Apple to Let EU Users Set New Defaults for Multiple Apps, Delete App Store, Photos, Messages and More

[raghu8912]

No. It's for businesses and end users. Literally written by the EU people: "Consumers will have more and better services to choose from, more opportunities to switch their provider if they wish so, direct access to services, and fairer prices."

people can switch to android now if they don't like iPhone can't they ?
they have thousands of apps to choose from app store ?
if they don't like iPhone, android they can buy phones from Huawei ?

 

[raghu8912]

Wait a minute ... I need to sit down

So you're saying I could buy a little handheld computer and do whatever I want with it?
Like I'd buy it ... and actually own it?

whoa...
Mind...Blown...

agree, i don't understand why i can't replace processor in my phone, why can't i replace Apple A series processor with AMD processor ?
EU if you are listening you should work on it.

 

[raghu8912]

I didn't used to think the way I do now. I used to think that Apple had the right to dictate much about iPhones.

But over the last few years, I've steadily become more and more annoyed at their actions and attitude, which I believe are against their own best interests.

They're annoying developers.
They're acting like parents in telling us customers what we can and cannot do.
They're putting up prices and offering less for that money due to a lack of competition.
They're sitting on their laurels, milking the cash cow.
They rely on lawyers instead of doing the right thing.
They don't play well with third parties and expect them to be the ones to compromise.
They've got too comfortable.

You can see the effects of this beginning with the disastrous Vision Pro. Expensive and not enough use for it.

They need a damn good kick up the backside and if the EU are the ones to do it, I'm all for it.

I want the cool, inventive, clever, cool Apple back, urgently!

They're annoying developers.
developers can develop for android, or some one can design/manufacture their own phone

They're acting like parents in telling us customers what we can and cannot do.
i am sure everyone knows that they can't side load apps before buying iPhone, if you don't like it then buy an android.

They're putting up prices and offering less for that money due to a lack of competition.
EU is not doing anything to create competition here that will reduce phone prices.

They're sitting on their laurels, milking the cash cow.
They rely on lawyers instead of doing the right thing.
They don't play well with third parties and expect them to be the ones to compromise.
like what ?
They've got too comfortable.
if they get too comfortable they will loose money, and some one else will start competing with Apple.

 

[raghu8912]

When the apps you use leave the appstore then what? It's already happening.


Until vendors complain that no one is switching to them and they petition to ask on every update to try to pester people into switching. (Great example every major Windows 11 update checking if you are sure you don't want to upload your files to the cloud change default browser etc.)

When developers stop developing app what would you do ?
force developer to develop app ?

 

[tmaciak]

Keep saying the DMA isn’t a cash grab but a consumer landmark decision, neither of which seems to fit.

As EU citizen my personal opinion is, that real purpose of DMA is to give European companies favor, as they are not able to compete with American BigTech, being less effective and forced to work in much more regulated environments. And I should not complain, as big part of this less effectiveness e.g. are my rights as employee or health insurance and now you can add those round words about freedom and such.

So, I don't complain, as long as it serves me, but as stated previously in this topic, I anyway would like not to be forced to continuously prove that I really like some app like Safari, and EU anyway should at least, treat all gatekeepers the same, which seems not to be the case at the moment.

 

[raghu8912]

So, essentially, when other businesses can’t compete they just lobby the EU to bring down the competition. Amazing.

EU can't create their own tech industry.
they are not making money from tech industry, so they are making money by imposing fines.
EU businesses can't compete with US companies so they are putting rules in place so that EU companies can compete.
EU should create their own phone, they can do what ever they want.

 

[raghu8912]

Living in the EU, that’s ********

doesn't matter where you live, people have option not to use iMessages.
people can install any messages app they want.

 

[raghu8912]

I'm not disagreeing in principle. The problem is though, that there are only two choices left, when it comes to mobile operating systems and app ecosystems. And this is not good for competition in the market for services provided on these platforms.

Some one in EU should start making their own hardware and software for mobile phones
it is easy.
all problems will be solved.

 

[ube98]

Soy ciudadano de la UE y no voy a eliminar ninguna de las aplicaciones de Apple. Estoy contento con lo que tengo, excepto Maps. Sigo prefiriendo Google Maps.

Prueba Apple Maps, yo lo hice y me va mucho mejor y me da mejores indicaciones. Hace unos años era horrible, pero ahora ha mejorado mucho

 

[raghu8912]

The fact is we have millions of other devices that have multiple ports. How was thunderbolt standardized again?

Remember this is a charging port standard, USB isn’t the standard, but the type C port with USB power delivery.

No data protocol has been standardized.

The firms that are part of the USB-IF consortium(Apple, Samsung, HP, intel, Microsoft, Texas Instruments etc) can invent a new port, present it to EU and it can become the new charging port standard.

If they want to go powerless they can.
If the group wants to implement a new port together, they can.

And untill they do this directive will automatically update every time the USB-IF updates their standard. When USB-C 4.1 is released, then it will be released, when USB power delivery 3.5 or 5.0 gets released it will automatically update to this as the standard.

