New framework: Is iOS 26.1 forwarding notifications on non-Apple watches?

Apple is apparently already planning improvements in supporting third-party accessories with the next larger iOS version. More precisely, it seems to be about computer clocks and fitness trackers with a display, reports The US edition of the MacWorld. It is therefore planned that notifications are easier to transfer to such devices. This is part of some of the claims that the EU Commission places on Apple as part of the interoperability requirements of the Digital Market Act (DMA). It is therefore quite possible that the functionality will initially only be available for citizens of the European Union.

Notifications only on the Apple Watch complete

According to MacWorld, the function, which “notification forwarding” (forwarding of notifications) calls itself, is in the code of the Developer Beta of iOS 26.1, which has recently been available. The idea seems to be to create its own framework for such devices that still acts data protection friendlch. Apple has so far only allowed the full functionality of the notifications with the Apple Watch series’s own computer watches. For example, no pictures are forwarded, deletions are not synchronized and there is no direct answer.

Notification Forwarding should now change this-and allow notifications to lead notifications to a non-Apple product. However, what is then possible remains unclear. However, a string says that Apple limits this to just one device. So it should not be possible to fetch several third party accessories. Furthermore, a framework is new to make the pairing easier for external accessories. It is called “accessory extension”, but is probably still at an early stage. In addition to the use of notifications, the EU also requires that Apple make the pairing with third-party devices as easy as for Apple hardware.

Loss of Apple magic?

iOS 26.1 is likely to appear in a few weeks. Apple had recently failed when trying to prevent parts of the DMA specifications using an emergency. “You want to take us the magic-the seamless integration that we offer-and make ourselves like the others,” complained Apple’s top worldwide marketing director Greg Joswiak in relation to the EU Commission according to one Report of the BBC.

The regulators would “provide a poorer user experience”, undermine innovation, “violate Apple’s intellectual property” and “damage data protection and security,” said Joswiak. Among other things, Apple fears that notifications can flow to foreign servers. A separate framework could possibly prevent this.