• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Tech

Apple’s New Ads Could Fool You

By
Hilary Brueck
Hilary Brueck
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Hilary Brueck
Hilary Brueck
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 15, 2016, 9:28 AM ET

Apple users could be in for a surprise as the company debuts its new ads for Apple News. But then again, maybe they won’t even notice the change.

The new ad format for the news app is designed to put banner ads more seamlessly side by side with regular articles in the news feed. It’s a shift for the app, which previously hosted barely any sponsored content, as Business Insider reports.

Apple (AAPL) tells Fortune the new native news ads, which debuted in January, are “intended to blend in with their surrounding” distinguished only by a sponsored tag in the bottom corner of the screen. That means the content is virtually indistinguishable from regular news stories:

A mock-up of one of the new Apple News Ads. Image from Apple
Apple for developers

The Apple News app launched last year and over 100 publishers, including Fortune parent company Time Inc., signed on to the service. But Time CEO Joe Ripp said revenue from the app last year was underwhelming.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

Though the company says at least 40 million people across the U.S., U.K., and Australia have tried out the service, Apple admitted earlier this year that the company’s not really sure how many people are reading Apple News on a regular basis. The service requires iOS 9, so it’s not available on all Apple devices.

For more on the Apple News app, watch:

Meanwhile, other mobile giants are clambering to serve up faster reading for mobile phones. Both Google AMP and Facebook Instant Articles are working to kill load times for articles. Facebook (FB) Instant Articles for mobile can load up to 10 seconds faster than average, making them more click-friendly and share-friendly, while Google (GOOGL) AMP pages load faster and can show up higher in searches.

 

Correction: (Mar. 16 3:00 E.T.) An earlier version of this story incorrectly said that the new ads will be debuting in March. Apple tells Fortune the new ad format has been available to publishers since mid-January. This post has been updated accordingly.

About the Author
By Hilary Brueck
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

Artemis II’s toilet is on the blink again, forcing astronauts to use more backup collection bags as odor fills capsule
InnovationNASA
Artemis II’s toilet is on the blink again, forcing astronauts to use more backup collection bags as odor fills capsule
By Marcia Dunn and The Associated PressApril 5, 2026
4 hours ago
anger
AIProductivity
AI angst mutates into ‘FOBO’ as Fear of Becoming Obsolete takes over American workforces
By Nick LichtenbergApril 5, 2026
7 hours ago
marketing
CommentaryMarketing
The corporate ‘storyteller’ is marketing’s newest messiah—and just as hollow as every buzzword before it
By Bruce StocklerApril 5, 2026
7 hours ago
gecko
CommentaryInsurance
The billion-dollar bet that turned insurance into entertainment
By Stuart N. BrotmanApril 5, 2026
9 hours ago
cameras mounted on a wall
CybersecuritySurveillance
Your neighbor just got a home security system, but should you be worried? ‘It’s inherently a little creepy’ says surveillance expert
By Catherina GioinoApril 5, 2026
10 hours ago
Logan Brown, the founder of AI-powered law firm Soxton
SuccessCareers
The founder of a $2.5 million AI-powered legal business started work at her DA’s office at just 12 years old
By Emma BurleighApril 5, 2026
11 hours ago

Most Popular

The World Cup is supposed to be an economic windfall. But 'you're seeing a number of headwinds' now
North America
The World Cup is supposed to be an economic windfall. But 'you're seeing a number of headwinds' now
By Fortune EditorsApril 4, 2026
1 day ago
'It’s shocking how poorly prepared the administration is': DOGE gutted major energy personnel who warn the U.S. has lost key insights amid Iran war
Energy
'It’s shocking how poorly prepared the administration is': DOGE gutted major energy personnel who warn the U.S. has lost key insights amid Iran war
By Fortune EditorsApril 5, 2026
11 hours ago
Major 4-day workweek study suggests that when we work 5 days we spend one doing basically nothing
Success
Major 4-day workweek study suggests that when we work 5 days we spend one doing basically nothing
By Fortune EditorsApril 2, 2026
3 days ago
Meet a 74-year-old New Yorker who unretired to become an Uber driver: 'I'm amazed at what people will tell me'
Personal Finance
Meet a 74-year-old New Yorker who unretired to become an Uber driver: 'I'm amazed at what people will tell me'
By Fortune EditorsApril 4, 2026
1 day ago
College grads in ‘AI-proof’ careers like psychology and education are seeing negative returns on their degrees
Personal Finance
College grads in ‘AI-proof’ careers like psychology and education are seeing negative returns on their degrees
By Fortune EditorsApril 4, 2026
1 day ago
A Yale economist says AGI won't automate most jobs—because they're not worth the trouble
AI
A Yale economist says AGI won't automate most jobs—because they're not worth the trouble
By Fortune EditorsApril 4, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.