Apple is Working To Make It Easier To Switch From iPhone To Android Because of the EU

Apple is preparing to allow EU-based iPhone users to uninstall its first-party Safari browser by the end of 2024 and is working on a more "user-friendly" way of transferring data "from an iPhone to a non-Apple phone" by fall 2025. From a report: That's according to a new compliance document published by the company, which outlines all the ways it's complying with the European Union's new Digital Markets Act that comes into force this week.

Other user-facing initiatives detailed in Apple's document include a "browser switching solution" to transfer data between browsers on the same device, which it plans to make available by late 2024 or early 2025. It'll also be possible to change the default navigation app on iOS by March 2025 in the EU. The document doesn't explicitly state whether any of these features will be available globally or whether they'll be exclusive to users in the EU. But many of the company's previously announced plans to comply with the DMA -- including the ability to run browser engines other than WebKit and install third-party app stores -- are only available in the bloc.

will safari get force reinstalled if you roam out

[Joe_Dragon]

will safari get force reinstalled if you roam out of the EU?

Apple doesn't care about their users having choice

[leptons]

Apple doesn't care about their users having a choice in which web browser they use. They only care about money. Forcing Safari was a money grab, by making the browser forced on all iOS users to be very lacking in modern features that other browsers support. This made the app store the only option for developers that need functionality that every other modern browser supports. What Apple is doing is far worse than what Microsoft did when they got sued in an antitrust case for simply bundling Internet Explorer with Windows - Windows users could still install any other browser they wanted to, but Apple simply forbids that option.

Re: Apple doesn't care about their users having ch

[kopecn]

I use firefox, and occasionally opera, and a chrome and edge offering are on the iOS app store. I know the answer but can you clarify what you mean by browser? And then tell for the community actually why? And to whom do you trust your data more if not Apple?

Re: Apple doesn't care about their users having ch

[leptons]

It isn't about trusting data. It's all about the fact Apple forces every browser app on iOS to sue their own Safari web browser engine. You have no choice, if you have Chrome or Firefox installed, you're still using Apple's web browser technology, which they intentionally hobble to prevent web apps from competing with native apps from their App store, where Apple makes 30% of all sales. They can't make that money if web apps are capable enough to not require an app in the app store. There are many modern and standardized features that Apple simply won't implement in their Safari web browser, and they cite reasons like "security", but that's just a lie. The truth is other browsers on Android support quite a lot of functionality that Safari doesn't, and the only real reason for that is Apple's greed.

Re: Apple doesn't care about their users having ch

[mjwx]

It isn't about trusting data. It's all about the fact Apple forces every browser app on iOS to sue their own Safari web browser engine. You have no choice, if you have Chrome or Firefox installed, you're still using Apple's web browser technology, which they intentionally hobble to prevent web apps from competing with native apps from their App store, where Apple makes 30% of all sales. They can't make that money if web apps are capable enough to not require an app in the app store. There are many modern and standardized features that Apple simply won't implement in their Safari web browser, and they cite reasons like "security", but that's just a lie. The truth is other browsers on Android support quite a lot of functionality that Safari doesn't, and the only real reason for that is Apple's greed.

This.

I'm a long time Android user and the actual need to install specific apps (most of which are just single use web browsers to begin with) plummeted years ago. Few applications need access to things a browser cant like the accelerometer or are entirely local resources like the apps that connect to my ODBII reader. My bank has a functional website, which works a lot better than their apps. With Ublock Origin and Privacy Badger on Firefox for Android, I get a lot more control over what is displayed.

So much so, I'm taken aback when an Iphone user tells me they need to delete stuff to "make room". If I run out of space on my Android phone, I can move things like media to a USB stick. Currently I'm using 26 GB of my Nokia X30s 256 GB of storage.

Re:

[registrations_suck]

I don't really care about having a choice on what web browser to use either.

Re:

[leptons]

You probably don't think you do, because you don't realize that Safari is intentionally hobbled by Apple and does not support many modern browser APIs that allow developers to create web apps that function just like native apps. Or you're "Tim Apple" or have a vested interest in Apple profiting. Many developers won't develop an app for iOS specifically because Apple is so abusive in this way, and you won't ever see many really cool things in the iOS app store, or on iOS period, because some developers don't

Re:

[tlhIngan]

You probably don't think you do, because you don't realize that Safari is intentionally hobbled by Apple and does not support many modern browser APIs that allow developers to create web apps that function just like native apps. Or you're "Tim Apple" or have a vested interest in Apple profiting. Many developers won't develop an app for iOS specifically because Apple is so abusive in this way, and you won't ever see many really cool things in the iOS app store, or on iOS period, because some developers don't

Re:

[leptons]

I don't care about bookmarks, all I care about is browser APIs not being supported in Safari - even desktop Safari.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/... [zdnet.com]

The only way to get access to these APIs is by creating a native app. Chrome has implemented them, and I can create capable web apps for android but they don't work with Safari because Apple lied and said they aren't implementing them because "security". I don't believe it, nor should anyone else. Apple is motivated by greed.

Re:

[Plumpaquatsch]

You are right, it's horrible that Apple doesn't implement APIs that Google pushes just because they make tracking easier for marketers. Wait, doesn't Google make most of its money as a marketer?

