Streaming this fall: Apple TV+, gaming service

Cupertino (California): Taking Netflix, Amazon Prime and hordes of video streaming giants head on, Apple on Monday announced the much-awaited Apple TV+ that will stream highest-quality original TV shows, movies and documentaries across genre.

The on-demand subscription service will come in over 100 countries this fall with a brand new programming from the world’s celebrated artists including Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Octavia Spencer, J.J. Abrams, Jason Momoa, M. Night Shyamalan, Jon M. Chu and more.

Available on the Apple TV app, subscribers will enjoy inspiring and authentic stories with compelling characters from all walks of life, ad-free.

“We’re thrilled to give viewers a sneak peek of Apple TV+ and cannot wait for them to tune in starting this fall. Apple TV+ will be home to some of the highest quality original storytelling that TV and movie lovers have seen yet,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services.

At the packed Steve Jobs Theatre on its campus here, the company also unveiled the all-new Apple TV app and Apple TV channels, coming in May.

The Apple TV app will be available on Samsung smart TVs beginning this spring and on Amazon Fire TV, LG, Roku, Sony and VIZIO platforms in the future.

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Apple also announced its first-ever game subscription service called Apple Arcade that will feature over 100 new and exclusive games, including original releases from renowned creators like Hironobu Sakaguchi, Ken Wong and Will Wright.

Apple Arcade will launch in fall 2019 in more than 150 countries from a new tab on the App Store across iOS, macOS and tvOS, the company announced.

“We are working with some of the most innovative game developers in the world to create over 100 new and exclusive games to play across iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing.

“Apple Arcade games will be great for families, respect user privacy and will not have ads or require any additional purchases,” he added.

The App Store currently has nearly 300,000 free and paid games.

With the simplicity of a single subscription, Apple Arcade will bring games to the App Store’s more than 1 billion gaming customers.

The company also introduced an all-new service called Apple News+ where users can read latest issues of 300 magazines in categories like entertainment, politics, lifestyle, health and travel etc.

Newspapers like the Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal and Canada’s The Star will also arrive on Apple News+.

Apple News+ will be available for $9.99 per month across Apple devices, starting with the US and Canada and the first month’s subscription will be free.

“The idea is to harness the power of journalism and its cultural impact. It is a great opportunity for publishers,” Apple CEO Tim Cook told the audience.

“Apple won’t allow advertisers to track you so it is private and secure,” he added.

The company also announced Apple Card designed for iPhones.

The users can sign up for Apple Card and start using it via Wallet. Goldman Sach is the issuing authority for Apple Card that will be acceptable all over the world.

“Goldman Sach will not sell your data to third parties,” said the company.

Published on: March 26, 2019 at 01:05 IST

IANS