Yes, Apple has Android apps. Apple Music is available not only on iOS devices and Macs, but also on Android. That Android app just leaked an upcoming service from Apple. We’ve heard whispers of a new Apple service coming this fall. “Apple One,” as Apple will name it, will combine various Apple subscriptions. Currently, there are plenty to choose from. Apple has Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple News+, Apple Arcade, and even iCloud storage subscriptions. It’s likely that Apple One will only include subscriptions to Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple News+, and Apple Arcade as iCloud storage pricing is variable.
A few lines of code show that Apple’s Android app is ready for Apple One. The text it displays hints at what Apple One will be.
The Android Leak
A bit on Android app development. We store text as “strings.” These strings are often constants, so, rather than trying to define them in every piece of code we use them in, we instead put them in a strings XML file. There, we use placeholders for any variables, that is, parts of the string that may change programmatically. Those placeholders, for other string values, look like this: %s.
Okay, that’s your crash course on Android strings. Why’d I give that to you? So you can better understand every part of this:
Your Apple Music subscription will be included in Apple One starting %s. You will not be charged for both subscriptions.
That’s the string stored in the Android app describing Android One. The code will replace the %s part with the date that Apple One will start. This is defined through the code itself, so it’s not something we’re certain about now, but it will likely differ around the world.
The leak is quite clear. Apple Music may be bundled as part of Apple One. When you make the transition to an Apple One subscription, Apple won’t charge you for your previous subscriptions.
Here’s the raw XML that shows the strings:
<string name=”applemusic_with_aristotle_subtext”>Included in Apple One %s</string> <string name=”aristotle_main_subtext”>Subscription Bundle %s</string> <string name=”aristotle_main_more_info”>Your Apple Music subscription will be included in Apple One starting %s. You will not be charged for both subscriptions.</string> <string name=”aristotle_renewaloption_subtext”>You can manage your Apple One subscription using your iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac.</string>
Apple One
The Apple One subscription will likely come with some savings. That will be why people choose to bundle it. This is an incredibly smart idea. The more a service offers you, the more likely you are to stick with it. People are more likely to drop single-use subscriptions, while keep ones that bundle other items they rely on. If someone finds Apple News+ useless, but subscribes to Apple Arcade, they may find they also like Apple TV+ and Apple Music if they try out Apple One. Bundling the services may cost less than having them individually. Someone may never have tried Apple’s other subscriptions if not for the bundle. Now they’ll subscribe to more, pay more, and keep that subscription longer. For Apple, it’s a great way to rope in customers and keep them. For customers, it’s a great way to get content for less.
We don’t yet know what Apple’s pricing will be. Apple’s services cost between $5 and $10/month currently. Apple One may allow users to choose what they bundle, or just wrap it all up for one lower price. Apple will likely announce the new bundle during their Tuesday event.