Apple has used the Apple TV name a lot—and it now means different things. And we’re here to clarify bits and pieces of it, specifically what the Apple TV+ and Apple TV app are now. Apple TV+ is a subscription service that focuses on Apple originals. Some of these were teased during the recent software-focused event by stars like Oprah, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, director Steven Spielberg, to name a few. This service will be available in the fall. It can be accessed through the Apple TV app. It isn’t known yet how or where in the app Apple TV+ will be visible but we should hear about that in the future. It’ll be ad-free (you are paying for it) and will be coming to over 100 countries
Another add-on paid subscription coming to the Apple TV app will let you stream shows from Apple partners (like HBO, Showtime, and Starz) right from the app. Apple TV used to just be a TV guide of sorts that redirects you to third-party apps to view said shows, but now you will be able to watch shows from its partners right from the Apple TV app. This app used to just be available to iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV set-top box. The app itself is free, but if you would eventually want access to watching content from Apple partners (via an Apple TV Channel subscription), then you’ll have to pay for that (when the service is available, that is). The app will be making its way to the Mac this fall as well as Samsung smart TVs in the spring. Other televisions from manufacturers like Vizio, Sony, LG, etc. will be added “in the future.” Same has been said for Roku and Amazon’s Fire TV.