iTunes 8.2.1 Stops Palm Pre Syncing [Pre iTunes Syncing Gains Apple Response: Pre Blocked]

Owners of the Palm Pre who happen to use Apple’s iTunes application will all doubtless know that you can sync the Pre with iTunes thanks to the device managing to fool the application into thinking its syncing with an iPod but, as expected, Apple have acted to address what they term as ‘devices falsely pretending to be iPods’ (falsely pretending? As opposed to truly pretending, we assume?) courtesy of their latest iTunes iteration – namely iTunes 8.2.1.

Needless to say, if you are using iTunes with a Palm Pre you’ll need to address whether gaining the iTunes update is in your best interests until Palm addresses the issue with a firmware update (which they undoubtedly will being that they’re on record as seeing the Pre’s ability to sync with iTunes as a key feature that’s widely utilised by its users).

Apple announced the iTunes 8.2.1 update as follows (with particular reference to the Palm Pre):

iTunes 8.2.1 is a free software update that provides a number of important bug fixes. It also disables devices falsely pretending to be iPods, including the Palm Pre. As we’ve said before, newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with unsupported digital media players.

And here’s Palm’s response:

Palm’s media sync works with iTunes 8.2. If Apple chooses to disable media sync in iTunes, it will be a direct blow to their users who will be deprived of a seamless synchronization experience. However, people will have options. They can stay with the iTunes version that works to sync their music on their Pre, they can transfer the music via USB, and there are other third-party applications we can consider.

If you’re a Palm Pre user and you have iTunes and syncing with Apple’s application is something you’d very much like to keep, the choice appears simple – avoid the update.

[Gizmodo via Geeky Gadgets]