Latest Palm Pre update does not re-enable iTunes sync

[AppleInsider]

Palm released its latest update for the Pre handset this week, and the new software does not re-enable sync with iTunes -- perhaps a sign that the hardware maker has given up in its fight with Apple.

Palm released webOS 1.2 this week, bringing a variety of updates, including access to the Amazon MP3 Store, the ability to download files in the Web browser, and filtering of e-mails by search. But the most surprising news isn't what's included -- it's what's been omitted.

Given the back-and-forth battle between Apple and Palm, many expected that the latest webOS update would re-enable the device to sync with iTunes. Earlier this month, the release of iTunes 9 disabled Palm Pre sync.

But last week, the USB Implementers Forum sided with Apple in a dispute over iTunes sync capabilities. Though Palm initially petitioned the forum in hopes that it would side with them, the group told Palm that the Pre's alleged use of Apple's vendor ID violates its rules.

The forum went on to say that Apple is within the rules of the USB-IF to limit iTunes syncing to proprietary hardware like the iPhone and iPod via use of the USB vendor ID. Apple's blocking out of hardware like the Palm Pre, the forum said, is not "improper."

The USB-IF is a non-profit organization that supports the Universal Serial Bus and sets the standards for the hardware input. Unique vendor IDs are necessary for developing USB products.

Last week, Palm said it intends to respond to the USB-IF, noting that it believes consumers should have "freedom and choice" when transferring media to personal devices.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[chronster]

OH WELL. Looks like people will need to master the art of DRAG AND DROP.

This is such a stupid dispute in my eyes that I don't even care enough to pick who's right. If I HAD to, I'd say they both are right and both are wrong. In the end, it's Apple's software, and whether its right or not, if they want to block the pre, what can palm really do.

It just sucks that Apple feels the need to alienate pre owners, but it especially sucks that palm didn't come up with a better solution for their customers other than "tricking" itunes.

One big circle jerk of lunacy.

[vandil]

Cue the Class Action Lawsuit for selling the Pre with the bullet-point promise of iTunes sync in 3.... 2.... 1....

[jazzguru]

Does the Pre not come with its own software that allows you to load music, or can you not use Windows Media Player to sync your music to it?

[VinitaBoy]

"Last week, Palm said it intends to respond to the USB-IF, noting that it believes consumers should have "freedom and choice" when transferring media to personal devices."

Undeniable truth: Palm has the right to eat as much food as they want from their (own) company refrigerator in order to stay alive. They do NOT have the right to take food from someone else's box to effect the same result. Period.

Want to survive and thrive, Palm? DEVELOP YOUR OWN DAMNED "IPRE" STORE! Spend the money! Be loud and proud! Don't expect/demand others to throw you scraps from their tables. You know how to do it. RIM certainly does. Copy THEM, OK? (Sheesh.)

[VinitaBoy]

@ chronster

"It just sucks that Apple feels the need to alienate pre owners . . . ."

Uh, perhaps it's just me, but why would Apple give a rat's ass what any Pre owner thinks? Didn't that person already "alienate" Apple by purchasing an iPhone competitor, a truly inferior one that does not possess a legitimate iTunes option? Do you REALLY believe that any company should go out of its way to "be nice" to a competitor by enabling its bottom line in this fashion? Such is not the way of the business world I live in. Is it in yours?

[caljomac]

Wow lol - palm pre coming to the uk soon (woot woot) and REALLY want itunes sync - theres gonna be some hack to re-emable it anyway

[MacTripper]

Aww... poor Palm, develop your own software as I'm sure you have anticipated the free lunch off your former employers software would end one day.

Perhaps it ended to fast eh?

[ascii]

Whole thing was a publicity stunt?

[Chris_CA]

Palm got bitch-slapped by USB-IF.
"Now shut up and color!!!"

[NasserAE]

Originally Posted by ascii

Whole thing was a publicity stunt?

Exactly. Notice how Palm does the stunts just when Apple is about to released or announce new products.

[floccus]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

But the most surprising news isn't what's included -- it's what's been omitted.

By using the word omitted, you make it seem like Palm willingly witheld the ability to sync with iTunes 9. The truth could really be that Palm hasn't figure out how to re-enable the feature.

Palm also has bigger concerns to worry about than keeping a minor feature such as iTunes syncing... like staying out of bankruptcy.

[Chris_CA]

Originally Posted by floccus

By using the word omitted, you make it seem like Palm willingly witheld the ability to sync with iTunes 9.

Huh?
The mention of the "iTunes syncing feature" was "omitted" or left out. It was specifically mentioned before and regardless of the reason for not mentioning, it now is irrelevant since it cannot sync.

