Apple has a new update for iTunes, version 8.2.1, which fixes plenty of bugs along with one major thing - it blocks devices that pretend to be iPods from syncing with an iTunes library.
Apple clearly points out the Palm Pre when it talks about impersonating devices. Apple told Businessweek:
“iTunes 8.2.1 is a free software update that provides a number of important bug fixes,” says Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris. “It also 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."
Everyone knew this was coming since the day we figured out the Palm Pre would sync with iTunes, so it's no big surprise. There has been no official comment from Palm about the matter, but Businessweek claims that a spokeswoman was stating that the company will be looking into the matter.
The entire situation is just a back-and-forth tug-of-war, since both Palm and Apple have been passive aggressively sniping at each other over patents for multi-touch screen technology and other matters. Palm will most likely have a workaround for this within a few days, since it expected this to happen, after all, they did cross into Apple territory.
But for Palm Pre owners, there are some easy solutions. The obvious one is to not update iTunes. The other is to use a program called DoubleTwist, which lets you sync your entire iTunes media library on any device. The last option is to transfer music via USB.
Apple may have won this fight, but the war is far from over.
angermeans
July 16, 2009 at 9:11am
I don't see why Pre used iTunes as a selling point to the Pre. Now the people that have spent their hard earned money have to sit and deal with this cat and mouse game that the Pre is putting them through. They should have known that Apple wasn't going to put up with them putting a hack and having iTunes recognize the Pre as an older version of an iPod. Apple also warned Pre and Sprint so that their customers wouldn't be without a syncing option. If Pre would have worked with Apple and been on the up and up then they might of had something here. Instead they chose the other route and their customers are getting the raw deal. Pre has advertised over and over that they offer Amazon and just how great of an alternative to iTunes that it is. (And I agree to some point although I use iTunes frequently I find myself using Amazon just as much if not more). Pre should of gotten with Amazon and made an alternative to iTunes and offered some way to port their iTunes music (DRM Free music) to their syncing software. Did they really think that Apple would allow this to happen. I have seen commercials from Sprint claiming just how great the Pre is and that they are saving $1200 dollars a year over iPhone users. It is very ignorant of Pre to do this especially since they are gunning for the iPhones number one spot. They where not on the up and up with their customers and sold them a hack and claimed it was a selling point that Apple was with. Shame on Palm.
Jensen
July 16, 2009 at 7:22am
While there may always be some way to sync a Pre with your Mac, most users will not care about that unless it's dead easy. The workarounds (even as simple as DoubleTwist may be) will not appeal to the average user.
If Palm truly wants its iTunes compatibility to appeal to the mass market, it had better either work out a deal with Apple (unlikely) or create its own PC music interface.
