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

[NightfallOrchid]

Defaults or not, living in the EU, the majority of people I know are iPhone users, and nobody uses iMessage or Apple Maps, zero.

The phone app is where you receive calls from people you don’t know (spam) and iMessage is for 2FA codes.

So, I would say that Apple has already lost the default app battle here.

Living in the EU, that’s ********

 

[cyanite]

For example, I will happily delete massaging app that I never used,

I’m not aware that iOS ships with a massaging app? That actually sounds useful. How does it work?

 

[cbaca51]

Another dumb decision, not surprised

 

[ginkobiloba]

I think they should go all the way, and let you delete iOS and install Android instead. Or Windows Mobile or BlackberryOs. Or NokiaOs…

 

[Aurizen]

Europe gets the nice stuff. I wish they would've adopted the same thing in the US. or at least expanded Browser and have sideloading.

 

[JapanApple]

such trash, just buy the phone you want, clearly if the iPhone doesnt offer what you want do f'ng buy it. I dont understand whats wrong with an ecosystem.

People seem to be set in their minds. Common sense tells us nobody is forcing you to buy Apple devices. Endless loops of average people believing it's their right to do what they want since it is their device. but the same people who can't accept other people's opinions. 👍

 

[gsurf123]

I’m curious how many mobile users in the EU, where Apple does not dominate the market, will now go deliberately buy an iPhone with the intention of ignoring Apple’s “it just works right out the box” philosophy, and spend all this effort to configure their iPhone to have the Android experience.

Only a few zealots.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I'm a small fry iOS developer who has removed all EU countries from my app sales. I recommend all iOS app developers do the same.

Bold strategy!

 

[turbineseaplane]

Forcing companies to operate in a certain way when there is already a competitive market is not freedom.

There isn’t enough competition according to the governing body of the region in question.

Apple doesn’t get to make up the rules for jurisdictions they operate within.

 

[gsurf123]

Somehow the regular user ends up with friction before they can use the phone. Anyone who wants to change the browser can do so with a few clicks. Now we have to click through these selections we do not want to make.

Can someone get a list of the top 12 browsers?

I can't wait to see more of the features Apple will hold back from Europe. The AI stuff is not going and Google is doing the same with their AI Stuff in Europe. It will be great to see Europe choked out of even more features.

 

[svish]

Good to see that users are given option to choose default apps

 

[AndiG]

Finally delete the Messages app that causes the biggest security risks.
I hope Signal develops the needed functionality for SMS 😍

 

[Piggie]

EU citizens already have freedom of choice. They are free to buy Android devices if they don’t like Apple devices.

Forcing companies to operate in a certain way when there is already a competitive market is not freedom. That’s government interference and market manipulation.

So you'd agree there should be clubs, hotels, sport events that women are not allowed in, as long as there are other places women are allowed in?
Or places white people are allowed but not black people?

I suspect you don't think that, and think these places should be FORCED BY LAW to allow open and equal access to all, irrespective of what their owners want?

So then why should it be any different for technology companies?

 

[.wojtek]

That law is actually not written for end users in mind. It's called a Digital MARKETS Act for a reason. The intention is to level the playground for businesses.

and the idea is sound -make free market more even to boost competition that should give more innovation.

Or are we content that new innovations are "new wallpapers"?

 

[lusty]

Apple Maps > Google Maps. Even engineers from Uber has data showing Apple Maps from several years ago having more accurate estimates than Waze/Gmaps.

Apple Maps can’t even do turn by turn in a lot of places. It’s fine in the US but elsewhere its utter trash.

 

[AlexESP]

imagine you had the options to modify your mum's iPhone, so that

• only the Apps she actually uses are on it - no bloats and apps hidden from the start screen but still there, just her essential Apps.
• the layout/size/icons/themes can be customized to something she likes and finds comfortable - instead of just Apple's way, jalibroken or SOL...
• allow you non webkit browsers and extensions and other settings that block popups completely
• all while having the peace of mind - that you - not Apple, being in control of updates/support - no popups of new functions that confuse her with you being far away. So you can update her device and explain stuff while you visit.
• knowing that your mum has a stable and quite secure device she knows on how to use

Android has all those things and she didn’t like it. We bought an iPhone because she has an iPad, and we all like it and know it. We don’t need regulators to tell us “you’re wrong”.

