Filed under: Hardware, iTunes, Apple
USB-IF to Palm: "Oh really? You've got some explaining to do."
Didn't you hate it when you were a kid, and you would complain to an adult about something one of your siblings was doing, just to end up getting yourself in more trouble than they ended up in?Well, you might say that's exactly what is happening to Palm and the ongoing dispute with Apple over the Pre's ability to sync with iTunes. The company has landed itself in some hot water after drawing the attention of the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) by filing a complaint against Apple for violating "the letter and spirit of the USB-IF Membership Agreement," which is "intended to facilitate interoperability between USB devices."
What that's referring to, of course, are Apple's repeated attempts to block the Palm Pre from syncing with iTunes. The whole question of whether or not Apple is in the wrong by doing so is entirely debatable, but the USB-IF seems to be of the opinion that Apple is following the letter of the law:
To summarize, the USB-IF does not believe that Apple is in violation of the agreement, based on the information provided in Palm's complaint. What is interesting with this chain of events is how Palm continues to shoot itself in the foot trying to find a resolution. Rather than work out a deal with Apple or write a custom application to legitimately communicate with iTunes, Palm has chosen the sly path of attempting to trick iTunes into working with the Pre, first by simply identifying the device as an iPod that was made by Palm, to actually using Apple's assigned USB vendor identifiers to completely masquerade as a true Apple iPod."In the view of the USB-IF, Palm's allegation (if true) does not establish that Apple is using its Vendor ID (VID) contrary to the USB-IF's policies... Therefore, under present USB-IF policies, the USB-IF does not consider the alleged use, without more, to be 'improper.'"
Perhaps even more startling, however, is that Palm is completely open about the whole process, even going as far as detailing the workaround in the complaint to the USB-IF, saying "Palm will shortly issue an update of its WebOS operating system that uses Apple's Vendor ID number for the sole purpose of restoring the Palm media sync functionality." Although openness is usually a good thing, it seems that Palm may have encountered too much of a good thing: the USB-IF turned the tables, and hinted that Palm itself may be in violation of its own agreement (emphasis added):
I attach for your information the USB-IF's adopted and published policy regarding Vendor Identification Numbers (VIDs). Under the Policy, Palm may only use the single Vendor ID issued to Palm for Palm's usage. Usage of any other company's Vendor ID is specifically precluded. Palm's expressed intent to use Apple's VID appears to violate the attached policy.Please clarify Palm's intent and respond to this potential violation within seven days.
What's next for Palm? Will the company finally decide to work something out with Apple? Will Palm start embedding USB chips out of refurbished iPhones so that it isn't technically misreporting the device's identity? Only time will tell, and in the meantime, at least we can look back and say "Palm, we told you so."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
huth.sebastian said 10:01AM on 9-23-2009
The irony… just simply hilarious.
Reply
abenissen said 10:07AM on 9-23-2009
Oh Please Yeah Make A Deal With Apple That Won't Happen Even When Apple Starts Kicking Daisies , I'm Perfectly Fine With What Palm Is Doing.
Reply
Martin said 10:35AM on 9-23-2009
I'm not trying to be a dick, honestly, but if I have to be the one to say it so be it.
http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/capital.asp
Orion said 10:46AM on 9-23-2009
Judging from your awesome use of grammar, I'd say you have no idea how the law works. I suggest you read up on it sometime before you support the wrong type of people and get yourself in trouble one day.
ack154 said 10:46AM on 9-23-2009
Good lord... that might be more annoying than all CAPS. At least when everything is in CAPS I don't feel like I'm starting a new sentence with every word.
Wow.
Anyway, I find this quite hilarious. I don't even understand what Palm was thinking on this one. I could maybe understand checking with the USB-IF regarding Apple's usage or denial or whatever... but for Palm to report to them they were going to use Apple's identifier? How could they possibly think that would be OK?
