Apple to Palm Pre: Drop dead
Ever since January when Palm (PALM) unveiled the Pre — the first smartphone to challenge Apple's (AAPL) iPhone with a multitouch screen of its own — the tech press has been waiting for Cupertino to respond. COO Tim Cook made a couple of clenched-teeth threats about companies that rip off Apple's intellectual property, but nothing came of it.
Until now.
On Tuesday, 10 days after the Pre went on sale, Apple published a one-paragraph support article on its website that addressed one of the device's most ballyhood selling points: its ability to sync seamlessly with iTunes. The note doesn't mention Palm or the Pre by name, but it doesn't have to:
Apple designs the hardware and software to provide seamless integration of the iPhone and iPod with iTunes, the iTunes Store, and tens of thousands of apps on the App Store. Apple is aware that some third-parties claim that their digital media players are able to sync with Apple software. However, Apple does not provide support for, or test for compatibility with, non-Apple digital media players and, because software changes over time, newer versions of Apple's iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with non-Apple digital media players. (link)
As John Gruber, the first to spot the snippy missive, put it in his Daring Fireball blog, "Translation: 'Nice iTunes syncing you’ve got, Palm. Be a shame if something happened to it.'"
Other devices can be made to sync with iTunes, of course. Apple used to maintain a list of compatible MP3 players that included the likes of Creative Labs' Nomad and SonicBlue's Rio. And there are plenty of BlackBerry owners who regularly download songs from their iTunes libraries.
But the Pre is different. It presents iTunes with a hardware ID that identifies itself as an iPod — a hack the former Apple engineers on team Pre are well equipped to pull off. Led by Jon Rubinstein, who built the original iPod, they are perfectly capable of engaging in the kind of cat-and-mouse games Apple regularly plays with iPhone jailbreakers.
Indeed, Palm's response to Apple support article HT3642 suggests that it has plenty more tricks up its sleeve.
“Palm’s media sync works with the current version of iTunes,” Palm spokesperson Lynn Fox told Digital Daily's John Paczkowski. “If Apple chooses to disable media sync in a future version of 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 could consider.”
Let the games begin.
Image courtesy of the New York Daily News.
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Apple will NOT change this feature. They are trying to scare people from buying the phone, obviously. End of the day, it behoves them to be compatible with every device out there so they can sell bloated priced mp3s. What are they getting these days, $1.29 per download???
Hmmmmm… thought experiment…
For those saying “Microsoft is stupid because they’d make money selling Windows” they have no idea what they’re talking about. Its well documented, including on Fortune, that Microsoft barely makes anything on the Windows network content. Its revenue stream is on the software almost exclusively. They use the content to entice people to buy Windows. They have every reason to block Macintoshes from Windows networks, and rightly should. Let idiot Macintosh owners go to Sun.
There’s a good argument that Microsoft allowed more compatibility early on because needed to attract people to Windows and get it on computers. Really not that much need now…
Hi Manuel, our soldiers in Iraq who use iPhone while on patrol will most likely dispute your claim that they sit and listen to music all day.
My, my, the mass hysteria continues. This is how half our population got so frightened that they voted for someone for eight years 
.
Apple simply said that those who sync with iTune in a manner that is not supported will risk problems in the future. It is not Apple's problem.
You want to sync with iTune? USe the supported API, no? If you want to sneak in using a backdoor that is not supported, then you risk encountering problems in the future.
What is all the hoopla about? Sounds like a bunch of uptight people who do not think before they complain.
I got one word for you iPhone fanboys: MULTITASKING.
Actually, I got one sentence for you, too: Let's see iPhone seamlessly sync with the PC world out there.
Palm Pre is made for people who want to GET THINGS DONE, not just sit around and listen to music all day.
Take it from somebody within the wireless industry: Apple will most certainly triumph, Pre won't be able to hold much of a candle!!!
Apple warns Palm on "intellectual property" – BOOOH Palm. Palm dont blink.
Apple warns Palm on iTunes – BOOOH Palm. Palm dont blink.
Applistas go bezerq in indignation. How can an ogre monster of an evil capitalist corporation (Palm) threaten the only little niche where a cool underdog called Apple has, in a hope to survive?
Treat your employees well and these sort of cat and mouse games need never take place.
Oh well.
Globalization will just make it worse, I suppose.
For those saying "apple is stupid because they'd make money selling songs" they have no idea what they're talking about. Its well documented, including on Fortune, that Apple barely makes anything on the iTunes content. Its revenue stream is on the hardware almost exclusively. They use the content to entice people to buy iPods/Macs. They have every reason to block the Pre, and rightly should. Let idiot Pre owners go to Amazon.
