AirPods Live Translation Blocked for EU Users With EU Apple Accounts

[quagmire]

Apple fans, " I like Apple because they value my privacy and I care about that"

Apple fans when privacy laws prevent an Apple feature, " Damn EU regulators from allowing a feature that I want to use!"

 

[Spanky Deluxe]

The whole experience seemed so confusing for the people in the *staged* ad. I can’t imagine how chaotic it would be in real life. Does anyone have any experience with the Android version?

Yeah, it made me so uncomfortable. The whole thing feels like something that sounds like a good idea on paper but in practice is awkward, impractical and insulting. Speaking to someone with headphones in awkward already; it feels like you don't have the person's full attention, having something like this means that the person you're speaking to isn't hearing what you're saying, just a computer voice that *may* be translating what you're saying. It feels like there's not even an attempt at trying to communicate and instead relying on 'AI'. It's like emailing someone that is clearly using ChatGPT to write their responses. You can tell and it's unnatural, insulting and awkward. You're going to have a much better experience (and be more warmly received) by at least trying to communicate yourself and using a translation app on your phone (without headphones) is fine. You've got to look like you at least care and want to try to communicate.

 

[iPadified]

Usability in EU is low as very few languages are supported (as usual) so who cares? I agree, with no reason it is purely politics. MR want clicks and it works

 

[dumiku]

If UE is doing this to protect consumers privacy & rights, then I am ok with GDRP and the likes. I actually wish we had similar regulations in Africa, but until Africa become a solid market we are not going to have any restriction except those imposed by Apple themself.
One of the reason we have account with foreign regions.

 

[Shirasaki]

I asked for it. For some reason other companies can follow the laws. Only apple, caring only about its bottomline, is having problems... go figure.

Especially considering Apple has nearly unlimited resources yet can’t figure out how to roll out such simple feature in EU. Gets to wonder why or Apple is just playing dumb.

Regulation makes life easier and nicer. Only "disruptive" services (facebook, x, airbnb and other crap) made everything worse, from braking the society to braking the housing market...

Regulation is definitely necessary or else we’d be living in a wild world of Wild West where people just fiercely compete with each other for no end. But given where Apple one campus is, I can see why so many blames EU for “too much regulation”.

 

[frenchcamp49er]

The EU did this to themselves

 

[frenchcamp49er]

Especially considering Apple has nearly unlimited resources yet can’t figure out how to roll out such simple feature in EU. Gets to wonder why or Apple is just playing dumb.

Regulation is definitely necessary or else we’d be living in a wild world of Wild West where people just fiercely compete with each other for no end. But given where Apple one campus is, I can see why so many blames EU for “too much regulation”.

Why should Apple make an extra effort for the EU that keeps changing the rules.

 

[Banan911]

And users on this forum will still defend the EU with their dying breath. Beats me.

I’ve been enough times to the US to always defend EU in nearly everything. No way I would change all the things I have here in Europe and my European life with anything in the US

 

[turbineseaplane]

I’ve been enough times to the US to always defend EU in nearly everything. No way I would change all the things I have here in Europe and my European life with anything in the US

Smart.

When considering the US and our citizenry, one must always remember that the vast majority of the population hasn't ever gone anywhere to get some outside perspective on what they are actually subjected to in daily life here.

 

[unregbaron]

i ordered two, never thinking they won't work in eu. why don't they get the approvals before product is released?

Or at least say 'pending EU approval'

 

[AdamHarbour]

Uk and European police would find this useful to talk to and communicate with the “new” residents about various issues …….

 

[bluecoast]

Chances are it won't be a huge miss for the customers since we have no idea if the feature works at all as it was demonstrated.

Agreed. Whilst I was genuinely impressed with what apple unveiled the other day, the live translate section had ‘actress from last of us ad campaign’ vibes ie heavily faked.

 

[subjonas]

With no reason given, this looks like a tactical move by Apple to say, "look how your restrictions are delaying new features" and use public pressure to highlight this for people to get upset with the EU. I can't see EU objected to this feature, just Apple assuming it would and using this "delay" to get people upset

Well, the other option is for Apple to explicitly point out EU laws as the reason for the delay/block, which wouldn't seem wise for any professional company to do unless it's necessary. So if by "tactical", you mean professional/wise, then I agree not saying anything was a tactical move.

I can definitely see the EU objecting that the iPhone + AirPod integration that makes this feature as slick as it is (at least appears to be) isn't available to all BT headphones.

