But, every phone can sync with iTunes…
Yesterday, news that the Palm Pre was capable of synchronizing content with iTunes hit just about every tech and gadget blog on the planet. In fact, it even reached mainstream media blogs that typically shy away from little tidbits. Really? Fair enough — it’s pretty cool for Pre proponents to know that their future handsets will sync with iTunes out of the box. The level of excitement over this story got us thinking though… If people are this excited that the Pre can sync with iTunes, does that mean they think many current handsets cannot sync with iTunes?
If the answer is yes, that is most definitely not the case. While it is indeed true that many handsets lack the ability to sync with iTunes out of the box, it’s 2009, people — there’s an app for that. There are many, many solutions for syncing your phone with iTunes in fact; from OEM and Apple-sourced solutions to third party plug-ins and utilities. Here at BGR we have two apps in particular that we are fond of, both developed by third-parties: iTunes Agent for Windows PCs and iTuneMyWalkman for Mac.
Without getting too into the particulars, both of these awesome free applications allow you to sync iTunes with any device capable of connecting as a drive. Smartphones, dumb phones, flash drives or even digital cameras if you’re so inclined — if it has a mass storage mode, you can sync it. Several OEM options are a bit cleaner in terms of appearance and dedicated functionality but none are as universal the aforementioned apps. Since we go through phones like they’re candy, we can’t be bothered with 10 different OEM sync solutions. Even if you only get a new phone every year though, why bother with learning new sync software if you change brands? So, if you’ve been looking for a way to sync your phone with iTunes quickly, easily and even automatically, definitely give our recomendations a shot and let us know what you think.
On May 29, 2009 @ 3:49 pm, The Boy Genius Said:
It’s not our fault Palm/Sprint didn’t send us a final review unit.
We managed to get our hands on one, and whatever it was, it was.
This is the most recent available OS as far as we’re aware.
Whaaaaaaaa Imma crybaby,They didn’t send me a Pre-production unit so i got whatever piece of Pre-Beta test unit I could find and IF i am ignorant to what the OS buld it is then it is not a LIE This is the most recent build as far as we know??? wink wink(probably not but if we say it is then it is so) Remember not a LIE if we never check or purposely don’t find out.
Damn Boy Girl Report doesn’t seem to post anything much critical of them as they never dispay many peoples POSTS!! hmm Censorship too NICE BGR!!!
Aren’t the Pre phones coming ready to do itunes out the box? No download necessary, but that’s not for certain
@Don Louie Cantone
Yes, but I seriously doubt they will be able to do that for long. Palm is essentially faking iTunes by making it think it is an iPod, using a hole in the software. This is against licensing. Most likely (pretty certain), Apple with patch this hole in subsequent iTunes releases, probably with the one that comes for the iPhone 3.0 release.
As quoted:
“He wouldn’t address the possibility of legal ramifications from integrating the Pre with Apple software but did acknowledge that Apple, as well as BlackBerry designer RIM, were the primary competitors” – electronista.com
I guess the main complaint ppl have with the article is that it clearly puts a negative spin onto a positive feature.
When apple announced the primitive additions to os3.0, there were no blogs dedicated to how every other phone can mms, copy-paste, etc.
U cannot really deny that there is some bias in the blogs.
@Len
Excellent example, these Apple fanatics are so biased they fail to understand that.
Why is it raining on Pre’s parade? It’s bringing a little reality to the proceedings.
If anything, it’s yet another example of Palm attempting to get free publicity by latching onto the iphone’s coat tails.
Let Pre “sync” or swim on it’s own – Palm should be marketing the Pre as a new Palm device – not as a third-rate iphone clone. They can’t do that because they have no marketing budget.
Hype the Pre for the things it can do that the iphone can’t do – multitasking web apps and Synergy.
The iphone has the app store and tons of great apps.
This pandering by Palm to be the next iphone will end up killing them…
Len,
Are you shitting me? I read several articles of that nature.
The only positives I read about OS 3 was the search facility, landscape mode for (almost) every app., and the *way* copy and paste was implemented.
Palm rightly deserve to get smacked for trumpeting itunes compatibility as a feature.
So you can buy a ZuneHD and use iTunes to sync it all. Honestly I will buy a ZuneHD and get rid of my iTouch Gen1 just to try it out.
@ john
Yes of course there were many articles of that nature, but were they posted by BGR? Was there a posting by BGR dedicated specifically to how a certain feature from Iphone 3.0 could be done by any other competitors phone? I think not, which is why there is clearly a bias.
Does the Pre’s access and 3rd party apps allow purchase of songs, albums, tv shows, movies and podcast or is it just access to content already there?
God… this Zach dude is always such an idiot. So they mention it can sync with iTunes? I am pretty sure these types feature points are meant for the average consumer who isn’t in the know. I am also sure that Zach has a Steve Jobs tattoo on one buttcheek and an apple logo on the other.
Well,
There’s alot more to OS 3.0 then what you consider “primitive additions”
alot of the additions have been to address complaints and issues with the iphone’s os.
We’ll see in six months if Palm is as eager to address the Pre’s shortcoming as apple have been with the iphone’s.
As for BGR being biased – let’s wait and see. When BGR reviews the newest iphone with OS 3.0 – then we’ll have an even comparison.
I think BG went pretty far expressing his opinion regarding the pre’s keyboard – which is good.
There are pluses and minuses to virtual and real keyboards…I don’t see why BG should be chided for offering up his opinion.
He didn’t really touch upon 3rd. party app. support – that’s where Apple is very far ahead. Multitasked Javascript/HTML apps. will not offer the same capabilities to developers as a native SDK.
