Palm webOS 1.1 restores iTunes sync
updated 08:05 pm EDT, Thu July 23, 2009
Palm webOS Restores iTunes
Palm tonight countered Apple's move to break iTunes syncing by releasing webOS 1.1. The previously promised update restores full syncing with iTunes 8.2.1 and lets both the Pre and future webOS phones once more transfer music, photos and videos directly from the jukebox software. It's not clear what was changed to restore access, though Apple explicitly mentioned that its iTunes patch checked the authenticity of devices, hinting that Palm has found a way to bypass or fool the check.
Many of Palm's current engineers previously worked at Apple on the iPhone or iPod and as a result have experience with Apple's hardware identification scheme. It's commonly thought that they've used this knowledge to replicate an iPod's behavior in this system and show up as though it were a native device.
Besides the fix, 1.1 also brings important fixes to Microsoft Exchange support, such as support for company-initiated remote wipes, forcing a PIN or password to unlock a phone and timeouts that re-lock the phone after a set period. The instant messaging app also now has emoticons, and contacts now have "person reminders" that can bring up a note when that contact next gets in touch.
The release is available over-the-air today and only requires the user to manually check for updates.
Apple kicked...
07/23, 11:30pm reply
and Palm kicked back. Again the ball is in Apple's possession.
I think that Apple did not intentionally break synching with the Palm. It just happened as a matter of course. Maybe all this Palm sync hate was just made up by bloggers trying to cause trouble.
iphonerulez
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Get ready for...
07/24, 01:25am reply
iTunes 8.2.2, due by next week.
that one guy
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woot!
07/24, 04:44am reply
Alright, we've got ourselves a good ol' fashioned pissing contest here! I'd better get the popcorn ready; looks like it's shaping up to be an ongoing affair.
It's no skin off Apple's back, but it's surprising that Palm would want to drag their whole Pre userbase into this fight when they could just release a proper sync tool and be done with it.
WiseWeasel
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duh
07/24, 05:05am reply
It's for the publicity. Palm will drag this out as long as possible just to keep the Pre in the news.
I guess Apple either grins and bears it, or they accidentally start bricking some Pres.
WiseWeasel
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losers
07/24, 08:18am reply
Palm pre can't come up with thier own software they are like MS and have to steal ideas. Rubenstien especially because he worked for Apple. He is now trying to save Palm!, well see you at the bottom when palm sinks. The phone is a cheap feeling ripoff compared to RIM and Apple phones
imactheknife
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Joined: Jul 2003
WTF?
07/24, 10:31am reply
What's with these guys?
iTunes was developed for the sole purpose of easily getting music, etc. into an iPod/iPhone and organizing it. It was never intended to work with non-Apple products.
Maybe these guys are in cahoots with the scum at Psystar.
Mr. Strat
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Re: WTF?
07/24, 11:26am (1 reply) reply
Yeah, the audacity of these users who want their devices to just work. Shame on them, they should be lining up to kiss the backside of His Steveness.
FYI, iTunes was developed as a music player and manager before the iPod existed. It wasn't even initially developed by Apple, it started life as SoundJam MP, released by Casady & Greene. iTunes was at version 2.0 before it supported the iPod - because there wasn't an iPod before that. And iTunes has historically supported 3rd party players, it's only fairly recently that Apple seems to have blocked support.
DarkVader
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Re: Re: WTF?
07/24, 11:51am reply
True - but I don't recall those 3rd party players sporting a shiny iPod icon when syncing. Palm is doing an ugly hack here regardless of the justification. Hey, but I guess I'd love it if I slid my Visa card into an ATM machine and got a big "Welcome Mr. Jobs" message. Enjoy the mooching Pre owners!
c4rlob
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Re: WTF?
07/24, 01:35pm reply
iTunes was developed for the sole purpose of easily getting music, etc. into an iPod/iPhone and organizing it. It was never intended to work with non-Apple products.
No it wasn't. iTunes was around BEFORE the iPod. And it used to work with other devices besides the iPod.
Apple just turned it into an iPod-only piece of software. But that isn't how it started.
testudo
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re: WTF?
07/24, 01:51pm (1 reply) reply
DarkVader, you seem to be confusing iTunes (what you describe, and not relevant to this discussion) with the iTunes Music Store (developed by Apple and introduced in 2003 to support the iPod and drive iPod sales. The iTunes Music Store is what the Pre tries to tap into.
ff11
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