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Apple Blocks Palm Pre Syncing With iTunes

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11:01 AM - July 16, 2009 by Jane McEntegart

One of the cool things about the Palm Pre was that it synced seamlessly with iTunes. Well, not anymore.

Reports first got out in late-May that when plugged into your computer, your brand new Palm Pre would play super-nice with your iTunes. Everyone said the same thing: Apple cannot be pleased. That said, it looked like the Cupertino-based company was going to let this one slide. After all, here we were two months later and everything was all good in the hood. Until yesterday.

Apple released iTunes 8.2.1 and lo and behold, it addressed "an issue with verification of Apple devices." Yeah, you got it, if it ain't Apple, it ain't right. Or something. Either way, Pre fans were up in arms, though it's not like they couldn't have seen it coming. Fair is fair, right?

Apple went one step further following the release of 8.2.1, which actually got the message across just fine. The company said, "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," in a statement according to BusinessWeek.

A spokespalm told BW that users who really want the seamless synchronization with iTunes should just stick with an older version of iTunes. “Palm’s media sync works with iTunes 8.2. If Apple chooses to disable media sync in 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 can consider.”

Source : Tom's Hardware US

Talkback
Add your comment
dman3k 07/16/2009 5:21 PM
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-20+

Stop using iTunes. iTunes suck.

HolyCrusader 07/16/2009 5:28 PM
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-20+

It's things like this that continuously turns me away from Apple products - and the Apple Tax.

Kill@dor 07/16/2009 5:29 PM
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-12+

Apple has issues, i thought everyone knew this already. If they don't have a hand in it ($$$$)...its not going to fly!

D_Kuhn 07/16/2009 5:38 PM
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-7+

Sucks... but I can't say I blame Apple. the Pre competes with the iPhone... and Palm was using the iTunes connectivity as a selling point. Does anyone seriously think that Apple should allow a competitor to use connectivity with an Apple site to sell a product that's taking sales away from one of their own?

Personally, I think iTunes is a big PITA... and at least the PC version is not a great piece of software either, but a LOT of people use it so Apple is going to make sure they use it with Apple hardware.

Luckily for those of us with Apple hardware... they can't FORCE us to use iTunes.

thejerk 07/16/2009 5:40 PM
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-0+

Didn't the old Motorola L7 also sync with iTunes?

I take it that shit the bed, too? LOL...

Honis 07/16/2009 5:41 PM
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The way Palm has been releasing updates for the Pre, I'd say we'll have an update countering this by next Thursday. Really the only true way to make iTunes only sync with Apple products is to have a list of all serial numbers in iTunes and request the serial number from the device when it connects. Even then Palm can give all the devices a single serial number from any of the millions of Pod products sold.

Why are people using iTunes anyway? The only thing it has is the App Store which you probably wont use if you own a Pre.

tipoo 07/16/2009 5:42 PM
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-7+

Itunes is a stinking pile of shit anyways.

falconqc 07/16/2009 5:42 PM
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-3+

When will people wake up and realize that Apple has gone rotten a long time ago? Come to think of it, it was already starting to go bad from day one.

The_Blood_Raven 07/16/2009 5:42 PM
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-11+

It's not exactly Apple's fault...

As for the Pre Palm users, this is a great thing! They will now be able to find an actual good alternative to iTunes such as Mediamonkey or they could organize their files themselves and do a far better job than iTunes will ever do. Not to mention their computers will run faster without all of those unnecessary processes that come with iTunes.

stromm 07/16/2009 5:47 PM
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-3+

Wait, people are getting upset because a loophole was closed? Buying a product from company 1 and expecting company 2 to support it (without getting paid for it) is stupid. But, too many people nowadays think that everyone else should give them whatever they want.

However, Apple has a monopoly going on. If Microsoft had reached their level of market saturation, governments would be all over them. The days of Apple whining about being the underdog are long gone and governments need to accept that. Apple needs to be treated just like Microsoft.

radiowars 07/16/2009 6:35 PM
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-0+

Easiest way to fix this- Don't update itunes. I haven't for a while (2 reasons, one being that itunes SUCKS in the first place, the other is that I'm lazy). If you're dead set on using itunes, just don't update, and you're set.

Palm Pre>iphone

Marcus52 07/16/2009 6:41 PM
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-1+

Okay fine no reason that Apple has to let Palm Pre users access iTunes, but isn't it a paid thing? I mean, don't you BUY the music off of iTunes? Seems to me like Apple would want the cash from paying customers who weren't interested in an Apple hardware product.

But then, that's always been their motto, and the main reason they've never been any competition to Microsoft. 'Screw you, we don't want your money if you won't buy our hardware!' Well, guess what, they don't get any of my money, period.

;)

dheadley 07/16/2009 6:50 PM
Show
hillarymakesmecry 07/16/2009 7:00 PM
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-3+

I guess I'll be buying my music elsewhere.

