USB-IF to Palm: "Oh really? You've got some explaining to do."

Paul...you...are wrong. Sorry buddy.

1. The XML method isn't "official" or "sanctioned"...it is a Hack/Workaround because -

2. The Plugin API *used* to be the way to do this. Apple pulled it to lock iTunes to the handful of underpowered old flash devices it supported originally and its own hardware exclusively.

The True and Proper Way to sync your media to a Device with iTunes would be for it to show up in the CLEARLY LABELED and DESIGNATED "Device" category in iTunes.

Any and every device USED TO be able to do this. When Apple started making their own and gained Market share, the locked everyone else out.

This is what *actually* happened This revisionist crap gets really, REALLY old after awhile.

Remember when iTunes used to work with non-Apple hardware like the Nomad, Rio, etc.? Or the Motorola ROKR (the "iTunes phone" from 2005) for that matter? When did Apple eliminate third-party device support, anyway? Aren't you supposed to be able to use your Mac with non-Apple MP3 players?

Um, no. Palm is completely in the wrong here. If Palm wants their device to work with iTunes, there are proper ways to make that happen. You do not go hacking your vendor ID to make your device masquerade as someone else's. The unintended consequences of such shenanigans threaten the stability of USB. Palm either needs to play by the rules or get out of the pool.

Just so that I am clear, I am not on Apple's side here. (In fact, I still own a few shares of Palm.) But I am firmly on the side of standards based engineering.

Apple makes great products but with competition it would be so much better.

I love the attitude that Apple needs to lose once in a while, and needs to be taken down a peg or two. I wonder if jealousy motivates it, or is it sour grapes? Apple makes great products, and I honestly find it hilarious that the product that was touted in the media as the "iPhone killer" is now begging at Apple's door asking for scraps.

@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.

I'm so bored with people who cry that Apple is a monopoly for not letting every device sync with iTunes or any app run on the iPhone. A monopoly only exist when there is no credible alternative, and even then such a monopoly might not be illegal. Apple has no obligation to open iTunes or any of it's devices to competing stores/software/devices/hair styles/lunch specials/etc... Apple built a platform people want to use, as in consumers choosing to use it. If you want those consumers to use your device, COME UP WITH SOMETHING BETTER.

It's only a monopoly when no credible alternative exist and Apple makes illegal moves to maintain that monopoly. Please see MS vs OEM PC makers or Intel vs AMD for examples of abuse of dominant marketshare.

Do you think MS should force Nintendo into distributing Xbox Live Marketplace content on the Wii since the Wii sells more hardware? Just being popular does not create a monopoly and you are allowed to protect your popular business.

there is NOTHING legal or otherwise to force Apple to allow the use of itunes as a sync interface. they were cool enough to put the data in an XML but probably didn't have to do that either. Palm is being lazy and rather stupid for letting someone else control their user's experience. but they were doublefacepalm stupid for being so open about their intent to continue to break the rules of conduct.

as for abenissen and his comments, there's competition and there's competition. the Pre as an alt smartphone is competition. the Zune against the ipod is competition all fine and dandy. thing is that the device, the data and how the two work is all one package. Microsoft gets this, Apple gets this, Palm not yet. they are putting half the equation in someone else's hands. someone they probably didn't ask and doesn't have to play nice. so what if Apple did put in that vendor code line to block Palm, they aren't going to admit this. they are going to say that it was to ensure all their numerous ipods work and no one can prove otherwise. meanwhile the next time Palm applies for a vendor or device code, they are less likely to get it because they have irritated the forum. oops

The problem with your argument is, Apple doesn't stop anyone syncing with iTunes. Nor do they stop stores like Amazon or eMusic adding music to iTunes. There's no monopolistic behaviour involved.

I've pointed it out before, and Level 5 did again above, there are already ways of syncing your devices with iTunes.

As well as the XML method, there is the iTunes plugin SDK, and the scripting SDK, all of which can be used for syncing. To add music, Amazon and eMusic (the two I've used) have been adding music to iTunes for years, and with iTunes 9 it's much easier, since third party music providers can use the new drop folder to add to the iTunes store.

In fact iTunes probably displays the most un-Apple-like openness of any *proprietary* (emphasis added for emphasis) Apple software.

Apple are positioning iTunes as the only media management software you need. They don't care where you get the content from.

"At least. He wasn't trying. to sound like. William Shatner. as Captain Kirk."

AAAAHHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!

so good - laughed out loud on that one...