There's a good argument that Apple allowed more compatibility early on because needed to attract people to iTunes and get it on computers. Really not that much need now…
No surprise here. I don't think Apple has tried to present itself as anything other than a proprietary company. Sneak in through the back door and they'll put a bouncer there to stop you.
How about these rival companies actually try to compete with Apple instead of riding on their coat tails for a change?
Apple is beyond stupid!
Pre owners would buy the songs they're selling and in turn the would make more money. Thy would rather lose money than share like everyone else does?
They never complained when creative had zen on itunes..
They got beat by pre and now they're crying like little babies!
Those of you that are comparing the S version to pre are not very smart. The pre was made to beat todays technology not the one that comes out a month later.
Apple will not last acting like litte girls.. look at all the money lost selling pc's because of their attitudes. the will bring the mp3 division down also if they keep this up because MS WILL come out with something better as they always have. It's just a matter of time!
If a company were to make a device that uses sprint services without permission you can bet sprint would stop them.
In fact Sprint made Palm try to disable tethering (using data you already paid Sprint for) and on the last model tried to stop people from using the GPS by disabling advertised standalone GPS (Palm 800w).
So the Pre's service provider, Sprint, is a walled garden, and therefore why should Palm ube upset at Apple?
sooo if any of you came up with an innovative product that took countless dollars and time to create you wouldnt be upset if someone else leeched onto your design, your idea, your innovation????
I'm not saying if Apple is upset with Pre leeching onto itunes or not…but isnt that some kind of copyright/patent infringement to use someone elses intellectual property to promote and make money on your product???
Palm is touting Pre's iTune's syncing capabilities as one if it's selling points.. Based on Palms claims, some consumers may be under the impression that they should be contacting Apple regarding iTunes support for the Pre. Or that Apple is in some way backing Pre..
Apple bashers complain about anything they can think of.. Apple is simply being responsible in clarifying this point, whereas Palm is being somewhat misleading in marketing claims that Pre and iTunes will always work together.
Ok, so let me get this straight…
- Apple provides iTunes free of charge.
- Apple provides the documentation for developers to integrate any software they want with iTunes.
- A developer integrates their software with iTunes.
- Apple gets pissy?
Yeah, I'll admit, Palm's using an ID to make their Pre's look like an iPod… that's kind of a low blow. But in the end, Apple is allowing this behavior. If they don't want developers to integrate their software with iTunes, then they should lock down their code and not provide any sort of documentation on it.
the thing of it is, they have the right to do all this. microsoft doesn't do it because they realize that the competition just isn't there to threaten them like apple is being threatened.
apple is turning into the jealous big brother as their competitors are basically taking what they've been working with and making it better. they'll hurt their competitors now, but in the grand scheme of things they're just hurting themselves.
this just shows apple is losing.. bottom line
as for the statement "Apple does not restrict Apple Products. You can install Windows on an Apple Computer. You can install Linux on an Apple Computer. You can use any compatible music software, and obtain DRM free music from any source."
let me see the apple os seemlessly work with any pc in the market besides their own.
pathetic programmers indeed
Personally, I own a Pre and I love it! I have also purchased hundreds of songs through iTunes and I think it's a great idea that I can take these songs with me on my Pre. Why should I have to purchase an iPhone in order to listen to the music I already paid for? What's this all about anyway? Apple doesn't own the music…It belongs to everyone.
Dave of Dayton, you hit the nail on the head. You are absolutely right. Apple has NO obligation to make their iTunes software compatible with any other device but their own. iTunes was created for their devices ONLY. The reason Apple's devices and software are so popular is because they are designed to work with each other and they are fun and intuitive. To the nay sayers dont hate Apple because their sh** works. To the Pre lovers dont cry babbies. The Pre will grow up to be like the iPhone one day. But it will NEVA surpass it.
When will the Apple executives learn? The Apple II series pc was the strongest seller in the market until they became too proprietary and the IBM PC became the standard it is today. Then… The Mac came out with the "Windows" interface and was seen as revolutionary until Microsoft came out with their version and promised to work with software developers everywhere. Now, iTunes is becoming more of the same. When will Apple learn that trying to protect your market by locking out people who want to work with your products is a flawed business plan?
What does it say about Pre's designers that they are choosing to leech off of Apple rather than attempt to better them? Who really wants an iPhone wanna-be when the new iPhone is already superior to Pre?? Note to Palm: when taking on a well established product, you must design a SUPERIOR product.. If they really want to gain market share, they must DO BETTER than iTunes and iPhone, not COPY THEM.. With Apple's resources, Palm will not last long playing the game this way.
