EU Pushes Apple To Make iPhones More Compatible With Rival Devices (theverge.com) 34
The European Union has issued draft recommendations requiring Apple to make its iOS and iPadOS operating systems more compatible with competitors' devices, setting up a clash over privacy concerns. The proposals would allow third-party smartwatches and headsets to interact more seamlessly with iPhones.
Apple has responded [PDF] with warnings about security risks, particularly citing Meta's requests for access to Apple's technology. The Commission seeks industry feedback by January 2025, with final measures expected by March. Non-compliance could trigger EU fines up to 10% of Apple's global annual sales.
Apple has responded [PDF] with warnings about security risks, particularly citing Meta's requests for access to Apple's technology. The Commission seeks industry feedback by January 2025, with final measures expected by March. Non-compliance could trigger EU fines up to 10% of Apple's global annual sales.
Re:They don't HAVE TO sell in Europe (Score:5, Insightful)
This isn't an EU problem, it's a lobbyist problem. Namely, why 2 US companies are weaponizing the European consumer advocacy system to fight battles that should surely be fought on home soil.
i.e. If Facebook have a legitimate argument then why is it that EU consumers would enjoy anti-monopolist protections but the American consumer wouldn't?
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Because the US system was originally designed around personal responsibility and personal choice.
So abortions are ok then? How about me taking some edibles after a day at work?
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i.e. If Facebook have a legitimate argument then why is it that EU consumers would enjoy anti-monopolist protections but the American consumer wouldn't?
For the same reason its easier to convince people in Europe that not everyone needs to own guns, or that driving a small car is a smart thing. The local context matters, specifically existing legal system built around consumer protection in Europe which America doesn't enjoy. Sorry, American Consumers don't enjoy, their businesses enjoy it very much.
The point here is to use the laws to their advantage in a place they can be leveraged. If they have no leverage there's no point starting, and therefore you won
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> 2 US companies
Apple legally became an Irish company several years ago.
They maintain a round office in Silicon Valley.
Has the EU decided to go into the phone business? (Score:3, Insightful)
It just feels to me like the EU has decided to take the power to design devices away from device makers.
At what point will the EU require Apple to create an Android compatibility layer?
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Do you know why your Android phone has a micro usb connector today? The EU forced companies to standardize on a connector. Wasn't it so great before when you had to throw away your old charger because it didn't fit your new device?
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
Micro usb in 2009.
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Every phone I've ever bought came with a charger so I don't see what the whining is all about. Apple people, much like Microsoft people, like the abuse. If they didn't enjoy the way these things worked, they would change their behaviors and stop giving money to these companies.
They want to be told what applications they can use. They want to be in their walled gardens. They want their blue check boxes to make them feel special. So let them have what they want. To be apple fan victims..eer, consumers.
Re: Has the EU decided to go into the phone busine (Score:2)
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You also need an iPhone cause hot chicks do not date Android.
That's a feature, not a bug. It's a filter to keep away shallow, problematic women.
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Every phone I've ever bought came with a charger so I don't see what the whining is all about
Way to go not realising what the fundamental problem was there buddy.
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100 years from now, with the advent of all these amazing technologies and improvements which make life easier, people will still be using a 100-year-old standard because the EU mandated it.
Rather than mandating a requirement that any adapter that a phone device maker uses must be supported for a minimum period of time after it is first introduced.
In other words, like catalytic converters, the EU has mandated the technology used to achieve a result rather than the desired result. And in mandating this result
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Except this is not a power plug. It's a data port that supplies power.
And while power doesn't change (much; there is a protocol where the device plugged in negotiates for amperage), the data port part of things have radically changed over time.
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At what point will the EU require Apple to create an Android compatibility layer?
At no point. The EU doesn't care about compatibility on a device specific level. They care about compatibility of APIs and protocols on an ecosystem level. Specifically they care about how Apple has a history (and a present) of locking down common features that should work on a protocol level artificially to their own devices. You know, kind of like how they provide NFC hardware in their phone, but keep the actual good capabilities of the hardware locked to themselves.
Read the complaints, there's no design
The Commission has lost the plot (Score:2)
And seems unable to understand the basic principle that Apple's commercial incentive to sell more devices aligns its privacy incentives with those of end users, while Meta's and other's incentives are anti-consumer. This is such a basic and obvious point, and it beggars belief that the EC is unable to get it, so much so, that it feels like they must have been suborned.
Before you start bickering about Europe ... (Score:3)
... how do you like that your new iPhone has a USB-C port? Nice, isn't it?
You're welcome.
- Your beloved EU-regulators
Sometimes actually improving things (TM)
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You mean it was YOUR fault I can't use the charger that came with my last i-crap and now need to buy this whole new USB-C charger thing just to use my new i-crap? How many chargers did I need anyway?
I'm going Android! Screw crapple! /s As if any Apple victim would ever do this. They all have Stockholm syndrome.
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And when something better and more advanced comes along nope, we can't have it. Hey, europedonazischeisse, remember where you get your gas.
Why wouldn't you get to have it? The law the EU passed specifically requires the standard from a technology point of view to be reviewed every 5 years. Literally they passed a law that forces the government to see if they can provide you something advanced.
Please get a clue.
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Not really, because I now have to invest in all new accessories for my new iPhone, because I have Lightning cables and other devices that now have to be replaced with USB-C equivalents.
And some devices are really expensive that you're forcing me to replace.
And all that e-waste of stuff I can no longer use because my new phone doesn't support them, from speakers and docks and other plug in accessories.
Sure, it's compatible with other U
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I love the compatibility, but I hate the plugs and sockets. Half of my cables don't work reliably anymore and one of the two USB-C ports in my Macbook Air M1 isn't usable anymore.
With Lightning the only problem ever was lint in the sockets but the plugs and the sockets themselves were pretty much bulletproof.
And honestly I utterly hate the fact that we're now stuck with this by the type of socket and plug being mandated by a fucking government. But it could have been worse, if this would have happened just
So, I have to... (Score:2)
So let's say I'm a car manufacturer, and I decide it is best, safest, most useful for my customers to have wheels that use (say) 6 lug nuts instead of 5. But then there's an outside company that makes novelty wheels that are designed to use 4 lug nuts...so I'm not allowed to innovate or change my design to meet the needs of my customers because some external company wants to be
incompetence (Score:3)
"Apple has responded [PDF] with warnings about security risks,"
Their OS can't be secure if they support standards? They're arguing that they are incompetent.
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hahaha right after this I used my work iPhone to call a coworker and when we wanted to end the call, the phone app showed no call in process so we couldn't end it. Our phones updated last night to the latest shit show.
Apple: It just works! Unless you hold it wrong, or it updates...
this is the death of irony. (Score:2)
But now the shape of your power connector is for your protection? What's next? We chose a rounded rectangle shape for the phone... for your protection...? This Apple box, made of genuine Apple Cardboard is for your protection...?