[_Rick_V_]

Palm is absolutely right: users should have the "freedom and choice" to transfer media to their device...

...

...

... but with the appropriate (i.e. your own) software! That doesn't mean you can hijack a competitors software for your own uses.

[iVlad]

Originally Posted by caljomac

Wow lol - palm pre coming to the uk soon (woot woot) and REALLY want itunes sync - theres gonna be some hack to re-emable it anyway

yeah its called 'Get an iPhone'

[ghostface147]

Doesn't Apple give access to vendors to access the XML library file? If so, then Palm should use that. I think RIM works via that method.

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by juro994

Snipped

What the.....?

[AndreH]

I wonder if Palm has even asked Apple if their phone could be allowed to legitimately sync with iTunes.

BTW, Palm's website still says "Plus, use the Palm media sync feature to transfer your DRM-free iTunes music, videos, and photos to your Pre.". It does have tiny print at the bottom of the page saying it works with iTunes 8.2 and not guaranteed to work with updated versions. You would think they would remove this claim though, as it does imply some level of legitimate interaction between the two products.

[Maestro64]

Some third party software will come out to make it happen. Like markspace did for the original Palm and Trio products, their sync product was far better then what Apple of Palm ever did.

The only reason apple is being pissy about it is due to the fact the people doing this are x-apple employees.

[al_bundy]

Originally Posted by AndreH

I wonder if Palm has even asked Apple if their phone could be allowed to legitimately sync with iTunes.

BTW, Palm's website still says "Plus, use the Palm media sync feature to transfer your DRM-free iTunes music, videos, and photos to your Pre.". It does have tiny print at the bottom of the page saying it works with iTunes 8.2 and not guaranteed to work with updated versions. You would think they would remove this claim though, as it does imply some level of legitimate interaction between the two products.

i say everyone go buy a Pre and then return it for this reason

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by vandil

Cue the Class Action Lawsuit for selling the Pre with the bullet-point promise of iTunes sync in 3.... 2.... 1....

Good call.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by juro994

Want a Free iPhone 3GS? Join me at Xpango and find out how ---

Whatever happened to offering us, the users, a way to flag this trash and get these guys knocked off the boards quicker?

[webraider]

How missing sync can come up with full syncing solution but Palm Can't? If you buy Missing Sync for the Palm Pre.. You can sync photos, music, contacts, addresses and the whole nine yards. Why can't palm just do this?

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by al_bundy

i say everyone go buy a Pre and then return it for this reason

I'd do it for the laughs, but I can't stomach the thought of supporting Palm even for 5 minutes.

[zindako]

Why cant the palm pre owners use windows media player to manage their media with the palm phone?

[AdamIIGS]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

Whatever happened to offering us, the users, a way to flag this trash and get these guys knocked off the boards quicker?

because teckstud would be the first one to go?

j/k j/k love ya you big troll you

[auxio]

Originally Posted by chronster

OH WELL. Looks like people will need to master the art of DRAG AND DROP.

This is such a stupid dispute in my eyes that I don't even care enough to pick who's right. If I HAD to, I'd say they both are right and both are wrong. In the end, it's Apple's software, and whether its right or not, if they want to block the pre, what can palm really do.

It just sucks that Apple feels the need to alienate pre owners, but it especially sucks that palm didn't come up with a better solution for their customers other than "tricking" itunes.

One big circle jerk of lunacy.

I'm still unsure of why people think that Apple should pay for the development of software (iTunes) which helps Palm sell Pres without Palm giving them anything in return?

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by auxio

I'm still unsure of why people think that Apple should pay for the development of software (iTunes) which helps Palm sell Pres without Palm giving them anything in return?

Because, in that geek-y, utopian world of open standards, zero-cost hardware/software, and smooth and complete interoperability, companies should provide it all for free -- heck, they might even want to pay us to use their products! -- arising from the goodness of their hearts and sheer magnanimity!

[technohermit]

Originally Posted by juro994

[B][COLOR="black"][CENTER][SIZE="7"]Want a ....dumbass link thingy with huge text

Get out of here spammer, you jackass. No one likes that crap.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by AdamIIGS

because teckstud would be the first one to go?

You rang?

[technohermit]

Originally Posted by Maestro64

The only reason apple is being pissy about it is due to the fact the people doing this are x-apple employees.

