Facebook is about to launch an Android-based Apple Watch competitor

Facebook is about to launch its own rival to Apple Watch – the company is working on smartwatches with a focus on “health and messaging”. This was reported by The Information website with reference to “informed” sources.

Facebook plans to start selling watches in 2022. The watch will allow you to send messages through Facebook services with close integration with the messenger Facebook Messenger, and also has a set of functions for health and fitness. The watch will be able to connect to services or devices for health and fitness, such as the platform and smart exercise equipment from Peloton Interactive.

It is noted that the watch will be able to work without connecting to a smartphone and will receive cellular support. The software platform will be an open-source version of Android. In the future, there are plans to develop its own software platform for wearable devices. The second generation of watches will launch in 2023.

As for the price, The Information notes that Facebook is going to sell the watch for around $200.

Facebook fights back against changes to Apple’s privacy settings

According to reports, Facebook is testing a message push function to explain to Apple iOS users how Facebook uses their data to serve them personalized ads. Apple’s iOS 14 is about to usher in some important privacy settings changes. These changes will prevent Facebook and other platforms from collecting data about Apple users for targeted advertising. Facebook recently reminded its investors that Apple’s adjustments to the user tracking feature “Identifier for Advertisers” (IDFA) may affect its business.

The news push feature that Facebook is testing works like this. First, it will ask Apple iOS users whether they choose to agree to the platform to collect their data; rather than asking them whether they refuse to collect data. Developers predict that in fact, only about 10% – 30% of users will actually agree to the platform collecting their data. Without access to user data, advertisers will find it difficult to target potential Apple users with personalized ads.

Although last quarter’s earnings exceeded expectations, Facebook’s stock price has been falling. This is because investors are worried that Apple’s privacy changes will significantly affect Facebook’s future performance. Previously, some media pointed out that Apple’s latest software update will ask users if they want to allow apps such as Facebook to track their online activities.

Apple’s prompt still holds the final decision

Facebook claims that Apple’s privacy settings changes will hinder the ability of small businesses to place targeted advertising. In the latest blog post, Facebook once again stated…“Apple’s new reminder information shows that it prohibits personalized advertising and privacy; but in fact, we can have both.”

In the past, most of the conflicts between large companies on platform policy adjustments had nothing to do with consumers. However, by sending reminders to users, Facebook’s billions of users will be into the company’s and Apple’s public struggle with changes to privacy settings.

Nevertheless, irrespective of the choice that users make on Facebook’s prompt, Apple’s prompt selection remains the final choice. Apple is directly responsible for the safety of user data on its devices. Facebook is only an app and does not have the authority to get user information if Apple says otherwise. Both companies have been at loggerheads for a while. From the latest events, the issues between these companies are not going away anytime soon.