Home › News ›

Europe Forces Apple to Open up More of iOS

Article Comments

Today, 2:08 PM by Rich Brome @rbrome.bsky.social

Apple will add new interoperability between iPhones (and iPads) and non-Apple devices in two key areas starting with iOS 26.3, in response to Europe's Digital Markets Act. In Europe only, iOS 26.3 will allow third-party devices like smartwatches to receive notifications and react to them. Pairing Bluetooth devices like earbuds will also potentially get easier with Proximity Pairing, where you can simply bring two devices near each other to pair them. These features were previously proprietary to Apple devices like the Apple Watch and AirPods, and, for now, will remain that way in the rest of the world. The features do require work on the part of device makers in order to be supported. Developers can start that work now with beta versions of iOS 26.3, while the features are expected to be "fully available in Europe" in 2026.

MacRumors »

Related

iPhone 15 Series Goes All-In on USB-C and Dynamic Island

Sep 12, 2023
Apple has revealed the iPhone 15 series, which moves to a USB-C connector and brings several key features from last year's Pro models to the more-affordable standard models. These include the pill-shaped sensor cutout in the display that Apple calls Dynamic Island, a brighter display that can reach 2000 nits, a 48 megapixel main camera, and the A16 Bionic processor chip.

Samsung S24 Series Adds More AI, Updates the Hardware

Jan 17, 2024
Samsung has unveiled its lineup of flagship phones for 2024, the Galaxy S24 series. The phones sport multiple upgrades in both hardware and software compared to last year's models.

OnePlus' First Foldable Aims High

Oct 19, 2023
OnePlus has launched the OnePlus Open, its first foldable phone. The flagship-class phone has top-end specs, going head-to-head with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 and Google Pixel Fold in both design and features.

Beats Launches Smaller, More Affordable Earbuds

Apr 30, 2024
Beats today announced the all-new Beats Solo Buds true wireless earbuds, as well as an update to its iconic headphones, the Beats Solo 4. The Beats Solo Buds are the brand's smallest earbuds yet, and will sell for just $80.

iOS 18 Overhauls Home Screen, Messaging, Photos

Jun 10, 2024
Apple just announced iOS 18 for iPhones. The update will bring a slew of new features, with the biggest changes coming to home screen icons, messaging, and the Photos app.

more news about: