Apple’s small Texture investment spawned News+

When you walk towards the tall mountains it usually takes some time before you get to see them for what they really are – and the closer you get, the harder they become to see. It’s the same for Apple’s services.

Apple’s News+: Iteration is everything

Take Apple News+.

Apple in May announceda few improvements to the service, implemented inside of iOS 12.3 and macOS 10.14.5:

• Subscribers can follow publications directly from the catalog — just tap the follow button.
• New issues from followed titles will be automatically downloaded.
• Subscribers can also download individual issues in each title’s channel.

These are only tiny service tweaks, but they underline something Apple is prepared to do in support of its new services:

It is prepared to iterate, to iterate fast, and to iterate responsively. Move fast and make things…

It means Apple’s services will probably improve at a relatively rapid rate.

Hundreds working on it

Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services, Eddy Cue, confirmed that fast iteration is part of Apple’s services plan, saying:

“Hundreds of people at Apple, across editorial, engineering, marketing and design teams, are working to make Apple News+ the best experience for people who love reading their favorite titles and discovering new stories.”

He also confirmed the company is listening to feedback from users and publishers as it figures out how to enhances its services.

Magazine publishers are using Apple News to explore mixed media content and to experiment with long form magazine-style content as they seek out new models that exploit the computing power of Apple’s platforms with the kind of levels of engagement that define it.

Currently available in the U.S. and Canada, Apple News+ launches in the UK later this year.

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