The fact is we have millions of other devices that have multiple ports. How was thunderbolt standardized again?
Thunderbolt was not standardized, it was developed by Intel and Apple.
They both spent millions in developing this technology,

Remember this is a charging port standard, USB isn’t the standard, but the type C port with USB power delivery.
So they should have two ports one for power and other for data ?
what if some one wants to develop better/faster technology to transfer data ?
they are struck with USB C for now.

No data protocol has been standardized.

The firms that are part of the USB-IF consortium(Apple, Samsung, HP, intel, Microsoft, Texas Instruments etc) can invent a new port, present it to EU and it can become the new charging port standard.
USB-IF doesn't make much money, where do they get funding to develop new technology?
USB-IF was basically sleeping till thunderbolt kicked their ass.

If they want to go powerless they can.
If the group wants to implement a new port together, they can.

And untill they do this directive will automatically update every time the USB-IF updates their standard. When USB-C 4.1 is released, then it will be released, when USB power delivery 3.5 or 5.0 gets released it will automatically update to this as the standard.

 

[ube98]

a citizen of EU here: I’m not going to delete any of Apple apps. I’m simply happy with what I have except of Maps. I still prefer Google Maps.

Try Apple Maps, I did it and it works much better and gives me better directions. A few years ago it was horrible, but now it has improved a lot

 

[raghu8912]

It's not about UX. A French phone operator here offers way more advanced features than the classical phone app you can find on iPhone (advanced spam filters with actual real identification of the caller - name and everything, ability to forward call on another device - keeping them active, multiple calls at the same time - not only two, call recording, call transcription, …). It has been able to provide an app for Android allowing users to replace their default phone app with their one… but not on iPhone because Apple forbids them to do so.

Another example: my wife doesn't use iCloud Photos or Google Photos but another provider. Why on earth, does she have to take a photo, look at it on the default photo app, then wait for the sync, switch the app she is actually willing to use?

Same with contacts for eg… do you guys know that as soon as you fire up your Android phone, your contact get synced to your Google Account without asking you? And even if you disable this, some time it's back on I don't know how? Isn't it stealing data from the user without his consent?

So, by allowing to replace all those default apps they try to avoid that (even if it will never be perfect).

At the end if companies don't respect user rights I think it's sometime good or necessary to make law and make them remember their duties. But I guess it's a difference of perception (or culture) between US and EU.

pretty simple, buy an android.
even better that french company can develop their own phone, app store.
people have choice.

 

[ube98]

a citizen of EU here: I’m not going to delete any of Apple apps. I’m simply happy with what I have except of Maps. I still prefer Google Maps.

Try Apple Maps, I did and it works much better and gives me better directions. It was horrible a few years ago but it has improved a lot now.

 

[raghu8912]

EU please make it mandatory to have thunderbolt 4 in all phones and tablets, i am tired of this USB 4 transfer speeds.
and i want to run windows and linux on my phone too.
so Apple and all other manufacturers should install all 3 operating systems, customers can choose what ever OS they want.

 

[serryjeinfeld]

e.g. "Businesses will have a market to sell through and capitalism will again work"

capitalism didn't stop working before. don't like Apple's policies? don't build iOS apps. the competing platform, Android, who has a much larger marketshare, lets you setup shop exactly how you want it to be.

 

[MilaM]

But somehow, I don't need to go through this screen after each Android update. Actually, what I only don't like is asking me constantly about the same. If I once chosen Safari as default, I should never be asked gain about that, until I will decide to change it.

I only saw this screen once so far. So I'm not sure what you are talking about.

It seems, that it will be shown once again when we upgrade to iOS 18 in a couple of weeks. The reason could be, that the first screen did not fulfil all the stipulations in the DMA. Not sure who is to blame for this, but ok. I don't think that there will be a reason to show it again after that.

BTW, some beta testers might be seing it more often for testing reasons.

 

[MilaM]

No offence, but unfortunately, so far it seems, that EU commission has similar approach, there is big uproar what Apple should allow or not, and when somebody says, that Android manufacturers are doing the same, there is "I don't know, maybe they should, maybe we will check" and so on.

So apparently Samsung was not singled out as a gatekeeper. But since it is using Google Android, I think they should also be subject to all the same rules. The EU Commission is pretty busy currently helping Apple and Google to adjust to the DMA. There is reason to believe, that they will look into other Android OS implementors later.

 

[MilaM]

Some one in EU should start making their own hardware and software for mobile phones
it is easy.
all problems will be solved.

Great suggestion. Until it becomes reality, we have the DMA.

 

[marcozs]

So instead of looking you decided to just pretend it's fine and suggest I'm wrong. Nice.

iOS and iPadOS - Feature Availability

iOS and iPadOS have so many amazing features. Find out which ones are available on iPhone and iPad in your country or region.

www.apple.com

There are a few places but that's not all places. Try to get out more.

You are right, I based my answer on personal experience and I didn’t count the exact number.

