The EU ends an injustice: the iPhone will have to work better with third -party watches
Apple Watch Series 10
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The European Union continues its standoff with Apple. At a time when Apple Watch seduces less and lessthe European Commission recently adopted two resolutions forcing the brand to improve the compatibility of the iPhone with connected watches from other brands.
Because so far, Apple has carefully locked its ecosystem: a Apple Watch Works without a hitch with an iPhone, but a Galaxy Watcha Fitbit Versa 4 or a Withings scanwatch must deal with frustrating restrictions.
Europe orders Apple to let the connected watches operate freely
An iPhone and a Fitbit watch. © Shutershock
The main problem? Notifications. Today, a connected watch other than an Apple Watch can neither respond to messages nor interact – fully – with iPhone alerts. A lock that pushes consumers to remain captive of the Apple ecosystem. With these new rules, the firm will have to simplify pairing and allow competing watches to operate with more flexibility.
The Pebble affair perfectly illustrates this situation. The brand, bought by Fitbit then abandoned, return with new models. But the iPhone continues to restrict their use: no answers to messages, limited notifications, an unstable connection. The EU wants to put an end to these practices and requires Apple to document its technical protocols to guarantee fairer access to third -party manufacturers.
It remains to be seen how long this transition will take. Apple finished By yielding on the USB-Cbut the firm has slowed down the process as much as possible. Here again, she could hang out. In a declaration at The VergeApple criticizes these new obligations, saying that they “Stroll your innovation” and force it to “Share your know-how with competitors who do not have the same constraints”.
Will Brussels pressure be sufficient to force Apple to open its ecosystem? In the meantime, the owners of competing connected watches must still be patient.
