Haha yeah. The funniest is that Windows has iPhone notifications for quite a time now, but for its own users Apple doesn’t want to offer that because… politics.
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Apple Explains Why iPhone Mirroring Remains Unavailable in the EU on macOS Tahoe
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I was referring to the AirDrop/Airplay interoperability that @Sophisticatednut was referencing. Mirroring isn’t referenced because (I assume) it’s not offered in the EU.
My point is that since Apple has implemented Wi-fi Aware, it seems very unlikely that they will disable AirDrop or Airplay in the EU now.
I disagree.
When a company is leveraging integration as a feature and sales argument, consumers benefit.
When they’re leveraging the closedness of its ecosystem merely to discourage from buying alternatives, they don’t.
Refusing to implement a convenient cross-platform file sharing solution out of the box does not benefit consumers.
Dictating Apple to lay open the spec and allow others to implement it, does. It does benefit consumers.
(Side note: AirPlay requires user “approval” for every “transaction”, i.e. anytime something is transmitted, so much less sensitive than iPhone mirroring).
Same as for the retro emulator apps we couldn’t get for many years. Once alternative means of distributing apps for iOS were mandated to be allowed - and it became clear that retro emulators would be an early and quite popular incentive to use them (alternative stores), Apple quickly reversed course and allowed them on their own store. Again, it benefits consumers.
Inevitably, such legislation is likely to cause Apple to withhold some features from EU customers - while they gain others Apple wouldn’t otherwise allow.
You lose some, you gain some.
Not surprised
I think Apple has shown that a large percentage of consumers benefit from (and desire) a closed ecosystem where the platform owner makes opinionated decisions on behalf of its customers. I also think such an option should be an option for the consumers who prefer it, particularly when the competitor that has 72% market share is open. The EU, in its infinite wisdom, disagrees consumers should have that choice. They think they know better than the market does.
Added complexity, etc. can certainly make things worse for users. Not everyone is a technology enthusiast posting on MacRumors.
But it discourages innovation, leading to worse products in the long run.
Agree it’s less sensitive, but the EU makes no difference, which is why the EU isn’t getting the mirroring feature. If the DMA’s rules were worldwide, no one would get it, leading to worse products. Which is what I mean about harming innovation.
I don’t think piracy facilitation benefits anyone but software pirates. And that’s all 99.9% of people who use retro emulation use it for. Trying to promote competition by allowing piracy is certainly an approach, but I’d argue it’s a bad one that hurts developers.
I’d argue the features gained by the tiny minority that will use them isn’t worth the security and privacy harms, as well as restrictions on features for the vast majority of Apple’s customers, particularly when said tiny minority could buy a phone that runs the platform with 72% market share and get said features. But I don’t want to turn this into yet another “you don’t get to have your cake and eat it too” back and forth, so will just leave it this point there.
Yes, but I would still argue it’s. It their strongest argument point. You still need to go through a bunch of functions to mirror your device to the computer.
I can’t imagine iPhone mirroring would allow a random Mac to connect without user consent input as well as establishing a connection.
Such as this: (I have tried it) I have tried it)
Well how different would it be regarding when I use ”airserver” or AirPlay?
Well perhaps 🤷♂️ haven’t read through the interoperability file
The government's job is to dictate. That's what laws are for. Apple can always decide to not comply and leave the EU if they think that it's the more convenient way. But why again should I have to be suppressed by Apples greediness?
If Apple pays me my time/effort to switching to Android, then I might in fact consider doing so. If you wish, you can also do that to make your beloved trillion-company a favor. Typical IT hourly rates in Switzerland are between 75-150 CHF (90 - 200 USD). I think 7-15 hours should do it. Do you want to pay via wire transfer or TWINT?
They are. And how they are.
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I use it all the time without issues. Getting app notifications on my Mac from my iPhone is really great also. You should really try to fix or see what’s going on with your Mac / iPhone.
You bought an Apple product knowing its rules and limitations.
Next time you need a new phone, buy an Android. You’re done!
And you didn’t have to trample on Apple’s property rights or make an ecosystem that most of its customers prefer worse because you selfishly couldn’t bother to buy into an ecosystem that meets your needs.
My hourly rate for consulting is actually $190/hour, to the nearest 1/4 hour. Where should I send the bill?
Well Apple have always had Wifi-aware, they just didn’t allow anyone else accessing it. And used a combination of Wi-Fi aware and Apple Wireless Direct Link.
And it’s funny it seems it was initially intended as a wifi standard😳
What would prevent an Android phone from being mirrored on a Mac if the manufacturer decided to implement it? The only thing that would not work would be the touchscreen. Am I missing something here?
It would if that manufacturer made a good mirroring app, but of course why would Samsung, for example, spend all that time and money to create a Galaxy Mirroring app that the EU would say can't be a Samsung-only feature?
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Living in the EU, I find this excuse incredibly weak. I mean, every other phone—Samsung, Google, Motorola—supports screen mirroring, and some even offer seamless desktop modes without any issues.
We’re missing out on significant features: AI support is limited to just a handful of EU languages, there’s no call recording, and no screen mirroring. Honestly, I’m starting to seriously consider Samsung for its innovation and genuinely functional AI—not something promised for the second half of 2026, if we're lucky.
If Samsung had an app for Macs, I would’ve switched in a heartbeat!
We’re missing out on significant features: AI support is limited to just a handful of EU languages, there’s no call recording, and no screen mirroring. Honestly, I’m starting to seriously consider Samsung for its innovation and genuinely functional AI—not something promised for the second half of 2026, if we're lucky.
If Samsung had an app for Macs, I would’ve switched in a heartbeat!
Oh no! that would be terrible! users actually using their devices and OS that they like! what an awful thing.. making cracks in the walled garden xD
Well reading it through Apple doesn’t need to share its IP. They do have to implement P2P WiFi protocol as accessible to third parties. So you can transfer a file to an Android phone or a windows computer using either your own proprietary protocol or implementing the Wi-Fi aware protocol.It was finalized.
So airdrop, airplay etc will be untouched and safe for Apple because the Apple Wireless Direct Link (AWDL) stays proprietary and forced to compete with other protocols.
It seems that iPhone mirroring functionality can be implemented another protocol hypothetically 🤷♂️. So if Apple doesn’t release it something else can replace it.
Well sees your take was incorrect. You’re free to compare the two
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Out of curiosity, what is it about the EU regulations you all hate? The freedom to install any app on HW you purchased or ensuring that monopolies are in check? Just looking for clarification here.
Personally speaking, I don’t think the government should be dictating how private companies run except in very narrow circumstances (health, safety, ACTUAL monopoly (not ‘Android does it and has 72% market share but I don’t want to use Android therefore Apple has a monopoly’).
In other words, Apple knows its customers and its products better than the EU does. There are plenty of alternatives if you don’t like Apple’s policies, so the government shouldn’t be interfering in the free market.
If Apple is going to cut all its functions, instead of just following EU law, people will only be enticed to alternatives.
Windows 11 is testing out screen mirroring for Android phones with multiple manufacturers supported so far. https://www.pcworld.com/article/280...oid-screen-mirroring-from-the-start-menu.html
Apple ist shooting themselves in the foot. People in the EU, who waited for this feature, might switch to Windows and Android.
If they were going to switch, they would have done it by now. Constant moaning from the EU about this and that, yet, here they are still buying Apple products. How’s Nokia and Ericsson doing these days?