Palm updates Palm Pre webOS software, "fixes" iTunes bork
Palm released webOS 1.1.0 for its Palm Pre devices today. Normally, this would elicit a collective "that's nice" from TUAW, but what makes this interesting is that according to the release notes, the update "resolves an issue preventing media sync from working with latest version of iTunes (8.2.1)."
The "issue," of course, is none other than last week's borking by Apple of the Palm Pre's ability to sync with iTunes. As you may recall, in order to get around Apple's restrictions and sync with iTunes -- which nowadays is meant exclusively for use with Apple products, although in the past there was an API for third-party MP3 players to sync with it -- the Palm was programmed, in effect, to impersonate an iPod.
Apple was not amused. Enter iTunes 8.2.1, which "fixed" the problem. Palm was not amused. Out came webOS 1.1.0 which claimed to have "re-fixed" the problem while Palm exhibited no small measure of evil glee. In fact, on their very own blog, Palm describes the return of iTunes sync as "one more thing." Oh, Palm. Don't you know that "one more thing" fails to impress unless you're hiding a new MacBook Pro or iPhone behind your back?
Say what you want about Apple's notoriously closed, exclusive systems, but I have to admit I feel a little less than sympathetic for Palm right about now. After all, it's not like Palm doesn't have the resources to design a robust, easy-to-use media syncing system
If I'm reading the tea leaves correctly, look for a nice iTunes "update" in the next couple of days. You know. To "fix" any issues with "verification of Apple devices."
No matter what, it's shaping up to be a very entertaining game of cat-and-mouse. Popcorn, anybody?
[via Engadget]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
matt said 11:15PM on 7-23-2009
Palm doesn't want to because an enormous amount of people use iTunes. Why should those users who buy a Pre have to sync with a new service instead of the existing one they already use. Seems like a simple nicety to me. But here goes an entire thread, similar to macrumors, in which all the crazed apple fanboys freak out about Palm doing this. Who cares?
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oliver hart said 11:41PM on 7-23-2009
nice·ty:
the quality or state of being nice
I'm sure I just saved someone the time and effort of looking that up. I totally thought that word was mumbo jumbo myself.
"me fail english, thats unpossible"
-ralph wiggum
Wayne said 6:55AM on 7-24-2009
Holy crap, the word "fanboy" in the first post! I can't believe it! It has nothing to do with being a "fanboy".... and why are all Apple users labled as "fanboys" anyway? I could call Pre users "cheap" and "fanboy" at the same time since all they do is boast about being able to run more than one app at the same time, but what about that battery life? And what number Pre are you on? The third? The fourth? LOL
Anyway, Palm should develop its own software instead of using a competitor's. It's actually ironic that Palm is bashing Apple and the iPhone about multitasking and then wants to actually sync the Pre to the product of the very company they bash, and then have the nerve to call that a "feature"? LMAO
lvidal said 11:44AM on 7-24-2009
The thing isn't why they are using iTunes, we all know that. The thing is that the way they are doing things isn't the correct way. And we are not talking about some guy that is fooling around cracking Apple software, this is Palm, ok? That's not funny. Either way what they are doing is cracking a software, is that a legal thing? I think not. Right? So, this is what Apple was expecting, now those Apple lawyers are in their way to justice, you can count on that. Palm messed with legal issues and they aren't going to win this one no matter what their argument is. Because a lot of people uses iTunes is not a valid argument at all, and because Apple ties his devices with its software isn't neither, 'cause you know what you get if you get an Apple product, and there are other players in the market, so you choose the want you want to.
I really don't care if Palm Pre can sync with iTunes, that doesn't affects me personally at all. But things like this Palm low quality game should pay its dues. Is very easy to use what other company creates and makes successfull. That isn't funny at all. It's like if you have done your homework and when you get to class your classmate wants it to copy it when yesterday he was just playing video games all afternoon and night. That's not a fair game. Also it's like an identity theft. The Pre falses its identity and cheats iTunes to believe it is an iPhone. If they want an "iPhone Killer" they have to create it entirely by their own.
dpaulsen said 1:09AM on 7-24-2009
Seriously. Dell could develop an OS, but they choose to "poach" Windows instead.
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Robert said 1:16AM on 7-24-2009
Yes, of course, Dell poached Windows by shipping hardware with a feature that relied on third-party software . . . without asking nor making a deal with the third-party.
Oh wait . . .
Wayne said 6:56AM on 7-24-2009
Huh? So Dell got Windows for free, or did they have to pay for each OEM copy that's installed on each Dell? Doesn't sound like poaching to me.
dextrome said 11:23PM on 7-23-2009
As a self-confessed "apple fanboy" I say palm is undoubtedly in the right here. I hope they keep up the good work.
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matt said 11:28PM on 7-23-2009
there are a few good apples...ha
varun said 9:18AM on 7-24-2009
Seriously. I wonder what Lauren would be saying if Microsoft "fixed" SMB so that only authentic Windows clients could access SMB shares, and those that relied on SAMBA (*cough*Mac OS X*cough*) masquerading as "Windows NT 3.8" suddenly failed to work. Oh wait, but then Apple would be right and Microsoft would be wrong.
Interoperability is a good thing, folks - it's why I can use my Mac on a Windows-dominated network. If Apple would make available an interoperable API for iTunes, none of this tomfoolery would be needed.
