Hints of Upcoming Apple News Magazine Subscription Service Spotted in macOS Mojave 10.14.4 Beta

[Freida]

Why does it have to be amazing at launch? What a bizarre requirement. Why can't it be good to start and grow better with time?

Apple is the only company that if something isn't absolutely stellar right out of the gate they should close up shop and just give up... like every technology today that is seen as "best of breed" didn't grow into designation over time.

Its simple, look at their hardware lineup and then this. If the rumour is true and this event is purely about this then :

a) it has to be amazing if they give it all the spotlight (which I doubt and it will be as boring as the edu event last year)
b) there is something we don't know that will be amazing - again, really doubt that as recent years showed us that everything leaks and Apple "stopped" innovating.

So yeah, the reason why it can't be just good at start is because of all the other factors.

Regardless, my bet is on tapid stuff

 

[calzon65]

I think if Apple gets into the news business and if they start to inject commentary and/or "police/monitor/edit" content, it may invite the scrutiny of Washington DC, which is already saying social media (Google, Twitter, etc.) needs to be regulated.

It's one thing to be a leader in consumer products, it's another to influence information dissemination and discussion (not that Apple intends to do this). It's just a nervous observation of what might happen.

 

[Greymacuser]

Oh boy. A news service curated by Timmy Kook.
I'm sure it won't be skewed to all heck.

 

[swingerofbirch]

There was a moment for digital magazines and a popular reader for them. Started with a Z I think.

Seems like its heyday (if it had one) was about 15-20 years ago?

When you're the size of Apple, you can turn any idea, including an old one, into a thing.

How about RSS?

 

[archer75]

Oh boy. A news service curated by Timmy Kook.
I'm sure it won't be skewed to all heck.

They already have a news app. And it's not skewed. It learns what you like and puts it front and center. No matter which part of the spectrum you're from.
All this does is add a place to get the premium pay for news sites in one place. And of course magazines from their texture acquisition. You're reading way to much in to this.

 

[Websnapx2]

I think Apple has innovated a business model even less reputable than advertising.
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I think the details of Apple's revenue split makes this legally fall under anti-mafia legislation.

Apple is providing a reach to customers many news sources don't know how to leverage. 50% is high (stupid high) but that needs to be compared to what their actual reach would be without it. I really think 50% of something you weren't getting before is better than the readership you aren't getting now — especially when Apple is maintaining the back end of it and doing all the work for you for this platform.

 

[archer75]

There was a moment for digital magazines and a popular reader for them. Started with a Z I think.

Seems like its heyday (if it had one) was about 15-20 years ago?

When you're the size of Apple, you can turn any idea, including an old one, into a thing.

How about RSS?

RSS is part of their current news app. Go to channels and add them. Very similar to other RSS readers out there in a lot of ways. This features allowed me to ditch almost all of the other news apps/RSS readers I was using.

 

[Colbach]

I don't get why Apple wants 50% of the revenue. The 30% rule of the Appstore already ****s up everyone, but they are able to force it, because they have the monopoly. When this concept is profitable, they have no way to stop competition. I guess a fair split would be 10%:90%, where the percentage excludes the price for the payment methode. If Google will be forced to add a paywall in front of their news service in europe anyway (there is a new law that is discussed by the eu parlament) they will probability join the market and blow Apple News away by only charging half the price.

 

[Websnapx2]

Its simple, look at their hardware lineup and then this. If the rumour is true and this event is purely about this then :

a) it has to be amazing if they give it all the spotlight (which I doubt and it will be as boring as the edu event last year)
b) there is something we don't know that will be amazing - again, really doubt that as recent years showed us that everything leaks and Apple "stopped" innovating.

So yeah, the reason why it can't be just good at start is because of all the other factors.

Regardless, my bet is on tapid stuff

They are having a media event because they have partners and they will want a media push to get the word out. It won't just be this, it will be the streaming service too. All these partners want a media even so that it gets time on the news later on.

Still doesn't need to be amazing at launch — it just needs to show promise and that it's side-stepping previous hurdles this type of endeavour has run into.

 

[ipedro]

I just fear all these new services, Apple TV, News, will be US only.

