Apple Gets EU Warning to Open iOS to Third-Party Connected Devices

[rexhunt]

Tell me you don’t understand the DMA without telling me you don’t understand the DMA.

The DMA is about busting Apple using revenue as the metric.

10% of global revenue is pretty much a standard for all EU regulations eg. GDPR otherwise digital companies will just move their revenue to non eu-entities even if it degrades their tax basis

 

[WeLikeVodka]

Nope. I dont want another android like ecosystem. I dont want Apple to dedicate their resources to fulfill EC desires. Which in turn can make Apple devices/ services either more expensive or missing entirely. Like now with Sequoia or iOS 18 thanks DMA.

Then switch away from Apple

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Nope. I dont want another android like ecosystem. I dont want Apple to dedicate their resources to fulfill EC desires. Which in turn can make Apple devices/ services either more expensive or missing entirely. Like now with Sequoia or iOS 18 thanks DMA.

I fail to see how this makes iOS and Android-like ecosystem. It doesn't mandate that Apple allows execution of Android software or discontinue the Apple watch.

It literally just tells them to add APIs for 3rd party devices if the user wants to use those devices. This would be entirely transparent to you.

 

[rexhunt]

Nope. I dont want another android like ecosystem. I dont want Apple to dedicate their resources to fulfill EC desires. Which in turn can make Apple devices/ services either more expensive or missing entirely. Like now with Sequoia or iOS 18 thanks DMA.

The EC hasn’t existed 2009

 

[9081094]

Nope. I dont want another android like ecosystem. I dont want Apple to dedicate their resources to fulfill EC desires. Which in turn can make Apple devices/ services either more expensive or missing entirely. Like now with Sequoia or iOS 18 thanks DMA.

This has nothing to do with making iOS like Android. Is macOS the same as windows?

It’s about communication between devices on a fair level.

macOS has also API’s that are open to others. If not you could only use Apple keyboard, mouse, monitor and trackpad. Same for printers and scanners.

 

[johnalan]

...

I don’t understand all the negativity about this. Because in the end customers will win.

Unless you’re Apple or investor, there is no need to panic.

If it doesn't end up with the only real option in the EU being Android.

 

[Stromos]

People complaining it will worsen the iphone. Meanwhile because of EU we will have removable batteries in a near future, and we already have usb-C.

Meanwhile in USA things like some gym’s dont even let you unsubscribe from a membership if its not by post. Thats what happens when there is absolutely no regulation.

Now can there be overregulation? Thats totally possible. But apple always will find their way to be the same. I still havent lost a thing on the iphone from all the things EU did, just added.

iPhone just released a model that's not selling because there is nothing new. iOS 18 is a nothingburger other than AI.

You lost new things you don't know you lost.

 

[timborama]

Is EU going to open up their auto industry so that others can integrate into their vehicles?!

 

[9081094]

If it doesn't end up with the only real option in the EU being Android.

That’s up to Apple if they want to make their API’s in iOS like the ones in macOS.

Same for Apple Intellgence. If Apple builds it right in MacOS or iOS is the same tactic Microsoft used with their internet explorer. Apple should have known this by checking history.

 

[delsoul]

Nothing changes with this EU law for you. You can still buy all the Apple things you want.

You’ll probably even benefit from it. Apple has to compete with third party gear from other brands. So they likely innovate faster and selling cheaper.

You should be lucky buying your beloved Apple for less money. So why the complaining?

It sounds to me that third party is trying to compete with Apple, not the other way around. Maybe they should try harder 👍

 

[rexhunt]

Well, I think the DMA has its pluses and minuses, and the full implications won’t be felt for a while, I think providing specifications is a good step.


It gives Apple more clear guidance on what to do and ideally the same specifications will apply to android as well so that users could use an Apple Watch with a Samsung phone for example just like they could use a Samsung watch with an Apple iPhone, such interoperability would be good for consumers and possibly ultimately better for Apple as well as they could sell Apple watches to android phone users.

