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Tuesday June 16, 2009
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 Considering that the Palm Pre was designed in part by ex-Apple employees, and that its iTunes syncing function works by pretending to be an iPod, it was predictable that Apple would try to shoot it down.
The Big Fruit today released a very thinly veiled attack on the Pre's iTunes capabilities, in the form of a support note. While it never mentions the Pre by name, it's clear what they're talking about here.
"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: we're going to do our best to break the Pre's syncing with our next iTunes update. When I've spoken to Palm, though, they've said in a similarly thinly veiled fashion that they're ready for Apple to do something like this.
Let the cat and mouse game begin.
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June 17, 2009 12:12 PM
Part of me wants to shame Apple for sticking to this closed-platform mentality and spending so much time and energy on making sure people's devices WON'T work with the apps and software they've designed.
The other part of me recognizes that it's those apps and software...AND the corresponding hardware platforms that work with them that make Apple money, and it is their platform after all and they have the right to do with it as they choose, especially if it continues the cycle of bringing people into the Apple tent. I doubt their shareholders would be very happy if Apple opened the iTunes syncing floodgate to other devices, even if the userbase would be thrilled.
Bleh. Two minds on the matter.
July 3, 2009 10:16 AM
Having read the support note, this doesn't sound like anything more than "we're not responsible for compatibility with anything we don't make." In other words, a very standard support CYA.
A little better reporting would be appreciated, though reading any tech news concerning Apple, is sometimes like reading the National Enquirer, People magazine, etc., and trying to figure out who's b.s.'ing less.
July 16, 2009 11:05 AM
If Microsoft or Sandisk did this they would be accused of being a monopolist. Every Apple fanboy will bow down and kiss Apple's feet for doing this.. just typical.
July 17, 2009 10:49 AM
@Gerald O:
What do you say now? Apple has disabled the iTunes syncing with the Palm Pre... What about "b.s.'ing"?