Small webOS Update Brings iTunes Syncing Back to the Palm Pre

[Ed Hardy]

Another skirmish happened today in a back-and-forth fight between Palm and Apple -- Palm released webOS 1.2.1 today, which brings support for iTunes synchronization back to the Palm Pre.

At its launch, the Pre allowed users to transfer music and video to and from their PC or Mac with Apple's iTunes. Palm made a fairly big deal of this, and it was the primary method for transferring multimedia files onto this device.

As the maker of a rival smartphone that also syncs with iTunes, Apple soon modified its desktop software to block access by Palm's device. However, Palm quickly issued an update to re-enable it, and then Apple blocked it again.

The pattern continues, as the major feature in webOS 1.2.1 is support for syncing with iTunes 9.0.1, the latest version.

There are also a few other tweaks and bug fixes, which are detailed on Palm's website.

Earlier this week, Palm released webOS 1.2 for the Palm Pre, a more significant update. When it didn't include iTunes syncing, many thought the fight between the two companies might be over, especially after the industry group in charge of the USB standard -- used for iTunes synchronization -- ruled in favor of Apple.

An Over-the-Air Update
This update is being pushed out to Palm Pre users now, who will be notified by their phone when the update arrives.

Unlike with older Palm OS updates from this company, installing webOS 1.2.1 does not involve erasing everything on the smartphone. 

 

Source: Palm

Related Articles:

• Palm Pre Launch Could Still Be Over a Month Away

[Hook]

What a pathetic company Palm has turned into. This is what they are doing with OS updates?

[JRakes]

And this is where they are putting their resources? As opposed to, say, actually having a useful App Store? With real / useful apps? I'm not sure if it seems more bizarre or stupid...

[harpgliss]

Hi,

When I saw this earlier today, I thought it was April 1st.

This is just a bad joke and Palm is playing it on themselves.

Fix the issues users are having with the OS and open the Appstore for business.

This is the kind of stuff I would expect from a six year old, not an International company such as this.

Hook has it right, Pathetic.

David

[palmgeek5394]

Why? What's the point of adding back iTunes sync? That effort would be a lot more useful in creating, say, a better app store and adding more features.

[philpalm]

If you want to read more comments about Palm's attempt to use ITunes read here:
http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/09/...ync?art_pos=23
Basically since ITunes store sells music a lot of people feel they have the right to also use ITune program. That is the tricky part. Apple wants to only let people use second class ITune usage for devices not Apple. Sort of like how people go to a movie theater pay admission and are forced to sit in the balcony.

I think Apple will have to take Palm to court to stop this geek hacking effort by Palm.

[harpgliss]

Hi,

Since when did Apple become the only online source for purchasing music?

Someone should notify Amazon of this.

David

[Scott_L]

I must say that this is quite childish of Palm. I have no use for iTunes myself. I have only bought from Amazon. Why do they insist on trowing eggs at Apple's lawyers like this?

[ward.smith]

The real question: Who really cares?

[muppet_funk]

To characterize the last update as an iTunes fix completely misses the mark. The key in this update was that it fixed the Exchange support that got borked in the last update. They didn't push out on OS update just to deal w/ iTunes. That was thrown in along with an actual real fix for an actual real problem.

There are lots of arguments on both sides as to whether the iTunes fight is one worth fighting. That's it's a drain on resources, however, is not a valid one. The stuff they're doing to make it work requires very minimal developer effort. Spoofing the device's manufacturer ID is not what's holding up the release of paid apps to the catalog.