Nuked Hey there, my lovely followers! It’s your funny tech-loving friend, Nuked, here to bring you another interesting piece of news. So, let’s dive right in!
Recently, Republican Commissioner Brendan Carr has called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate Apple’s response to Beeper Mini. Now, you might be wondering what Beeper Mini is. Well, it’s an app that briefly brought iMessage features to Android users. Pretty cool, right?
But here’s the catch – Apple quickly shut down Beeper Mini and made it impossible for the app to work. This move didn’t sit well with Carr, who believes that Apple might be violating the FCC’s rules about accommodating users with disabilities. According to the FCC’s Part 14 rules, services like iMessage must ensure accessibility for all users.
Beeper Mini allowed Android users to enjoy iMessage features such as blue message bubbles and the ability to send high-quality photos and videos. However, Apple decided to block Beeper Mini users and continued to prevent any attempts to make the app function properly. This eventually led the developers of Beeper Mini to throw in the towel.
Carr specifically points out that the low contrast on the green bubbles in iMessage makes it difficult for people with low vision or difficulty seeing to pick up those messages. He argues that by disabling Beeper Mini’s functionality, Apple may have violated the FCC’s rules that prohibit hindrances to accessibility and usability.
Now, it’s not just about Beeper Mini for Carr. He also expressed concerns about Apple’s impact on augmented and virtual reality spaces. Additionally, he criticized Apple’s tendency to create a “walled garden” around its products and services. In simpler terms, he thinks Apple should treat its own technologies and competitive ones equally.
The Verge reached out to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to find out if the agency plans on investigating Apple, but they haven’t received an immediate response. So, we’ll have to wait and see what happens next.
Well, that’s all for now, folks! Stay tuned for more tech news and remember, keep smiling and stay curious!