Parts of it may be but unlike third party TV shows and movies, Apple owns the rights to all the content they're producing. At the very least, I expect Apple TV content to be available worldwide at launch, just like Apple's early test shows like Carpool Karaoke are available worldwide.

News will be available in US and Canada as indications in iOS 12.2 have shown. It's a pretty good guess to assume that magazine subscriptions will be available wherever Texture is available at launch or soon after. The licenses are there.

 

[sockdoggy]

Apple should’ve rolled this out close to when the iPad was first released. The news industry is now far far down a click-bait, sponsored content hole and consumers have little respect remaining. And following, now the general public habit / expectation of news being free. Consuming degraded content at a cost I’m sure won’t generally appeal. A bit of a catch 22 and a pretty challenging to turnaround IMO.

There are quality exceptions of course... but those such as The Economist have seamless access and great apps today.

 

[Khedron]

I'm all for this. It's a fair way to monetize written content. I'm ready to sign up on Day 1.

An entire generation has grown up expecting written content to be free but there are actual people working on it, investigating, researching, writing and editing to bring this content to us and they should be paid.

The ad model doesn't work and as a result publishing has been broken since the internet took over print. People aren't going to subscribe to dozens of magazines and newspapers individually, but Apple Music has shown us that they will pay one subscription to have access to all of it with content producers being paid per use.

Apple's news service will still contain targetted ads, which Apple will arrange for publishers for a 30% cut of the revenue.

 

[WatchFromAfar]

I'm all for this.
The ad model doesn't work and as a result publishing has been broken since the internet took over print. People aren't going to subscribe to dozens of magazines and newspapers individually, but Apple Music has shown us that they will pay one subscription to have access to all of it with content producers being paid per use.

"The ad model doesn't work" so nothing in the print medium that takes ad-revenue is profitable?
"Apple Music has shown us that they will pay one subscription" Really? not Google Play Music, not Spotify, not Amazon etc etc etc but it took "Apple Music" to lead the way? OK.
"I'm all for this" you don't say.......jeez (you even put an "i" in your name)

 

[JoeCassara]

Gross. Keep this garbage out of macOS.

 

[Freida]

They are having a media event because they have partners and they will want a media push to get the word out. It won't just be this, it will be the streaming service too. All these partners want a media even so that it gets time on the news later on.

Still doesn't need to be amazing at launch — it just needs to show promise and that it's side-stepping previous hurdles this type of endeavour has run into.

So we are now settling for a 'promise'? The Apple premium we pay is not for a promise? I'm sorry but the reason why I'm happy to pay Apple premium is because I expect great products that will last and are better overall. Apple is lacking these days on that so I'm sorry but a promise is not something I want.

It has to be better than Netflix for example otherwise whats the point?

 

[archer75]

So we are now settling for a 'promise'? The Apple premium we pay is not for a promise? I'm sorry but the reason why I'm happy to pay Apple premium is because I expect great products that will last and are better overall. Apple is lacking these days on that so I'm sorry but a promise is not something I want.

It has to be better than Netflix for example otherwise whats the point?

Nothing can launch, brand new, and be better than something that's been around for over a decade and is well established. It takes time. I'm sure apple will have a solid start though.
Netflix is losing more content as the other companies pull their content back in order to launch their own streaming services. Which is why Netflix is focusing so heavily on their own original content. Soon that's all they'll have.

 

[aviddk]

They already have a news app. And it's not skewed. It learns what you like and puts it front and center. No matter which part of the spectrum you're from.
All this does is add a place to get the premium pay for news sites in one place. And of course magazines from their texture acquisition. You're reading way to much in to this.

Apple already is involved in censoring in the App Store, it is in the news again today. Why should I believe they won’t filter in this service?

 

[archer75]

Apple already is involved in censoring in the App Store, it is in the news again today. Why should I believe they won’t filter in this service?

Go look at apple news. It's been around for ages. It's not like you can't go look. All it does is brings news websites to one place. You can look at any of them. Apple doesn't control the content on those sites.

What app store censoring? They aren't going to allow porn on it. Anything that violates the app store guidelines. Even googles own stores bans apps that don't meet the guidelines.

