Apple's iMessage platform works across its devices, giving iOS and macOS users a way to message each other. There is a lot of debate on the green versus blue bubble. This has led to some to come up with ways for Android users to be able to send and receive iMessages. Now thanks to an EU ruling, Apple won't have to worry about making iMessage compatible with Android or other messenger apps.

The EU recently conducted an investigation of Apple's iMessage under the Digital Markets Act. The goal is to see if iMessage is considered a "gatekeeper" service. If it is, the EU would have forced Apple to make sure iMessage is interoperable with other services. Based on their findings, it seems that the EU has ruled that iMessage is not a gatekeeper service.

This means that things will continue to stay the same. This is versus other services like Meta's WhatsApp. Since labeling WhatsApp as a gatekeeper service, there's a need for it to ensure interoperability with other messenger apps. WhatsApp appears prepared for this, as it recently outlined how the app will receive messages from other messenger apps.

Apple is expected to enable support for RCS later this year. While this isn't the same as iMessage being compatible with Android, it will allow a somewhat similar experience. While the EU has ruled seemingly in Apple's favor, they might not be as lucky in the US. The FCC Commission has recently called for an investigation over Apple's blocking of Beeper Mini, an app that would allow Android users to send and receive iMessages on non-iPhone devices.

The concept of virtual and augmented reality technology has fascinated the public for years. We've all seen the TV shows and movies on the potential of the technology and how it will one day become mainstream. Despite the fact that AR and VR devices have been around for years, they have largely remained as niche devices. Apple launching the Vision Pro is an attempt to break into the mainstream, but I think that's going to be a tall order.

A hard sell

Despite it's unique design and unique feature set, it's hard to ignore the price of the Vision Pro. Priced at over $3,000, it is going to be a hard sell for the average consumer. Competing devices or devices in a similar category are going for way less.

Secondly, battery life on the Vision Pro isn't that great. For a device that's supposed to be portable, a battery life of about 2.5 hours is quite disappointing. It might be good for one movie but that's about it. Lastly, it is too damn conspicuous. Remember when the less-conspicuous Google Glass first launched and the public's visceral reaction to it? Apple's Vision Pro doesn't even bother trying to disguise itself.

This brings us to our next point - the form factor. If Apple is hoping for the Vision Pro to become a daily part of our lives, it needs to be made into a form factor that is easily "forgettable". Think about products like smartwatches. They can be worn on the wrist and are easily forgotten except when you need it. They don't get in the way and we don't need to carve out a special time or place to use them.

Meta's Ray-Ban smart sunglasses are a great example. Even when their smart features aren't being used, they double up as a cool fashion accessory that you or I would easily wear on a daily basis.

There is potential

That being said, the Apple Vision Pro is far from a failure. Judging by the various reviews of the device, Apple has indeed created a device that works pretty much as marketed. It is quite an impressive engineering feat, especially with its gesture-based controls. The integration with Apple's ecosystem is another plus, making it a great extension for iPhone or Mac users.

To be fair, we think that Apple already expects that the first-gen Vision Pro won't be a smashing hit. The price alone is enough to put off the majority of customers. Like any new form of technology, there is room for improvement and refinement. At the end of the day, Apple needs to decide what they want from the Vision Pro and who exactly they are targeting.

If there is one good thing that the Vision Pro has accomplished is that due to Apple's marketing efforts and reputation, it can further propel the discussion and interest in AR and VR technology. It can also help serve as a catalyst for broader acceptance and integration of the technology into our daily lives.

Apple had a fantastic year in 2023. The company pretty much dominated the smartphone market. They also managed to steal the crown from Samsung who had been leading for the past decade or so. But it looks like it could be a short-lived victory as it appears that Apple could already be feeling the effects of Samsung's adoption of AI.

Notable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has published a post on Medium in which he has heard from his sources that Apple is lowering its 2024 iPhone shipments. The analyst claims that the iPhone 15 and upcoming iPhone 16 series will see a shipping decline of about 10-15% year-on-year respectively.

On the other hand, Samsung appears to be optimistic about its future and revised its Galaxy S24 shipments in 2024 by about 5-10%. We recently stated that Samsung's adoption of AI could prove to be a serious threat to Apple, and Kuo's report seems to suggest that the Cupertino company is already starting to see it.

Kuo also appears to be quite bearish about Apple's AI efforts. He opines that Apple might not launch an iPhone with significant design changes or more comprehensive AI systems until 2025 at the earliest. If that turns out to be true, it could spell bad news for Apple as they would essentially be ceding more market share to its competitors.