Bellboy said 10:23AM on 7-24-2009
Dextrome...I guess you download movies and music illegally too, huh.
How about you put on the right shoes to better comment on this issue, eh? You know...the shoes you wear when you have spent millions on R&D and marketing and updates to develop a software product that supports the devices you make and sell. Then have some other company come along and poach your software's functionality without giving a single penny to you for licensing and pass it off as an actual feature for their device/product.
Would you want some sort of reparation or take steps to stop this? If not, you're an idiot and should close shop.
Here's how I think this is going to play out...Palm continues to be a leeching bastard and Apple will continue to plug the loopholes in the software. Eventually Palm will find a way to stop Apple by finding a way around the issue that Apple can't correct without a major architectural update to iTunes.
The next step after that will be a C&D followed by litigation which Apple will win. End of story.
Dorv said 10:39AM on 7-24-2009
Seconded... Plus, I love the "One More Thing" jab, too :)
lvidal said 11:55AM on 7-24-2009
To Varum: you are talking about network protocols here, that's a stupid comparison. Do you think that Apple uses SMB for free? there are licensing certificates payed for that or agreements that end users don't know about. Or if there aren't patents fillings then they aren't doing any bad thing. But iTunes is a software product that is been CRACKED by a multi-millionaire company. Looks a right thing to you???
imarsman said 4:42PM on 7-24-2009
Ivadel said:
"To Varum: you are talking about network protocols here, that's a stupid comparison. Do you think that Apple uses SMB for free? there are licensing certificates payed for that or agreements that end users don't know about. Or if there aren't patents fillings then they aren't doing any bad thing. But iTunes is a software product that is been CRACKED by a multi-millionaire company. Looks a right thing to you???"
The SMB protocol implementation used in OSX is the product of the Samba project, an open-sourced implemenation of the SMB protocol resulting from the reverse-engineering of that protocol - perfectly legal. Apple uses it for free. There are no patent payments involved. If Palm has reverse engineered things in order to allow interoperability between the Pre and iTunes then what we have is a perfectly legal reverse engineering situation and a valid analogy with OSX's Samba-based SMB services.
subliminal727 said 6:18PM on 7-24-2009
"Interoperability is a good thing, folks - it's why I can use my Mac on a Windows-dominated network. If Apple would make available an interoperable API for iTunes, none of this tomfoolery would be needed."
Apple does have a solution for third party devices to sync with your itunes library. The library.xml file (your itunes library) is an open xml file. ANY developer can access this file and write software to sync with their device.
So the question is...why doesn't Palm provide this more stable and legit solution to their customers instead of hacky workarounds that apple will break (causing headaches for Palm's users.)
It seems to me that they would simply need to write a program (such as the ones RIM and Nokia use) to acheive legit sync, that Apple won't break, and that will provide the most seamless user experience for your average user.
Duran Dujam said 11:27PM on 7-23-2009
I have to doubt that Palm has the resources to make an iTunes quality media player. Pre and all - they are not yet that much furhter from bankruptcy than they were twelve months ago.
More importantly, iTunes is fully integrated with other OS X applications - why should I use one program for phone music and one program for every other OS X program?
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Chris Welch said 11:29PM on 7-23-2009
"After all, it's not like Palm doesn't have the resources to design a robust, easy-to-use media syncing system and music player that would work with the Pre. It just doesn't want to."
Uh... actually, they DON'T have those resources. This company was on the verge of failure before the Pre came along. It's clear that Palm is focusing on improving the WebOS platform, as they've put out several updates already. So why would they waste time trying to create their own media sync software? How in the world is that advisable? What Palm needs to focus on is building on the success of the Pre with their next devices.
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Michael Rose said 11:48PM on 7-23-2009
Then license it from Sonic/Roxio. Piggybacking on iTunes is a cynical (and quite transparent) attempt to lure iPhone-desiring consumers to the Pre, and it's not gonna work.
subliminal727 said 6:28PM on 7-24-2009
You're telling me they don't have the resources to write a simple application that accesses the itunes library.xml (which is open to all developers) and then copy it to the music folder on their phone?
That's absolutely insane. If they don't have the capability to write such a simple program to support the basic functionality of their devices, then maybe they shouldn't be in the cell phone hardware/operating system market. Perhaps they should look into making flashlights or something.
I don't understand how they could have the resources to make an advanced smartphone AND advanced operating system but not a simple file copying program.
Maybe Palm hates their customers and would rather showboat about their silly cat and mouse than create a product for their customers that does everything they claim it can do.
It's one thing to make a product that can sync with the iTunes library and proudly advertise this fact. It's quite another to reverse engineer technology and make these hacky methods of syncing that are guaranteed to not be permanent solutions for their customers (as apple will just break all these silly hacks.)
MAKE A PERMANENT SOLUTION FOR YOUR CUSTOMER'S.
mantia said 11:31PM on 7-23-2009
You know, Palm can't control iTunes. They can try to manipulate it to work with the Pre, but they cannot be sure about the future.
Apple, while they may be closing Palm off for political/competitive reasons, take a moment to consider the support calls they'd get and emails about how "iTunes" isn't working with their Pre. It's not Apple's responsibility.
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