6 ms·

Apple planning default navigation app setting in iOS 18 for EU users

33 points by laktak 3y ago

magnio 3y ago
> Apple also plans to introduce a new default control for users in Settings for navigation apps. Apple aims to make this solution available by March 2025. > Apple will also add the ability to delete Safari from the iPhone in an update to iOS before the end of the year. Man, sincerely wish Apple would make these changes available elsewhere. My whole family complains about how they cannot make Google Maps the default on iOS.
- hellweaver666 3y ago
  What I don't get is why they don't just roll it out everywhere? Surely it's more hassle for them to maintain multiple versions of iOS with different features for different markets?
  - Yeri 3y ago
    More hassle, but that hassle is covered by extra $$$ from forcing people in their ecosystem.
  - basisword 3y ago
    I think that illustrates how important they think being default is and how much they have to lose.
  - rahoulb 3y ago
    So they can whine about how regulation interferes with their ability to innovate
  - tety 3y ago
    Probably more about Safari than Maps If they limit the market they disincentivize google and mozilla from investing in native iOS versions of their browsers
- shiroiushi 3y ago
  If you care about choice, iOS isn't the OS for you.
- asadotzler 3y ago
  Wishing for Apple to do something is misplaced. Wish for and vote for a government where you live that's as concerned with your software choices as the EU and EC and European courts are for their citizens.
hsbauauvhabzb 3y ago
How about the rest of us? I’ve uninstalled Apple Maps and have google maps install, if I click an address it prompts me to install Apple Maps again. I have no idea how this is somehow different from the Microsoft IE antitrust case of the 90’s, but I truly hate decisions made by apple (and Microsoft, for that matter) in the name of ‘doing business’.
- _ZeD_ 3y ago
  >>> How about the rest of us? you can ask for an European citizenship. Or you can ask your government to protect its citizen from monopolies
  - simse 3y ago
    Citizenship is not enough, you have to live in the EU.
    - askonomm 3y ago
      So then even a resident permit would be enough, because you don't need citizenship to be able to live in EU.
      - withinboredom 3y ago
        Maybe. I’m actually curious how they are going to gate it. Because I’m originally from the US, I have access to US things still (like Apple Cash). I’ve migrated my account years ago, and my phone’s region is set to my EU one.
        basisword 3y ago
        I read somewhere that Apple ID region will be part of it. Given they don't let you transfer your purchases from one Apple ID region to another, it'll be a nightmare for people living in the EU but using a US Apple ID account.
lloydatkinson 3y ago
Off topic, recently on holiday I needed to lookup an address. Google Maps and Apple Maps had very different results. One had the location about half a mile away across the city and the other was right where I was standing. Apple Maps was the correct one. This is not an experience I’d have expected in 2024 for a large city in a Western country. With Googles apparent embrace of enshitification as a goal instead of a warning, perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised anymore.
- pompino 3y ago
  Not usually a supporter of Google, but personally I'd cut them some slack for this. I do hold them responsible for not being able to go a few clicks without some google tech shoving a shitty ad in my face.
- withinboredom 3y ago
  If you look up “paper cities” google also has “paper public transportation” and it will give me a route from my house starting at a bus stop that doesn’t exist on a bus that doesn’t exist. It’s super annoying when inviting people over because I have to explain that they shouldn’t use Google maps because it will give impossible directions.
  - shiroiushi 3y ago
    It depends on where you are; Google Maps is indispensable in some cities, and apparently somewhat useless in other locales. Here in Tokyo, it's a must-have app, and basically everyone uses it because it's so useful. Good luck trying to navigate the public transit system with some other navigation app, or find some very particular restaurant you want to eat at. Of course, one of Google's big locations for Maps development is here in Tokyo, so that might have something to do with why it works so well.
    - pooper 3y ago
      I'll give you another example: if you drive to the Dallas Fort Worth DFW airport with toll off, Google maps won't tell you there is no way to get to a terminal to pick up passengers without paying the toll.
choppaface 3y ago
Remember when "Apple Maps Bad" was catastrophic? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVq1wgIN62E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVq1wgIN62E Then Uber happened, in particular greyballing. Then FTX happened. Then ... It's not just about pressing a bad product on people, it's about the greed leading the campaign in the first place.
yami 3y ago
Wish they would also allow 3rd party phone apps. Recording a call isn’t possible on an iPhone unless your willing to use paid, very hacky solutions.
grishka 3y ago
Why not skip this case-by-case approach and just introduce something similar to Android's intent system? As in, any app could say it can handle "geo:" URIs, and the user would get to choose which app opens them. Same for all other URI schemes and common actions. It has somehow worked on Android for 15 years and hell didn't break loose.
- meibo 3y ago
  Because then you couldn't funnel every basic functionality of a modern smartphone into your own apps by force, making it so annoying to actually use alternatives that in most scenarios, you won't bother to.
- 3D30497420 3y ago
  I think the issue is less a technical one and more that Apple doesn't want to cede control. I'm guessing the fact they're saying this will take a year to launch is more about how little they want to do it than the actual amount of effort.
  - grishka 3y ago
    > Apple doesn't want to cede control But they will have to, sooner or later. It's not like the EU is going to give up with its initiatives that aim precisely to reduce this kind of post-device-sale control by device manufacturers. Why not just bite the bullet? This kind of arrogant behavior can't be good for Apple's own reputation either. You want people to use your services? Provide better services than your competition then!

