iTunes to Lock Out Palm Pre's Syncing Ability?
Tony Peric
Looks like Apple is taking a serious look at "third" party providers syncing with iTunes. In a statement released today on Apple's website, they go on to say that they 'may' not support syncing of outside devices posing as an iPod.
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.
Why Apple would do this and shoot themselves in the foot is beyond me. But this could be the end for Palm's Pre and any future devices when it comes to syncing with iTunes. But since CEO Jon Rubinstien, the former head of iTunes division is now running the show over at Palm, we could be in a very long wait and see policy on both sides of the digital divide.
[Via Engadget]
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Reader Comments (9)
It would be more like Apple shooting themselves in the foot... I know they don't make a whole lot of money off of iTunes.. but if they block it, I'll just stop using the the iTMS and switch to Amazon, even tho I'd prefer to stick with iTMS. I'm a mac user.. I'm just happy with Sprints coverage and pricing plans.
this is simply apple covering their asses so anyone calling for support, t hey can just tell them to f off. rightfully so, IMO. I doubt they will actively try to break the Pre. They may change something in software that affects 3rd party syncing somehow. They have no obligation to fix it, and it will be on palm to find a work around.
With that out of the way, I think Apple should leave it all alone and behind the scenes make sure it still functions.
I have already placed my iPod up for sale. While I've loved the ability to cart all of my music catalog with me everywhere I'm also finding that USB 2.0 is plenty fast to put enough music for a week or so on the Pre at a time. With most iTunes Store purchases DRM Amazon MPG is starting to look good. And cheater.
It's so sad, my iPhone brought me back to apple after a multi-year absence. I was even considering a MacBook.
My pre is just always there it just needs more space and power. Power is an easy fix. Seeing if I can get it to use a microdrive isn't going to be easy if not impossible.
People who think Apple makes no money from iTunes are sadly confused.
I never buy any itunes so this won't affect me. I have an ipod but I only used itunes to transfer my mp3s.
Linh is right, it's just cya. The Pre is posing as an iPod. Unless Apple figures a way to distinguish between a fake iPod and the real McCoy, it will still work. If they do figure out a way, how long before Palm or a "volunteer developer" works around that? Hmm . . . Maybe some hack where they download a DRM track and test to see if it plays?
(This is assuming Apple doesn't want leave old iPods to rot.)
"But this could be the end for Palm's Pre and any future devices when it comes to syncing with iTunes."
Um, or you can just use this here open source iTunes plugin: http://ilari.scheinin.fidisk.fi/itunemywalkman/ that allows iTunes syncing with any USB mass storage device (i.e. no need for Media Sync mode)
The phone still identifies as a Pre on the root hub; it'd be trivial for iTunes to block that.
@myboysherman: All Apple would have to do is a root node check on the USB connection to (as @Ryan Rix) said, detect that it wasn't one of their devices. Financially, it makes more sense for them to disallow this, however the bad press Palm would wish to stir up and subsequently the bad press we would stir up in the blogs might not make it worth it for them.
It's just so exciting to see a former Apple Exec lead Palm now and the two of them go head to head in this war. I personally can't wait to see how it plays out.