The reason I am saying something is because of the title “But, every phone can sync with iTunes…” That could definately have been written better, it sounds completely biased. I am looking for non-biased information…not a article on how Zachy boy wants to set the record stright by saying “it’s not all about the Palm Pre folks…”
I am not a fanboi of palm…i own an iPhone even, I am just looking for an unbiased blog….so quit writing articles to smear something you don’t like.
@Ipoon Fanatics Fail:
It is widely known that Pre apps are based purely on HTML, CSS, and JavaSCRIPT. The fact that they will have no access to graphics hardware acceleration was confirmed by Palm and said that it won’t come until later. This is why advanced 3D games will not be possible. This is from a Palm rep at the webinar.
Anyone that has ever done any development will tell you that a scripted interpreted language will not be as efficient as a compiled bytecode application. This is not my opinion, this is fact. I am not against WebOS … it will be a great operating system. I am just pointing out that the application environment will be weak compared to similar programs on Windows Mobile and iPhone because its a scripted language.
I KNOW the applications won’t be as efficient because I have developed applications for the web as well as written a few in C. Take a look at an application written in an interpreted language like Python and compare it to a similar compiled program. The interpreted application is NEVER as efficient. What do you have to go with? Marketing hype and “hope” that it will be better than already established platforms like Windows Mobile and iPhone? What a joke.
Wow, when someone points out disadvantages to Pre you automatically go on a rampage and quickly call them Apple fanboys. So are you saying that Pre can have no negative sides? The disadvantages I have pointed out based on fact. A scripted interpreted language (pre) will not be as efficient as a compiled bytecode application (everything else). Speak to someone who has ever developed both types of programs and/or search the web for the differences. They also will not have access to hardware acceleration, and this is why advanced 3D games will not be possible. This was confirmed by Palm reps, not my opinion.
I am not an Apple fanboy. I LOVE BlackBerry and think Pre with WebOS will be an awesome phone. I have said this NUMEROUS times. Fanatics just don’t like to hear the truth even if it is confirmed by Palm in a webinar. It will be limited AT RELEASE and shortly after. Palm has said this support will come later.
@informed
I know it can sync directly with iTunes. That is why I had a few posts after that after doing research. They are utilizing a hole in iTunes that fakes it into thinking the Pre is another iPod so it will work. This is against the licensing though. In an interview, a Palm rep stated he will not comment on legal ramifications. This means they know that there may be issues .. and there are.
This doesn’t mean it WONT work on release, although I think Apple will patch that hole by software updates or threatening legal action. I predict you will eventually have to download software to make syncing possible because of this.
@Biased? Hit a dictionary, son. You clearly have no idea what the word bias means.
What, is Zach biased towards third party developers? How dare he use the ridiculous amount of Oooing and ahhing over the Pre’s ability to sync with iTunes to draw attention to the fact that there are solutions out there that will help people. Yeah Zach, you assshole.
@El Bastardo
I didn’t think he was being bias either. He was playing off of a previous article that Pre can sync, and offering assistance to others that may want to sync their devices with iTunes as well.
These pre fanatics seem to go crazy like rabid dogs upon any indication of the Pre being used other than praising it. And if you say something negative, even substantiated by facts, you are called an Appe fanboy for pointing a negative like negatives cannot possibly exist.
@Chrissy Why?
No, while WebOS is a great platform, the application weakness is FACT. Do a google search yourself on “interpreted language disadvantage”. The development language right now is PURELY interpreted … HTML,CSS,Javascript. There is only one application that bypasses this and runs directly on the device and that is Palm Classic. In the FUTURE, Palm will allow this kind of execution of code, but not yet. Until then, Pre applications will be behind WM and iPhone in complexity by simple FACT they are interpreted.
Did we all forget about DoubleTwist? That does the same job. I just wish phones would make the distinction between songs and podcasts and would remember where I left off on a podcast.
how is he raining in on pre’s parade? all he has done was prove that the pre is not the only non-apple product that can sync with itunes. wow you guys are a bunch a little bitches, no bitchassness please. man up.
This post is crap! The programs mentioned by Zach do not allow you to sync with iTunes. They allow you to copy your playlists to the device. They do not sync. So remove songs from your playlist and they will not be removed.
iFanboy Chris Cox says “It is widely known that Pre apps are based purely on HTML, CSS, and JavaSCRIPT. The fact that they will have no access to graphics hardware acceleration was confirmed by Palm and said that it won’t come until later.” This means that the Pre will provide access to hardware acceleration etc. at a later time. But if you read his post he insinuates that the Pre will always have this limitation making it less viable then his precious iPhone.
BGR is worthless. It has turned to an iPhone/iTouch fanboy site. I am not reading BGR any longer. There are much better sites out there.
@DJV
Are you stupid? I specifically said they would get it at a later time but until then the apps will be limited. I am excited for WebOS and an just pointing out a limitation. You just don’t want to hear there are limitations. WebOS will be a great platform. I’m just being real and not going to overhype something just because a company says it will be great. I’m working purely on facts, and the confirmed fact is based on technology the apps are limited UNTIL they allow more advanced support. The only app that has direct access to hardware is the Palm emulator.
The fact that Pre can sync with Itunes is a strategic move by Palm. By the time Apple decides to do something about it, either legally or through software restriction in iTunes, Pre will be out there in the masses and Apple wouldn’t dare to appear as a devil in the eyes of consumers. SMART…
Regular BGR reader here (and no, I don’t own a Pre nor do I plan on purchasing one).
However, I feel compelled to point out while this post is in fact truthful it does nothing but expose BGR’s obvious bias towards the iPhone.
If we’re going to do this kinda thing, let’s do it across the board, ok? This same logic at work here could have been applied when news of the iPhone 3.0 firmware broke.
Example:
“But, every phone has copy/paste, MMS, video recording, etc etc.”
…Let’s keep it fair folks.