N I T E said 10:51AM on 9-23-2009
@ mARTIN
i'M sORRY aND i'MMA lET yOU fINISH, bUT hE/sHE wAS pROBABLY jUST hAVING sOME fUN. dON'T yOU tHINK? ;)
untmdsprt said 11:01AM on 9-23-2009
At least. He wasn't trying. to sound like. William Shatner. as Captain Kirk.
abenissen said 11:08AM on 9-23-2009
Listen I like the way it looks if you guys don't like fine I'll change it oh and by the way Orion I know the law quite well , how many times have you hacked something that borders illegal Jerk , ack154 I agree with you 100% I just want Apple to lose once in a while so there will be some competition.
Orion said 11:40AM on 9-23-2009
You know when Peter calls you dumb, you've reached an all new low in life. :)
Orion said 11:42AM on 9-23-2009
How many times have I hacked something that borders illegal??? Uh, never. I don't mess with my software or hardware, I use it for it's intended purposes. Not everyone is a punk like you, sorry bud.
ack154 said 11:48AM on 9-23-2009
@ NITE
That was probably the worst Kanye I've seen yet. You started out strong, and then just totally forgot the whole thing.
I would have at least gone with something like this:
Hey abenissen, I'm really happy for you, and I'm gonna let you finish and all... but I just wanted to say that AOL chats had the worst grammar of all time. OF ALL TIME!
LerxstFan said 12:17PM on 9-23-2009
@abenissen...
You are a riot, because you have to be joking, right? Stop trying so hard to sound like "teh Interwebz L337 R3b3l" and think about what you are saying. There is plenty of competition for Apple, so far it all just sucks.
abenissen said 12:40PM on 9-23-2009
@Orion
You moron I didn't mean piracy I meant things like loading Mac OSX on non Mac hardware and even if you haven't many people tried it for the heck of it , so Sleezeball go back to your friends at the RIAA.
@LerxstFan
If Apple wins on stuff like this nearly nothing will be even close to Apple products , I'm not claiming Palm's right in this case but I'm still rooting for Palm.
Tony said 1:20PM on 9-23-2009
I thought maybe he had one of those "special" keyboards that automatically capitalize every word...
Tony said 1:25PM on 9-23-2009
Apparently it's the same keyboard that lacks punctuation..
Level 5 said 10:08AM on 9-23-2009
I just don't get why they won't use the XML method like everyone else. It works identically.
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edddeduck said 10:28AM on 9-23-2009
Because they are lazy? and don't want to spend the development money making a nice and well written sync application for Windows and Mac OS. The Missing Sync is a really nice system on Mac and proves what can be done, it looks like Palm preferred to fake iTunes support instead of spending the time to make a proper solution.
As Apple offer an XML access solution it is not like they don't have any options they could write an app they just chose not to.
airmanchairman said 4:23PM on 9-23-2009
Because they want this inane debate to create a semblance of nasty Goliath (Apple) versus brave David )Palm).
Lord knows that Palm has poached more than enough of Apple's technical staff (a known fact) to know how to easily link to iTunes through any upgrade.
Palm techies must be so pissed off because although this is clearly their Sales department trying to score PR points, the strategy is making them look like total noobs, which they definitely aren't... I mean after the brilliance of WebOS, this triviality?
Josh said 10:31AM on 9-23-2009
Why doesn't Palm integrate its own software? Or better yet, work in a deal with Songbird devs and get a workable platform that everyone installs with there new Palm Pre. Its not too hard to innovate folks.
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Jordan said 10:51AM on 9-23-2009
Because it's not about the software. For all we know Palm is sitting on an excellent piece of software that's already written just in case they need to release it. The point Palm is trying to make is that Apple is way too monopolistic over it's devices and software and they need to open up to compatibility with other devices.
Yes, you can argue that it's Apple's software and they should be able to do what they want with it. But then look at Microsoft and the whole debacle it gets with releasing OSs with Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player. They can't release their own software with their own OS because it's deemed monopolistic. It's the same exact thing as Apple with their control over iTunes, and this is the point that Palm is trying to make.