The war between Apple and Palm continues to escalate, despite the recent intervention of the USB Implementers Forum. Even though they were told, explicitly, that such action would be a violation, Palm released webOS 1.2.1 this past weekend, restoring iTunes sync capability to the Pre.
This latest act of Vendor ID defiance ups the ante considerably, and webOS 1.2.1 extends syncing capability to photos, too. The move seems like a direct response to last weeks letter from the USB-IF, which asked the makers of the Pre to “clarify Palm’s intent” regarding webOS “and respond to this potential violation within seven days.”
Things are definitely heating up, and it seems as though the ball is back in Apple’s court. Company spokesman, Tom Neumayr, said: “As we’ve said before, newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with unsupported digital media players.” Presumably, iTunes 9.0.2 will – again – undo the latest restore, but now that Palm has clarified its intent, it will be interesting to see how the USB-IF responds.
Why would anyone want to use iTunes sync anyway, let alone go out of their way to do so?? I have an iPhone and I can’t stand to have to use that bloated heap of rubbish, iTunes. If I had any other option, I would take it.
Copy Trans is available if you hate iTunes that much.
People would want to use iTunes sync for their Pre because of DRM music purchased from iTunes. It is the biggest music store after all. If someone had purchased music from iTunes because they had an iPod, but now use a Pre as their music player, why should they have to purchase it again to play it on the Pre?
Apple has been very smart in keeping their media store bundled with iTunes. It keeps people buying iPods since a user won’t be able to use the DRM music on another brands device.
@ StupidDirigible – thanks, I might just do that!
@ Orch – ah yes, DRM’d music – something else I prefer to avoid like the plague
@ Orch Pre can only sync unprotected (non-DRM) media, so your argument is moot.
If you want syncing of your music just go buy missing sync for 40 bucks and your set. Palm should look to RIM for how to use the itunes xml data to setup a device bridge. It’s a great smartphone but really just hire some devs to build a client.