33 points by laktak 3y ago

> Apple also plans to introduce a new default control for users in Settings for navigation apps. Apple aims to make this solution available by March 2025. > Apple will also add the ability to delete Safari from the iPhone in an update to iOS before the end of the year. Man, sincerely wish Apple would make these changes available elsewhere. My whole family complains about how they cannot make Google Maps the default on iOS.

hellweaver666 3y ago
What I don't get is why they don't just roll it out everywhere? Surely it's more hassle for them to maintain multiple versions of iOS with different features for different markets?
- Yeri 3y ago
  More hassle, but that hassle is covered by extra $$$ from forcing people in their ecosystem.
- basisword 3y ago
  I think that illustrates how important they think being default is and how much they have to lose.
- rahoulb 3y ago
  So they can whine about how regulation interferes with their ability to innovate
- tety 3y ago
  Probably more about Safari than Maps If they limit the market they disincentivize google and mozilla from investing in native iOS versions of their browsers
shiroiushi 3y ago
If you care about choice, iOS isn't the OS for you.
asadotzler 3y ago
Wishing for Apple to do something is misplaced. Wish for and vote for a government where you live that's as concerned with your software choices as the EU and EC and European courts are for their citizens.

hsbauauvhabzb 3y ago

How about the rest of us? I’ve uninstalled Apple Maps and have google maps install, if I click an address it prompts me to install Apple Maps again. I have no idea how this is somehow different from the Microsoft IE antitrust case of the 90’s, but I truly hate decisions made by apple (and Microsoft, for that matter) in the name of ‘doing business’.

_ZeD_ 3y ago
>>> How about the rest of us? you can ask for an European citizenship. Or you can ask your government to protect its citizen from monopolies
- simse 3y ago
  Citizenship is not enough, you have to live in the EU.
  - askonomm 3y ago
    So then even a resident permit would be enough, because you don't need citizenship to be able to live in EU.
    - withinboredom 3y ago
      Maybe. I’m actually curious how they are going to gate it. Because I’m originally from the US, I have access to US things still (like Apple Cash). I’ve migrated my account years ago, and my phone’s region is set to my EU one.
      - basisword 3y ago
        I read somewhere that Apple ID region will be part of it. Given they don't let you transfer your purchases from one Apple ID region to another, it'll be a nightmare for people living in the EU but using a US Apple ID account.

lloydatkinson 3y ago

Off topic, recently on holiday I needed to lookup an address. Google Maps and Apple Maps had very different results. One had the location about half a mile away across the city and the other was right where I was standing. Apple Maps was the correct one. This is not an experience I’d have expected in 2024 for a large city in a Western country. With Googles apparent embrace of enshitification as a goal instead of a warning, perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised anymore.

pompino 3y ago
Not usually a supporter of Google, but personally I'd cut them some slack for this. I do hold them responsible for not being able to go a few clicks without some google tech shoving a shitty ad in my face.
withinboredom 3y ago
If you look up “paper cities” google also has “paper public transportation” and it will give me a route from my house starting at a bus stop that doesn’t exist on a bus that doesn’t exist. It’s super annoying when inviting people over because I have to explain that they shouldn’t use Google maps because it will give impossible directions.
- shiroiushi 3y ago
  It depends on where you are; Google Maps is indispensable in some cities, and apparently somewhat useless in other locales. Here in Tokyo, it's a must-have app, and basically everyone uses it because it's so useful. Good luck trying to navigate the public transit system with some other navigation app, or find some very particular restaurant you want to eat at. Of course, one of Google's big locations for Maps development is here in Tokyo, so that might have something to do with why it works so well.
  - pooper 3y ago
    I'll give you another example: if you drive to the Dallas Fort Worth DFW airport with toll off, Google maps won't tell you there is no way to get to a terminal to pick up passengers without paying the toll.

choppaface 3y ago

Remember when "Apple Maps Bad" was catastrophic? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVq1wgIN62E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVq1wgIN62E Then Uber happened, in particular greyballing. Then FTX happened. Then ... It's not just about pressing a bad product on people, it's about the greed leading the campaign in the first place.

yami 3y ago

Wish they would also allow 3rd party phone apps. Recording a call isn’t possible on an iPhone unless your willing to use paid, very hacky solutions.

grishka 3y ago

Why not skip this case-by-case approach and just introduce something similar to Android's intent system? As in, any app could say it can handle "geo:" URIs, and the user would get to choose which app opens them. Same for all other URI schemes and common actions. It has somehow worked on Android for 15 years and hell didn't break loose.

meibo 3y ago
Because then you couldn't funnel every basic functionality of a modern smartphone into your own apps by force, making it so annoying to actually use alternatives that in most scenarios, you won't bother to.
3D30497420 3y ago
I think the issue is less a technical one and more that Apple doesn't want to cede control. I'm guessing the fact they're saying this will take a year to launch is more about how little they want to do it than the actual amount of effort.
- grishka 3y ago
  > Apple doesn't want to cede control But they will have to, sooner or later. It's not like the EU is going to give up with its initiatives that aim precisely to reduce this kind of post-device-sale control by device manufacturers. Why not just bite the bullet? This kind of arrogant behavior can't be good for Apple's own reputation either. You want people to use your services? Provide better services than your competition then!