Following the launch of Apple News+, Apple confirmed last month that it would shut down Texture at the end of May. Apple originally acquired Texture in March of 2018, using it as the basis for what would become Apple News+.
Now, a new report from the New York Post offers more information on the details of Apple’s Texture acquisition.
As it worked on building out its Apple News+ subscription service, Apple purchased the digital magazine company Texture in March last year. Now we’ve got a firm date when Apple will officially shut down Texture, which means Android users will unfortunately be out of luck.
Apple acquired Texture last year but it has not pulled the Texture app from the iOS or Android app stores. In fact, the company released a miscellaneous app update this morning ahead of the expected March 25 event where Apple will announce its Apple News subscription service, essentially incorporating a (rebranded) Texture service into the News app.
As reported by Bloomberg, Apple is set to relaunch its Texture acquisition as a paid news and magazine subscription service, likely built into the Apple News app, as soon as spring 2019.
Just like Apple Music, subscribers would pay a single monthly fee to Apple to unlock access to the library. However, the report notes that publishers are concerned that revenues from the Apple service may not be able to match what they could get on their own, in addition to ceding customer control to Apple.
Earlier this year, Apple announced that it was acquiring popular digital magazine service Texture as part of its efforts to highlight quality journalism. Now, Texture has announced that it is cutting the price of its Premium tier from $14.99 to $9.99 per month…
Two bits of news on Texture, the digital magazine service Apple bought in March: Texture apparently had a Windows app (not just iOS and Android apps), and that app is getting killed next month. The Verge reports that customers were notified over email and within the Windows app. Texture has also shared the news on its website:
According to a new report from Bloomberg, Apple will utilize its acquisition of Texture to launch its own paid subscription service, incorporating magazines from a variety of publishers.
The new service would be exposed to customers through an upgraded Apple News app, mirroring Apple’s integration of its $9.99 Apple Music subscription inside the Music app.
[Update: Keep up with our live coverage of Eddy Cue’s SXSW talk right here.]
Apple has today confirmed that it is taking a major step into the digital magazine business. Apple’s Eddy Cue shared in a statement that the company would be purchasing Texture, a digital magazine distributor which could enhance Apple’s News app and more.