same. But there are issues there as well.

 

[Ad47uk]

I refuse to pay for news. Not going to happen.

I suppose someone has to pay for it, in the U.K, the BBC is paid for by those that pay the TV licence, and other broadcasters are paid for by advertising. I know newspapers seems to be a dying thing these days, but have you ever bought a newspaper? I do a buy a local every week for some strange reason.

I understand where you are coming from. I don't buy the TV licence either.

 

[Ad47uk]

I wonder who all of the people are that want news curated by Apple's nanny view of the world, especially in other countries where their governments will further impost restrictions. That is if Apple wants to continue to see Apple devices in that country.

U.K don't impose restrictions, as long as it is truthful, i know you will find that funny, but there you go.

The problem is you get people being blinded by X and what they call free speech, which can be dangerous.

 

[polyphenol]

I suppose someone has to pay for it, in the U.K, the BBC is paid for by those that pay the TV licence, and other broadcasters are paid for by advertising. I know newspapers seems to be a dying thing these days, but have you ever bought a newspaper? I do a buy a local every week for some strange reason.

I understand where you are coming from. I don't buy the TV licence either.

I want to buy a local paper - or subscribe.

Trouble is, while we have several possibilities, all have a few relevant stories and heaps of junk. And many of those stories, the real ones, appear in one but not the others.

I don't find it worth paying for all of them. But can never decide which one would be worth it.

 

[nt5672]

U.K don't impose restrictions, as long as it is truthful, i know you will find that funny, but there you go.

The problem is you get people being blinded by X and what they call free speech, which can be dangerous.

Yep, blinded by the infamous "Fact Checkers" again and even though some may not realize it, Apple's nanny rules always apply.

 

[Ad47uk]

Yep, blinded by the infamous "Fact Checkers" again and even though some may not realize it, Apple's nanny rules always apply.

I am not getting into this, as it is not the place, but you Americans and I want to say what I want. Good luck in the future. You will need it.
The U.K may have its faults, but I am so glad I live here, and we have what is called decency laws. You Americans do what you do.

 

[Jeeve Stubbs]

Apple News has a long way to go before catching up with Google News, especially in terms in countries available.
As a Canadian, one thing I want to see is the separation of English-language and French-language media in Apple News Canada, just like Google News does.