This article is implying something that is not implicit in Apple's statement.. All Apple is saying is that they design iTunes to work with the iPod and iPhone.. Why are people blasting Apple for simply stating this fact? Palm is using the Pre's iTunes syncing functionality as a marketing strategy, and based on their claims, some consumers may be under the impression that Apple is in some way responsible for Pre's iTunes syncing and that consumers should contact Apple for support regarding syncing with iTunes.
All Apple is doing is clarifying to Palm Pre consumers that Apple is in no way responsible for providing support nor is Apple making any claims regarding Pre's capabilities. There is nothing wrong with this, and since Palm is not being clear on this fact when advertising the Pre's iTunes functionality, it is good that at least someone is making this clarification.
Sooo…Apple is going to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs? iTunes is an important cash flow for Apple, and an advertising platform from which they can do their best to lure in non-Apple users who choose to shop there. And they're going to give up that cash flow to get into a pissing match? Puh-leeze…
My prediction: The Pre will keep working in its half-crippled fashion with iTunes until Apple adds some big feature to it that will totally be out-of-whack with what the Pre is capable of. Then those few Pre users will complain that Apple intentionally screwed them. Apple will shrug and life will go on.
You all must be forgetting that apple includes the sync logic with their iTunes Software Developers Kit (SDK)
If they didnt want third parties to sync with iTunes, they wouldnt make this available, free of charge, to the public.
no argument is needed
Apple's statement is NOT a declaration of "war" toward the Pre…they are simply stating a fact. Apple designs its hardware and software to work as seamlessly as possible. When third party software and hardware developers tap into Apple products and software, they are doing so at their own risk. And, I wouldn't be surprised that salespeople selling the Pre have mentioned more than once that "it works just fine with iTunes."
If Apple over times does upgrade their software for the iPhone/iPod Touch, and those updates cause Pre owners to have access problems with iTunes, I can just bet you that a number will be calling Apple/iTunes customer service up in arms. All I read in Apple's statement is a simple warning that third party hardware MIGHT not work with iTunes…its a reasonable alert from Apple. It's fair warning to all non-Apple hardware owners.
In other words, Apple has absolutely no obligation to worry about writing its software upgrades to accommodate every non-Apple product. That's been the problem on the PC side for years…software and hardware issues.
Here's another analogy: XBox cannot play PS3 or Wii games, if someone hacked the XBox to do it, do you think Microsoft has a right to release a patch to fix the hack?
Funny Microsoft gives away for free IE yet they get crap about it being a browser monopoly because they include it with Windows. Yet Apple gets a pass with iTunes because they give it away for free?
Apple won't be doing anything but shoot themselves in the foot if they "block" Pre's connection. If you write code for the device to say "Hi, I'm an iPod.", guess what iTunes will think its an iPod. I don't see why you would remove X potential customers because they're too dumb to find better ways to obtain music than iTunes. I refuse to even install quicktime on my machine because it is bundled with iTunes now. I have a Sansa, drag and drop mp3s are much easier than needing to sync everything.
not that I am a Palm fan… but Apple sounds like they want to be the next Windows. BUT… Windows plays this game already and get sued on a regular basis internationally. What i first loved about Apple was their desire to make something that worked for everyone, now they want to carve out a notch in the market and force people to buy their products just as windows has been doing for a very long time, and still trying to recover from their lost customer loyalty. I think I am going to switch to the gPhone and let the bully's fight on their own.
@ Jason and @ Karl
Your logic is backwards, and based on the assumption that itunes is a good will charity project, and also that Apple makes a ton of money on the Store. (both wrong)
It's been stated time and time again the margin's on the Music and Video parts for the Store are thin to non-existent.
iTunes development, is to drive ipod sales as part of the seamless ipod experience.
To put it another way, if Ford sold cars for more but gave gas away for free, would a toyota owner be entitled to it?
Why should a Palm be allowed to just cling to Apple's back? This is the only reason Palm says it's not a direct competitor. And it's up to Apple not you.
Do it jason, i bet you'll be back on apple's que by the weekend.
ITUNES SUCKS. The only person its good for is teeny bops or mainstream music listners! If you dont have an apple product why would you even use this program.
"If users begin to switch to other hardware, then they will be free to use any online music store, thus Apple loses its grip on that market as well."
Here is where Apple is at a crossroads then. No one is hurting Apple except Apple themselves.
