Published 12:57 IST, March 26th 2019
Apple rolls out Apple News+ subscription service with over 300 magazines and more
The service will cost $9.99/month in the US and $12.99/month in Canada - with first month free as trial, as well as free family sharing
Magazines are finally coming to Apple News on Apple devices like the iPhone, iPad and Mac - through a new subscription-based service called Apple News+. Apple announced a slew of services including its long-rumored Apple TV+ video streaming service, the Apple Arcade game service, and also a credit card called Apple Card in partnership with Goldman Sachs, at a star studded 'It's show time' keynote event at the Steve Jobs Theatre at Apple Park, California on Monday night - but none of these services are available for prime-time yet. All but Apple News+.
Apple is now rolling out the Apple News+ service in the US and Canada as part of a new and updated Apple News app in iOS 12.2 - which is now available for download and install on iPhone and iPad. The service is also available on Mac devices like the MacBook running the new macOS 10.14.4 update. The service will cost $9.99/month in the US and $12.99/month in Canada - with first month free as trial, as well as free family sharing. Apple says that Apple News+ will be available in the UK and Australia later this year. Apple News is currently not available in India - quite obviously then, Apple News+ will not be available in India a well.
Here's how Apple describes Apple News+, "Apple News+ brings together over 300 popular magazines, leading newspapers and digital publishers into a beautiful, convenient and curated experience within the Apple News app." Although it is touting editorial curation and personalized suggestions (with live motion covers and bold typography optimized for iPhone, iPad and Mac) as core to the experience, Apple News+ also falls in line with Apple's stringent policy of maintaining user privacy.
“We’re committed to supporting quality journalism, and with Apple News+, we want to celebrate the great work being done by magazines and news outlets,” Lauren Kern, editor-in-chief of Apple News said in a statement. “We think the breadth and quality of publications within Apple News+ will encourage more people to discover stories and titles they may never have come across before.”
Apple News+ will have over 300 magazines at launch including The Atlantic, Better Homes & Gardens, Bon Appétit, Condé Nast Traveler, ELLE, Entertainment Weekly, ESPN The Magazine, Esquire, Food & Wine, Good Housekeeping, GQ, Health, InStyle, Martha Stewart Living, National Geographic, New York Magazine, The New Yorker, O, The Oprah Magazine, Parents, People, Real Simple, Rolling Stone, Runner’s World, Sports Illustrated, TIME, Travel + Leisure, Vanity Fair, Vogue, WIRED and Woman’s Day.
In addition, Apple News+ will have leading newspapers including The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and Toronto Star, as well as premium online publications such as theSkimm, The Highlight by Vox, New York Magazine’s sites Vulture, The Cut and Grub Street, and Extra Crunch from Verizon Media’s TechCrunch.
Updated 12:57 IST, March 26th 2019