After getting Apple Music onto Amazon Echo smart speakers late last year, Apple is now working with another surprising partner.
Samsung has announced that its 2019 Smart TV models will include iTunes Movies and TV Shows as well as Apple AirPlay 2 support. These televisions will be available starting this spring. What's more, support for these features will be made available in 2018 Samsung Smart TVs via an impending update.
"In an industry first, a new iTunes Movies and TV Shows app will debut only on Samsung Smart TVs in more than 100 countries," Samsung touts in its announcement. AirPlay 2 support will be available in 190 countries around the world.
With iTunes Movies and TV Shows, Samsung Smart TV owners will have access to their existing iTunes library and will be able to buy or rent hundreds of thousands of TV shows and movies, including 4K HDR films. The iTunes Movies and TV Shows app will also work with Samsung's Smart TV services, like Universal Guide, the new Bixby, and Search.
Meanwhile, AirPlay 2 support will allow users to play videos, photos, music, podcasts, and more from Apple devices on Samsung Smart TVs.
“We look forward to bringing the iTunes and AirPlay 2 experience to even more customers around the world through Samsung Smart TVs, so iPhone, iPad and Mac users have yet another way to enjoy all their favorite content on the biggest screen in their home,” said Eddy Cue, Apple's SVP of Internet Software and Services.
This partnership between Apple and Samsung is a pretty big deal. Previously, you'd need an Apple TV if you wanted to watch iTunes movies and TV shows on your television. Now that's changing, showing that Apple is serious about growing its services business, especially with rumors that the company is planning to launch a video streaming service in the near future.
