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

[surferfb]

You really don’t understand where this is about. If you did, you’d also recognize that it is in your benefit too.

No - we understand completely what it is about. You're being naive and not recognizing how it's going to stifle innovation - you think it's all going to be roses and there will be no negative consequences. Companies don't just do things out of the goodness of their hearts, they do them to make money. And if there isn't ROI because the features are just going to get copied by competitors who then undercut Apple on price, new features aren't going to be released.

 

[spazzcat]

...


Samsung must do no such thing. They are not gatekeepers under the DMA.

And there is the issue with the DMA, its half baked and half assed.

 

[kognos]

This is such a bad argument. Apple was CLEARLY moving to USB-C. Maybe not as fast enough as you want, but they were. At most, the EU got it put in place a few years early. And now we are stuck with USB-C for all eternity because of the EU. There will never be a better charger. Thank God they didn't do this when micro-usb was the primary charger.

Hindsight is always 20/20. You can't say they were clearly moving to USB-C, because it's not like the EU just out of the blue tells Apple the mandate. Apple knew this was coming miles (ha kilometers) in advance and so started implementing USB-C in advance. They knew... but neither you nor I can say whether they would've done it anyway. Why would they, though -- seriously, where are the distinct advantages? Apple is absolutely infamous for caring about their bottom line and insular technology over industry-standards. So I think, respectfully, it's a little confirmation-bias thinking to presume they would've done it anyway.

Also, we're not stuck with USB-C for all eternity, there's just a standard now. That standard can be changed. Apple can join the EU commission and advocate for Lightning cables to be standardized across all platforms just like anyone else. (but they won't because it'll never pass the "all money goes to Apple" barrier, no 3rd party cable mgmt, etc)

But I absolutely guarantee you, there isn't a corporation on earth that has "sudden" knowledge of a paradigm shift. Apple knew ages in advance they were out of alignment with EU stance on USB-C prior to any enforcement. So if you think Apple was just doing it early because they just decided to, that's most likely incorrect.

"We can keep selling lightning cables and make 85% profit on every $25 cable, or..."
"Nah, lets change to a different standard cause we're nice people."

Look inside you Luke. You know this to be true. Search your feelings.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

So, breaking the fundamentals of Market Economics is nothing to worry about?

If you want to play in the EU's courts, you play by the EU's rules. I don't see what's complicated about that.

 

[AdamNC]

And people wonder why QC, bugs, and such are becoming more common? F the EU. No government should tell a company how or what to build. Apple should stop selling to any EU country. Screw them.

 

[spazzcat]

If you want to play in the EU's courts, you play by the EU's rules. I don't see what's complicated about that.

Doesn't mean what they are doing is a good idea and will not end badly.

 

[Timo_Existencia]

Hindsight is always 20/20. You can't say they were clearly moving to USB-C, because it's not like the EU just out of the blue tells Apple the mandate.

Please. Apple was the FIRST company to use USB-C on a laptop. In 2015.

This self-congratultion story is simply false. Apple was transitioning for a long time.

 

[surferfb]

Hindsight is always 20/20. You can't say they were clearly moving to USB-C, because it's not like the EU just out of the blue tells Apple the mandate. Apple knew this was coming miles (ha kilometers) in advance and so started implementing USB-C in advance. They knew... but neither you nor I can say whether they would've done it anyway. Why would they, though -- seriously, where are the distinct advantages? Apple is absolutely infamous for caring about their bottom line and insular technology over industry-standards. So I think, respectfully, it's a little confirmation-bias thinking to presume they would've done it anyway.

Apple was literally the first company to release an all USB-C laptop. They'd switched their iPads to USB-C years ago. They clearly were moving in that direction before the EU started hinting they were going to require it.

Also, we're not stuck with USB-C for all eternity, there's just a standard now. That standard can be changed. Apple can join the EU commission and advocate for Lightning cables to be standardized across all platforms just like anyone else. (but they won't because it'll never pass the "all money goes to Apple" barrier, no 3rd party cable mgmt, etc)

And why would any company invest money on creating a new standard when they don't know if it'll be approved by the EU? That's not how companies work.

"We can keep selling lightning cables and make 85% profit on every $25 cable, or..."
"Nah, lets change to a different standard cause we're nice people."

Apple is making the same margins on its USB-C cables as it was on its lightning cables, and there were hundreds, if not thousands, of companies making lighting cables that didn't pay Apple one cent. I suspect Apple has seen negligible difference, if any, in revenue as a part of switching to USB-C.

Look inside you Luke. You know this to be true. Search your feelings.

Nope - don't think any of what you said is true. Appreciate the reference though!

 

[I7guy]

You really don’t understand where this is about. If you did, you’d also recognize that it is in your benefit too.

For me the overarching factor is governmental interference to force companies to give away their intellectual property.

 

[Atog]

The EU isn’t forcing Apple to give their technology to any other competitor. The EU is forcing every manufacturer to open up their API’s to let other manufacturers communicate with those “big” inventions.

Apple can innovate or fabricate what they want as long as they let others being able to communicate with them.

For every manufacturer are the same rules. Samsung must allow an Apple Watch communicate the same way as their galaxy watch to a galaxy phone.

It’s up to Apple if they’ll write software for the galaxy phone to communicate to Apple Watch.

I dont want Apple to be just like others. You still don’t get it, do you.

I want Apple to be Apple, as Jobs intended. Not some random also-brand.

I want it to be closed, secure and just working. Even at cost of closed ecosystem.

I don’t want to pair Apple Watch with some other noname phone and experience sub par behavior which EC will NEVER be able to improve.

