Apple tells the EU it doesn’t (Live) Translate

Apple intends to block the exciting new live translation feature in its new AirPods Pro due to EU regulations, which mean it will need to spend a lot of money on new engineering work to support the European diktat.

A tool for better communication, just not in the EU

Live translation is the great tool that lets you understand what other people are saying while they speak to you in their own language. It does this by automatically translating what they say into your ears. If they wear AirPods, they can then hear your words in instant translation too.

The problem Apple has is that the regulations require that if Apple makes translation available on AirPods it will also need to ensure they work well with other devices.

That’s going to take a lot of work. EU regulators are “creating a worse experience for their citizens, our users” said Apple’s Worldwide PR chief, Greg Joswiak.

Europe lacks clues

All of this is a reaction to Europe’s application of its politically motivated Digital Markets Act, which while it claims aims to open up competition really seems to be a way to damage Apple’s core business and its unique products. It’s as if the Europeans want every iPhone user running an Android and tell them it’s free choice. It isn’t.

High on their own ideology, European regulators say they can’t see why Apple would block the feature.

It’s yet another illustration as to how the EU is working ever so hard to enshittify what it can while failing to address the actual problems Europeans have, around energy, food, and accommodation supply and costs. The bloc seems 100% focused on solving the wonkish things that don’t matter with solutions that make it worse. Kind of like if GDPR warnings interrupted every part of life.

This certainly seems to be how Apple sees this, slamming the “bureaucrats in Brussels” for decisions it says show they “want to take the magic away.”

Opening up the planet

In other news, iOS 26.1 add Live Translation for Japanese, Korean, Italian, and Chinese, both Traditional and Simplified – which means travellers from those countries will be even better at understanding European languages, even while Europeans continue to lack a single scooby.

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