In the latest beta version of iOS 14, new smart banners are discovered which direct subscribers of the Apple News from the Safari to the app. Currently, the feature is available for publishers on the News+ service. Therefore, instead of directing readers to the third-party app, smart banners direct them native News app on iOS and iPadOS devices.
In the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic when misinformation was on the rise, users trust the Apple News+ service for accurate and verified news. Therefore, the app gained 125 million monthly subscribers just after four months of launch.
Smart Banners for Apple News+ app
The AppleInsider reports that the Cupertino tech giant is using the Safari smart banners to promote its news service by notifying the subscribers of the available titles and publishers on the app which they are already paying for.
“In the most up-to-date iOS 14 beta, the Smart App Banner API or Safari appears to detect News+ partner web domains, which triggers the display of the modified promotional banner. Smart App Banner code on affected pages is unchanged, suggesting that it’s a change to the way Safari handles publisher URLs.
As mentioned, the new banner only shows up for publications that participate in Apple News+. Developers may be able to control which banner appears to users — Apple News or App Store download — though that isn’t clear at this point.”
Recently, the new audio stories, briefs, and curated local news in the United States were introduced on the app which allows users to listen to stories on the go, and receive personalized local news.
The iOS 14 has is scheduled for a public release in fall, this year. The new software offers many new features and changes to improve the users’ iPhone experience, like widgets on the Home screen, Apps Library, redesigned control center, privacy features, and much more.
Apple News+ offers a diverse range of magazines, articles, and news from renowned and trustworthy sources for a $9.99 monthly subscription fee without any paywalls. Users can download the Apple News+app from the App Store for free and new subscribers get a month free trial.
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