The second part, the criteria for Access I think is important too, and needs to balance the rights of Apple to profit from their IP as well as allow people reasonable access to it. I also think it’s important that Apple be allowed to maintain security of the devices so that apps can’t just get unfettered access to anything unless the user specifically allows it and the apps are transparent about what data they want access to and why.



As others have pointed out, it depends on how you define Europe Europe does not equal EU and in Apple‘s case the European region is more than just what one would consider Europe.

That said there’s no way Apple is leaving Europe at worst Europe will get a iPhone that has a set of European features that may or may not mirror those available elsewhere and vice versa. It’s sort of like China where US phone won’t work there because it does not have a Sim slot, even though the phone will actually connect to the network just fine, but Apple is not going to include SIM cards in US phones simply to make them available to the Chinese market.

And if someone says well, the EU should just require Apple to ensure that the phones have the features that are available elsewhere that would be like the US requiring every car company to make cars that have every option as the cars due in Europe , while meeting US standards for each model, simply because they import one version of that model model to the US.

The fact that Apple reports earnings as Europe rather than EMEA is immaterial as it only applies to corporate entities in the EU

 

[johnalan]

Overall sounds relatively small fry:

The first proceeding targets iOS functionalities predominantly used by connected devices such as smartwatches, headphones, and virtual reality headsets. The EU intends to specify how Apple should provide effective interoperability with features like notifications, device pairing, and connectivity.​

​

The second proceeding examines the transparency, timeliness, and fairness of Apple's process for handling interoperability requests from developers and third parties for iOS and iPadOS.​

​

​

Essentially ensuring 3rd party connected devices have equal connectivity (which most do via bluetooth and Apps already), and ensuring startups can integrate.

Unless I'm reading this wrong? - can't see Apple leaving the EU over this.

 

[Timo_Existencia]

The cheapest phone i could find in my area is the Redmi A3. That phone costs like $75.

A piece of cheddar cheese can be had for $2 and same goes for a kilo of tomatoes.

So overall the cheapest android phones are still at least 15 times more expensive than "nearly free".

OK. If you want to be pedantic about the argument. That's fine. But I don't count it as honest dialogue.

Look, you clearly don't believe in the core principles of market economics. I do. You want government to hold people's hands when choosing which digital platforms. I don't. We won't agree on this topic.

 

[rexhunt]

Yeah except, who is "we"? Your opinion is extremely irrelevant in the grand scheme of things, because only like 4 people actually have the "user experience" term in their dictionary.

As for products and services, ultimately Apple charges more for their products in the EU than in the US, and by quite a bit, too. And they offer less functional services of their own while trying to weasel out of the DMA. So I'd argue you're acting in Apple's interests and not yours.

Be sure to adjust for the fact that Apple quotes prices pre tax in the US, which is up to 10.25% depending on jurisdiction. In the EU Apple prices include VAT which is up to 27%. Factor in the FX rate fluctuations it is not as different as people make out

 

[9081094]

It sounds to me that third party is trying to compete with Apple, not the other way around. Maybe they should try harder 👍

Apple deliberately ruling out third party gear by not letting the write software to communicate (closed API’s on apples part).

By opening up Apple has to compete because the playing field will be equal and value for money comes in mind 😎

 

[Timo_Existencia]

You're kind of ignoring the difficulties that come with switching platforms. All the apps, games, accessories, all things someone that switches will have to buy again.

I recently took an inventory of the the apps I use on my iPhone. I could replace the ones I need for less than $50. Nearly all of the apps I use most frequently are free apps that support services that I subscribe to that are universally available on all platforms. Banking apps. Fitness apps. Maps, music, social networking, translation. Dictionaries. Video streaming, etc. And I've been on iPhone since day 1. This is not a credible argument.

It's like moving houses. It's as easy as closing on the new place and selling the old one. Don't worry about packing up your belongings!

Facepalm.

 

[rexhunt]

There's a nice straw man. How about you steel man our arguments before you pretend to understand our culture?


The EU did not force the adoption of USB-C on Apple. Apple had already been moving toward this standard for years. And once I got my USB-C iphone, you know what I had to do with the 50 or so lightning cables I had? I'll let you think that over.

