Apple to Remove iPhone-Apple Watch Wi-Fi Sync in EU With iOS 26.2

[Unregistered 4U]

"But rather than comply with the requirement, Apple is apparently disabling the feature entirely for European users. Apple reportedly confirmed the decision to French publication Numerama."

Of course they are. I don't know why it's so hard for these tech companies to follow legislation in the markets they operate in without throwing tantrums.

It’s not “rather than comply with the requirement” though. Not complying with the requirement would be leaving the feature available while NOT making it available to others. This is fully complying with the requirement.

 

[turbineseaplane]

The EU DMA legislation was surgically built around excluding Spotify too, which is another precious EU-based company.

Is this surprising?

Every jurisdiction does this, including the US .. and Apple is just fine with lobbying/bribing the US administrations to try to get what they want.

Life isn't fair.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

So, those against Apple are essentially saying, “Yes, the companies that want this data have been shown to and have been legally punished for misusing customer data. BUT, Apple should absolutely be forced to allow those companies this opportunity to misuse that data!”

Interesting world.

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

Is this surprising?

Every jurisdiction does this, including the US .. and Apple is just fine with lobbying/bribing the US administrations to try to get what they want.

Life isn't fair.

Oh absolutely. The South Koreans do it with LG and Samsung, China with any of their own, and so on.

I just find it hilarious when the EU do it, because for some reason, so many people believe that the EU are somehow different and better from the rest of the world, but the reality is that they're just as corrupt and useless as everyone else. They also seem to have a distinct ability to kneecap their citizens in the process.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Oh absolutely. The South Koreans do it with LG and Samsung, China with any of their own, and so on.

I just find it hilarious when the EU do it, because for some reason, so many people believe that the EU are somehow different and better from the rest of the world, but the reality is that they're just as corrupt and useless as everyone else. They also seem to have a distinct ability to kneecap their citizens in the process.

I'll agree with you, if you'd concede that Apple is every bit as vulnerable to nefarious intentions.

It was a real mask off moment for me, seeing some of their internal communications in the files that were part of the Epic case (as well as having that VP literally lie under oath).

I think we'd all be well served to look at all these jurisdictions and mega corporations under the same microscopes and with similar amounts of skepticism.

They are all angling for their interests and willing to go to often surprising levels in pursuit of those goals.

 

[MilaM]

I just find it hilarious when the EU do it, because for some reason, so many people believe that the EU are somehow different and better from the rest of the world, but the reality is that they're just as corrupt and useless as everyone else. They also seem to have a distinct ability to kneecap their citizens in the process.

I prefer what you call "EU corruption" to any other kind of corruption in the world.

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

I'll agree with you, if you'd concede that Apple is every bit as vulnerable to nefarious intentions.

It was a real mask off moment for me, seeing some of their internal communications in the files that were part of the Epic case (as well as having that VP literally lie under oath).

I think we'd all be well served to look at all these jurisdictions and mega corporations under the same microscopes and with similar amounts of skepticism.

They are all angling for their interests and willing to go to often surprising levels in pursuit of those goals.

100%, everyone's in it for themselves.

I do have a (probably naïve) viewpoint that Apple does care about user privacy, but ultimately they're a money-making enterprise, and anything that they do is in interest maximise that return. If "good PR" equals more money, of course they'll do it.

 

[mrochester]

Is that independent knowledge or is the Apple upper manage talking?

Well logically if it was possible they’d do it.

 

[turbineseaplane]

100%, everyone's in it for themselves.

I do have a (probably naïve) viewpoint that Apple does care about user privacy, but ultimately they're a money-making enterprise, and anything that they do is in interest maximise that return. If "good PR" equals more money, of course they'll do it.

I definitely think Apple cares about user privacy more than a lot of competitors, but I'm less clear on the ways they've been willing to flex on that and, more importantly, will be flexible on that in the future ... and why and in service of what pursuit.

Going after services revenue as the driver of growth is in tension, to an endlessly growing degree, with many of the values we all, I think, collectively value here as Apple customers.

 

[Taq'aix]

Said it many times before and will say it again: FUDGE THE EU!

 

[surferfb]

I definitely think Apple cares about user privacy more than a lot of competitors, but I'm less clear on the ways they've been willing to flex on that and, more importantly, will be flexible on that in the future ... and why and in service of what pursuit.

Going after services revenue as the driver of growth is in tension, to an endlessly growing degree, with many of the values we all, I think, collectively value here as Apple customers.

I think two things can be true at the same time; rules like this are better for Apple's users AND better for Apple's bottom line. I think many on here assume the latter being true inherently means Apple is doing what it's doing for nefarious purposes, but I strongly suspect Apple truly believes they are doing right by their users. You can obviously disagree with that, but I think there is plenty of evidence that not everything is about ROI with Apple.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I strongly suspect Apple truly believes they are doing right by their users.

Oh I agree ... I'm just not sure how much of a pulse they have on things sometimes.

