Apple March keynote news: Netflix rival, magazine service and new iPad Mini

Apple has confirmed that its first keynote of the year will be held on 25 March at its headquarters in Cupertino, California.

Invitations proclaiming “it’s show time” were sent out to fans and media on Monday, along with an animation of a vintage-style film reel countdown timer, TechCrunch reports.

Apple is keeping quiet about what fans can expect during the presentation but industry experts are predicting that the tech giant will announce a video streaming service to take on the likes of Netflix.

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With less than two weeks to go until the big reveal, here are all the latest reports and rumours about what to expect:

Is a Netflix rival on the cards?

Possibly. Tech news site T3 claims that Apple has been “snapping up talent all over the place”, with signings including Reese Witherspoon and Oprah Winfrey, to build a steaming service to rival Netflix.

Like its main competitor, the Apple streaming service will be available for a monthly subscription fee and is expected to feature content from US-based production firms CBS and Showtime.

Pricing is likely to be announced on 25 March, but TechRadar says Apple’s service could be cheaper than Netflix, which starts at £5.99 a month.

What about an Apple magazine?

According to 9to5Mac, the tech giant is expected to unveil a new online magazine subscription service with a format similar to Apple News.

The company bought Texture, a service that bundles online magazines into a monthly subscription, in early 2018 and has reportedly since been working with publishers to secure content.

Magazine publishers are allegedly “happier” with the proposed revenue split than news organisations have been, “so there’s still a big question about which publications will be included”, adds the Apple news and rumours site.

Will the new iPad Mini appear?

Apple news site MacWorld is betting that a new iPad Mini will be announced during the keynote, noting that the gadget is “well-suited for media consumption”.

AppleInsider says the upcoming fifth-generation model is expected to have a similar design to the previous version, which launched at the end of 2015, but will “presumably” receive an upgraded processor.

Compatibility with Apple’s Pencil stylus may also be bundled into the 7.9in tablet, along with support for the magnetic Smart Keyboard, the rumour site says.

An updated model of the company’s AirPods, the wireless version of the EarPod earphones, is also expected to be unveiled during the presentation.

When does it start?

The keynote kicks off at 5pm UK time on Monday 25 March.

Where can you watch it?

Apple often livestreams its keynotes through its events page. The company also streams its presentations on YouTube.