The European Union ’s Digital Markets Act has had a huge shock on Apple , a company that has become synonymous with the “ walled garden ” approach to interoperability . The company latterly publish a “ Non - confidential summary of DMA compliance reputation ” ( is there a confidential rendering ? ) which summarizes the way in which Apple has changed to follow with the unexampled regulations .
Most of it is stuff we already sleep together . WithiOS 17.4 , customers in the EU are represent with their choice of browsers , can install apps outside the app storehouse , can use the NFC chip for wireless requital systems other than Apple Pay , and more .
But there are a duet of small details we have n’t heard of before . The first is the power to entirely delete Safari . As the document submit :
Apple also plans to enable user to entirely delete Safari from iOS , should they wish to do so . orchard apple tree aim to make this option available by the ending of 2024 .
Perhaps more interesting is the body of work Apple is seemingly doing to make it easier to transition to an Android phone .
Apple is developing a solution that helps fluid operating system provider develop more drug user - well-disposed solutions to transfer datum from an iPhone to a non - Apple phone . Apple aims to make this solution available by fall 2025 .
That ’s a long way out – a timeframe of descent 2025 mean this solution will in all likelihood ship as part of Io 19 ! But it ’s interesting to see Apple work on a much more holistic solution than its currentSwitch to Androidapp , which critics say does n’t move nearly enough of your information and comparable options over .
Finally , Apple is exploit on an easier way to switch browsers . you could already choose a default web web browser , and customer in the EU are presented with a “ web web browser vote ” bill of fare when they first launch the web browser after the iOS 17.4 update , but there ’s no simple way to move all your bookmarks , figure autofill information , word , cooky , and other things between browers .
Apple is also create a web internet browser shift resolution for exporting and importing relevant web internet browser data into another internet browser on the same equipment . Apple aims to make this solution available by late 2024 / early 2025 .
That timeframe seems to paint a picture it will be a part of an update to iOS 18 , an “ iOS 18.4 ” if you will .
The written document is aimed at show deference with the Digital Markets Act , and does n’t detail which feature are going to be available only in the EU and which might roll out worldwide . It also does n’t plunk into specific details of how everything is implemented or the policies behind them , which have amount under some examination recently . It ’s always possible the EU regulatory body may rule that some of Apple ’s effort do n’t work in a way that make them compliant with the Digital Markets Act , prompting further modification to how Apple has implemented these features .