If Apple willingly allowed other devices to sync w/ iTunes… the guess what? The potential of increasing sales from iTunes just went WAY up. So how is the Pre sync'ing with them a bad thing again? What a bragging right if you ask me… they couldn't convince the consumer to buy into an iPhone, but they still got them to buy music off iTunes! Sounds like a win for Apple to me.
Not to mention, who actually chooses to buy a phone based on whether it syncs w/ iTunes? Are you kidding me? It's a good selling point… but seriously, let's be real: If you're not interested in an iPhone now, you're not going to be later. If you didn't choose to get an iPhone, then the Pre being able to sync or not is rather moot.
Apple can't keep this closed model ongoing. There will always be something new and something different and if they don't adapt, they will falter. People want freedom to expand and Apple does not encourage that line of thinking. They're excellent at adapting tech, but not business. For example, the "IT" device of the times, the iPhone, is STILL contractually exclusive to At&t. I know they like to brag about how many consumers they bring over to the Blue Death Star, but fact remains you have hardline anti-At&t people out there who would never change carriers for anything. End the contractual exclusivity, and Apple will see the iphone sales double, triple if goes across all carriers. So at some point Apple has to decide who they care more about: Themselves, or At&t?
To Dave Small from Houston, Tx. Nokia made Symbian open source about 1 or 2 years ago. That's why Samsung has handsets with Symbian OS (ex. Samsung i8510 INNOV8), just it doesn't sell them in the USA.
Tim from SJ… your logic is absolutely flawed.
Mac OS is designed to run on a Mac, yes. Understood.
iTunes, however, is NOT an OS. It is NOT designed to "run on its hardware". iTunes is free software that can be used on Windows, Mac or even Linux. As a matter of fact, Apple will even ENCOURAGE you to use iTunes even if you do NOT own an iPod, iTouch, or iPhone because the software is basically a standalone media player, almost similar to Windows Media Player.
So, as a consumer, I choose to use itunes and pay for music from itunes, only to be told that I am locked into using only Apple-brand devices w/ iTunes? the only reason Apple doesn't get its butt reamed in court over this is becaue they allow you burn the purchased music to a CD so you can transfer your purchases if need be. Where is the disclaimer when you purchase music that it's only designed to play on Apple devices? If I'm paying money to them and that limitation exists, I should see a huge disclaimer on EVERY purchase, not some small time hidden in the EULA. I'm not saying that disclaimer doesn't exist somewhere, I'm saying I've NEVER seen it personally… so you can bet a million other people haven't either.
No, this is Apple having a little baby temper tantrum. The Blackberry Bold also syncs w/ iTunes, there are other devices that syncs with iTunes. The Palm Pre is not the first. Though I would criticize Palm since they are the ones who wagged their tongue at Apple first over it.
If Apple wants iTunes to proprietary to Apple devices only, then don't allow anyone to install it on any PC and only offer it to those who've paid for an Apple device. The fact that they want their software to infect as many PCs and Macs as they can while at the same time complaining about other devices sync'ing to it only shows that they just want their cake and eat it too. Make a choice Apple and stick with it and stop being a bunch of b*****s.
Stores and especially mobile phone advertisements don't make any of this clear one way or the other.
Mobile phone software and the applications that run on them such as downloading music should be able to run on any phone (that has the right screen and keyboard) and not be tied to one provider, such as AT&T or T-Mobile.
I'm relatively aware technologically but this is the first time I've heard that you can download non-iTunes music to an iPhone, or download iTunes music to a non-Apple phone. And I'm still not convinced it's true.
The analogy to Ford parts not working in a Toyota car is good, but what about tires? Firestone works on both (okay not so well on Explorers), and there are after-market parts. I think most people would take the bus if there was this confusion with buying a car. Which is exactly what's happening: sales are not what they could be if consumers weren't so confused. You can spend hours looking into all this and still be confused. I gave up on buying a new phone. And it's all from petty corporate games, nothing more, from software makers, hardware makers, retailers, and phone companies. We have lives to live and we just don't have time for this.
Just in case it is not obvious enough.
Meade makes its own software for driving its telescope and imaging CCD. It bundles the software with its telescope, a hardware+software company. Meade does not let its software run on Celestron or Orion or other brands of scope makers.
All car companies either buy software from software makers or make their own system control software. They do not share their software with other car makers.
INTEL provides software needed to run its chip sets at the lowest level. It does not share that with AMD or IBM or Motorola.
NVIDIA makes its own GPU drivers and OS, it does not share with other GPU makers.
SanDisk makes it own MP3 player OS and drivers, it does not run on other MP3 players.
