Five Useful iOS Features Still Unavailable to International Users

[robo萝卜]

english version(The translation is from Bing, and the original text is at the end):
Envy you guys, I am in a place where too many features are not available, but still can't stop me from using it, here are examples of unavailable features

• Apple TV+: Apple TVs are not sold, and Apple TV+ services are not available
• Apple Card: Needless to say
• Apple Arcade: Not available
• Apple Books: There is an app, but the store in the app is not available, so you can only import EPUB books yourself
• Apple News+: Not available
• Apple Fitness+: Not available
• Apple One: No
• Apple Maps (castrated version): Some U.S. maps do not support maps of China (China is provided by AutoNavi map services), and Apple Maps in China uses AutoNavi map information
• Facetime: iPhones and iPads with cellular data cannot dial audio from Facetime and do not support group Facetime because they move the carrier's data fee cake
• Podcast (castrated version): Only listen to domestic audio columns
• Compass (castrated version): There are no GPS coordinates and height display in the Compass app (they have existed before, found that they are not in the last two years)

Apple's website in Chinese mainland: https://www.apple.com.cn/


*******************************
本地语言版本:
羡慕你们，我所在的地方太多功能不可用，但是仍然无法阻止我使用它，以下是不可用功能举例

• Apple TV+: 不出售Apple TV,而且Apple TV+服务也不可用
• Apple Card: 这个不用说
• Apple Arcade: 不可用
• Apple Books: 有app，但是app内的商城不可用，只能自己导入epub书
• Apple News+: 不可用
• Apple Fitness+: 不可用
• Apple One: 没有
• Apple Maps(阉割版): 美国地图有的俯瞰和街景功能等不支持中国区域的地图（中国区由高德提供地图服务），中国区的苹果地图采用的是高德的地图信息
• Facetime(阉割版): iphone及带有蜂窝数据的iPad无法使用Facetime拨音频、不支持群组Facetime，因为动了运营商的流量费用蛋糕
• Podcast(阉割版): 只能听国内的音频栏目
• 指南针(阉割版): 指南针app中没有gps坐标以及高度显示(以前存在过，最近两年发现它们没有了)

apple在中国大陆的网址:https://www.apple.com.cn/

 

[Camerondonal]

I'm seeing a lot of approval for advanced data protection, but this video makes a pretty good case for the idea that it might not be quite so must-have

 

[Camerondonal]

I do not care about any of them. And there is far more features that are not widely available. See:

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

We do not have even predictive typing after 15 years of iOS developement.

And new example is from today news:

AI-Narrated Audiobooks Now Available in Apple Books

Apple has now launched Apple Books digital narration, offering a new way for publishers to automatically generate high-quality AI-narrated audio from...

www.macrumors.com

English only. But say here one can understand, it is new technology.

Oddly, I don't see any reference to US-only feature voicemail transcription on that Apple page...

 

[Egk]

I haven’t been able to buy TV series on Apple TV since forever in Norway, and it is even mentioned as a feature on the support pages 🙄

 

[bassexpander]

Apple Pay might be available coupled with Hyundai card in Korea, I believe I heard.

 

[akash.nu]

Sadly, the digital drivers license will probably never come to Germany. "Digitalisation who?"

The other day I lost my license, it took me over a month to finally get an appointment for ANOTHER month from that day and then another 5 weeks for the new license to arrive. I am actually surprised they send it. For the passport you need ANOTHER appointment to pick it up.

Oh and the police from Berlin could not even access that I have a valid drivers license because I did not make my license in Berlin

Wow 😮 that’s crazy! At least in the U.K. police can easily check all of that using their mobile devices as long as one has provided their correct name and DOB. I’m hoping Apple will bring the digital license thing in the U.K. soon.

 

[_Spinn_]

I’m in the US and can’t use IDs in the Wallet because my state isn’t on board. I also can’t get Advanced Data Protection to work because I can’t generate a recovery key. My account is not eligible and I’m not sure why.

 

[CatalinApple]

I only want ID's in the wallet and all the rest can wait. Most of Europe is already investing a lot of money in clean energy. Since the inflation hit hard on the energy market, people are transitioning even faster to clean energy investments, like solar panels and batteries to store the excess electricity. I really don't see the benefit of Clean Energy Charging feature for most countries that make the transition to clean energy sources.

Secondly, I think about every country in Europe has instant wire transfers, (instant payments) internally and the beneficiary has the money in his/her account in about 5 seconds. The EU is already working on expanding instant payments in the EU and in EEA countries so that you can make instant payments to people that are in a different country. https://finance.ec.europa.eu/publications/legislative-proposal-instant-payments_en

Most people in Europe pay with debit cards or use the interbank networks similar to Mastercard and Visa to pay online, at local stores. I don't think Apple Card will make a huge difference here on the European market because the dominant players are Visa and Mastercard.

 

[Apple Core]

While the majority of iOS features are available internationally, there are some that remain exclusive to the United States, such as the Apple Card, Apple Cash, IDs in the Wallet app, Advanced Data Protection, and Clean Energy Charging.

Below, we've provided more details about some iPhone features available in the U.S. only and Apple's future expansion plans if any for the features.

Apple Card

Launched in 2019, the Apple Card remains available in the U.S. only. Apple's credit card can be managed completely through the Wallet app on the iPhone, with a physical version available for use at stores that do not accept contactless payments. The card has no fees beyond interest and offers up to 3% cashback known as Daily Cash.

While there have been clues that the Apple Card might expand to additional countries in the future, such as an Apple Card trademark filing in Canada, Apple has not confirmed any immediate plans to launch the card internationally.

Apple Cash

Apple Cash is a Venmo-like payment feature that allows iPhone users in the U.S. to send, request, and receive money in the Wallet and Messages apps. Users can transfer their Apple Cash balance to a connected bank account.

Apple Cash remains available in the U.S. only and despite clues like a trademark filing in Canada, it is unclear if the feature will expand to other countries.

IDs in Wallet App

In early 2022, Apple started rolling out a feature allowing residents of participating U.S. states to add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age. The features requires iOS 15.4 and watchOS 8.4 or later and is currently available in Arizona, Colorado, and Maryland only, with at least nine more states to follow.

Apple said it was working to offer the ID feature across the U.S. in the future, but the company has yet to announce any plans to expand the feature to other countries, so it's unclear if or when the feature will launch internationally.

Advanced Data Protection

Apple last month introduced an optional Advanced Data Protection feature that expands end-to-end encryption to many additional areas of iCloud when enabled, including iCloud Backups, Photos, Notes, Reminders, Voice Memos, and more. On the iPhone, the feature was introduced with iOS 16.2 for users in the U.S. only and will start rolling out to the "rest of the world" in early 2023, according to Apple.

It's unclear exactly when Advanced Data Protection will be available in additional countries, but given Apple's early 2023 timeframe, it's possible that the feature will be expanded to more iPhone users with iOS 16.3 or iOS 16.4.

Clean Energy Charging

iOS 16.1 introduced a Clean Energy Charging feature that "aims to decrease the carbon footprint of the iPhone by optimizing charging times for when the grid is using cleaner energy sources," according to Apple. When the feature is toggled on, the iPhone will attempt to charge when "lower carbon emission electricity" is available.

Clean Energy Charging is available in the U.S. only, and Apple has not indicated if or when it will be expanded to additional countries.

Article Link: Five Useful iOS Features Still Unavailable to International Users

Well, Apple can only take international customers for granted for so long. I’m loyal to a company as long as they are loyal to me!!!