Way to shut down some of your marketbase Apple! Good call!

sundragon 07/16/2009 7:11 PM
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Actually, there is a documented way to sync music = using XML and Apple can choose which devices use the dedicated sync... Why isn't Palm making a proper sync such as: http://www.markspace.com/products/ [...] rview.html

Please quit whining about iTunes and demand Palm make a proper sync or use the currently advertised/free method of syncing...

planchero 07/16/2009 7:43 PM
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You know if this was Microsoft’s baby they would have lawsuits’ all over them for changing their program to smash competitors but Apple can do no wrong. Like storm says im not saying that Apple should have to update their software around Palm but you can’t hold 2 different companies with different standards. If Microsoft ever made ITunes not work on a PC you could guaranty a outcry. Simple solution if you do for some mad reason want to sync your palm with Itunes use the older version.

frozenlead 07/16/2009 8:10 PM
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-2+

Not to worry iTunes and Pre users, someone will hack it.

squatchman 07/16/2009 8:16 PM
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Apple is a hardware company, the software they publish is just a vehicle to draw in customers for the hardware.

TommySch 07/16/2009 8:46 PM
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-0+

iTunes had already enought down side as it is.

First, its an apple product.
Second, its a memory whore.
Third, its fugly.

Now that...

tenor77 07/16/2009 10:01 PM
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-3+

If anyone cared I'm pretty sure this could be hacked in a day.

Does anyone who has a Pre care?

otacon 07/16/2009 10:48 PM
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Apple is more of a monopoly than Microsoft will ever be.

apache_lives 07/16/2009 11:38 PM
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--1+

Two smartphones from two not so smart companies?

Wayoffbase 07/16/2009 11:59 PM
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This is exactly why I don't like apple. Mac laptops are awesome, even if they are ridiculously overpriced, but I still wouldn't buy one because I can't get behind any company that wants to stay completely closed and proprietary. It stifles innovation, it's bad for technology. Creative labs and nvidia with their proprietary api's are guilty too, they have some cool stuff that won't catch on if they don't cross license it.

acecombat 07/17/2009 12:15 PM
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In another post Microsoft have been quoted saying "Windows 7 blocks devices pretending to be a useful media device, including products from Apple"

dheadley 07/17/2009 1:46 AM
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-1+

I think everyone is raging on and on about the Pre being shut out of iTunes and not thinking about all the other implications that came from what Palm did to make the Pre sync in the first place.

From what I have read here , other tech sites and after some googling for information, and please correct me if i am wrong on this as I have no access to a Pre to know if its true, that Palms programmers (ex-apple ipod programmers) created a bit of code that when connected to itunes recieves itunes polling for a ID ipod/iphone serial number and ramdomly generates a fake number to spoof the program into thinking it is an older generation ipod and opening up all the sync capabilities itunes has to offer.

Forget about the fact that they ignored completely documented ways to do this already. What i would be more concerned with is how this effects security of information in iTunes.

Using their code could anyone with a Pre sync up to anyone elses itunes? I mean does it bypass other aspects of the security in iTunes, which i have read is limited anyways? Does it let you have access to any information that is not normally auto-sync'd with iTunes? Did it provide a base for those of less than legal intent to produce a plug in auto-breaker for getting a persons private information and finacial institution information or allow for the spoofing of content purchases onto someone elses account?

i do not know the answers to these questions myself and would very much like to hear even an explaination as to exactly how it was done and why none of my questions are possible using their work around.

hemelskonijn 07/17/2009 2:58 AM
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Honis:

"Why are people using iTunes anyway? The only thing it has is the App Store which you probably wont use if you own a Pre."

I use iTunes because believe it or not downloading music is legal in my part of the world no matter what the source is as long as you don't spread around those files your fine.
You might wonder then what that has to do with iTunes well its simple iTunes does a way better job at presenting the files with semi correct titles then other players.
I am sure there are players that can do the same or even better bu i have jet to find one that ignores ID3 or ID3v3 tags as well as iTunes does.
Yes your reading this correct the positive thing about ignoring the messy tags from the torrented or newsgroup grabbed mp3's is that when imported in to iTunes at least the shown information will be consistent while those same mp3's in other players require me to change the tags.

Yes i am lazy but then again who isn't ?

hemelskonijn 07/17/2009 3:00 AM
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-0+

P.S. i am running iTunes v6 and as long as it gets the job done i will keep it that way.

justjc 07/17/2009 2:01 PM
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-0+

If I got a Pre I wouldn't use iTunes anyway. Newer owned an iPod, so I newer needed to use iTunes, so I haven't thrown hundreds of dollars after music only available with Apples blessing. Besides I's want to use my 8 gigs on the Pre for programs and have my music streamed instead.

midnightgun 07/17/2009 2:02 PM
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-1+

ummmm... can't blocking competition get them sued?

blackened144 07/17/2009 2:48 PM
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-0+

Hell, I have an iPhone and I dont even use iTunes..

dheadley 07/17/2009 4:30 PM
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-2+

midnightgun

I've come to the conclusion that you can be sued for anything in this country, but i don't see where it would go anywhere. People are forgetting or trying to ignore the fact that iTunes is a companion app for the iPod/iPhone/Apple TV and it never has to support any other device, no matter what anyone wants to say about it.

I am looking at my computer desk right now and I can see many examples of the exact same thing. Logitech keyboard and mouse Setpoint software doesn't let me configure other brand devices. Logitechs webcam software and videoconferencing software doesn't support other devices. Creative Labs audio applications don't support other sound cards. Logitech gamepad software doesn't work with other gamepads.

No one wants to admit it, but those are all the exact same examples as the iTunes software. It is a companion software to the music players and it clearly states that on the website before you download it.

Todays attitude though seems to be, yeah I read the terms before I used it, but if they don't let me do anything I want with it any way I am going to ... I'm gonna....I'm....gonna.......bitch on message boards about it!


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