Mac FORMAT INVESTIGATES
Apple Music, Apple TV+ and more
Why Apple is all about services – and which ones are worth your time (and money)
WRITTEN BY CHARLOTTE HENRY
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Apple Arcade boasts some really beautiful – and challenging – games, such as Chameleon Run!
O ne of the major strategic shifts undertaken by Apple is offering an increasing range of services alongside the hardware it has long be known for. Apple TV+, launched in November 2019, gets much of the publicity thanks to the presence of global superstars (Oprah, Prince Harry, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon…) and breakout shows (TedLasso, DefendingJacob).
However, there is much more to Apple’s service ecosystem, with offerings covering everything from storage to music to fitness. It’s certainly comprehensive, which can all leave you wondering what-is-what, and what is worth spending money on.
Apple TV+
Apple TV+ launched in 2019, with the television and movie streaming service attracting inevitable comparisons with the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. There is, however, an important difference between Apple’s service and its rivals – TV+ (almost) exclusively offers originals.
With cinemas once again welcoming keen movie-goers, some of the films purchased by Apple will appear on the big screen as well as in the home, but series like The Morning Show, Ted Lasso, and For All Man kind, are not available elsewhere. This ‘originals only’ approach initially led to criticism that the library of content was too small. And it was. This has significantly improved over the nearly two years that have followed. There is now a wide range of content for both adults and children, including dramas, comedies and documentaries, with more to come. It’s all at a very competitive price point of £5.99 per month too, cheaper than most rivals, and many new devices come with three free months of Apple TV+.