Gee Palm, a little too clever for your own good it would seem.

Dear Palm--

If you want iTunes synching so badly, then license it from Apple. I bet with enough money, and other concessions, you could get them to do it. Oh, you just wanted it for free? I think that's called stealing.

The iTunes media library is in a nicely structured form, and even the database has been reverse engineered.

Provided you don't want to sync back play count information, it should not be beyond the wit of Palm to develop - or licence from DoubleTwist - a piece of software that will sync your iTunes library and Palm phone.

I suspect this would satisfy 90% of users.

luckyday is the new testudo.

Amazon and others sell unprotected MP3 files that can be used on virtually any MP3 players (including iPods). The prices are equivalent or less. If you want another MP3 player apart from iPods, you have options. HOWEVER, iTunes is Apple's proprietary software that is designed to enhance iPod experience. The R&D that's gone into iTunes and the related store is extensive. No other company is willing to step up and put the dollars necessary into making software that's as good as iTunes. That's not Apple's fault. Under no circumstances should Palm or any other wannabe be given a free ride by Apple.

And Apple IS a retailer of music--both only to sell hardware. Everyone but idiots know that going in. Don't like that? Then buy your music elsewhere.

What the iPod and iTunes represent is a complete, easy-to-use music/video management and access solution -- a significant selling point of the iPod is the easy-to-use tools provided by iTunes. Apple has spent a lot of resources developing and maintaining (and, yes, acquiring) the iTunes tools.

Palm has tried to give their users (and market to their users) the same compelling ease of use, but without the investment of developing and maintaining it. At the same time, music managed by iTunes is not irrevocably tied to iTunes (except for the stuff still under FairPlay), so even if someone uses iTunes to manage their music, that music is still available to non-iPod devices.

On the other hand...

Apple does not pay for iTunes development through iPod sales alone. Folks who buy music through the iTunes store support iTunes development no matter what music player they purchase (if any).

So on one side, you have the dilution of the uniqueness of the iPod's ease of use. On the other side, you have a potential increase in iTunes store sales.

Sounds to me like Apple has decided that a small increase in iTunes store sales is not worth the diluted brand message for iPods. They also likely believe that this is the sort of thing they've got to fight wherever it appears. If they let Palm sync with iTunes, then other companies will follow, and there might be further encroachment upon the iPod ease of use.

I love how everyone says "Make your own just as good!" It's too late. Apple was able to keep iTunes as the defacto standard by making sure it was the only thing that could sync your iTMS music. Even if you now have all your music in non-protected format, most people will just stick with iTunes rather than switch to another program to manage music.

You know, just like how you all say everyone just buys Windows and office because they don't want to change.

I think we have to consider the anti-trust aspect of the itunes store -> ipod platform.

90% of all digital music sales happen on the iTunes store. 90%.

We are several generations of music players in now but it is clear that itunes and ipod are the winners.

How can any new startup compete? Once people have invested hundreds of dollars into the music through itunes, would they consider leaving? I don't think so.

In essance Apple is being allowed to say "you can't shop at my store".

While that may not violate USB rules and Palm is most certainly being a bad actor here....I think that various regulatory agencies need to look at the tie in. It looks like illegal bundling at this point...while initially it would have been legal that's starting to change.

Obama's administration has made it pretty clear they are willing to interfere with buisness and Apple is actively raising their heads into these very anti-competitive customer lock-ins....I think it won't be long before they are investigated.

I somewhat hope they are and they get slapped down a bit. It really would be better for us all.

Still I wouldn't touch a Palm Pre again....it feels cheap, it's screen is tiny, etc.

I'm still considering Android phones though (myTouch).