Probably because they were in a non-compete clause to boot. I can see why Apple could be a bit pissed about the whole thing.
On the other hand, I am wondering why Apple would have you believe that plugging in anything usb "just works."
I guess I can see both sides, and each one makes it hard to see the other side of the argument. People who are totally against AT&T wouldn't want an iPhone, and still may own their Macs. This would bother those people I'm sure. However, being told by Palm it would work would really have me pissed at them, if I bought a Pre. I used to own a Treo back in the day, so I already don't like them for that

[teckstud]

Pre to iTunes : "I wish I could quit you!"

[JupiterOne]

iTunes to Pre:

[Robodude]

Palm should try to act professionally and make their own software. That at least would get me to consider giving the Pre/Pixi a chance because they are both quite nice pieces of kit.

[chronster]

Originally Posted by VinitaBoy

@ chronster

"It just sucks that Apple feels the need to alienate pre owners . . . ."

Uh, perhaps it's just me, but why would Apple give a rat's ass what any Pre owner thinks? Didn't that person already "alienate" Apple by purchasing an iPhone competitor, a truly inferior one that does not possess a legitimate iTunes option? Do you REALLY believe that any company should go out of its way to "be nice" to a competitor by enabling its bottom line in this fashion? Such is not the way of the business world I live in. Is it in yours?

Yeah, I live in a different world than you LOL. Jeesh. Leave out the condescending rhetoric will you? Apple might just give a RATS ASS because they can still squeeze money out of them.

There are two was of thinking about this. One is your way, where the Apple technology ecosystem works together, but you need all of Apple's products for it to be effective, otherwise you're SOL. The other is simple: If they didn't sell product A, why cut potential customers off from product B? iTunes still makes money. Pre owners are still potential customers. Just because they didn't buy an iphone doesn't mean Apple can't still make money off them with mp3's and videos.

Now, I'm not saying what Apple did was wrong, I just see the potential in the other way. I don't blame Apple, but I don't respect their decision either.

Originally Posted by auxio

I'm still unsure of why people think that Apple should pay for the development of software (iTunes) which helps Palm sell Pres without Palm giving them anything in return?

Well I never said that's what they are obligated to do, just trying to point out there's still money to be made.

Look, if itunes compatibility is all it takes to push someone to an iphone, then they really weren't seriously considering the pre to begin with. There's so many more important features that differentiate the two that if someone decides to go with a Pre, more than likely they made their decision long before seeing itunes compatibility.

I'm trying to think of an analogy here, but this is kind of a unique thing to deal with for either company.

So in other words, I don't think iTunes compatibility sells more Pre's for Palm, but I do think it sells more mp3's for Apple.

[JupiterOne]

Originally Posted by chronster

There are two was of thinking about this. One is your way, where the Apple technology ecosystem works together, but you need all of Apple's products for it to be effective, otherwise you're SOL. The other is simple: If they didn't sell product A, why cut potential customers off from product B? iTunes still makes money. Pre owners are still potential customers. Just because they didn't buy an iphone doesn't mean Apple can't still make money off them with mp3's and videos.

Why do you think Pre owners can't buy music and videos from iTunes?

[gimpymw]

Originally Posted by chronster

OH WELL. Looks like people will need to master the art of DRAG AND DROP.

This is such a stupid dispute in my eyes that I don't even care enough to pick who's right. If I HAD to, I'd say they both are right and both are wrong. In the end, it's Apple's software, and whether its right or not, if they want to block the pre, what can palm really do.

It just sucks that Apple feels the need to alienate pre owners, but it especially sucks that palm didn't come up with a better solution for their customers other than "tricking" itunes.

One big circle jerk of lunacy.

Yeah.

You and the other Pre owner can go in the corner and cry me a river.

AND STOP JERKING THOSE THINGS!

[smor1297]

Not that I'm on the Pre's side... but why doesn't Apple allow the sync so that it can raise the counts of people using itunes for marketing and stuff. Also, I was wondering if you can put purchased music (from the itunes store) on the Pre, and if you can, it would generate a lot more sales too.

[Quadra 610]

Serves Palm right. Going about it the way they did, it serves them right. I should certainly hope Palm hasn't sought to re-enable syncing. As far as I'm conmcerned Apple should simply deny them any future license rights. Palm can go up in smoke tomorrow for all I care. Palm has turned into a mere shadow of its former self and all they have gotten better at is elevating "shady" to a whole new level.

[mitchelljd]

hey i am laughing at this, it isn't like other devices can't be synced with iTunes, but PALM kinda screwed up in how they are doing it.

If Palm really wants Palm and PALM PRE syncing to itunes. they ought to cut a deal with MARKSPACE for a basic version of MISSING SYNC and do a deal. anything else is just bad pr and silly.

I have been using it for my blackberry and it works great!, dunno what all the silliness is about.

http://www.markspace.com/products/pr...-overview.html