Palm Pre iTunes Syncing Back With WebOS 1.1 Update 396
suraj.sun points out CNet coverage of Palm's newest OS release, which restores the ability to synch with iTunes that iTunes 8.2.1 had broken. "The news was posted on Palm's blog where it listed the new features and enhancements of the software update and nonchalantly added at the end: 'Oh, and one more thing: Palm WebOS 1.1 re-enables Palm media sync. That's right — you once again can have seamless access to your music, photos and videos from the current version of iTunes (8.2.1).' Bold move, Palm. Bold move. It'll be interesting to see how Apple responds, and do you suppose the use of the phrase 'one more thing,' a phrase that Apple CEO Steve Jobs often uses to introduce a new product at the end of his keynotes, was intentional or am I just reading too much into this?"
and so it begins (Score:5, Interesting)
Now announcing iTunes Update Month!
Software update will have a new update for iTunes every 4-6 days, with an ever more entertaining list of "bugfixes and improvements", none of which will mention anything about palm.
I remember them doing this awhile back for a plugin for itunes that would add a second ipod to your list on the left, that you could drag and drop FROM. That spawned three iTunes updates in two weeks. People that diff'd the updates found basically all they were doing was adjusting their plugin acceptance code. Finally on the third update, they gave up on trying to filter it by behavior, and just plain banned the name of the plugin. It was at this point the author basically said ok I'm done, they're targeting me personally and that's not a war I'm going to win.
Re:More interesting quote from Palm (Score:1, Interesting)
Then palm should have written their own Sync Program. I don't think Apple would have had a problem if they used the iTunes library XML files or just the iTunes media files themselves. What Palm is doing is lying to iTunes to get the Pre synced as an iPod.
Apple did all the engineering, R&D, and human interface work for iTunes. (Ok, other than what they bought in the beginning). Now Pre is trying to piggy back on this.
Palm, if you want to sync DRM free Media to the Pre, write your own application.
Re:and so it begins (Score:5, Interesting)
Or... he could have open-sourced and became immortal
Re:Huh. (Score:3, Interesting)
I just updated my Pre too. Scares me though. While Apple is selling DRM free music, dost it really stop them from their software only syncing up to properly signed iPods? I mean I like my iPod, but if its going to be a device that needs a secure encrypted channel to transfer file for me to just use normally, I am not sure I would want to use an iPod again.
DVD Jon started some software that is like iTunes, but open, and made for any device. It looks pretty cool, though I haven't tried it yet.
it's called DoubleTwist, look it up.
-Taylor
Re:Seems Palm is coming thru with the Pre (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:cat and mouse (Score:4, Interesting)
And if Palm would grow a few braincells then they would write their own damn software
Do you have any examples of a large and successful company wasting resources on development, by developing an exact clone of another company's product, rather than spending practically nothing to write a simple work-around?
I'd actually be curious to hear of some, because I would like to ridicule them for being so stupid.
Does it matter where the XML file is read? (Score:5, Interesting)
"d if Palm would grow a few braincells then they would write their own damn software that would read the XML file in the iTunes library"
This what the Pre already does. It is just that Palm decided to let iTunes copy the files over to the device first, instead of reading directly out of iTunes. Why should Apple care were the XML file is read? From a technical perspective it is basically the same. It saves the user from installing additional software. The is one of the nice things about the Pre, no need for any additional desktop software.
I've got that syncing feeling again (Score:4, Interesting)
Jobs: You synced my flagship product!
facepalm (Score:5, Interesting)
Somebody mod this up. Palm is in the wrong here, but they're counting on capitalizing on anti-Apple sentiment since a lot of people are justifiably fed up with Apple. But Palm really needs to concentrate on making a better product -- if they want to compete with the iphone they've got to do more than piggy back on its success.
I really wanted to like the Palm Pre. I've still got my Treo, as beat to hell as it is, because I don't like the keyboard-less design of the iphone. (I text a lot and I like the Treo's keypad better than most). I have an ipod touch so I have most of the cool app features of the iphone without the AT+T contract. I went to the Sprint store to check out the Pre and I found it flimsy and slow, and its interface completely counterintuitive compared to the iphone. I was completely disappointed and now I might buy a Centro instead just because it's exactly what I now have except smaller and faster and it comes in green. So, yeah, I might opt for a feature set from like 1997 rather than the latest and greatest -- if that's happening in your product line, there's no way in hell you're gonna compete with the iphone.
Re:USB Vendor ID (Score:1, Interesting)
Apple apparently using the USB Vendor ID to prevent this "we have notified the USB Implementers Forum of what we believe is improper use of the Vendor ID number by another member. " which is a violation. I assume that is what this is talking about.
So Palm is spoofing an Apple Vendor ID to allow access to the program.
And I didn't comment at all on any of that. I basically said that Apple doesn't have the right to prevent everything but Apple products to work with its software.
Re:cat and mouse (Score:4, Interesting)
well, actually, palm might embrace other existing software that is way, way more friendly towards them.
as amarok developers mentioned in akademy (http://www.kdenews.org/2009/07/16/business-free [kdenews.org]), amarok, as a crossplatform music manager/player, would be better suited for palm and would allow them to out-feature itunes with little resources.
Re:cat and mouse (Score:3, Interesting)
You mean the Apple that paid Xerox for the rights AND then wrote from scratch the drawing routines (important parts that weren't even done on the Xerox PARC stuff, but the Apple people thought it was done)?
http://vectronicsappleworld.com/macintosh/creation.html [vectronicsappleworld.com]
http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?story=On_Xerox,_Apple_and_Progress.txt [folklore.org]
Re:Part of this comment makes no sense. (Score:2, Interesting)
You are being intentionally quite obtuse. Enabling the device to allow iTunes to maintain a database and media files on it is actually the easiest way to accomplish music synching. It's actually very elegant.
Re:This is some uber-clever marketing by Palm. (Score:3, Interesting)
You're spot on.
I think Palm's executives are douchebags, but they're brilliant douchebags.
Re:cat and mouse (Score:3, Interesting)
I don't know... if I owned a Pre and every time I plugged it into my computer iTunes came up with an iPhone icon and every time I wanted to change which playlists got synced to my Pre I had to click on that icon and tell iTunes how I'd like to configure my "iPhone," and the whole thing broke periodically, my thought would be that I should have bought an iPhone instead of some knockoff.
On the other hand, if nice, well designed Palm Pre software came up and asked what I'd like on my Pre, I might think it was very convenient that Palm integrated their new phone with my existing iTunes library.