This sounds highly unlikely, as it would drastically hurt the sales of adjacent devices and accessories. In my opinion, the most likely outcome is the Apple regular, where they release docs, but the docs are so bad that they're practically unworkable.

If Apple has the choice to give up developing products in a controlled, vertically integrated manner OR losing a substantial fraction of EU device and accessory sales, I don’t think that’s a hard one for them.

We already see it in another regulatory regime, with AI features coming much later to the EU, if at all.

> OR losing a substantial fraction of EU device and accessory sales, I don’t think that’s a hard one for them.

It isn't hard at all. "Develop stuff the way we want, or lose sales" is really not a hard decision at all. Funny how you end up with an answer that defies all common and business sense

> with AI features coming much later to the EU, if at all.

They are coming despite all of Apple's posturing, and on a schedule that was already determined before all the posturing.

Losing 20% of revenue sure sounds like a great look in front of investors.

Just open it up and let people sideload - 90% won't do it anyway and it'll cause people to switch from Android, which is a lot more prevalent in Europe

Yeah, they already started to do that. For example, if you try to use iPhone mirroring from a Mac withing the EU, you get a little pop-up saying "iPhone Mirroring is not available in your country or region." But if you travel to a non-EU country, it works fine.

Doesn't that mean effectively losing market share to devices that do have capabilities in the eu, or that are accepting restrictions, say Android?

I doubt it. So far, they have dropped every anti-competetive tactic that the EU has objected to.

After all, in which other market are they expected to grow? China already shifts to domestic brands, and other regions lack the purchasing power.

Dropping their second biggest region, which makes them 25% of revenue sounds unlikely. Especially as it's just putting that money into competitors' pockets.

I hope they do! I need a little bit more push to switch to Android

Highly doubt it, the EU is not the same as the UK.

The precedent set by the USB C is in line with Apple complying.

And yet, for all their posturing and trying to blame EU for their own failures, Apple has no intention of doing so, complies with demand, and released all the features in the EU.

Because it's a huge wealthy market.