iOS 19 and iOS 20 Must Include a Long List of Major Changes, EU Says

[iObama]

So many of you don't understand. Apple and Google have an effective duopoly in one of the most used products across the world. There is no competition between OSes. There is no space for a third entrant into the market. There will never be space for a third entrant into the market with things the way they are now.

Apple and Google both got this big because of aggressive anti-competitive behavior.

As much as I love the "ecosystem," I hate monopolies and duopolies even more. Apple can still build great experiences and differentiate itself without being anti-competitive.

 

[dfgddikf]

These features all seem to involve not just software but hardware and wireless communications. Features like improved AirPods pairing, AirDrop, and AirPlay involve Apple investing their own R&D to provide a better experience layered on top of standard wireless protocols like WiFi and Bluetooth. The EU is now trying to force Apple to make that R&D freely available for any third-party company.

Now that Apple makes all their own wireless chips (WiFi, Bluetooth, cellular, etc), Apple's best course of action is to stop trying to implement all these features like improved AirPods pairing, AirDrop, AirPlay over standard WiFi or Bluetooth, but instead implement them using their own proprietary wireless protocols (ie. not standard WiFi or Bluetooth) enabled by deep hardware integration in their own custom wireless chips. Customers in the Apple ecosystem will benefit because using custom, proprietary wireless protocols and hardware can allow Apple to optimize performance and power consumption for each feature's specific use case. Apple will of course still fully support standard WiFi and Bluetooth to support third-party accessories but the EU can no longer try to force Apple to basically spend their R&D to subsidize the improvement of the WiFi and Bluetooth standards for third-parties for free, because things like improved AirPods pairing, AirDrop, and AirPlay will no longer simply be a software feature through an API, but requires custom Apple chips and hardware.

What you described is exactly the current situation.

 

[iObama]

For all those US commenters, stop bashing the EU, you’ve got your own BIG problems.
The EU has its quirks but they at least try to protect the consumers.
Those not located in the EU or Europe as a whole will not understand the laws made here, nor do they understand big companies abuse of power.

US commenter here - totally and completely agree.

Our democracy is being dismantled piece by piece, and some are here worrying that the largest corporation in the world might have to follow some rules and compete fairly.

We've been so brainwashed in this country, it makes me really sad.

Anyway.

 

[9081094]

Out of curiosity, could Apple just stop updating their software in the EU and get around this? Or would they have to pull hardware sales too?

Apple could do that. But as Apple isn’t really years ahead in software compared to competitors, I wouldn’t recommend it 😅

 

[ronno]

This all sounds good to me! AirPods Pro are not great. - I’d love to get the same functionality with JBL etc.
I just got finished boxing and jumping rope for an hour and the Apple Watch didn’t even notice I was exercising! It’s totally ridiculous! I should be able to get someone else’s watch that’ll work with this phone since Apple’s is a mess. Maybe that would force Apple to make better devices.

 

[dcingie]

Why does it feel like we have the EU to thank for all of Apple’s recent “bold innovation”? 😂

 

[iObama]

Out of curiosity, could Apple just stop updating their software in the EU and get around this? Or would they have to pull hardware sales too?

I think it's based on date, not OS version.

 

[frenchcamp49er]

The EU should never receive another Apple iOS update again

 

[clg82]

" slowing down Apple's ability to innovate for users " slowing down? Apple's innovation slowed down 10 years ago...just ask Siri....wait a minute...don't.

 

[Jeaz]

It’s not like this is taking away features, just giving more options.

The irony of it all is that if Apple had sooner been less restrictive and allowed 3rd parties a bit more options I doubt all of these changes had been enforced. But now they are on their radar, and will continue to be since they continue to be so difficult (like the silly fee they apply to downloads outside App Store or that high fee with 3rd party payment solutions)

 

[frenchcamp49er]

Time for Apple to withdraw from the EU Regime.

 

[frenchcamp49er]

It’s not like this is taking away features, just giving more options.

The irony of it all is that if Apple had sooner been less restrictive and allowed 3rd parties a bit more options I doubt all of these changes had been enforced. But now they are on their radar, and will continue to be since they continue to be so difficult (like the silly few they apply to downloads outside App Store or that high fee with 3rd party payment solutions)

So they should have just rolled over and given their IP away free, funny.