They do an amazing amount of "WTF?" stuff these days, often even in marketing* which is surprising to me.

The other factor, of course, is just how huge they are and how impossible it becomes to assuage all users and usage preferences.

*I'm still not over the AD with the wife having her phone whip up an Apple Photos slideshow for a birthday gift, because she forgot her husbands birthday completely. There's so much to criticize about that, just at the conceptual stage, let alone getting all the way to actually making that AD.

 

[hagar]

Oh yes thank the mighty EU for making it an arm wrestling contest for every single god damn website I visit to remove popups asking about coookies.

Yes great stuff

You got that backwards. The EU does not want companies tracking its citizens without prior consent.

Too bad nearly all websites decided to address this with pop-ups. Instead of, you know, stop tracking us.

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

I definitely think Apple cares about user privacy more than a lot of competitors, but I'm less clear on the ways they've been willing to flex on that and, more importantly, will be flexible on that in the future ... and why and in service of what pursuit.

Going after services revenue as the driver of growth is in tension, to an endlessly growing degree, with many of the values we all, I think, collectively value here as Apple customers.

The move into services is textbook diversification. Apple's business was highly hardware orientated, particularly around iPhone however they've taken steps to break up the pie a little, and reduce dependence on any single item.

2025 on $102b
Services: 28%
iPhone: 48%
Mac: 8.5%

2021 on $83.5b (skipped 2020 as it was a weird year for hardware)
Services: 22%
iPhone: 46%
Mac: 13%

2015 on $51.5b
Services: 10%
iPhone: 63%
Mac: 11%

Kind of crazy Apple took more than $1b per day over the last couple of years. Some quick maths, that's $695,000 every minute.

 

[turbineseaplane]

The move into services is textbook diversification. Apple's business was highly hardware orientated, particularly around iPhone however they've taken steps to break up the pie a little, and reduce dependence on any single item.

2025 on $102b
Services: 28%
iPhone: 48%
Mac: 8.5%

2021 on $83.5b (skipped 2020 as it was a weird year for hardware)
Services: 22%
iPhone: 46%
Mac: 13%

2015 on $51.5b
Services: 10%
iPhone: 63%
Mac: 11%

Yes, it's definitely diversification.
Diversifying specifically towards that particular thing is where I'm worried (the incentives).

Things like "adding ADs to Maps" come to mind, among many examples I'm sure we could all cite, not to mention that ones are likely coming still as the growth monster knows no amount of satiety.

 

[unobtainium]

I visit the EU frequently for work, but I assume it won’t affect me since my account is U.S.-based. Even so, moves like this nudge me further and further towards abandoning Apple’s closed ecosystem. Rather than suck it up and play nice with consumer-friendly regulations, Apple would rather punish their users. Not a good strategy.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Total sidenote, but I want to express some appreciation towards those of you in here who disagree with me on some of this but who are articulating great points and counter arguments as well as acknowledging points of concession or agreement.

I really get frustrated when these topics get filled with drive by replies of:

"suck it EU!"
"I hope they burn"
"Apple gets what they deserve, finally!"
"I hope EU customers get screwed"
"Apple is awful, screw them!"

(paraphrasing, but we all know what I mean I'm sure)

That's all just immature and unproductive, and ultimately disrespectful to folks with well articulated views on any side of the debate.

 

[SBlue1]

To be fair to Apple the German courts considered an appeal from ad companies that said that Apple blocks them making money because they can’t track users’ browsing habits. That’s not anti-big tech, it’s anti-common sense.

It's not quite like that. Apple is locking ad companies out of its system while allowing its own ads to target you.The court case was about equality. I don't want Apple to track me.

 

[jdavid_rp]

Ahhhh yes all the EU "freebies". Nothing is free my friend. And owning an Apple product (or any other tech/"luxury" product) in the EU costs TONS more because of that.

I didnt use the word free in any moment tho

 

[SBlue1]

Another result for the European Commission, again demonstrating how their hard work benefits the everyday European.

/s

I bought this Audi and the engine blew up. Why can't I use a BMW engine in it? Oh yeah, precious EU company.

It's more like, my Audi brakes need replacement, why can't I buy brakes from another company, why is Audi locking me out of my car if I install these cheaper yet same quality breaks? EU is about equality and choice, I don't get why Americans are defending Apple on this one. Let the consumer choose what App Store he wants to use, what smartwatch he wants, what home automation he wants. Apple Watch is ugly like hell yet it's the only option Apple allows to use with the iPhone. Same with all the other bad Apple products and services, you often can't use anything else.

 

[iBluetooth]

Of all the things you could've picked, this is what you decided to go with? This problem is already solved with the CEE 7/16 (IEC Type C) Europlug and the universal Schuko combo CEE 7/7 plug, compatible with CEE 7/4 (IEC Type E) and CEE 7/5 (IEC Type F) sockets, as those two basically work almost everywhere in the EU, and it's predictable that in a couple of decades all plugs will be either of those kinds and sockets may be standardised on the German 7/3 (IEC Type F) socket, as it's the most widespread anyway.

