Skip to main content

Google will pay publishers in bid to compete with Apple News

Google announced plans for a new program to pay publishers for high-quality news content, which would allow them to compete with Apple News. 

Google’s program, which rolls out later this year, aims to help local and national publications globally. Similar to Apple News’ concept, Google’s initiative would allow it to license a select number of articles from news partners.

“This program will help participating publishers monetize their content through an enhanced storytelling experience that lets people go deeper into more complex stories, stay informed and be exposed to a world of different issues and interests,” wrote Brad Bender, Google’s vice president of product management, in the announcement on Thursday, June 25. 

stock photo newspapers delivered at doorway
Steve Buissinne/Pixabay

To allow people more access to news, Bender also said that in some cases, Google would offer to pay for free access for users to read articles locked behind a paywall. 

Right now, the program has already partnered with news outlets in Germany, Australia, and Brazil. Bender said that the new news experience would live on Google News and Google Discover. 

While there are little details in Thursday’s announcement about how the program would be executed, on the surface, it sounds similar to Apple News’ premium subscription option. 

Apple News aggregates news articles in its mobile app and allows users to subscribe to their preferred publications, but there’s also a paid subscription option called Apple News+. The subscription gives users access to premium news content from Apple’s partnered publications.

Google already has a Google News app that relies on artificial intelligence to bring you the news you care most about, but it sounds like Google is focusing the new program on premium and paywalled content that people wouldn’t necessarily otherwise see. 

Editors' Recommendations

Allison Matyus
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Allison Matyus is a general news reporter at Digital Trends. She covers any and all tech news, including issues around social…
Apple iOS 15: News, features, and everything you need to know
Apple's Craig Federighi standing in front of the iOS 15 logo.

Apple's newest iPhone operating system, iOS 15, launched on September 20. The update brings new features and controversial design changes to the vast majority of iPhones, including many older devices. Whether you're planning to buy a new iPhone 13 or holding onto your older iPhone model, here's everything you need to know about iOS 15 and its subsequent updates.
What devices can get iOS 15?
The new Apple iPhone 13 models will ship with iOS 15, but there are hundreds of millions of iPhone users with older devices who will benefit from the update as well. Apple released iOS 15 to all iPhone models going back to the iPhone 6S, iPhone 6 Plus, and original iPhone SE, making these the longest-supported iPhone models yet. The corresponding iPadOS 15 rolled out to a slew of devices, including the iPad Air 2, iPad Mini 4, iPad (5th-generation), and iPad Pro 9.7, as well as the new iPad Mini 6 and 10.2-inch iPad, of course.
What are the new features of iOS 15?
There are many new features and improvements in iOS 15. Here are a few of the most exciting ones to watch out for once you update:
Notifications
If you're the type to ignore notifications or let them pile up, this update should make your life a bit easier. A new Notification Summary on the lock screen compiles your notifications for a cleaner look. You don't have to worry about missing anything, though. The summary uses on-device intelligence about what you interact with the most to separate and prioritize notifications, so urgent notifications like messages won't be lost among app reminders.

The new Focus feature enhances the Notification Summary even further. You can choose from among the preset Focus modes -- Work, Personal, Sleep, and Do Not Disturb -- or create up to 10 Focuses so iOS 15 can prioritize notifications based on your circumstance. Focus modes can even be set to a location, and once you set your status, it automatically applies across all connected Apple devices. There are new notification settings and new widgets for the home screen that let you see the notifications in your Focus mode. Throughout the notification system in iOS 15, icons for apps are larger and text is clearer, making it easy to catch up with everything at a glance.
Sharing
Apple knows how important video calls and messaging are today, and it has announced a variety of new features for both FaceTime and Messages that are all built around SharePlay.

Read more
Apple’s AirTags are too good at tracking — that’s a problem
Apple AirTag close up.

Apple's AirTags may be pitched as tools of convenience, but they are turning into a tool for criminals as well. The company's tracking tool, intended to be used to keep track of lost and stolen property, is paradoxically also a tool that enables theft of property and a potential threat against people. New reports pop up by the day of people using AirTags against women and expensive cars with malicious intent. And furor is growing online.

The company has issued updates to improve AirTags, but it may be the entire concept of AirTags themselves that is flawed.
The stalking dangers of AirTags

Read more
Apple joins Google in allowing alternative app store payment systems in South Korea
App store icon showing three notifications.

As a response to a South Korean law passed last year, Apple will now allow third-party developers to offer their own alternate payment services for purchases made through the App Store. The move comes after Google announced plans to do the same in late 2021.

Finally, coming into compliance with the South Korean Telecommunications Business Act, the company's submitted plans that would allow third-party developers to support alternate payment systems. While Apple will still take service fees, it'll be less than the 30% currently charges as the company will no longer need to process payments.

Read more