 

[verdi1987]

How would they do automatic third party audio switching without the h1 and h2 chip?

They could be obligated to license them just as Qualcomm was obligated to license its technology to companies like Apple.

 

[iToph]

Im from Germany and I’m ashamed of these demands. What the hell is going on? They basically want iOS to be android. Why the hell would I want that?

 

[JosephAW]

Welcome to bloatware.
128gb won’t be enough.

 

[JOLoughlin]

Exit the EU?

 

[robvalentine]

Because a lot of these requirements do nothing to make Apple products better, they serve only to make other (i.e. European) products better. It’s blatant protectionism at the expense of Apple users.

You do know that some of those products that would be improved are American? like my Garmin watch?

 

[commander.data]

What you described is exactly the current situation.

I'm not talking about custom, proprietary extensions on top of the WiFi and Bluetooth standards, but Apple coming up with something completely separate. For example, didn't the Apple Watch Series 7 introduce proprietary 60.5 GHz hardware for wireless data transfer? That frequency wouldn't have the range to replace WiFi and Bluetooth, but it does seem to indicate Apple is able to develop their own wireless technology outside standard WiFi and Bluetooth.

 

[sunapple]

I haven’t used any of the EU changes yet, also haven’t missed the AI features that didn’t get here yet, but I appreciate how consumers are protected in the EU. I regularly watch content from Louis Rossmann on YouTube and there I’ve seen some of the terrible practices that the US allows but probably don’t exist in the EU. I think most people are unaware how insane some things have gotten and how much power companies have.

 

[NufSaid]

Government telling the company that invented an amazing product to jettison its competitive advantage and make all the little cheap Chinese knockoff products work with it.....and while you are at it make sure we can read all the citizens data.

 

[jarman92]

You do know that some of those products that would be improved are American? like my Garmin watch?

OK? My point is that the EU is clearly weaponizing burdensome regulation to prop up its own nearly non-existent tech sector.

 

[centauratlas]

Only thing I wish they would force is that you don't have to backup your phone to iCloud lol.. Save me some money there..
Otherwise, this is a waste...

You don’t. You can back up with iTunes. See this partway down:

Back up iPhone

Back up iPhone using iCloud or your computer. If you replace your iPhone, you can use the backup to transfer your information to the new device.

support.apple.com

 

[contacos]

Before everyone looses their damn mind, they also added additional demands for META and Google today.

Roughly translated:

Google

The Commission has now reached a preliminary conclusion in its investigation of Google, finding that the company continues to favor its own services—such as shopping, hotel bookings, financial data, and sports results—when displaying search results.

"Specifically, Alphabet gives its own services greater visibility by placing them at the top of Google search results or in dedicated sections with enhanced visual formats and filtering mechanisms," the statement says.

Google is also accused of preventing app developers from directing customers to offers and distribution channels of their choice. While Google already adjusted its terms of use when the DMA took effect in March 2024, the Commission appears to find these changes insufficient.

META

The EU Commission also disapproves of Meta's new payment model. It fears that this model does not provide a real alternative for users who do not want to consent to the processing of their data. As a result, the goal of preventing gatekeepers from collecting personal data would not be achieved. However, Meta has been granted a six-month extension to implement interoperability for Facebook Messenger.

AMAZON

Amazon has also come under the Commission's scrutiny. The online retailer is suspected of favoring its own brands on its marketplace
.

 

[d686546s]

I'm not sure I agree with all of them, but not all of them are completely nonsensical either.

As a consumer, I've become fairly ambivalent about ecosystems. On the one hand, there's no denying that it enables convenience features that may otherwise not be possible or at least a lot harder to deliver. On the other hand, I don't think you can deny that it stifles competition.

Take the smartwatch example. Whether you have an iPhone or Android phone, your best choice will almost always be the companion device of your manufacturer unless you have a very specific need like fitness, in which case specialised watches like Garmin might have a fighting chance. That's great for the bottom line of these companies, but doesn't really encourage broader competition.

 

[match14]

You know it what be long before the EU makes it a requirement for iOS to run on any phone regardless of the manufacturer.