Apple TV Plus

Summary

Apple is now making or commissioning high-budget, high-profile films and television to stream on its Apple TV+ service. As yet, the service doesn't have a very big library, but it aims to leverage use Apple's famous simplicity to make finding and watching shows better than ever.

Features

● Original films and TV made for Apple TV+
● Low monthly subscription of $4.99
● Free week's trial for all users
● Free year for buyers of new Apple devices
● Fewer original shows than Netflix, Amazon Prime or Disney+
● No library of existing shows or films
● Students get Apple TV+ with Apple Music Student Plan

Apple TV+ is a streaming service of original television and film produced in conjunction with Apple or directly by the company itself. The service can be found on many platforms inside of the Apple TV app. From the app, users can also access other content from iTunes, external streaming apps like Hulu, and from Channels including HBO.

This video streaming service is Apple's biggest step into media since the introduction of Apple Music in 2015. Through this one service, you can watch original films and television commissioned or purchased by Apple. You will not find classic series runs like "The Simpsons" or "Seinfeld" here, only original content licensed directly by Apple, at least for now.

Devices that support Apple TV+

Apple TV+ is unfortunately named, considering it is accessed via the Apple TV app, and does not need an Apple TV box in order to work.

Following the launch of macOS Catalina, there is an Apple TV app on Mac too. You can use the existing but recently updated Apple TV app on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad as well.

The aim is to have this service be wherever you are and on whatever Apple device you use. However, Apple also wants this service to have as wide a reach as it can, so alongside its own hardware, you can watch it via smart TVs such as certain Samsung models. Or you can get the whole service, plus access to your previously bought videos, via an Amazon Fire stick or even Roku box.

If you are on any other device, including those running Android, you can always visit the AppleTV+ website.

Apple TV+ content

Apple TV+ is constantly adding new shows, and the current slate consists of the following:

Oprah Talks COVID-19

Oprah interviews doctors and famous individuals during the coronavirus outbreak about what to do and how to stay safe and sane during a lockdown. The show is on Apple TV+ but does not require a subscription to watch.

See

See on Apple TV+

Drama series. "See" is Apple's stab at a high fantasy or sci-fi epic, meant to reverberate faint echoes of "Game of Thrones." Sadly, the table-setting for the show's future is akin to that of a slog, bruised by a concept that lacks the compulsion to seduce viewers out of the gate.

The Morning Show

Drama series. Apple's "The Morning Show" packs all the power, pageantry and prestige you'd expect from a series anchoring the launch of the company's new Apple TV+ streaming service, but its initial episodes falter.

For All Mankind

Drama series. "For All Mankind," Apple's 1970's alt-history space program drama, is enthralling, and based on our viewing of the entire launch catalog of programming, it is the best new series to be included with the Apple TV+ launch.

Dickinson

Comedy drama series. A period piece injected with present-day attitudes, this stand-out series depicts the life of poet Emily Dickinson if the culture of her day would only allow her to be as powerful in her speech as in her writing.

The Elephant Queen

Documentary movie. "The Elephant Queen," the first movie of the Apple TV+ era, is a gorgeous, eye-opening nature documentary that begs to be watched on the largest screen possible.

Hala

Film. A coming-of-age tale for a Pakistani American teenager struggling to cope with the conflicting demands of her family and her own desires –– plus a newfound secret that threatens them all.

Oprah's Book Club

Oprah’s Book Club

Oprah Winfrey brings her famous book club to Apple TV+. She'll be discussing new titles and interviewing authors across a wide range of topics.

Servant

Drama series. The M. Night Shyamalan-produced series "Servant" is the most addictive of Apple TV+'s new shows, and is the kind of creative curveball a new streaming service needs to offer.

Truth Be Told

Drama series. The true crime podcast phenomenon "Truth Be Told" gets the fictionalized streaming treatment with excellent performances from a deep cast as well as a compelling murder mystery.

Helpsters

Children's. Funny and happy series where Sesame Street-style monsters set out to help people with their problems, ranging from how to climb a mountain, to mastering magic tricks.

Snoopy in Space

Snoopy In Space

Children's. Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Lucy and the whole Peanuts gang get their own series as they help out NASA.

Ghostwriter

Children's. Reboot of the 1990s PBS series that sees present-day kids embroiled in mysteries that are causing fictional characters to escape into the real world.

