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Apple surrenders to EU, lets users choose Default Apps
Apple will bring a choice screen to alter the Default Apps across the EU. The company known for its restricted ecosystem is gradually surrendering to the European Union. Stock apps could also be uninstalled in the region.
Recently, Apple officially announced iPhone and iPad users in the EU will be able to alter the Default Apps and uninstall pre-loaded native apps. The move comes to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act.
Apple users will now get a Choice Screen to set the Default Web Browser. Following the upgrade due later this year, iPhone and iPad owners will have the option to change default apps through a pop-up screen during the initial setup.
iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 will include a new Default Apps section in Settings in EU. Users will get new default settings for dialing phone numbers, sending messages, translating text, navigation, managing passwords, keyboards, and call spam filters.
“By the end of this year, we’ll make changes to the browser choice screen, default apps, and app deletion for iOS and iPadOS for users in the EU. These updates come from our ongoing and continuing dialogue with the European Commission about compliance with the Digital Market Act’s requirements in these areas.” – Apple Newsroom.
Not that all but users can also replace the default calling and messaging apps with their third-party alternatives. These default settings can be changed in a new settings section that will be added in the future through an upgrade.
Pre-loaded Apple apps such as Safari, App Store, Photos, Camera, and iMessage can now be uninstalled. Pre-installed apps basically called bloatware come with restrictions on deletion from the manufacturer.
Apple confirmed the arrival of Choice Screen in March this year. Third-party app platforms accused the company of violating DMA provisions. Later, the EU investigated the violations and ordered the modification of the Choice Screen.
Apple should be unhappy with iPhone 16 sales numbers. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo compiled data from a supply chain survey and pre-order results from official websites. It suggests the new iPhones are not selling as expected.
According to the report, pre-orders for the Apple iPhone 16 series in the first weekend are estimated to be about 37 million units. This is approximately down 12.7% year-on-year compared to the iPhone 15 line’s first-weekend sales.
In addition, the demand for iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max is lower than expected. It comes as quite a surprising move as Apple debuted an even more powerful chipset, expanded the Telephoto camera to the Pro model, and fueled AI capabilities.
Has Apple Intelligence failed?
Apple partnered with OpenAI to bring AI capabilities to the iPhone. The iOS 18 introduces AI features on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The Apple Intelligence suite is coming across the iPhone 16 models.
Lower than-expected sales suggest Apple Intelligence made no impact on sales. The non-Pro models also bring AI capabilities and have a dedicated Camera Control button too. However, consumers don’t consider them a reason to upgrade.
It is also possible that the sales may be boosted in the next couple of weeks. The reason is, that AI features won’t be available in the iPhone 16 series when they start to deliver. Rather, Apple planned to roll out in batches starting in October.
In addition, intense competition from Huawei in China is impacting iPhone demand over there. Well, Kuo says the US tech giant would not reduce its production, and it’s expected to go on as previously decided.
One UI 7.0 Beta Program could start soon, suggests new information. The company’s staff in India and the UK started testing the latest software. It suggests that this year’s One UI Beta Program could soon be kicked off.
SamMobile reports that One UI 7.0 Beta Program is being tested by Samsung India and Samsung UK. It’s a major development that came after a long delay in the release. While the release timeframe is still uncertain, we are now slightly near the Beta.
Samsung has been testing the One UI 7 Alpha in South Korea. Now, the internal testing has commenced by local subsidiaries in India and the UK. Both markets are eligible for the Beta Program, as per the previous records.
The company has recently released the One UI 6.1.1 update. It brings new Galaxy AI features and improvements to several Galaxies. However, the real change would be delivered with the Android 15-based One UI 7.0 update.
Initially, Samsung was rumored to start One UI 7 Beta in late July. The company ruined all assumptions of early Beta, and the wait lasted the entire August. Some alleged screenshots floated online but stopped swiftly due to authenticity.
We entered September without One UI 7 Beta in our hands. It’s 17th of the month, and still, the situation is unchanged. With the latest development, the One UI 7 Beta Program hype has revived, but the remaining wait remains uncertain.
One UI 7 Beta could launch in China, Germany, India, Poland, South Korea, the UK, and the US. The software will bring all the security features and privacy enhancements debuted in Android 15 operating system onboard of One UI tweaks.
Huawei is set to launch pure blood HarmonyOS, the HarmonyOS Next later this month. While HarmonyOS supports Android apps, the HarmonyOS Next won’t be the same. The company is setting the stage to rival Android and iOS dominance.
Chen Xinxin, general manager of HarmonyOS industry solutions confirmed (via HC) HarmonyOS Next launching later this month. The self-made operating system will help Huawei compete against Google and Apple in the Chinese market.
Apple’s iOS is limited to iPhone, while Google’s Android is based on many skins. Leading smartphone vendors such as Samsung use Android on their devices. HarmonyOS Next will be promoted as the third leading mobile OS.
Per reports, HarmonyOS Next is “entirely independently developed and autonomous.” It would be a big blow to Apple and Google in the Chinese market. The success rate will decide whether its global arrival will take place.
Back in 2019, Huawei introduced the HarmonyOS operating system. It was accused of being an Android-based skin with radical UI tweaks. Support of Android apps was necessary as Google has a vast application ecosystem.
Huawei gradually expanded its work on the operating system. The company grew its application ecosystem through app developers. Now, we are hearing native apps are developed or under development for the latest iteration.
Following the US ban, Google pulled Android’s access from Huawei. The company has been facing immense challenges since then. However, it didn’t give up, and as a result, a competitive product is ready for a striking debut in the market.
Reports say that HarmonyOS runs on more than 900 million devices with 2.54 million developers. Huawei also plans to invest a massive $987 million to “incentivise” HarmonyOS native apps and technical services and to build out the HarmonyOS ecosystem.