 

[O.N.Y.X]

By blocking live translation in the EU Apple essentially admits they’re collecting and analyzing user data in order to make this feature work. Now where is the „intelligence“ in that? iPhones 15 Pro and newer are supposed to process these data on-device. Does anyone know… is being connected to the internet required for this to work?

 

[bluecoast]

If apple spent as much time & resources developing AI features, as it does defending its business model, Siri might not be a punchline to a joke.

 

[patjem]

I am in Germany but I have had an US Apple Account since the iPod Video days to get those free TV show pilots from iTunes back in the day 🤞🏼

iPhone Mirroring also works as long as I am signed into my US account (the store in purchases & media seems to be enough btw)

I have the same and thus cheap Apple One with Fitness+ for years.

 

[surferfb]

By blocking live translation in the EU Apple essentially admits they’re collecting and analyzing user data in order to make this feature work. Now where is the „intelligence“ in that? iPhones 15 Pro and newer are supposed to process these data on-device. Does anyone know… is being connected to the internet required for this to work?

No they're not. See my post here for an alternate explanation:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/airpods-live-translation-blocked-for-eu-users-with-eu-apple-accounts.2465317/post-34117927

 

[iPadified]

Heh… EU based tech company? I mean, it’s the right way of thinking. They could have combined the collective technical might of all the countries in the region to create a new, better, more EU consumer focused EU phone platform. Designed by EU regulators, it would do all the things they want it to do better than Google and Apple ever could have and could have swept the market. And, if it’s good enough, then that hardware/OS combo could have gained traction around the world drawing billions and billions of dollars into those companies that design/produced the hardware and that generated revenue from the EU App Store. But, as the EU already regulated all the successful tech companies out of the EU (other than Spotify), the likelihood of an EU based company being able to create anything that that works that well is quite low.

Incidentally, China doesn’t force Apple to ensure every feature on the iPhone works with all the random non-Apple devices, so releasing it to China is no big deal. This is really just an EU problem created by Vestager and they let it happen!

So it would seem but according to EU, EU sells 75% value of services to US compared to what we buy from US. EU is selling less to US but not so much so it matters. According to your arguments, Spotify must be doing really well selling 75% of the value of Apple, MS, Google, etc combined sells to EU and that only to the US market! Guess what, EU companies need to follow every rule when selling anything to US so why not the reverse?

"Likelihood of an EU based company is very low": needs must I am afraid and the looser are US companies loosing sales. I fail to understand the rationale.

 

[MadDawg2020]

So now suddenly the EU is deeply concerned with ‘privacy’ - after mandating and forcing under penalty of law that Apple open up and rewrite its secured operating system forcing them to allow side loading apps and outside payment systems - allowing any unvetted developer direct access to users devices - including personal data and payment information- bypassing an entire ecosystem of security features - both hardware and software that Apple has spent more than a decade developing?!

 

[DocMultimedia]

Ignoring the missing features let's you enjoy a nice three hour lunch with a few glasses of wine. What's wrong with that? (as I sit in Berlin drinking a few things)

 

[con2apple]

Not likely. Apple had previously indicated this would happen due to the DMA. The DMA is still in place, Apple’s still a gatekeeper and it’s happening. So…

Apple hasn’t said, so we’re all guessing, but I think my guess is better.

Well, Apple could, of course, give other manufacturers the opportunity to also release live translation.

Before we misunderstand each other:
Apple doesn't need to make its live translation available for others, nor does it need to make its headphones available for this purpose.

It's just a matter of allowing other manufacturers to offer live translation for the iPhone with their own headphones (Samsung, for example). Apple won't do that because then they would have competition and would be competing.

In my opinion, it's just a gimmick to give Americans, who are addicted to shopping and craving recognition, an excuse to buy something new.

 

[Enlightened Doggo]

Regulation stops innovation.

Without regulation you would be working 12 hour days in a factory 7 days a week.

 

[subjonas]

In my opinion, it's just a gimmick to give Americans, who are addicted to shopping and craving recognition, an excuse to buy something new.

Well, if you're not an American, chances are you speak multiple languages anyway and probably don't need the live translation feature as much. So it's not a gimmick to us Americans, we need it hahaha.

 

[SteveJobs2.0]

Great, thanks EU. The dictators in Brussels and their rules

They can impose stupid rules but can’t keep the city from looking like a dump!

 

[arubinst]

I'm pretty sure the issue here is the European Commission will requiere apple to open the system so that live translation also works with other brands of earplugs. They will see the fact that it only works with AirPods as anticompetitive and a way to force clients to buy Apple branded stuff and to further strengthen the ecosystem.