 

[Juicy Box]

Apple wants to collect 50 percent of the subscription revenue from its Apple News service, which is unappealing to paywalled sites that already collect more money from their standalone subscription options.

This seems excessive, maybe make take a very little or no cut of the subscription.

Keep making great software and services to make Apple’s premium priced HW worth the cost.

 

[KPandian1]

I'm all for unlimited magazines for $9.99/month. Hopefully it has the ones I care about.

How in the USA is this a better service than what is available thru your district library online magazine service?

Some pan to start streaming service in the future!

 

[archer75]

How in the USA is this a better service than what is available thru your district library online magazine service?

Some pan to start streaming service in the future!

I'm unable to get magazines digitally through the library. But if it's anything like books they will be pretty limited resulting in a wait list.

 

[laz232]

I'm all for this. It's a fair way to monetize written content. I'm ready to sign up on Day 1.

An entire generation has grown up expecting written content to be free but there are actual people working on it, investigating, researching, writing and editing to bring this content to us and they should be paid.

The ad model doesn't work and as a result publishing has been broken since the internet took over print. People aren't going to subscribe to dozens of magazines and newspapers individually, but Apple Music has shown us that they will pay one subscription to have access to all of it with content producers being paid per use.

I am prepared to pay for content - but I want articles written by people outside of the WP / NYT / BBC groupthink herd mentality. Real journalism from a variety of sources - left and right (e.g. sometimes stuff from Democracy Now, the Intercept, TPO, Sy Hersh, NoAgenda, Mother Jones) not just Trump gainsaying and ID politics.


Having lived in a lot of countries and speaking with people from those countries I can see how the mainstream media manage to misuse facts through intellectual dishonesty and political editorializing into a narrative that has little to do with journalistic integrity or meaningful analysis.

No doubt the focus of this Apple News is to provide a curated source of interchangeable news outlets, parroting the same tired viewpoints taking as axiomatic a whole set of beliefs that are now accepted unquestioningly by the masses.

 

[cmaier]

Oh boy. A news service curated by Timmy Kook.
I'm sure it won't be skewed to all heck.

“Timmy Kook?” So original. I bet you curate a great news service yourself.

 

[RevTEG]

At the “old” age of 41, I’ve NEVER bought a newspaper in my life. Never had one delivered to my house. Never read one that was put in my hotel room. I get my news online from many free sources. I haven’t subscribed to a magazine since I was a kid and someone bought me Sports Illistrated Kids for Christmas.

I’m not sure what age group Apple is trying to reach with this service. However, I do subscribe to Apple Music and a few podcast on Patreon. Maybe if Apple will create a one pay for Apple Music that includes digital news content at a reduced fee I’d consider it. Other than that I’ll keep getting my news from the free network apps.

 

[cmaier]

Apple should’ve rolled this out close to when the iPad was first released. The news industry is now far far down a click-bait, sponsored content hole and consumers have little respect remaining. And following, now the general public habit / expectation of news being free. Consuming degraded content at a cost I’m sure won’t generally appeal. A bit of a catch 22 and a pretty challenging to turnaround IMO.

There are quality exceptions of course... but those such as The Economist have seamless access and great apps today.

They probably would have but it took a few years of catastrophic revenue loss for the magazine publishers to be willing to give it a go.
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At the “old” age of 41, I’ve NEVER bought a newspaper in my life. Never had one delivered to my house. Never read one that was put in my hotel room. I get my news online from many free sources. I haven’t subscribed to a magazine since I was a kid and someone bought me Sports Illistrated Kids for Christmas.

I’m not sure what age group Apple is trying to reach with this service. However, I do subscribe to Apple Music and a few podcast on Patreon. Maybe if Apple will create a one pay for Apple Music that includes digital news content at a reduced fee I’d condoer it. Other than that I’ll keep getting my news from the free network apps.

My wife subscribes to a couple magazines still. I stopped at least a decade ago. I wouldn’t pay $15 for a subscription to anything at this point, but I might be willing to pay a small amount for a subscription to everything. Especially if it is bundled with their video service, which has a few shows that I am actually looking forward to.