Apple says it may stop shipping to the EU

This sounds bogus right? If all the headphones can do is transmit audio via first party operating system features how is this creating a data privacy issue? How are headphones going to exfiltrate data unless they have their own Wi-Fi connection or application that can serve as a bridge? Just disallow both.

That's an Apple problem, they're the ones going to lose market share to competitors offering those experiences.

Samsung already has live translation, including in calls.

In any case, I find it interesting that Palantir and Thorn are much better at lobbying the EU against its interests than Apple and other companies on much smaller and less relevant issues.

Oh the children card! Too bad you do ship such an app with your device since forever, it's called a Browser!

If that happens, then the demand is big enough that companies would import millions of iPhones from other regions and sell them in the EU.

For warranty service, the company would ship the phones back to the original country where Apple sold them.

Then, if that causes Apple too much trouble, then Apple would have to detect that the phone had been spending most of the time in the EU, and refuse to provide free servicing under warranty.

That’s an interesting can of worms for Apple.

If they want to play fast and loose with the lack of consumer protections in the US market, by all means! Delayed features actually lead to a BETTER experience over here in the EU.

I'm not spending the cost of an entry level Mac (nearly) on headphones, that's just insane to me. An entry level Macbook Air is $50 more. That is wild to me. I've never spent that much on Headphones, and if it aint a DAC headset, I just can't justify it.

I do wonder, how much of what Apple is doing is proprietary, and patented? Or is the fear that Apple could not patent it, and competitors will realize they could do the same for other ecosystems?

A common pattern in Apple platforms has been for APIs to be private initially, then made public 2-4 major versions after introduction, once the bulk of the design churn is over with and it can remain relatively stable. Essentially, they focus on making it functional and shaped correctly and then make it public once they’re satisfied. They don’t do this with every API obviously, but have with several.

I think the DMA would be stronger if it had a “beta clause” that allowed that form of development for some stretch of time (a couple of years maybe) after public release before requirements kick in. This way companies don’t have to try to juggle making the APIs functional vs. fit for public consumption.

Thanks in advance.

Sincerely,

The EU.

There's a few other countries in Europe where it's released but their vat is much higher. I think apple normalizes prices across countries but every now and then it's cheaper to buy apple gear here. There was even a time when iPhones were cheaper here than in the USA because of some exchange rate issues.

As good as Apple hardware is (well in the designe department at least) their behavior is terrible for consumers and their OSs are becoming a joke. So, it's not like we would lose something particularly great.

Doing it for a week, perhaps, to make a point and see if EU caves from it, which I dont see happening either.

[0]: https://msk-apple.ru/

[1]: https://apple-com.ru/

Flippin' Symbian phones from early 2010's are more capable and yet they are the ones we call "dumbphones"...

this defense argument seems really counter productive as it feels exactly the point of antitrust laws.

Just like disrupting the seamless way internet explorer worked together with Windows was exactly the point.

Also the "Pornography, in my iPhone?!" has meme potential.

Apple is answerable to shareholders and the EU is too big a market to exit. But if they do - great! Imagine the exciting industry that will flourish without them!

Tragic how much goodwill Apple has squandered.

I am shocked!

Funnily, the previous EU commissioner for competition, who has spearheaded these clashes between EU and the U.S. tech giants has stated that the U.S. basically wrote the book on sensible anti-trust legislation back in the day, and that the EU's current laws are greatly inspired by the historical example of the U.S.

This is disingenuous. The DMA gatekeeper rules apply to Android and Google Play, and Samsung's live translation feature does not appear to be tied to specific earbuds.

I mean, all this public grandstanding between sides is exhausting: - apple says its walled garden is the best for consumers so they should have a spine and push back - the EU has been pushing their Brussels effect around because it's also good for consumers so they should just stiffen their spine and stop dragging courts cases and media attention for years. Not only that: all the EU complains on how Apple has not paid their fair share of taxes by using European tax loopholes. They should just keep their spine stiff and impose a massive penalty on Apple non-compliance!

In the end it's a win-win isn't it? Europe gets a chance to come up with local players to fill in the market for a walled garden device and apple keeps their reputation with consumers

Why are they going to this now ? Nobody is holding apple responsible for that. It's just another 'think of the children' fear mongering while with the other face they want to be able to record everything without explicit consent or with some guadrails ?

Apple can adapt if they want to participate in the EU market, like others have. They seem to think that it works like their lobby groups in the US.

Just waiting for Macron to receive an expensive plaque from 'Tim Apple'.

These are empty threats that are honestly pathetic given the power and the history that company has.