Apple and Palm continue to play a cat-and-mouse game, and this time it was Apple's turn to do the chasing. Apple on Thursday released an iTunes software update that once again blocks the Palm Pre smartphone from syncing DRM-free music, photos and videos from the iTunes Store.
Apple's iTunes 9.0.2 update is part of Apple's rollout of Apple TV version 3.0. The new iTunes comes with several new features and improvements including a new look and feel, easier browsing and navigation, and more flexibility with syncing, according to Apple.
While the update allows iPod and iPhone users to organize home screens directly in iTunes by allowing syncing of individual artists, genres or TV shows and Podcast episodes, it also once again wipes out the ability for Palm Pre users to sync iTunes files.
Chase Continues
The game between Apple and Palm has been going on since the launch of the Palm Pre in June. Once Palm released the Pre with the ability to sync iTunes songs and other files, Apple quickly retaliated and blocked the functionality with its iTunes 8.2.1 update, which blocked the Pre's ability to sync.
It didn't take long for Palm to respond with its own firmware update webOS 1.1, which re-enabled the Pre's sync function. "That's right -- you once again can have seamless access to your music, photos and videos," wrote John Traynor in his blog in July.
The move only frustrated Apple executives, who made it clear there is only room for the iPod and iPhone in the iTunes Store.
Not only did Palm add the over-the-air update, but it also complained to the USB Implementers Forum, a nonprofit corporation created by the companies who founded the Universal Serial Bus specification. Palm complained to the USB-IF that Apple was abusing the principle of open gadget connectivity. That complaint backfired when the USB-IF agreed with Apple.
Palm, however, ignored the warning and released webOS 1.2.1 on Oct. 3, re-enabling the ability of Palm media sync to work with iTunes.
Game Over, Maybe
Apple may have put a stop to the Pre's syncing with its software update for now, but it's likely Palm will continue to engineer a way for Pre owners to get into the iTunes Store.
The question on the minds of many observers and users is whether Palm and Apple will continue this game or if Palm will create its own software.
A majority of Internet posters say it's about time for Palm to provide its own syncing software similar to what Research In Motion did for its BlackBerry smartphones. Others, however, say Palm's battle with Apple is legitimate and that Apple needs to release its tight grip on the popular store.
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