You Can Almost Hear the Shrieks of Outrage in Cupertino, Can’t You?
by John Paczkowski
Posted on July 23, 2009 at 6:15 PM PT
“iTunes 8.2.1 disables devices falsely pretending to be iPods, including the Palm Pre. As we’ve said before, newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with unsupported digital media players.”
“Oh, and one more thing: Palm webOS 1.1 re-enables Palm media sync. That’s right–you once again can have seamless access to your music, photos and videos from the current version of iTunes (8.2.1).”
Devices “falsely pretending to be iPods” can once again sync with iTunes, whether Apple (AAPL) likes it or not.
Palm (PALM) this evening released an update to the Pre’s webOS operating system that restores the iTunes syncing ability disabled by its Cupertino rival only last week.
“Palm has released webOS 1.1, which, along with offering more robust EAS support for business users, re-enables Palm media sync,” said company spokesperson Lynn Fox. “Palm believes that openness and interoperability offer better experiences for users by allowing them the freedom to use the content they own without interference across devices and services, so on behalf of consumers, we have notified the USB Implementers Forum of what we believe is improper use of the Vendor ID number by another member.”
The “oh, and one more thing” was a nice touch. But let’s face it, nothing can come of this but ugliness….
Comments
If Palm cared at all for its users it would create its own desktop app that at least used only the iTunes XML file to sync files instead of hacking a competitors software!
What really is the point anyway? The Pre can not play Apple DRM on music and videos and this hacked method does not even help users devide these. On top of the fact that some users might actually think that apps from iTunes might work on a Palm!
It is quite obvious that Palm cares very little about users and just wanted to start a pissing match!
Posted by Stephen Antonucci at July 23rd, 2009 at 8:05 pmWho needs iTunes? I have downloaded every song I have requested from Amazon without any hassle. The fuss about iTunes in my opinion is pathetic and nothing more than a joke. I love my Pre and all the hyperbole on the internet won’t deter me from using my Pre unless you can persuade me with facts that the iPhone is better than the Pre. I have used both and if I had to rate them I would unequivocally say that the Pre is the winner. The Pre can Multi-Function, it has a qwerty keyboard, you can change the battery, it has a flash on its camera. Comparing Apples to Apples, the Pre is much better than the iPhone 3G. The 3GS obviously is a little faster, becuase it has 16GB to 32GB of memory, and the few extra additions such as a compass and video still don’t make up for its lack of a Flash, qwerty keyboard, inability to change batteries. Last but not least, the 3GS still can’t Multi-Function!
Don’t forget Pedigree, the Pre will only become more formidable with time. It has good DNA, its WebOS is forward thinking and will only get better with time. It will also have the ability to function on Sprint’s 4G platform. To put the icing on the cake the Pre will cost you substantially less since it is not tethered to ATT’s inferior 3G platform. Sprint will have a ubiquitous 4G platform by the end of this year while the iPhone will have to wait another two to three years if it is to ever function on ATT’s 4G platform.
Posted by darius arya at July 23rd, 2009 at 8:32 pmSince Apple is apparently checking USB device Vendor IDs now, the only way Palm could continue to fake out iTunes would be to now fake the Vendor ID as well.
Which I believe would in itself qualify as the improper use of the Vendor ID number by another member…
Posted by Michael Long at July 23rd, 2009 at 10:28 pmI find it a bit bizarre that Palm is so aggressively pitching itself against the iphone. It is not as though there are not lower hanging fruit out there. And I suspect that most iphone users for various reasons, are not about to jump ship. By exerting themselves against the iphone almost exclusively, Palm is limiting their marketing in an unfortunate way.
And why not just set up their own Pre management software to access itunes, amazon or whatever via XML? it is not as though Pre can play itunes DRMed video even even if the hack keeps working. Or is it they can’t afford to?
I know that a lot of the hierarchy at Palm are ex Apple, but that does not mean they have to beat Apple to be successful. It all seems a little adolescent to me.
Posted by Vernon Rudwick at July 25th, 2009 at 4:30 pmIf iTunes syncing is so important to Palm… it IS since they use iTunes connectivity as a marketing tool… they should try to work out some kind of licensing scheme with Apple.
If not, Apple WILL protect their intellectual property.
OR Palm could work out a deal with MarkSpace for their Missing Sync for Palm Pre. It syncs with iTunes. Bundle it.
Whether you like or use iTunes or not, iTunes IS the number one online digital music and media seller/outlet. It’s got a huge music, podcast, TV and movie catalogue AND it’s convenient to use. Convenience is worth a lot to many people.
Simply because you or I might find it easy to use alternatives to iTunes, doesn’t mean a majority of users could or even want not to use iTunes.
AT&T’s 4G network is supposedly set to launch early next year (2010).
Posted by Jeffrey Harris at July 25th, 2009 at 11:00 pm