It’s almost as if people forget that the symmetrical lightning port was such a significant innovation that it was developed by USB in its next standard USB-C

 

[jz0309]

Nothing changes with this EU law for you. You can still buy all the Apple things you want.

You’ll probably even benefit from it. Apple has to compete with third party gear from other brands. So they likely innovate faster and selling cheaper.

You should be lucky buying your beloved Apple for less money. So why the complaining?

That just will not happen, instead, EU users will not get some of the new tech…
Bureaucrats getting involved in tech development will backfire, wait and see

 

[AND411]

includes all non-EU countries in Europe

Non-EU countries are negligible, including Russia, which is boycotted by Apple anyway. The only significant non-EU market is the UK, the rest are insignificant small nations.
This constant moaning that Apple should leave the EU, that the EU is mean to Apple and so on.
What do you all care, it's none of your business if you don't live in the EU? Without the EU you would still have a lightning port in your iPhones and the right to repair would make almost no progress.
The EU is a guarantor of peace between its members and looks after consumer rights, that must seem strange to you?

 

[9081094]

Overall sounds relatively small fry:

The first proceeding targets iOS functionalities predominantly used by connected devices such as smartwatches, headphones, and virtual reality headsets. The EU intends to specify how Apple should provide effective interoperability with features like notifications, device pairing, and connectivity.​

​

The second proceeding examines the transparency, timeliness, and fairness of Apple's process for handling interoperability requests from developers and third parties for iOS and iPadOS.​

​

​

Essentially ensuring 3rd party connected devices have equal connectivity (which most do via bluetooth and Apps already), and ensuring startups can integrate.

Unless I'm reading this wrong? - can't see Apple leaving the EU over this.

And exactly that… I don’t understand the fuzz about it. In the end every Apple user will benefit. Apple has to work harder to compete with their AirPods, Apple Watch, etc. And de customer can chose freely what’s best for him along the iPhone.

Free playing field for all manufacturers. Like with MacOS.

 

[Timo_Existencia]

Essentially ensuring 3rd party connected devices have equal connectivity (which most do via bluetooth and Apps already), and ensuring startups can integrate.

Unless I'm reading this wrong? - can't see Apple leaving the EU over this.

But, for example, Apple designs and implements specialized chips in the Airpods that provide unique functionality for their headphones over others. This isn't just a software issue, and forcing Apple to create parity with its competitors is fundamentally opposed to market economics.

Which is fine if you're fundamentally opposed to market economics. Just say that.

 

[9081094]

That just will not happen, instead, EU users will not get some of the new tech…
Bureaucrats getting involved in tech development will backfire, wait and see

What new tech are you talking about we don’t get?

 

[Timo_Existencia]

This has nothing to do with making iOS like Android. Is macOS the same as windows?

Apple just introduced iPhone mirroring to MacOS. The EU, if it treated it the same, would require Apple to facilitate iPhone mirroring to Windows. Right?

 

[9081094]

But, for example, Apple designs and implements specialized chips in the Airpods that provide unique functionality for their headphones over others. This isn't just a software issue, and forcing Apple to create parity with its competitors is fundamentally opposed to market economics.

Which is fine if you're fundamentally opposed to market economics. Just say that.

Apple has to open up their API’s to make it able for others to use the same hardware Apple uses. You’ll only benefit from it because it inspires Apple to make their products even better than the competing ones.

 

[ItchyRat2160]

So the EU Cabal can selectively apply laws they invented on the fly to retroactively punish Apple and other US companies while conveniently ignoring EU companies doing the same or worse?

First of all they're not a "Cabal" they're an elected body. 2nd of all, yes. Regulation of emerging industries is a thing that's always happened throughout history and usually after they're well-established. This is no different. They're doing it to protect consumers (you and me) from corporate over-stepping that harms consumers. 3rdly, all laws are invented. None "on-the-fly". 4thly, they're applying the DMA to all businesses, not just Apple. Just because they're the only business you hear about here doesn't mean that's the case.