Re:

[leptons]

The accelerometer, bluetooth, serial port, and other APIs have nothing to do with tracking. You're huffing Steve Jobs farts.

The APIs that Apple refuses to implement are what make a lot of apps functional and without the APIs, many apps simply wouldn't be possible.

But I don't expect you to understand any of this because your head is too firmly lodged up Steve Jobs decaying ass.

Re:

[Plumpaquatsch]

Well, marketers are obviously smarter than you, you deserve to be tracked you bloody moron. Go buy an Android, Fandroid.

Re:

[leptons]

You're ignorant, and you seem blissful about it.

Re:

[Plumpaquatsch]

You are fucking moron. And of course you don't realize it, because you are a fucking moron. Oops, big surprise. Marketers love idiots like you.

Re:

[leptons]

Ignorance is the shit you are wallowing in. Keep sucking Steve Jobs rotting dick.

Re:

[Plumpaquatsch]

Ignorance is the shit you are wallowing in.

I strongly deny wallowing in you, ignorant shit.

Re:

[leptons]

But you don't deny sucking Steve Jobs rotting dick. Got it.

Re:

[Plumpaquatsch]

You being full of shit includes you being full of shit, no reason to deny the shit that comes out of you. Hope you are soon empty.

Re:

[leptons]

Not as empty as your head, asshole. You're a mosquito, buzzing around. You're a waste of oxygen. I'm done with you. So go ahead and have the last word, I'm sure it will make you feel better.

Re:

[registrations_suck]

I just don't worry about this stuff.

I use what's available and don't worry about what isn't available.

All the basics seem to be covered....web browsing, navigation, email, banking, etc.

Re:

[leptons]

You definitely do not know what you are missing, you are a typical know-nothing Apple user stuck in their walled garden.

You have no idea what's outside of the walled garden and you are too incurious to care.

When Steve Jobs said "you're holding it wrong", I'm sure you believed him.

Re:

[registrations_suck]

You're great with insults...but really, if I don't know what I am missing, that means I don't have it now. If I don't have it now, it's hard to argue that it is something I actually need.

What is it you think I am missing? What massive hole do I have in my life that needs to be filled? Name one, just ONE app, game, movie, show, song, album, etc. that I simply MUST have in my life, that I don't already have. Just ONE.

If people were more content with what they have, and spent less time worrying about "what els

Re:

[leptons]

Ignorance is bliss. Enjoy it, I guess?

Re:

[registrations_suck]

In other words, you have no intelligent rebuttal. Nice job.

Re:

[leptons]

Ignorance is bliss. I don't care how you enjoy it.

Not worse, Same

[Roger W Moore]

Windows users could still install any other browser they wanted to, but Apple simply forbids that option.

That is simply not true. On my iPad I have Chrome installed and I use that as my browser because, as you note, Safari is terrible. So Apple is no worse than Microsoft but unfortunately, they are just as bad.

Re:

[Powercntrl]

That is simply not true. On my iPad I have Chrome installed and I use that as my browser because, as you note, Safari is terrible.

Sorry to break this to you, but you've just been using a reskinned version of Safari. Apple only very recently started allowing alternate browser engines with the release of iOS 17.4, and even then, only in the EU. Source. [theverge.com]

If you're in the USA, your choice of browser is either Safari, or ditching your iOS hardware entirely for another platform.

Re:

[leptons]

>On my iPad I have Chrome installed and I use that as my browser because, as you note, Safari is terrible

No, you don't have Chrome installed, what you have is a thin wrapper around the Safari browser. That's all any other browser maker is allowed to do in iOS, is wrap a Safari web view as part of a use interface. When you browser on iOS, you aren't using Google's browser engine, you're forced to use Safari whether you know it or not. This is far, far worse and more abusive than what Microsoft did. To c

Just Throw It In The Trash

[zenlessyank]

How hard is that to show folks? Life is so complicated for the poor Luddites.

Re:

[Malc]

Whose autumn are you talking about? Even in the northern hemisphere, that's a decent time range. "Fall" makes it North American autumn, which is clearer.

Of course, "fall" was a common English word for autumn, which fell out of favour sometime during the 17th or 18th centuries. You knew that, of course, didn't you?

Re:

[bn-7bc]

Whu can't you just tup by end of monthx of 2025 that way the ambiguity of ( what season where) will be 100% removed, the internet is global. I'm not saying this to be harsh or unkind, I've fallen into the trap myself in other contexts, we all think thevway wecare used to think

Easy migration

[VeryFluffyBunny]

Basically, EU laws that are already in effect for countless other businesses are that it must be as easy to migrate from one service to another as it is to start using a new service, e.g. you can transfer all your banking, direct debits, automated payments, from your present bank account to another one without incurring any penalties, fees, etc.. The same goes for your phone account, internet account, etc..

But we all know that Apple's main business strategy is all about locking customers in & then mi

That's very magnanimous of Apple

[Mirnotoriety]

That's very magnanimous of Apple letting people decide what software goes on their phone /s

That's something I ...

[MxMatrix]

... will never use. You'll have to pry my iphone from my dead hands.