Apple is about to break iTunes for Pre (Update: Palm responds)
Remember way back on September 24th 2007, Apple released a notice that hacking the iPhone could cause irreparable damage?:
Three days later they released an iPhone 1.1.1 update that temporarily bricked many iPhones. Fast forward to today, they've put out the following statement as a KB article:
Apple designs the hardware and software to provide seamless integration of the iPhone and iPod with iTunes, the iTunes Store, and tens of thousands of apps on the App Store. Apple is aware that some third-parties[Palm Pre] 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.
We expect to see an iTunes update shortly that isn't going to be a pleasant one for 3rd party device owners who sync to iTunes.. If we were Palm Pre owners in particular, we'd try as hard as we could to avoid hitting that next iTunes update button, until some other suckers watch it kill their iTunes-Pre sync...and then Palm figures out away around it.
Us? We're still on iTunes 8.2 pre-release 1! (via everybody)
Palm seems unfazed by Apple’s implied threat. Reached for comment, the company said Cupertino will only harm consumers if it disables iTunes integration with the Pre. “Palm’s media sync works with the current version of iTunes,” Palm spokesperson Lynn Fox told me. “If Apple chooses to disable media sync in a future version of 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 could consider.”
Somehow, we don't think Apple gives a f....
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Comments (34)
Monopoly!! I love my iPhone, but come on. Apple will be forced to change, eventually.
Monopoly my ass. iTunes is an Apple product, and therefore Apple can do whatever they want with it. To use iTunes you must have an Apple product to use it with. Third parties hack into the software, and if I made software I wouldn't want other people hacking it so they could use it for free...
You know it is monopoly.... yeah yeah.... like Mac is made from scratch!
so, if I try to sync my iPhone using Palm Desktop, will it work? NO!!! because Palm wrote Palm Desktop to work with Palm devices. Apple wrote iTunes to work with Apple devices. What's the difference??
iTunes is designed by Apple for their own benefit. They've done a great deal of efforts to make the ecosystem around iPod and iPhone and finally are seeing the fruits. Why on earth should Apple watch other company stealing their work and do nothing?
Furthermore, do you even know the meaning of monopoly? Apple's exclusive rights on iTunes have nothing to do with monopoly. We don't use the word 'monopoly' on products like iTunes but on the market. If a company posseses the entire market, we can blame them for monopoly. Apple isn't monopolizing the music library management S/W "market." What's the point?
Palm should comes up with their own cool stuff rather than stealing other's work. No pain, no gain. No effort, no S/W.
Are we talking about iPhone OS 3.0 or a new minor version????? Kinda vague under the circumstances!
What the hell. Can you be provide a little less detail?
Well its Apple iTunes, not Palm youTunes.
Let's face it -- this is just a CYA policy going out here. In other words, don't expect to call Apple to find out why your Pre ain't syncing right with iTunes. NOT COVERED.
Frankly, I'm surprised Apple didn't sue the living $hit out of Palm for copyright infringement. It's not so much that it sync's with iTunes, it's how it does it. Blackberry includes software that allows you to sync the Storm (and others, probably) with iTunes using their own built software to read the iTunes database file. Not a big deal. But Palm blatantly masks the Pre into making it appear as if it's an actual iPod, which is much more crossing the line. Even if the use of the software itself wasn't illegal, I'm pretty darn certain the use of a Trademark without official permission probably is. Furthermore, the fact that ex-Apple employees are the ones who designed this thing, I'm QUITE certain there's a fair amount of Apple inside-information going on inside that little Pre there. Personally, I'm all about competition. Apple needs a strong competitor in the marketplace to stay on the cutting edge. But, the Pre strikes me as a bastard step-child out to put a thorn in Apple's side, ripping off a lot, rather than starting from the ground up.
you gotta chill man, stop being so existential... this is an apple forum for goodness sakes.
Apple is NOT intentially trying to stop Palm.
It's just a statement advising Pre users, that just because iTunes is compatible with Pre now, Apple cannot guarantee it will be in the future as the Pre is not an iPod.
It will be up to Palm or a 3rd party to provide a patch.
Apple are just "pre"empting (no pun intended) the requests for help if and when iTunes and Pre stop working together. Its just good business sense.
So whats new here then?
Way to stir up a story about nothing. Anyone who goes to the other Apple forum sites can see that your headline is totally made up.
Apple has NOT said anything like what you represent here.
Did you not click any of the links? it clearly shows that Apple has said what 9to5 posted.
iTunes is such a terrible program that I don't even use it to sync my iPod. I can't imagine going out of my way to sync another device with it.
i haven't had a single problem in all the years i've used iTunes, having the entire house rigged with airtunes. couldn't imagine living any other way now.
This is about support costs. Apple runs call centers. People call them with iTunes problems. Apple pays the bill for that. This is a way to make it clear that they don't support it. If you call, they hang up.
itunes worked with 3rd party players before the ipod existed
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2172
true. Apple has licensed iTunes integration in the past. The key word there is "licensed." If you don't pay, you don't play. Apple can not take on the support costs of thousands of Pre users if iTunes doesn't work. It's called business. You build something that works the way you want it. Period. There's no reason to open iTunes to anyone who wants to play. That's how Windows became a giant, unstable behemoth. They try to play nice with everyone, and it ends up working out for noone.
damn it! come out with an android, pre or some other awesome phone for verizon god dman it.... LOL
anyway, I hope that palm wins out and that apple realizes that allowing all the pre users to connect to apple software means more sales from the itunes store....
