Palm responds to Apple’s threats regarding the death of unsupported iTunes syncing
It was no mystery that when Apple issued a recent statement regarding unsupported third-party devices claiming to support iTunes sync, it had Palm squarely in its sights. Apple’s position on the matter:
Apple is aware that some third-parties claim that their digital media players are able to sync with Apple software. However, Apple does not provide support for, or test for compatibility with, non-Apple digital media players and, because software changes over time, newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with non-Apple digital media players.
In other words, Apple will likely find a way to kill Palm’s workaround and prevent the Pre from syncing with iTunes. Palm spokesperson Lynn Fox’s response:
Palm’s media sync works with the current version of iTunes. If Apple chooses to disable media sync in a future version of iTunes, it will be a direct blow to their users who will be deprived of a seamless synchronization experience. However, people will have options. They can stay with the iTunes version that works to sync their music on their Pre, they can transfer the music via USB, and there are other third-party applications we could consider.
It looks like Palm isn’t going to publicly state that it’s prepared to play a cat and mouse game with Apple — issuing firmware updates with workarounds each time Apple kills the functionality — but we wouldn’t be surprised if that’s exactly what ends up happening. Instead, Palm is going with the Apple hates you unless you buy Apple products argument; a solid position, albeit useless. In any event, don’t start crying on your Pre just yet as there are a few other options when it comes to getting iTunes music on your webOS wonder.
FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
f**** apple
This is useless to me anyway. I can always transfer my media files other ways. What I need is syncing with iCal, Address Book, and Outlook, and keep them all in sync. Palms iTunes hack isn’t helping with that yet.
@5th
I’m with you on that, I never used itunes but this will keep me from using it in the future, I like to think if I buy it its mine.
@5th: please stop
I really, really wish the FTC and DOJ would get all up in Apple’s Biz and start throw’n down holding them to the same standards MSFT was bumrushed to (anti-trust case…)…Nuff with the urban but…
Like it or not, a measure of success or not, sometimes you become TOO BIG, as the EU suspected, the checks/balances need to be put in place, cause you created a killer product that locks out competition to that product.
Sorry, but it is the disease of being too successful. Just like IE and MSFT.
i would hardly call it a threat. apple basically said is up to palm to make sure their device is compatible and that they arent gonna go out of their way to make sure of it. which i think is fair.
If Apple doesn’t want their business, so be it. It (was) is a free country. Just use Limewire and screw the Apple buffoonery.
@gadgetchic: People just like drama. So they make drama where there is none.
You don’t need iTunes to get iTunes music on other devices. So it’s a non-issue.
Oh please.
iTunes never pretend to get all snuggly with the Palm pre.
iTunes user expect this jukebox to work with iPod or iPhone, not the pre.
It’s a direct blow to pre user, yes.
You chose a phone which is da “iPhone Killer” so to speak, what do you think will happen? Seriously, whine all you want. Whatever.
fuck you 5th
This is lame regardless….I’m in accord with “If I buy it, its mine and if I wanna use it to jack-off its mine.”
I used to root for Apple being the little guy, but now they are worse than MS ever used to be. Its simply Apple products, for Apple Software. This seems like there’s some Anti-trust issues here.
This is no surprise. Everyone knew ahead of time that the method Pre is using to connect with iTunes is against the license agreement of iTunes. They are faking an iPod to connect to iTunes for gods sake! According to most software licenses, it is illegal to reverse engineer the technology and interact with it in was not intended by the developers.
It was a shady method of syncing with iTunes from the beginning and it should not be allowed to happen. When Pre fanboys were fanatically touting their syncing ability I laughed because I knew it would not last … and even posted that it wouldn’t numerous times.
So to all the pre fanatics … I TOLD YOU SO!
It’s called “leveraging your brand” and no one does it as well as Apple. If Palm wants sync capabilities with iTunes then they should strike a licensing deal with Apple. Or just piss off. Either one really.
How much harder is it to drag and drop your media onto your device? Not very.
It’s pretty lame that they’re “breaking” other devices. They should be happy that people want to use their store with the pre. Perhaps people will buy songs from their store to sync with the pre.
songbird anyone?
http://www.getsongbird.com/
So the kill off the Pre from syncing directly within iTunes. Who cares. My Blackberry can sync my iTunes play lists and media through Blackberry’s third party software. I’m sure this is the route Palm will take. Amazon MP3 store is better IMO.
Yeah, there aren’t any antitrust issues going on here. Apple is well within its rights to not allow third-party products to sync with iTunes.
Palm is just playing the PR game right now. They’re trying to make Apple look bad because Apple might stop allowing the Pre to TRICK iTunes into thinking it’s an iPod. Gimme a break.
Thank you for making this point.
Anyone understand how awesome Zune’s pricing structure is?
What bugs me about apple is a lot of hippie tree huggers buy their products thinking the company is altruistic, and never pay attention to their ruthless capitalistic intentions.
@Thande: When you were only a glimmer in either of your daddie’s eyes, MS was so far beyond Apple it’s not even close to being humorous. Palm is just playing games by forcing the issue.
It’s also obvious that you’ve never created anything that has value beyond your personal abuse by laughingly believing that “If I buy it, its mine and if I wanna use it to jack-off its mine.”
Apple should be glad people wanna put up with Itunes and the bullshit that comes with it in the first place…
What’s great is that Apple is a small (i.e. 4% market share) player in the PC field because they tried to be a monopoly. That is, they tried to maintain a monopoly over their hardware and software. People sais screw that and they almost died as a company. MS, on the other hand, let anyone install their operating system and they became a monster.
Apple is making the same mistake now. With time the iFad will be over and people will leave to have more freedom with their content.
Plus, why would anyone buy music from iTunes instead of Amazon? Makes no sense. MP3 Files play on all music players. AAC not so much.
If I were Apple I would allow every device on the market to sync with iTunes. Oh well, there’s a thousand ways to get iTunes music on to any device.
What the FUCK does Apple think they are??? I hate Apple monopolizing their products.
I think Palm allowing users to sync their devices with iTunes would’ve been beneficial thing for Apple as people would purchase iTunes music but motherfuckers have some lunatics working for them to make stupid decisions like these…
Again, FUCK YOU APPLE
By cutting of Pre users from sycning to iTunes, they are only forcing the 50k+ Pre users to become iTunes indepndent. There is other (better) music management software out there. This is the big issue that my non-techie friends
And the people that know that, the iTunes idependent people, feel A LOT more free to cross shop other music players.