Two letters are making life difficult for Apple CEO Tim Cook these days. Those two letters? EU, as in the European Union. The EU's Common Charger law led Apple to replace the proprietary Lightning port with USB-C worldwide on the iPhone. The EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) also led Apple to announce that it would add Rich Communication Services (RCS) support to the iPhone sometime this year. This is also expected to be a global move by Apple.

The DMA also is forcing Apple to allow sideloading of third-party apps by iPhone users although this change will probably be limited to the 27 EU member countries. Apple had always disallowed users from sideloading apps to keep them from accidentally installing malware on their phones. In the EU, Apple will be turning over the responsibility to keep infected apps off of the iPhone to device owners themselves.

While that might be the right thing to do, those who aren't aware of things like malware and trojans (not those Trojans, but a malicious app that aims to attack the victim's phone by disguising itself like the mythical Trojan Horse) could end up having their financial accounts wiped or see the performance of their iPhone degraded. Again, sideloading will be limited to the 27 EU member countries.

The latest pressure from the EU has forced Apple to announce that it will open up the iPhone's on-device NFC technology to third-party payment platforms. This will allow third-party firms in the 27 EU countries to offer contactless payment for iPhone users becoming competition for Apple Pay.

This morning, Apple told The Wall Street Journal, "Through our ongoing discussions with the European Commission, we have offered commitments to provide third-party developers in the European Economic Area with an option that will enable their users to make NFC contactless payments from within their iOS apps, separate from Apple Pay and Apple Wallet."

Similar to its plans with sideloading, it is expected that Apple will allow third-party NFC contactless payment systems to gain iPhone support in the EU only. Apple's statement make it clear that the third-party mobile payment services will not be part of the Wallet app or Apple Pay.

Apple will have to allow access to the iPhone's on-device NFC tech for 10 years with a fine valued at 10% of the company's worldwide revenue hanging over its head if it fails to comply. In Apple's case, based on fiscal 2023 revenue, that would be a hefty $38.3 billion penalty.

Apple's AirTag item tracker has come to the rescue again. Per The Queen City News, the Gavino family was visiting the North Carolina mountains from Miami, Florida because they had a dream to celebrate Christmas in the Carolinas. Last Friday, after flying into Charlotte Douglas International Airport, the family realized that one of their bags never surfaced on the carousel. But there was hope that the luggage could be found.

The night before, Catherine Gavino had purchased AirTag item trackers and after taking the advice of several online influencers, she tossed an AirTag into each bag not thinking that she really might need to track a missing suitcase. "It was to help find luggage if it was lost, but I never thought it'd get stolen," she said.

The Find My app showed the stolen bag on Interstate 85, heading west toward Gastonia

After realizing that one bag was not showing up, Catherine fired up the Find My app on her iPhone and saw that the missing luggage was on the move. The bag was traveling on Interstate 85 and heading west toward Gastonia. After quickly renting a vehicle, the Gavino family started following the AirTag to a neighborhood. But the search had to be called off after the AirTag stopped displaying any information.

The luggage contained clothing that Catherine's mother and father had bought especially for the trip. Once the family couldn't track the location of the luggage, it had to be repurchased.

On Christmas Day, the Gavino family decided to take one last crack at retrieving the suitcase. After dropping off two family members at the airport, Catherine opened the Find My app once again and was able to track the AirTag to a house on McGuire Street in Gastonia. "I told my dad who was with me, 'Look it's only 20 minutes, let's swing by.'" After driving by the house, she called the police.

The cops entered the home and recovered the Gavino family's luggage and the suitcase belonging to another person who also had their baggage stolen at the airport. Catherine said that the police had told her that "someone else called with the same issue. And they had an AirTag." The cops had come to the same area earlier the same day to recover that other bag, but for some reason, it was pinging in the wrong house.

While the bag was recovered, the contents of the suitcase could not be found

While the Gavino family recovered the stolen suitcase, the contents of the luggage were nowhere to be found and the police believe that the clothes were sold. Catherine said, "Police believe they may have sold the clothes for money, who knows. These are my parents, coming to the mountains for a North Carolina view, so for this to happen made me sad, which was all the more reason to go after them...I wouldn't have found them without this AirTag."

A suspect was arrested by the police and charged with charged with multiple theft crimes, and a drug charge. He is being held on $10,000 bail. Catherine Gavino explained why she continued to track down the suitcase and spent so much time getting it back. "I wanted justice," she said.

Apple continues to sell individual AirTag trackers for $29 and a set of four can be purchased for $99. That is a savings of $17 or 15% if you purchase the package of four. And in the online Apple Store you'll find several key rings and other accessories offered for your Apple AirTag. By the way, you can have your AirTag engraved for free when you purchase it from the online Apple Store.