Little America

Drama. "Little America" is an anthology series that follows different stories of immigration from Epic Magazine. Highly reviewed and seen as one of the best shows yet on Apple TV+.

Mythic Quest

Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet

Comedy. "Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet" is centered around a team of video game developers as they navigate the challenges of running a popular video game. Written by Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day, of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" fame, and produced by Ubisoft and Lions Gate.

Visible: Out on Television

Visible: Out On Television

Docuseries. "Visible: Out on Television" is a look at the importance of TV as an intimate medium that has shaped the American conscience, and how the LGBTQ movement has shaped TV. Combines archival footage with interviews with important people from the movement and industry.

Amazing Stories

Steven Spielberg's "Amazing Stories" is an anthology series reviving the one with the same name from the 1980's. Each episode represents a different story with different characters as they deal with a supernatural or extraordinary phenomenon.

The Banker

Drama. "The Banker" is a movie following Bernard Garrett Sr. and Joe Morris, portrayed by Anthony Mackie and Samuel L. Jackson, who lead a real estate business by hiring a white man to act as the "face" of the business. The film has seen some controversy prior to release due to the actions of one of the characters sons.

Upcoming releases

Home Before Dark

Mystery. "Home Before Dark" is inspired by the reporting of young investigative journalist Hilde Lysiak, and follows a young girl who moves from Brooklyn to a small lakeside town. Hilde, portrayed by child actor Brooklynn Prince, will pursue a cold case that everyone, including her father, tried to bury.

April 3, 2020

Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth

Here We are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth

Children's film. "Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth" is adapted from the best-selling children's book by Oliver Jeffers, and created by animation firm, Studio AKA. A short film celebrating Earth day as a seven year old boy discovers the wonders of the planet.

April 17, 2020

Home

Home on Apple TV+

Documentary. The series offers a look inside of the world's most innovative homes.

April 17, 2020

Defending Jacob

Drama. Defending Jacob is a limited run series based on a bestselling novel of the same name. The series follows the events after a shocking crime deeply affects a Massachusetts family. Chris Evans stars and executive produces in this Anonymous Content production.

April 24, 2020

Beastie Boys Story

Documentary. Spike Jonze has made a documentary about the Beastie Boys based on the bestselling "Beastie Boys Book."

April 24, 2020

Trying

Apple's first foray into British television. Trying features Jason and Nikki, played by Rafe Spall and Esther Smith, on their journey to trying to become parents.

May 1, 2020

Central Park

Animated musical comedy. Loren Bouchard and Nora Smith of Bob’s Burgers are writing and producing Central Park alongside Josh Gad of Frozen fame. The show depicts a family, the Tillermans, in their struggle to keep Central Park, their home, safe from a hotel heiress. This animated musical is produced by 20th Century Fox Television.

May 29, 2020

Little Voice

Drama. A tale of finding your musical voice, directed by JJ Abrams.

Coming Soon

The Apple TV app

Wherever you watch, you are met with the Apple TV app, which ultimately intends to become the sole place you go to in order to watch television or films, whether they're from Apple or not.

Apple unveils its biggest Apple TV+ shows at premiere events

Most other streaming services are included in the Apple TV app, with the notable exception of Netflix. External services include dozens of cable provided channels that need a cable service sign-in to work, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and several other third party providers. When dealing with content from external services, it is listed in the Apple TV app and shown in the Up Next section, but opens in the parent app outside of the Apple TV app.

All content purchased via iTunes is listed within the TV app as well.

Tim Cook on stage during the launch of Apple TV+

Apple TV Channels provide you with the ability to subscribe to content providers from directly within the app, and share this subscription across a family sharing plan. HBO, Starz, and multiple other services are available this way, and greatly simplify the way you subscribe and manage these accounts. Content from Channels can be downloaded for offline viewing.

Apple TV+ Pricing

From launch, Apple has offered a year's free Apple TV+ service to anyone buying a new iPhone or other device. This promotion will not last forever though, and will likely not be present for the 2020 iPhone launch.

Similarly, there is a bundle offer where people on the Apple Music Student Plan will receive Apple TV+ for free.

Apple TV+ costs $4.99 per month, which is cheaper than either Disney+ or Netflix. As with Apple Music and Apple News+, there is a free trial period, which in this case is one week.