Apple Daily: Apple's Original TV Programming; Offline Movies from Amazon; Next-Gen Stores

Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu have all caught the "original television programming" bug, and now Apple apparently wants in on the action, too. In other news, you can now download videos from Amazon Prime Video to your iPhone or iPad for offline viewing, and the first of Apple's next-generation retail stores is reportedly coming to a Memphis suburb.

Apple Allegedly 'Flirting' With Producing Its Own TV Shows

Apple recently bolstered its presence in the music world with the introduction of Apple Music, and according to a new report from Variety, the Cupertino company now wants to get on some of the action that services like Netflix and Amazon are enjoying and start making its own television programming. Apparently, "preliminary conversations" have already started. As with all of Apple's digital content endeavors, Apple's Eddy Cue is reportedly heading the project.

It's currently unknown, however, just how far Apple wants to go with the idea. One source who spoke with the magazine claims that Apple wants to make its own original shows and movies and is prepared to create the necessary production departments. Yet another claims that Apple is merely "flirting" with the idea, although reportedly it did recently make a try to nab Top Gear stars Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond after their departure from the BBC.

Apple's current homegrown media offerings are largely limited to the Beats branch of the business, through which Apple hosts the acclaimed Beats 1 radio station and reportedly produces videos for the likes of Drake and Eminem.

Amazon Prime Video Now Allows Offline Viewing for iOS Devices

Speaking of television content services, Amazon just scored a massive victory over Netflix today with its announcement that Amazon Prime Video users can download movies and television shows on their iPhones and iPads for offline viewing. Best of all, there's no additional charge for the service if you're an Amazon Prime member. The company expects to have a wider release for the service down the road, but for now the service is limited to Prime customers in the U.S., the U.K., Germany, and Austria.

The catch is that not all shows are available for offline viewing, although Amazon claims that "thousands" are ready to download. And these aren't piddly releases, either — current offerings include everything from Downton Abbey to Star Trek: Into Darkness.

"There's no doubt that the way people watch entertainment is changing — anytime, anywhere viewing is important and we are excited to provide our Prime members with offline viewing capabilities on iOS and Android platforms starting today," said Amazon digital video chief Michael Paull in the release. "We are proud to be the first and only online subscription streaming service that enables offline viewing — on vacation, in a car, at the beach, on a plane, wherever our Prime members want to watch they can, regardless of internet connection."

Amazon previously allowed offline viewing through its Kindle Fire tablet, but this marks the first time that the feature has been available outside of the company's own ecosystem. You can download the relevant app for free here.

Apple's First 'Next-Generation' Store in U.S. Coming to Memphis

Apple is reportedly seeking a building permit to renovate a new storefront at 2031 West St. in Memphis' Germantown suburb, which isn't really news in itself. But as the Memphis Daily News reports, Apple representative Rick Millitello claims that the new store will be one of the first next-generation Apple Stores. Rumors about what to expect from Apple's overhaul of its stores have been circulating ever since The New Yorker's profile of Jony Ive mentioned an upcoming "redesign," and the Germantown plans provide us our first glimpse of what to expect.

Apple's existing Germantown store. Photo: Daniel McGarry

Some of the changes aren't too surprising, such as Apple's plan to replace the building's existing brick facade with three huge glass panels and to fill the room with natural oak display tables. But hints of what to expect reveal themselves in other details, such as the way the building's exterior will have matte granite reinforced panels and a changeable display that exhibits artwork, "living plants at times, TV displays," and other things.

Apple's existing store in the area is across the street at 7615 W. Farmington Blvd. in the Shops of Saddle Creek North. Once it opens, the new store will be located in the Shops of Saddle Creek South. Millitello also said that multiple overseas locations will also see the redesigned stores this fall.

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