• Apple Maps directions is available in 95 countries (counting from your link)
• Google Maps directions is available in about 109 countries (best info I could find)

So it seems in the same ball park number, some minor countries supported only by Google, while only Apple Maps is available in China.

 

[tmaciak]

It seems, that it will be shown once again when we upgrade to iOS 18 in a couple of weeks. The reason could be, that the first screen did not fulfil all the stipulations in the DMA. Not sure who is to blame for this, but ok. I don't think that there will be a reason to show it again after that.

You should read document you refer to. At least, we will need to confirm selection on each new device we will be migrating to/setting on our account (which actually means risk, that we will be asked with upgrades to new iOS generation, but yes, this part is to be seen).

It irritates me because it breaks my UX experience related to device change, till now it was click, clik, enter Apple ID, click, clik, everything is exactly the same as on old device, but now praise highest EU commission! if I dare to like Safari, I will again need to prove, that I stil like it.

I know, that this is small thing, but how I can take EU commission seriously, if they don't respect choices I have made? I have stated above, what I think DMA is for, and such small details, only prove it.

 

[tmaciak]

The EU Commission is pretty busy currently helping Apple and Google to adjust to the DMA. There is reason to believe, that they will look into other Android OS implementors later.

If they can't handle task, they set their selves, they are just incompetent.

EDIT: And actually, what should worry you, if you are EU citizen, that no European company was indicated as gate keeper. We lost that race long ago, and no DMA will fix it.

 

[Sophisticatednut]

Don’t require evidence of an opinion — of which if the shoe fits.


100% you do, provide the “whatever” is within the regulatory framework. there are thousands upon thousands of “whatever’s” that are perfectly legal to sell. Notice I said legal.

So it’s baseless then…

So what evidence or reasons do you have to state a false allegation? That European firms will have any benefits above any American or non European firms in regard to the DMA?

Stating an opinion supported without evidence is false information you’re speaking.

Maybe not required but nonetheless it is there. More evidence though of the sinister intent of the DMA.

It being there is irrelevant with we have existing consumer laws. And it’s outside the DMA.

Keep saying the DMA isn’t a cash grab but a consumer landmark decision, neither of which seems to fit.

It’s can both be not a landmark consumer decision and not a cash grab.

 

[BaldiMac]

The fact is we have millions of other devices that have multiple ports. How was thunderbolt standardized again?

Remember this is a charging port standard, USB isn’t the standard, but the type C port with USB power delivery.

No data protocol has been standardized.

The firms that are part of the USB-IF consortium(Apple, Samsung, HP, intel, Microsoft, Texas Instruments etc) can invent a new port, present it to EU and it can become the new charging port standard.

If they want to go powerless they can.
If the group wants to implement a new port together, they can.

And untill they do this directive will automatically update every time the USB-IF updates their standard. When USB-C 4.1 is released, then it will be released, when USB power delivery 3.5 or 5.0 gets released it will automatically update to this as the standard.

This is just your usual strategy of introducing irrelevant nonsense to avoid acknowledging drawbacks of your favored strategy.

I never said anything about data protocols or power delivery, so I don't need to "remember" anything. I understand how standards groups work. Most people understand the benefits of competition to push technology forward. Standards also have benefits. It's a give and take. Introducing government approval into a standards process tilts the scales the wrong way as far as I'm concerned.

For example, let's say Nokia comes up with a reveloutionary phone design that requires a new port. No one else is even close. How does this come to market in the EU? Are their competitors going to approve it on the USB board?!?

Where do you get the idea from that politicians are overseeing the USB Implementers Forum? It is governed by representatives from the industry and Apple has one of seven seats on the board.

In the sense that the EU would have to approve adoption of the new port.

 

[BaldiMac]

Are you implying that iPhones will somehow accept more than 240W of power input at some point in the future?

No. Because I'm not an oracle. There are even reasons to change the size or shape of the port that have nothing to do with power delivery or data speeds.

Bunk point. If iPad didn’t adopt USB-C, sales would have declined. Please let me know if you find an article saying that it was always Apple’s plan — but I’m pretty confident that Apple was forced to change course. Pretty sure they wanted to go all-wireless.

I have no idea what Apple's plan was, and neither to you. All I said was that Apple took initial steps toward USB-C adoption before the requirements were announced.

I don’t think “the next decade” comment was anything more than “we pinky promise that we won’t make you buy expensive, proprietary cables, again, anytime soon.”

That's the point. It was a commitment based on the pain of having to switch connectors. Adopting USB-C when it was released a couple years after lightning would have broken that commitment.

 

[tmaciak]

That's the point. It was a commitment based on the pain of having to switch connectors. Adopting USB-C when it was released a couple years after lightning would have broken that commitment.

But you know, here comes EU and says that they have to change it. We probably will never know for sure, but in my personal opinion, there is serious chance, that actually what EU enforced could fit Apple, if they wanted finally switch to USB-C anyway. No matter what, if it would be just Apple decision, it would be big uproar from all sides, but you know, EU forced new law and Apple fought for their customers but lost...