Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by martyb on Saturday February 22 2020, @03:40PM   Printer-friendly
from the took-them-long-enough dept.

Apple is considering letting users change default email, browser, music apps in iOS:

Apple is seriously considering the possibility of allowing users to change the default apps for Web browsing, mail, or music on their iPhones. The company might also allow users to listen to Spotify or other music streaming services besides Apple Music via Siri on the iPhone or on the HomePod smart speaker.

These revelations were outlined in a report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman this morning, who cited multiple people familiar with Apple's internal plans.

[...] Currently, iOS users can download third-party applications for mail or Web browsing like Outlook or Firefox, but they cannot set them to be the default apps that the system opens when a link or email address is tapped in another application, for example. Apple does allow users to do these things in some cases with its macOS software for desktops and laptops, even though it's not possible on the company's mobile platforms.

[...] And as Bloomberg notes, more elegant support for streaming services besides Apple Music would almost certainly be a boon for sales of Apple's HomePod smart speaker, as that lack of flexibility is a major limitation for that product compared to its competitors. Yes, HomePod users can stream Spotify to the HomePod using Apple's AirPlay technology, but many users may feel that is not a complete solution.

[...] Bloomberg's sources were careful to clarify that no final decisions have been made yet, but given Apple's longstanding commitment to a different philosophy, the fact this change is being seriously considered at all is on its own a major development.

When it released iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 in 2019, Apple already began lifting some smaller limitations on how users could customize the mobile operating system. So if these changes for default apps do go forward, they could herald a dramatic shift in Apple's software strategy—whether they're made to make things better for users, to appease regulators, or both.


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 22 2020, @04:10PM (4 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 22 2020, @04:10PM (#961050)

    I buy Apple products because I don't want to have to make a choice. I like to have my thinking done for my by a crowd.

    Starting Score:    0  points
    Moderation   +2  
       Informative=1, Funny=1, Total=2
    Extra 'Informative' Modifier   0  

    Total Score:   2  
  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 22 2020, @04:24PM (3 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 22 2020, @04:24PM (#961053)

    You always have to make a choice. You made the choice to buy Apple products, didn't you ?

    • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 22 2020, @04:38PM (2 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 22 2020, @04:38PM (#961058)

      Pro tip: Free will doesn't exist.

      • (Score: 3, Touché) by acid andy on Saturday February 22 2020, @06:30PM (1 child)

        by acid andy (1683) on Saturday February 22 2020, @06:30PM (#961097) Homepage Journal

        Who told you to say that?

        --
        If a cat has kittens, does a rat have rittens, a bat bittens and a mat mittens?
        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 22 2020, @07:56PM

          by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 22 2020, @07:56PM (#961142)

          God. Obviously.