Apple iTunes 9 Palm Pre Syncing Capabilities Being ‘Worked On’? [Apple's iTunes 9 Cements Palm Pre Unfriendliness]

Posted by Andrew Tingle on September 10th 2009 | 4 Responses

palm pre itunes 9 syncing blocked image

We reported back in July concerning the then latest iteration of iTunes (at that juncture iTunes 8.2.1) serving to block Palm Pre syncing thanks to Apple acting to firmly close the door concerning ‘devices falsely pretending to be iPods’ and, unsurprisingly, the latest version of iTunes, namely iTunes 9, has served to cement Apple’s desire to block particularly the likes of the Palm Pre from syncing with their application.

Of course there are ways around this, as the majority of Palm Pre owners undoubtedly will be aware – third party applications such as iTunes Agent and Missing Sync being notable examples – but what with Palm on record as seeing Palm Pre iTunes syncing as a positive boon for their users few doubt that Palm are on the case looking for possible inroads to get syncing of the Pre with iTunes back – the initial ability of the Palm Pre to sync with pre 8.2.1 iTunes being, few would argue, a not insignificant plus point for those with expansive iTunes libraries intending to part with cash for the (non-Apple) handset.

Palm are, for the time being at least, keeping their lips sealed as to whether they are looking for possible loopholes in Apple’s code that will, once again, gain their Pre an entrance but few would doubt that Palm are indeed suitably engaged in looking to gain Pre end-users access to their iTunes based music and we will, of course, keep our ears firmly to the ground should any news/rumours prove forthcoming.

In the meantime, however, we’re especially keen to hear form Palm Pre owners who have found that their handsets no longer have iTunes access (unless they resort to the aforementioned applications) and as to how they feel about apple continuing to block Pre access. We are also keen to hear just how many Palm Pre owners are refusing to update iTunes (as we advised would be the best course of action when version 8.2.1 was released) whilst this issue remains ongoing.

Moreover, should you own a Pre which you purchased being aware that, at that time, the Pre would successfully sync with iTunes but, for example, knew that Apple would be firmly slamming the door in your face would that have seen you look elsewhere?

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts.

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Apple iTunes 9 Palm Pre Syncing Capabilities Being 'Worked On'? [Apple's iTunes 9 Cements Palm Pre Unfriendliness]

4 Responses/Trackbacks concerning
“Apple iTunes 9 Palm Pre Syncing Capabilities Being ‘Worked On’? [Apple's iTunes 9 Cements Palm Pre Unfriendliness]”

RESPONSES

Response by Reggie | September 10th, 2009 at 7:38 pm

I love my palm pre & also own several ipods. I think that apple is being ridiculous! What if microsoft blocked itunes or stopped the outlook sync? Instead of wasting time figuring out how customers would be using their application on their computers why don’t they create an itunes app for the palm pre for song purchases? I owned an iphone & the virtual keyboard & the ATT plans weren’t for me. Ugh, sorry for the lengthy reply, its just that I think this is stupid (of Apple)
Response by Chet T | September 12th, 2009 at 12:56 am

I sent iTunes support an email letting them know since I’ve gotten the Palm Pre I was starting to use iTunes after avoiding it like the plgue form many years. Their selfish little game of blocking the Palm Pre will only cause more competitors to rise up and take their market share. My company only permits Windows PC’s and Sprint Phones so there is no Apple/Mac/iTunes/AT&T product in my future. Since iTunes blocked the Pre again I feel I can no longer can trust iTunes so I gave my online music money to Amazon instead of iTunes. I hope somebody less selfish rises up and takes all their market share and I hope Windows 7 or someone gives us a better option than the fools at iTunes
Response by Andrew Tingle | September 13th, 2009 at 11:59 am

Thanks for your responses.

Whilst I can understand Apple’s right – and it is a right – to grant access to whatever devices they want it does seem a little odd that they are, in a sense, forcing (not only) Pre owners to either look elsewhere in terms of purchasing music/video downloads or to use third party apps to get around the issue. I say this as, at the end of the day, they are inevitably loosing iTunes customers to the likes of Amazon – and are thus loosing the associated profits from that lost customer’s potential future download purchases.

In a sense then, certainly from my perspective, they could be seen as shooting themselves in the foot.

Obviously, as stated above, Apple can grant and deny access to whichever devices they want, but that’s hardly in question here. Loosing iTunes customers to other download portals must, surely, however, hardly be for the long-term good and, for me at least, seems to make very little business sense.

I suppose the thinking is that a number of uses, in seeing their Pre’s (et al) blocked, may decide to turn to Apple devices but I suggest that for ever end-user that indeed opts for availing themselves of an Apple device significantly more are lost (some of which will simply not return).

The profit associated with those turning to Apple devices is fixed where as the profit from costumers sticking with iTunes to gain their music downloads must, surely outweigh that sum in not an especially lengthy term.

To me it’s a no-brainer. Give access to keep people with iTunes and let the repeated business roll in, year upon year.

But then I’m not Apple.