If market decides otherwise and I will stand alone with this opinion, Apple will go bankrupt, but not that some EU bureaucrats will in their delusional mind bend the market the way that every company will become equally soulless. Not the effing way.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Doesn't mean what they are doing is a good idea and will not end badly.

I fail to see how this is anything but good.

Oh no, other brands can make better smartwatches for me to choose from. The horror! Surely, having competitive choices in the market is to my own detriment!

 

[spazzcat]

I fail to see how this is anything but good.

Oh no, other brands can make better smartwatches for me to choose from. The horror! Surely, having competitive choices in the market is to my own detriment!

That isn't how it will work out. Apple will just stop adding features in the EU to the AW.

 

[9081094]

MacOS is becoming more like IOS over time. But there has been more technological advance in IOS than in MacOS over the past several years.

I'd prefer that MacOS gets closed down like IOS too.

If Mac OS uses their API’s the same way iOS uses you would only be able to use an Apple mouse, Apple keyboard, Apple monitor, Apple scanner, Apple printer…. Oh wait… Apple isn’t making any printers and scanners any more.

Also in the sound and music industry they wouldn’t be able to get movies and sound into Final Cut Pro or use a professional microphone.

The underlying code of macOS and iOS is almost the same. iOS is a stripped down version of macOS and not the other way around.

Eventually they’ll come together I hope and that will make even iPadOS more useful.

API’s are not the source code of an OS. API’s are code that communicates between certain parts of hardware.

Every year developers all around the world gather for WWDC to get trained to use those and let other developers benefit from the progress Apple made.

Now it’s like Apple is saying you’re allowed to use it and you’re not. While it must be free for everyone to get access.

That’s where the DMA comes in.

 

[Timo_Existencia]

If you want to play in the EU's courts, you play by the EU's rules. I don't see what's complicated about that.

On this, you and I agree.

 

[Stevez67]

Maybe the EU should pass a regulation that their digital equipment companies had to ensure interoperability of their other countries' digital equipment manufacturers to get on their platforms to satisfy the EU buyer. Put the burden where it should be instead of trying to legislate for other countries.

Nothing changes for you. You are still able to use your beloved Apple ecosystem and aren’t forced out.

There will probably come other brands offering the same simplicity but it’s totally up to you if you want it or not.

Microsoft experienced the same in the past and consumers only benefited when their lock-in was regulated.

It’s not targeted only at Apple but at every company that is willingly abusing the playing field to favor only their own.

In the end every consumer benefits. Loyal Apple users are still able to use their beloved Apple gear. And other consumers can use other devices to work seamlessly.

You’ll have choice.

And there is the issue with the DMA, its half baked and half assed.

And not reciprocal.

 

[Timo_Existencia]

If Mac OS uses their API’s the same way iOS uses you would only be able to use an Apple mouse, Apple keyboard, Apple monitor, Apple scanner, Apple printer…. Oh wait… Apple isn’t making any printers and scanners any more.

Ummm...no. I can connect my bluetooth game controller or any third party bluetooth keyboard to my iPhone today.

Keep up.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

That isn't how it will work out.

Mind sharing a look into your crystal ball?

Apple will just stop adding features in the EU to the AW.

Apple making an inferior product is their prerogative. Not something the EU is mandating.

 

[9081094]

That isn't how it will work out. Apple will just stop adding features in the EU to the AW.

Then Apple is a dead duck in the water and consumers will buy those gear that will 😊

 

[Dawn of Individual Merit]

LOL at all the non-devs in chat who act like having Apple expose the same APIs they use themselves to 3rd parties is a bad thing for innovation in the market.

 

[surferfb]

I fail to see how this is anything but good.

Oh no, other brands can make better smartwatches for me to choose from. The horror! Surely, having competitive choices in the market is to my own detriment!

What you're missing is the new features and products that will never be released because the ROI isn't there for Apple to make them anymore when they'll just have to give them away to competitors. Unfortunately it is unlikely we will be able to point to an unreleased feature or product and say I told you so.

I mean, when we do that with Apple Intelligence all we hear is "malicious compliance" and "Apple's just being spiteful" when it's obvious to anyone with half a brain that Apple is going to lose more money in people not upgrading their iPhones in the EU than they would even if the EU mandated third-party app stores with no core technology fee.

 

[Timo_Existencia]

LOL at all the non-devs in chat who act like having Apple expose the same APIs they use themselves to 3rd parties is a bad thing for innovation in the market.

Steve Jobs was a non-dev. What's your point?

 

[Meatwad]

They should do it and then when iOS in the EU becomes as virus ridden and hacked as Android and the users are screaming about how their money got stolen Apple should point right at the EU and go "I don't understand why you're upset? This is what you asked for."

 

[9081094]

Mind sharing a look into your crystal ball?



Apple making an inferior product is their prerogative. Not something the EU is mandating.

Don’t put any energy into it anymore. They just don’t understand and think we’re destroying Apple.

 

[Timo_Existencia]

act like having Apple expose the same APIs they use themselves to 3rd parties is a bad thing for innovation in the market.

IF your theory is correct, then there should be loads of more innovation in the Android world. AND, if you perceive there IS a lot more innovation in the Android world, then you can simply use Android products.

 

[surferfb]

Then Apple is a dead duck in the water and consumers will buy those gear that will 😊

Until they get declared a gatekeeper and have to start giving away their features for free.

It's a hot take, but my hot take is that the DMA is actually going to cement the power of the gatekeepers in the EU, not break it.