Considering that Palm has recently been in hot water with the USB Implementers Forum for its vendor ID antics, no one was surprised when WebOS 1.2 came out a few days ago sans the ability to sync with iTunes. So now, in an update, Palm has launched WebOS 1.2.1, with the iTunes sync ability re-enabled.
If ever any child needed proof that the wheels on a bus go round and round, well here it is. Its Palm trying ever so hard to provide sync with iTunes on the Pre and Apple trying ever so harder to stop Pal from getting away with it. And that is just what’s been going on. Anyone expecting impressive new handsets and rocking OS from either of the manufactures should just get a large popcorn bowl and watch these two go at each other’s technicalities and loopholes. The latest in the iTune sync Olympics sees Palm coming out with the webOS1.1 which once again allows Pre owners to sync with iTunes. And Apple has said quote “%$###!!!” unquote. Everyone can now get their surprised faces ready for when Apple will once again come up with a new way to block aka sabotage the webOS1.1. but the webOS 1.1 isn’t just about pushing pineapples up Steve’s behind. It brings along with iTune sync many other features like Exchange support, remote wipe, PIN/PW security, timeout when inactive, better certificate handling. Additionally following were some other changes that came out, rather reluctantly at that. • Changed sound for notifications – You still can’t change them yourself, but the new sound is much richer, if a little quieter • Animated drop down menus – they look really slick and really change the experience. The Context menus also have some nice animation. • Lots of Photo app improvements. A more distinct bar between all photos and your albums in the photo app, plus they’re calling the Screenshot album “Screen Captures.” The preview thumbs also slide in from the right. Faster photo rendering. Overall the Photos app feels much more fully baked. • Emailing Memos – The memo app now has a menu option to email a memo. • A new font for the Browser – uses Palm’s system font and, truly, it looks fantastic. • Disabled the key combo in browser to open in a new card. Boo-urns. • Javascript interpreter Performance upgrades – this will speed up virtually everything and is great news • Better Gmail handling – not failing when you tap on a notification for an email you’d already archived on the desktop • A new icon for AIM • More auto-complete / auto correct entries in the dictionary. • With the slider open, the Center button now turns on the screen, where as before you had to hit a keyboard key or the power button. So Pre people will want to upgrade real soon, to enjoy both the new features and also savoring pleasure that you’re doing something that positively ticks off Apple.
Don’t act surprised, we all knew this was coming since day one. Rumor has it that Apple is going to make good on its ‘threat’ about non-Apple devices not being compatible with iTunes as gradual updates keep a coming. And those ‘gradual’ software updates are here in the form of iTunes 8.2.1, which will effectively kill all Palm Pre Syncing. Palm said in its statement that users should consider holding off on upgrading and if out-of-the-box iTunes syncing is what you want, that’s probably a good idea. Now let’s just see how long this cat and mouse game is going to play out, and how long Palm is going to find ways around Apple’s every subsequent fix. Of course Pre users need not despair, there are other options.
Palm and Apple are definitely having a go at each other again and this time it’s over the Palm syncing with iTunes issue. Apple recently lashed out about being “aware” that “third parties” (Palm) are claiming to support/sync with iTunes. Apple knew what they were saying and who was listening.
“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.”
Basically what they mean is “You, All of you are now our prisoners. We are taking you to Monster Mountain where you will have to repeatedly stick to using our stuff and only our stuff. If anyone tries to get around using our stuff, we will kill!”
Palm spokesperson Lynn Fox’s responded as only Palm responds:
Palm’s media sync works with the current version of iTunes. 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.
So what Palm is trying to say is, “it’s on now”. They are playing the Apple doesn’t give jack about its customers. And if Apple really does care, it won’t stop people from getting iTune sync in any way possible.
So it’s like this, Apple is all it’s our way or the high way, and Palm is playing a typical politician about to run for office. But of course while Apple and Palm battle it out, there are still plenty of people out there with plenty of solutions to iTune sync that Apple does not care to address so enjoy those.
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