Complaining about stuff is a much-loved pastime in the US, so let me be forgiving: the iPhone is more fun in Europe now, and that's not fair.
They are receiving all kinds of things because they have Cold regulators, not like regular regulators. Third-party app stores, the ability for browsers to run their own engines, Fortnite, And now the ability to replace many default apps? I want that too! Imagine if Chrome on iOS wasn't just a rickety little Safari emulator! Imagine downloading a new dialer app with a set of fart sounds and setting it as default! Unfortunately, Apple doesn't seem interested in sharing these possibilities with everyone.
But beyond the emulators and its grudging embrace of RCS, Apple only seems interested in doing the bare minimum to keep regulators off its back. It's starting to feel like the company is selling two different iPhones: one for Europeans, and one that everyone else can buy. It's odd, especially since keeping things simple and consistent is something Apple is all about. But the company is so committed to keeping the two things separate that it won't even let you update apps from third-party app stores if you leave the EU for more than a month.
The question is this: wouldn't it be a good idea to offer everyone the same options no matter where they live? It's not like Apple is making two different iPhones to try to cater to different cultural preferences. What it is making is one iPhone that is more flexible and customizable, and one that isn't.
Maybe, little by little, Apple will relent and offer parity like it did with emulators. But I think the company should make an unusual move: drop the charade and let everyone, everywhere have the same iPhone. It would be bold! Brave, even! But most importantly, it would be a lot more fun.