The only three big outliers that I can think of are Ireland (which I'm guessing, much like with left-hand drive, won't change their ways for practical reasons as, you know, it's an island, an important part of it with actual political ties to the UK) and, well, Great Britain (the reasons are the same, and the UK isn't part of the EU anyway) and their BS 1363 (IEC Type G) plugs and sockets, Switzerland and its SN 441011 (IEC Type J) plug and socket (which is also compatible with the Europlug, mind you, and again, it's yet another country that is not part of the EU but could very well introduce hybrid CEE 7/3 sockets with an extra receptacle for the Type J plug's earth prong if they ever joined the EU and were so inclined) and Italy and its really weird CEI 23-50 S 11/S 17 (IEC Type L) standard, which is now accommodated via the CEI 23-50 P 40 hybrid Schuko sockets, which can accept almost any appliance under the European sun.

All in all, considering the disjointed mess we began with, I think we're doing a great job on the electrical plug and socket standards nowadays, so… nope, not a great thing over which to pick on the EU lol. We even managed to get the Germans and the French, of all peoples, to take each other's standards and merge them into a hybrid, quasi-universal beast (the ugly but functional 7/7 plug, which allows one to move even quite heavy appliances across borders with no issue), for crying out loud.

And considering the fact that there are universal female IEC extension cord sockets on a lot of those appliances, power supplies, etc., you can even move them onto the weirder parts of Europe and beyond, so… yeah, that's a big fuss over nothing (case in point, I'm travelling to Switzerland soon and my plan is to buy a cheap IEC 60320 C13 to Type J plug extension cable, stick it on my Rewirable Schuko PowerCube adapter by allocacoc (I'm not getting a commission, I just love that thing and already bought two of those, except the first one wasn't for me, but for a now ex that moved to the UK), and BAM, instant access, on-the-go, to five Schuko/Europlug sockets (yeah, I know I can use Europlugs on regular Type J sockets, but it just so happen that the place where I'm staying at is an older building sorely lacking those anyway). I did the same before with it and an IEC 60320 to BS 1363 (IEC Type G) plug extension cable on the UK, Macau and Hong Kong and had no issue, either. It's surely not as practical as traveling across Europe and, well, not even needing an adapter, contrary to what your comment may lead some to believe, but again, we're talking about relatively insular/isolationist territories here, what more could you expect?

And before you tell me “boo-hoo, that's all very confusing electrical standards mumbo-jumbo”, I get you, but nah. Do travel across Europe and try to plug your stuff onto the available sockets; chances are, they will fit and work, first try, with zero fuss. Especially on hotels, hostels, AirBnBs, etc., as those tend to be renovated frequently and get the latest and greatest, most universal socket standards. And hey, if you're hailing from abroad, you may even find some Shucko-to-universal adapters already plugged onto the sockets (I know I've seen those on hotels already) or be able to find them in some drawer, get them at the reception desk, or buy them from a corner store nearby.

Thank you for your response, but you end up advising me to buy an adapter, and yes my home is full of adapters because I moved within the EU. This transition to the German plug is taking a long time and I won't see the Swiss changing to the German plug when the join the EU. The Swiss plug is in my opinion the best one in Europe though, small, safe, grounded and convenient

 

[turbineseaplane]

Apple Watch is ugly like hell yet it's the only option Apple allows to use with the iPhone. Same with all the other bad Apple products and services, you often can't use anything else.

I don't know if I'd call them "ugly like hell", especially the higher end models (titanium, ceramic, etc).

But, I am frustrated they haven't made some more form factor variations after all this time.

I would have thought this type of product and all that can be done in software, would have eventually led to lots of interesting different hardware models of Apple Watches.

I mean, if Garmin can have a zillion variations and shapes and sizes, surely Apple could do a bit more here than just different watch bands.

 

[MilaM]

It's more like, my Audi brakes need replacement, why can't I buy brakes from another company, why is Audi locking me out of my car if I install these cheaper yet same quality breaks?

I think most hardware analogies are pretty weak. This legislation is about digital products, which work differently than physical products.

A valid complaint would be that you can't easily load your own apps to your infotainment OS.

 

[MilaM]

The Swiss plug is in my opinion the best one in Europe though, small, safe, grounded and convenient

Yet it's the only one that does not easily fit into sockets in neighbouring countries. I would say that's a pretty big downside.

 

[RebeccaL]

I don’t really know what they’re disabling. It’s like to sync like photos and music via the WiFi network instead or something like airplay or Bluetooth?

The EU is just making life harder for the end user and not doing anything to help privacy.

Currently iPhone syncs its Wi-Fi user name/password with a paired watch automatically. So the Apple Watch can connect to Wi-Fi too.

Now the users will have to enter the (usually long) Wi-Fi password manually on a a tiny Apple Watch screen.

Way to go EU!