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Apple Intelligence Features Not Coming to European Union at Launch Due to DMA
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Ok, this is complete bs. How is iPhone Mirroring different from any other Handoff/Continuity feature before it, against which the DMA had ZERO retroactive effect (and we all know damn well that that’s precisely how the DMA works, as it doesn’t matter whether a feature is in beta or if it’s been established for more than a decade, if it runs afoul of it, that is that)? If anything, it’s tamer than the arguably more personal Continuity Camera, and it only works when you have both devices logged into a single, personal iCloud/Apple ID/Apple Account. It’s the freaking user who’s deliberately choosing to log in on both and give Apple some of their personal data (and, unlike that Recall insanity, I doubt there’s any uplink of the iPhone’s screen contents), and it is, AFAIK, dependent on them sharing a connection to the same WiFi network. Heck, if that’s a potential privacy issue, have the user confirm that both devices are connected to a secure home/enterprise router or personal hotspot instead of one of those shady free WiFi networks.
As for SharePlay, how the heck is that different from FaceTime/iMessage screen sharing or TeamViewer on the Mac? Is Apple somehow preventing other developers from offering similar apps on the iOS/iPadOS app store or through those newfangled competing marketplaces and side-loading? They might be Sherlocking them, but… potential anti-trust lawsuits never stopped them.
I completely get that they’d be delaying Apple Intelligence due to, yes, the DMA or, more obviously, localization issues (we have a crap ton different languages around these parts, after all, and there are countries like my own that still don’t have access to a local variant of Siri, let alone to any product from the HomePod range), but this? It reeks of laziness and of Apple punishing EU/EEA users for the EC’s decisions and trying to weaponize the former against the latter.
I’m giving feedback, yes, but not to the EC as they expect… It’ll be aimed squarely at Cupertino, telling them to get off of their lazy arse and do their freaking job like they’re supposed to.
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If this turns out to be true and Apple follows through with it, I'm done with Apple. Why are they treating those in Europe as 2nd class customers? So angry about this right now. 
The „Pro. Beyond.„ phone which they sold me for over 2k euros and was their top phone one year ago can’t go beyond one fully featured iOS support cause it only got 6GB ram. I am in no hurry at all getting their AI.If this turns out to be true and Apple follows through with it, I'm done with Apple. Why are they treating those in Europe as 2nd class customers? So angry about this right now.
Crippling their OS for European customers could be bad for sales. I for one will be seriously pissed off with Apple if they’re not making this work. Who wants a 2nd class dumbphone? Apparently their Apple Intelligence is not so smart…
Before, all you people seemed to hate Apple's inclusion of AI, shouting empty threats of leaving Apple. Now that the EU gets 'involved' and it's not coming, out of nowhere everyone seems to want he privacy invasive AI features...?
I don't get it
I don't get it
If iPhone mirroring is allowed, it effectively turns the Mac into an actual phone and the Mac will be forced to be included in the same DMA.
Considering China is also problematic, Apple might as well rebrand it as “American Intelligence”. 😋 They either did not plan it well at all or got too arrogant.
But Macs have no issues with DMA, do they, as DMA was always targeting iOS and, later, iPadOS. And if iOS is already DMA-compliant, which Apple say it is, what’s the issue then?
It will completely tie MacOS to EU regulations. Whether iPadOS, TVOS, or VisionOS are in EU's sights is conjecture. Why would Apple want to force MacOS to be included?
Well there are exceptions. The current (dumb) Siri handles Finnish just fine, but Google Assistant still isn’t available in Finnish 🤷♂️
Yes Apple! Keep doing this way! Let's clean any following iOS for EU users down to ordinary functions only: call, text, email, browser, period!
This made me wonder what happens after that or if ever Apple leaves or at least loses substantial customer share?
Is the next company in line tagged as a monopoly/gatekeeper/etc? Or those are set for eternity?
Well, I can’t speak for others, but I will definitely not be purchasing a phone with only a promise of ‘some’ features. Above all this sets a precedent of the EU becoming 2nd class customers, and Apple should get a slap on the wrist for that from customers. Vote with your wallet all!
I was hoping to have reason to shall out good £££ for a worthy upgrade from my 13 Mini, but if essential features are not available on the new iPhones, I am happy to save the money and continue using my 13.
Switzerland is not EU and will never be a part of that mess.
Apple today said that European customers will not get access to the Apple Intelligence, iPhone Mirroring, and SharePlay Screen Sharing features that are coming to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac this September due to regulatory issues related to the Digital Markets Act.
In a statement to Financial Times, Apple said that there will be a delay as it works to figure out how to make the new functionality compatible with the European Union's competition rules.
Apple Intelligence includes a wide range of additions that overhaul everything from Siri to apps, while iPhone Mirroring is a feature that allows the iPhone to be controlled on a connected Mac. SharePlay Screen Sharing lets users take control of another person's screen while using the SharePlay feature, with the aim of providing assistance.
Some of the Siri-related Apple Intelligence capabilities will not be launching until 2025, but Genmoji, Image Playground, Writing Tools, and many new in-app capabilities are set to be available starting in September, and these are what iPhone, iPad, and Mac users in the European Union will miss out on. It is not clear how long it will take Apple to expand this features to the EU, nor what changes Apple might have to make to introduce them under the DMA.
Apple's warning comes as the European Commission prepares to make a ruling on whether prior changes to allow for app marketplaces meet the terms of the DMA. Regulators have said that there are "very serious" issues with Apple's implementation, likely related to the Core Technology Fee that Apple is charging.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Article Link: Apple Intelligence Features Not Coming to European Union at Launch Due to DMA
Will we get Apple Intelligence in 2024?
It might look like it’s Apple being petty, but if history teaches us anything, since forever the EU has been quite the non-negotiable hammer on many endeavors.
Even the PC world Microsoft and Windows had been regulated with things like forcing Windows to not have windows media player capabilities. You heard that right, media capabilities at the OS level to boot, meaning that it was a nightmare because just like deployed software is expected to have existing default drivers on keyboard, Bluetooth, WiFi, audio, etc (which Windows excels at) suddenly media handling wasn’t there anymore regressing on features over time.
(Source: https://hardcoresoftware.learningbyshipping.com/p/215-building-under-regulation)
At the same time it’s the EU the one threatening with worldwide revenue fines on a gadget that has minor market share and also treated as if a monopoly.
Maybe it’s a nothing burger, maybe it’s pettiness, but can’t blame the people in charge at Apple for being wary judging by previous behavior on all things software and hardware on EU.
In fact people in favor of DMA and EU bureaucracy would be in favor and happy for this, as finally they are basically complying and not breaking any rules or triggering fines for now (by doing nothing).
More like Apple is playing catch up as soon as they can. This thing won’t even come out for the iPhone 15
I agree. When the EU realise how they are stifling competitiveness, and their lobbyists stop paying the corrupt politicians, the EU might start making sensible, uncorrupted decisions..