I just hate fanboys... y'all talk crap but don't know anything about what you're shittin' out your mouths!
You do NOT know that Palm broke any code or laws or legal bindings -how do you know that it's not just a basic iTunes code that shows the Pre as an iPod and that Palm didn't just find a loophole on how to get the connection available??
How do you know what is ACTUALLY happening with the ramifications to Apple by allowing iTunes users to sync to a Pre. They don't offer the support for it, those customers can call Palm. Besides, I use iTunes & I don't have an iPhone...why shouldn't I be allowed my now-DRM-free music on whatever the freakin' device i WANT????
Just stop being so one-sided...and ignorant...and so easy to shoot your lip off.
It makes me not even WANT my Macbook Pro or iMac OR even my freakin iPod anymore!!! I'd rather become a Linux man & ignore your idiotic rants & Apple-on-a-pedestal-acting-as-if-Steve-Jobs-is-a-god behavior.
Idiots.
Grow UP & get a reality check that EVERYone steals SOMEthing from EVERYone else!!! It's business!!
Try an original thought for once...
gesticulations with femur in one hand and "whatever the freakin' device" in the other. if there was a chimp that could do that in the circus that comes thru town, i'd definitely buy a ticket!! "the amazing usb syncing 'whatever the freakin' device' chimp!!!"
Sorry to say but iTunes is developed for APPLE Products , thats just it .. There are always two sides to this little BS fanboy talk ..
Apples side ..
Apple designed iTunes to work with all APPLE products to drive the sales of APPLE PRODUCTS like the iPhone , iPods , Apple TVs and there computers . Not so they could sale music , TV SHows and Movies , but to make money on there hardware .
Consumers ...
Yes iTunes did design one of the best media programs out there , and they provide some of the best MUSIC MOVIES AND Other ENTERTAINMENT for your APPLE Devices , but as a consumer you ask why cant i sync my products ( MP3 Player or Media Device ) .
It comes down to these ...
Apple could sale rights to other companies out there to use iTunes for there MP3 players and other devices , but then they are saleing a product they dont own .
Its allot like those Microsoft commercials out there , Is Microsoft saleing there OS or are they saleing a SONY computer , or a Toshiba Computer ..
This is what i see , Palm , BlackBerry and others should look at APPLES iTunes and built there own MEDIA Program to sale there own products .. Or even come together to build one system to connect all devices to one system . Build it to work on MACs like iTunes done with PCs .. These way Palm , BB and other companies have something to compete with apple .. No more going to Amazon , or other 3rd party sites , just buy them from there , even have an APP store of there own for one easy sync system .
Its not that hard for other companies to come together to do this ..
Sorry to say but iTunes is developed for APPLE Products , thats just it .. There are always two sides to this little BS fanboy talk ..
Apples side ..
Apple designed iTunes to work with all APPLE products to drive the sales of APPLE PRODUCTS like the iPhone , iPods , Apple TVs and there computers . Not so they could sale music , TV SHows and Movies , but to make money on there hardware .
Consumers ...
Yes iTunes did design one of the best media programs out there , and they provide some of the best MUSIC MOVIES AND Other ENTERTAINMENT for your APPLE Devices , but as a consumer you ask why cant i sync my products ( MP3 Player or Media Device ) .
It comes down to these ...
Apple could sale rights to other companies out there to use iTunes for there MP3 players and other devices , but then they are saleing a product they dont own .
Its allot like those Microsoft commercials out there , Is Microsoft saleing there OS or are they saleing a SONY computer , or a Toshiba Computer ..
This is what i see , Palm , BlackBerry and others should look at APPLES iTunes and built there own MEDIA Program to sale there own products .. Or even come together to build one system to connect all devices to one system . Build it to work on MACs like iTunes done with PCs .. These way Palm , BB and other companies have something to compete with apple .. No more going to Amazon , or other 3rd party sites , just buy them from there , even have an APP store of there own for one easy sync system .
Its not that hard for other companies to come together to do this ..
Ah, come on. Why not allow other devices to sync with iTunes? At the very least it introduces non-Apple customers to the benefits that Apple offers. It also allows current Apple advocates to stay loyal to the Apple service given hey have a mix of iPhones, iPods, MacBooks, Mac Mini's and oh, perhaps a couple of other media players kicking around their household.
Moves like this make the game interesting!
why doesnt palm just make their own media center? lazy, poor bastids.
I hope there will be an update which will blow up all those Palm Pre's.
This is the exact same situation as Psytar... Except on a smaller scale.
The point is Apple have created something for their hardware. Why the hell should they let others use it?
This is the exact same situation as Psytar... Except on a smaller scale.
The point is Apple have created something for their hardware. Why the hell should they let others use it?
iTunes is designed by Apple for their own benefit. They've done a great deal of efforts to make the ecosystem around iPod and iPhone and finally are seeing the fruits. Why on earth should Apple watch other company stealing their work and do nothing?
Furthermore, do you even know the meaning of monopoly? Apple's exclusive rights on iTunes have nothing to do with monopoly. We don't use the word 'monopoly' on products like iTunes but on the market. If a company posseses the entire market, we can blame them for monopoly. Apple isn't monopolizing the music library management S/W "market." What's the point?
Palm should comes up with their own cool stuff rather than stealing other's work. No pain, no gain. No effort, no S/W.