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In a recent document outlining the steps it has taken to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act, Apple revealed that it will allow iPhone and iPad users in the EU to set default navigation and translation apps starting in "spring 2025." That timeframe suggests these options will be added in iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, which should be released in April.

Apple-Maps-vs-Google-Maps-Feature.jpg

Apple had already announced that iPhone and iPad users in the EU would be able to set default navigation and translation apps in "future software updates," but it did not share a more specific timeframe for these options until now.

Once the iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 updates are released, iPhone and iPad users in the EU should be able to set default navigation and translation apps through the new "Default Apps" section in the Settings app on the devices. For example, users should be able to choose Google Maps, Waze, or other options as their default navigation app, instead of Apple Maps. Likewise, they should be able to choose Google Translate, Microsoft Translator, or other options as their default translation app, instead of Apple's Translate app.

As of the iOS 18.2 beta, iPhone users in the EU can already set a default browser app, mail app, app marketplace, phone calls app, messaging app, password manager app, and set default options for call filtering and software keyboards.

Apple's compliance document was released to the public today alongside the European Commission's announcement that it will be assessing whether Apple's changes to iPadOS effectively comply with the Digital Markets Act.

Article Link: Apple Suggests iOS 18.4 Will Allow iPhone Users in EU to Set Default Maps and Translation Apps
 
I like Apple Maps. More than Google.

But looking forward to switch the terrible Apple Translator for Deepl.
Really, don't know why Apples Engine can't recognize a simple Spanish sentence and translates to much literally.
 
Ir tooks that many years for Apple to allow switching a damn app. Eu is stupid sometimes, but otoh it is required to prevent evil abuse
 
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A welcome change. I don't mind Apple Maps but here in the UK its business names are outdated and it doesn't display motorway junction numbers which makes it useless for driving.
 
Music app category would be great as well. But that seems less likely as it's a paid Apple Service.

I had to delete Apple Music on my iPhone because it won't stop popping up at the worst times. It wants to auto start (and sometimes auto play a random song) any time it's connected to Bluetooth.

And ironically it cannot be removed on the Mac, nor can News or any of their other revenue sources. They put it in the SSV. So we are going backwards, iOS is becoming more open and Mac is becoming more locked down.
 
Apple revealed that it will allow iPhone and iPad users in the EU to set default navigation and translation apps starting in "spring 2025."
30 minutes of selecting defaults when you get a new phone in the EU. Fun stuff. I hope they keep it the hell away from the US.
It would take you 30 minutes to set a default navigation and translation app?
 
30 minutes of selecting defaults when you get a new phone in the EU. Fun stuff. I hope they keep it the hell away from the US.
We all engage in hyperbole from time to time but how many minutes would you say it is in reality?
I mean Apple could have a single page headed, "Choose your defaults", with a list below that consisting maybe of Mail client, Maps client and Web browser to name but a few.
You click each one and it takes you into another screen where the default included app is at the top followed by a choice of maybe 5 and clicking any one of those 5 takes you to either the app store to download or the devs website.
I mean they could even have a, "Mark for download" button so that when you've actually finished it then downloads all your choices simultaneously.
 
I had to delete Apple Music on my iPhone because it won't stop popping up at the worst times. It wants to auto start (and sometimes auto play a random song) any time it's connected to Bluetooth.

And ironically it cannot be removed on the Mac, nor can News or any of their other revenue sources. They put it in the SSV. So we are going backwards, iOS is becoming more open and Mac is becoming more locked down.
technically, no deletion is happening on iOS. The action of "deletion" for the built-in apps is actually hiding the icon and preventing it from launching. The apps are still there taking up space.
 
Apple Code be Like
Java:
if (app == "browser") {
    userBrowserDefault()
}
else if (app == "translate") {
    userTranslateDefault()
}
else if (app == "music") {
    // userMusicDefault() wait until EU complains
    forceAppleMusic()
}
else if (app == "camera") {
    // useCameraDefault() // major iOS 19 feature, only on iPhone 19 Max Ultra 2 (becsuse of reasons)
   useBestCameraEverJustTrustUs()
}
 
Choosing a default map app in the EU should've been available since 2008 (when the iPhone launched in the EU). It's that bad. Like, an atrocious experience.

-wrong (old) exit number on the highway in Spain,
-directions to wrong address,
-sending me by car to a highway that was closed (obsolete) two years earlier,
-outdated business info,
-feature parity across devices lacks,
-missing a boatload of features. A boatload.

Now Google did indeed have a head start here, starting many years earlier. And Apple simply throwing more money and resources to the problem may not 'fix' the situation rapidly. But boy, when they released Maps they only tried it out in SF, CA. That tells me they have no idea how to design good software, no idea on what a truly good QA dept. ought to do.

It's bad. It get's better, but stays bad. Good riddance Apple Maps.
 
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