Apple

A new survey by Adobe finds that Apple devices already grab 61.9% of authenticated TV Everywhere viewers, an enviable place to be for a company just about to take a deep dive into the space with its own offering.

Apple’s new News app will launch as part of a free software upgrade to iPhones and iPads later this month. Here’s a rundown of what’s known so far about the free app’s content, functionality and privacy, along with how participating publishers will be making money from it.

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings doesn’t appear to be too worried about Apple muscling into his territory, even if investors are.

Apple has held preliminary conversations with Hollywood executives over producing original entertainment content in a move that may position it to compete with Netflix. The move could set up a showdown between Apple and Netflix, Amazon and Hulu.

With the official debut of the next-generation Apple TV less than two weeks away, sources have provided additional details on Apple’s pricing, availability and product lineup plans for its set-top devices. According to sources, the fourth-generation Apple TV will be priced below $200, and is on track to become available in October.

Apple is set to unveil its new Apple TV at its September event. The new device features an A8 chip, a new, dramatically-improved touch pad remote, increased on-board storage and a new operating system that supports Siri voice commands. A new App Store will debut at the same time.

The nation’s biggest online video distributors would rather the FCC not do them any favors by regulating over-the-top services like it does cable. Representatives from Microsoft, Amazon and Apple, companies that haven’t been regulated by the FCC, have been increasing their face time at the FCC to keep the agency from advancing a proceeding that would regulate some OTT services like facilities-based multichannel video distributors.

Apple has been chatting up broadcast network groups to get them on board its Internet-enabled streaming TV service. Another thing it wants, according to our tipsters, is a new free-of-charge channel concept created from, say, library stock.

Where Barry Diller’s Aereo failed, Apple is hoping to succeed. The Cupertino, Calif., tech firm is making broadcast networks the centerpiece of its cable-killer TV app — and talks with all four networks are rapidly gaining momentum. ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC are close to obtaining the right to negotiate with Apple on behalf of their affiliates, sources say, with the nets promising their stations a share in the added revenue the Apple streaming product will produce.

There wasn’t a lot of buildup beforehand, but yesterday’s Apple keynote turned out to be the most important for news organizations in years. In two hours, Apple killed off its previous home for news apps on iPhone and iPad; announced a brand new home for news orgs (though, importantly, not for news apps); integrated individual local news stories deep into iOS; and made Apple Watch news apps substantially more powerful and useful. Here’s what journalists and publishers need to know.

Apple Inc.’s lofty plans to build an online television service are coming into sharper focus, according to The Wall Street Journal. The technology giant is in talks with programmers to offer a slimmed-down bundle of TV networks this fall, according to people, say people familiar with the matter. The service would have about 25 channels, anchored by broadcasters including ABC, CBS and Fox, and would cost $30-$45 a month. WSJ subscribers can read the full story here.

Apple and HBO announced a deal today. Starting in early April, the $14.99 monthly service HBO Now will let users stream HBO movies and TV shows on iPads, iPhones and Apple TV — without having to sign up for a cable subscription at all. This is the first time that HBO is allowing for standalone service.

HBO will launch its standalone streaming service, called HBO Now, for $15 per month this spring with the premier of Game of Thrones. The company is also working with Apple to make Apple TV one of the launch partners for the service, sources say.

Apple is reportedly in talks with TV executives about deals that would allow it to offer an OTT pay TV service like Dish’s Sling TV. Talks seem to be in the early stages, with issues like timing and pricing far from ironed out, and Apple won’t comment on the effort.

A broad array of organizations in technology, media and other fields rallied on Monday behind Microsoft’s effort to block American authorities from seizing a customer’s emails stored in Ireland. The organizations filing supporting briefs in the Microsoft case included Apple, Amazon, Verizon, Fox News, National Public Radio, The Washington Post, CNN and almost two dozen other technology and media companies.

Wednesday’s announcement of the qcquisition of the headphone and music streaming service came nearly three weeks after deal negotiations were leaked to the media. It’s by far the most expensive acquisition in Apple’s 38-year history, a price that the company is paying to counter a threat posed to its iTunes store.

Roku has long argued that bigger rivals end up helping Roku when they release streaming-video boxes. CEO Anthony Wood allows that Apple TV does result in lost money — for Apple.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple is in talks with Comcast about a streaming-TV service that would use an Apple set-top box and try to bypass congestion on the Web. WSJ subscribers can read the full story here.

Apple Inc. is planning to introduce a new Apple TV set-top box as early as April and is negotiating with Time Warner Cable and other potential partners to add video content, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Apple is aiming to have the device available for sale by the Christmas holidays, though the release date could change.

There’s a battle being waged for that much-maligned piece of furniture we all end up in front of sooner or later. Call it the Idiot Box, the Boob Tube or whatever you want — the majority of media consumption still happens in front of the television, and whether it’s gaming, movie watching, Netflix or just listening to the stereo, tech giants are fighting tooth and nail for a seat on your couch. Here’s what they’re bringing to the party.

Mobile journalists who report on the ground and file stories at coffee shops might be tempted by Apple’s new tablet, which was released today. The thinner and lighter iPad Air has improved AV features, usable for video interviews, and comes with a suite of free apps, including iMovie.

No major surprises from Apple’s big media event today: New Mac software, updated MacBooks and a redesigned iPad. The new Mac Pro could potentially find its way into a newsroom for broadcasters or video editors who need serious computing power when using Final Cut Pro, but that’s about it.

Apple’s latest purchase is the recently-shut down second-screen TV/video app Matcha.tv, according to a source with knowledge of the deal. Matcha.tv was an iOS app that provided a comprehensive overview of everything that’s available to watch via cable TV providers, streaming video services (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime) and digital video stores (iTunes, Amazon).

A study done by customer experience research firm ForeSee has found that in the streaming TV and movies category, Apple’s iTunes beat out competitors such as Netflix and HBO Go, Amazon Instant Video, Crackle and Hulu Plus.

Intel, Apple and others push new technologies to take control of the living room. However, these companies working on new Internet-based services are widely expected to face tough sledding in negotiating rights for video content.

Apple has a new trick up its sleeve as it tries to launch a long-awaited television service: technology that allows viewers to skip commercials and that pays media companies for the skipped views. For more than a year, Apple has been seeking rights from cable companies and television networks for a service that would allow users to watch live and on-demand television over an Apple set-top box or TV. Talks have been slow and proceeding in fits and starts, but things seem to be heating up.

TOKYO (AP) – Apple Inc. has applied for a trademark in Japan for “iWatch” as rumors suggest it may be developing a smart wristwatch. A document obtained Monday from the […]