Apple CEO Tim Cook unveiling the new Apple TV+ service at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California, on Monday.
Dubai - Company guarantees security and privacy; new credit card won't have missed-payment penalties.
Published: Tue 26 Mar 2019, 8:02 PM
Apple made sure they got their message across, with some help from the stars: it's time to 'watch' out for them.
The iPhone-maker on Monday unveiled a slew of updates for its Services, as it continues to rely on this very important vertical that has been able to capture more users and complement its hardware offerings, offering its signature seamless ecosystem.
"Apple has produced world-class hardware and software... and a growing collection of services - and that's what today's all about," Apple CEO Tim Cook said in his opening keynote at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California.
"The definition of a service is it is the 'action of helping or doing work for someone'. At Apple, we are actively working to get more out of products and services and enrich lives."
But Apple got this out of the way first: the company has pledged security and privacy across all its services.
In an age where digital privacy has been a hot topic, Apple says that no user information will be known to the company itself, as well as to developers and other entities involved in their services.
As widely expected, the company revealed the all-new Apple TV+ - 'the highest quality of TV service' - which is a direct challenge to the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime.
And Apple wasn't lacking in star power indeed: celebrities Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Steve Carell, Jason Momoa and Oprah Winfrey, plus director Steven Spielberg, among others - including Big Bird from Sesame Street. They discussed the various productions they are involved in, touching on different themes and topics.
Apple also announced a new-look Apple TV app, bringing a number of cable and streaming services all in one place. It will be made available in May in more than 100 countries, and also be on smart TVs, including those from Sony, LG and even rival Samsung.
New way to pay
But in what could've stolen the show early on, Apple launched its company's new payment module, Apple Card, a complement to its digital payment service Apple Pay.
Apple Card - issued in collaboration with Goldman Sachs - is basically an electronic version of a credit card. The service is stored inside the Wallet app and can be used for daily purchases.
The card - "designed for a healthier financial life", as Apple says - keeps track of a user's spending, much like that seen in monthly statements sent by banks. Interest rates are low, and no penalties will be charged for late payments.
It also has a cashback programme: 2 per cent on regular purchases and 3 per cent on direct buys from Apple.
And in areas where Apple Pay is not available, Apple is also offering an actual credit card linked to the Apple Card account. The titanium-build card bears only the user's name, without any other critical information such as card number, CVV and signature.
Cook added that Apple Pay is on track to surpass 10 billion transactions this year, and it will be made available in over 40 regions soon.
Apple News, with over five billion views each month, also received an upgrade: with magazines now incorporated into the app, it will now be known as Apple News+.
Full magazine issues from over 300 titles will be made available on the app.
Apple also unveiled a new gaming service, Apple Arcade, which it says is the first mobile game subscription service for both mobile and desktop.
The service will be found in a new area within the App Store. It will initially feature over new and exclusive 100 games, which can be playable even offline.
As at press time, nothing was announced on when the new services will be available in the UAE and region. Apple had also announced new iPads, AirPods and iMacs last week, but they were not presented at the event.
- alvin@khaleejtimes.com
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