July slide
Am 07.09.2024 – 11:37
Spotify criticizes Apple for removing volume control for connected devices. Apple defends itself. We explain how this came about.
Spotify is really annoyed with Apple. – Depositphotos
Apple and Spotify are engaged in another exchange of blows. This time it’s all about a seemingly banal function – volume control.
Spotify users with iPhones now have to be smarter if they want to listen to their favorite content on their audio devices via Spotify Connect. The reason? Apple has “discontinued” a certain technology, Spotify accuses.
«Would you like to change the volume?»
This previously meant that Spotify users could control their volume using the physical iPhone buttons when streaming to speakers, smart TVs, game consoles and other devices via Spotify Connect. But that is now over.
Instead, users who still try to do so are advised to use the volume control that comes with the Spotify app to adjust the volume.
Spotify feels disadvantaged by Apple on the iPhone. – Depositphotos
Anyone who still happily presses their iPhone buttons to tune their music will now receive a mail from Spotify: “Would you like to change the volume?” Clicking on this message will then take you directly to the corresponding control in the app.
Spotify doesn’t want to be responsible
This change was supposed to be officially introduced on September 3, 2024. However, there are reports from users who were unpleasantly surprised by this change days before.
In an update, Spotify makes it clear that this additional hurdle for iPhone users is Apple’s fault.
Does Apple deliberately want to harm Spotify so that more iPhone users switch to Apple Music? – Depositphotos
The Spotify Connect support page states: “Apple has discontinued the technology that allowed Spotify to control volume for connected devices using the device’s buttons.”
Another chapter in long-standing conflict
According to media reports, Apple’s changes caused some Spotify users to experience random volume spikes and other errors. This in turn led to Spotify having to change its volume control.
This particular case may seem insignificant at first glance, but in fact it is just another chapter in a larger ongoing conflict between Apple and Spotify.
The hint…
Apple was fined $2 billion (CHF 1.7 billion) by the EU earlier in 2024. The fine was triggered by a complaint from Spotify against the iPhone manufacturer:
Its guidelines prohibit app makers from luring users into spheres beyond the official Apple App Store so that they can sign up for subscription services from there.
Apple did not let this go and explained in a public statement that Spotify uses all of Apple’s tools for its services without compensating the company financially. Could the change in the use of the buttons be a hint…?