 

[lusty]

No, because if I said that I am a Trader, I will have to supply my address and phone number. That, in my opinion, is too much of an invasion of privacy as I am an independent developer. I have no corporate address or phone number. I do have an email and support anyone with any issue on any one of my apps. I do not take or use any of a user's personal information and I do not share their email addresses if they should email me about an issue. Apple is very cognizent of privacy, but they are cowering to the EU by forcing developers to, in some cases, divulge their address and phone number. The juice is not worth the squeeze in my case.

So you’ve decided to exit one of the largest markets in the world because you refuse to comply with a law to protect your users privacy. Nice. Glad you self regulated it’ll save the EU some time.

 

[marcozs]

I assume many here are US-based. In the US you always propagate freedom and yet most judge the EU for supporting user's rights and freedom. It specifically does not affect users outside of the EU and even if so, you have the CHOICE. Stick with Apple's own apps so nothing changes? Easy. Want to go another route? Now it is POSSIBLE.

The DMA tries to stop monopolies. Yes, you have the choice between iOS and Android but what if Android now goes the same route as iOS? Now what, what is your choice then?

If you had the choice of an old serviceable Ford truck or an Tesla-only certified repair center wouldn't it be a good idea to force Tesla to open up their services so you can choose? That ultimately leads to competition and benefits everyone.

Now imagine a world where Windows is locked down and bulged up with Microsoft apps you must use because you can't change that. Imagine being locked into their Microsoft Store because it is the only place to install apps. Imagine Teams is the sole way of communicating because Microsoft doesn't allow WhatsApp or Signal to exist. Edge is not a browser, it is the only browser. Now people start begging Microsoft to please leave their Windows locked because the EU forces them to allow Firefox or Chrome. Wouldn't that be hilarious?

The EU doesn't ban Safari or iMessage. It makes them a choice you can or cannot make

Windows has 75% market share in Europe vs 29% iOS. That makes a slight difference in preventing market access to browsers for example…

 

[marcozs]

Apple Maps can’t even do turn by turn in a lot of places. It’s fine in the US but elsewhere its utter trash.

Not sure where these “a lot of places” are. I use only Apple Maps where I live (very far from US) and anywhere I travel to…

 

[tmaciak]

As EU citizen I'm quite indifferent to this new regulation as I really like Safari, so it will be still my choice anyway. I don't like Chrome, and mobile Firefox is so, so for me, so actually, the only alternative is Edge. The rest bloat on this choice screen I would not touch even with the stick.

BUT! Why will I need to confirm that I still want to use Safari with every update??? Separately for each of my devices??? Really???

It just seems like EU wants to punish me for daring to like Safari. And it raises question about competency of EU commission (not mentioning clarity of their intention - actually, I have no doubts, that their intentions are not clear, but it's my personal opinion).

What irritates me, that EU is hypocritical in approach. Is riding Apple everywhere, but here is Opera, which set itself as default without my consent and here are my Samsung phones, bloated with Samsung apps which I can't uninstall, only disable or the same for telecom apps, when I buy phone with contract.

 

[lusty]

While it's not as bad as you're portraying it here, surely iMessage and Apple Maps are not dominant apps in any way. Hence the EU forcing this on Apple is just plain stupid and makes no sense at all. In fact, it even gives more power to dominant market players.

No. If users make an active choice to install the dominant app then there's no foul play. If Apple prevent you choosing that dominant app and insist you have to use their inferior POS app that's monopolist behaviour.

I'll remind you that most of the world would still be using Internet Explorer if the EU hadn't stepped in, and Mac users would still be in limbo with an Internet Explorer that didn't support everything and no other good option that worked with corporate apps either. This is literally the same scenario.

 

[lusty]

Not sure where these “a lot of places” are. I use only Apple Maps where I live (very far from US) and anywhere I travel to…

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.

 

[MilaM]

The good thing with Apple choice screens and pop-ups is that those are their decision, and if they’re too annoying users will stop buying iPhones, so they will pay for their mistakes.

Here, they will pay for the mistakes the EU is making (while EU commissionaires are not paying for them).

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.

 

[tmaciak]

And theoretically, we should have the same choice screen and popups on both iOS and Android. But it seems that for EU it's easier now to ride Apple.

 

[Dranix]

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."

Meaning, businesses will rip off the customers, collect their data und sell it. **** all protection Apple was giving end users - for the profits x_X