Well that’s a pain. Was thinking of getting them for an upcoming trade show I’m attending in France in October.
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AirPods Live Translation Blocked for EU Users With EU Apple Accounts
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You don’t have to look too far to see even worse abusing powers. Recently, the UK government tried to force Apple to create a backdoor in iCloud.
gatekeeper designation has three criteria, one of which is 45 million monthly active end users. The Vision Pro could be released in every country in Europe and they'd still have less than half a million monthly active end users (since less than a million Vision Pro units are reportedly built). The EU has 450 million inhabitants, and in no universe is one in ten buying this generation of Vision Pro. That's not the reason they're not releasing it in more countries. The reason for that is the cost of translating the entire UI for countries or languages that will maybe have 10 or 20 active users.
Blocked in the part of the world where within 50 miles people often speak another language. Ah yes, sense.
Samsung offers live translation features in EU with no problem. So why Apple has a problem?
Business people all speak English.
People in tourist destinations either speak English or the tourist speaks a few words of the host language.
Germanic languages and Latin languages are similar enough that one can guess.
There are no their scenarios for this use, we’re not going to chat someone up in a bar using AirPods.
The issue comes up with languages that are not Germanic nor Latin, and those are not covered.
EU tends to sue American companies more since they have more money.
Samsung isn't a "gatekeeper" under the EU's DMA law and therefore doesn't have to give access to their live translation feature to anyone who asks for it.
In this universe, the first iPhone was available only in Germany and France. If the gatekeeper rules had existed from the start, it’s very likely that the subsequent iPhones would have only been available in Germany and France as well. It’s too late for the iPhone now as it’s already been released. But, Apple has other new products in their pipeline that they are going to consider carefully how to release those in the EU.
By restricting the Vision Pro to France and Germany from the very start, if it or future iterations take off, they don’t have to make changes to the Vision App Store and they don’t have to make it work with other company’s products. And, as France and Germany are where most of the EU sales come from anyway, they’re not even missing many sales (and anyone that wants one can always travel to Germany or France to pick one up, they’re doing that now, so even some of those potential buyers are getting one anyway).
Is Samsung a gatekeeper according to the EU?
No.
Apple has a problem because they ARE a gatekeeper. That’s the regulatory structure the EU has created. It incentivizes companies to NOT be too successful. Because, if they’re not very successful, they can release products with tight integration that work very well with that company’s other products.
Not from what I’ve read. AirPod Pro 2 will do though. Still on series 1 AirPod Pro’s here.
If my apple store is set to the UK but i live in Spain, will this work? Not sure if it using store location AND triangulation to block you.
That is the exact problem with the EU's approach to regulation, the requirements to be met are whatever the regulator decides and can change on their whim. Part of the issue, IMHO, as well is the EU I not a strong federal system and individual states hold too much veto power over decisions, which tends to move things to the lowest common denominator and and vague regulations to keep everyone happy.
Until people actually try such arrangements, no one knows for sure. If I were Apple I'd setup triangulation as well to avoid issues with people doing what you are asking and thus running afoul of EU laws even if the feature is not avaiable in the EU. It also solve th issue of someone buying a phone in say the US and setting up a US Apple ID and then using it in the EU.
I don't think unregulated capitalism without checks and balances is automatically innovation and I'll use history as my guide on that one.
The problem is that the eu will only tell them if they're in violation afterwards. Lots has been written about this.
Apple will waste as much time as possible to get the best possible outcome for them.
Lost sales pales in comparison to lost reputation. Which in spite of prognostications hasn’t happened.
Apple does care but they will do what’s best for all.
The eu should structure their regulations so they are close ended.
Seems like the citizens of the eu are also interested in Apple. But as is said so fervently here vote with your $$$.
Buy or not that is a personal decision.
Thats not on EU, is it? Whether Apple wants to invest into Polish, Czech or Hungarian is up to... Apple.
Why is this an article and a discussion about the EU?
What it really should be about is that Apple, FULLY KNOWING WHAT THE REGULATIONS ARE, failed to get themselves ready.
Apple dropped the ball.
Google and Android has this feature, as others have said and they have it live in EU, but Apple does not.
Apple failed.
Everything is framed as if its the EU with its evil, evil innovation limiting litigation is being mean on Apple while its actually Apple's lawyers that have dropped the ball. Again.
What it really should be about is that Apple, FULLY KNOWING WHAT THE REGULATIONS ARE, failed to get themselves ready.
Apple dropped the ball.
Google and Android has this feature, as others have said and they have it live in EU, but Apple does not.
Apple failed.
Everything is framed as if its the EU with its evil, evil innovation limiting litigation is being mean on Apple while its actually Apple's lawyers that have dropped the ball. Again.
You're repeating propaganda. The dma is expressly vague. Companies don't know in advance what the rules are.