Nokia's OVI is for Nokai phones, true? Pre's App Store is for Pre, right? RIMM's for RIM, true?
Or do you see Nokia freely license its Symbian OS with RIMM and RIM licensing its code to Motorola?
When YOU own a business that makes software to run on YOUR hardware, are YOU saying you will license your software to other hardware makers who can turn around and compete against YOUR own hardware?
This is sillyness on Apple's part. If people are using iTunes with a Pre it means Apple still has a foot in the door with that user to sell other products, or MP3s.
The Pre doesn't exactly compete with the iPhone since they're both network locked to incompatible cellphone systems. My brother-in-law, for instance, can't get an iPhone b/c his hospital uses Verizon (Verizon/Sprint = CDMA, ATT/TMobile=GSM).
The Pre does not "hack" iTunes. It has the same directory structure as an older iPod therefore it looks like an older iPod to iTunes. They could just as easily made it look like a Creative Zen or any of the dozen other standalone mp3 players that sync with itunes.
Which means it was done in part to deal with Steve Jobs' wrath. Steve might block the Pre and the Zens but if he blocks iPods he's going to hurt his own userbase and drive off some of the non-fanboi mainstream Apple customers.
Let's break this down into pieces.
First of all, Apple can't block anyone from buying music and videos from the App store. Any Mac or PC user can install iTunes on their computer and purchase MP3s to their heart's content. They can then download them to any device capable of playing MP3s. It could be a Palm Pre, Zune, or whatever.
But now look at the synchronization and backup features built into iTunes. Those are designed to work with Apple's products. You plug your iPod or iPhone into a USB Port, launch iTunes on your Mac or PC, and iTunes backs up and synchonizes the music library on your computer with the one on your iPod/iPhone. Why should Apple provide synchronization and backup services free of charge to a competitor's customers?
ALL OF YOU COMPLAINERS ARE PARASITIC TO TRY TO GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING FROM A SOURCE THAT DOES THINGS RIGHT WHILE THE PRODUCT THAT YOU WANT TO BUY IS CHEAPER BECAUSE IT STEALS BENEFIT FROM ITS COMPETITOR. ALL OF YOU COMPLAINERS ARE PSYCHOLOGICAL PETTY CRIMINALS.
@MOTJ
You are half right.
Apple restricts the Mac OS to Apple Computers, and restricts the iTMS to APple products.
Apple does not restrict Apple Products. You can install Windows on an Apple Computer. You can install Linux on an Apple Computer. You can use any compatible music software, and obtain DRM free music from any source.
Yes, Apple wants its own software to work on its own machine. Why is that a problem?
So, Microsoft writes its software to run only on Windows and not UNIX or LINUX or Mac, is that the same as iTune running on iPod, iPhone and iTouch?
Microsoft was strictly a software company with DOS and Windows. It chose to sell its software to any PC box maker.
Apple is a hardware and software maker, it makes its software to run on its hardware. Do you understand yet? Or is this simple logic too much for your intellect?
Would BMW gladly share its design and software with Mercedes? Would Lexus share its drive control with Accura?
Those of you who simply pontificate about Apple's "lock" and such, read your own posts and consider what you are writing, do you even understand any of what you are writing or are you just repeating what others told you? The blind leading the willfully ignorant blind?
Yes its convienent to have it sync with itunes, but if they want to make it more difficult i can always get my music from other means.
To those who use this to bash Apple, you are being willfully ignorant.
Apple is simply saying that it has not tested with Pre and has no plan to do so and if future software changes break this ability, it is not Apple's problem. Apple will be absolutely correct.
You should be pushing Pre and Palm to behave more responsibly and NOT provide a service that it has not legally and contractually secured?
You posters who will bash Apple over this are losing your sense of fairness, honesty and integrity, all for a lot of selfishness. What has American turn into?
I might care if I actually liked iTunes 
But seriously, Apple would be making a mistake if they started disabling iTunes for Pre users. Beyond looking like they are getting backed into a corner, it continues their bad reputation of electronic elitism.
To me the real issue here is that everything Apple creates whether it be hardware, software or content is made totally proprietary. They don't want anyone playing in their sandbox but themselves. When a competetior comes along and starts taking away some of their sales they scream bloody murder. I can't see how anyone can claim that the Pre hacked the code when the developers of it are the same people who created the iPhone and iPod. Because of their severe restrictions I won't buy Apple products.
I just spent about $150 on music downloads on iTunes last night. If Apple wants to play thigs this way, I'll just have to start buying my music elsewhere.
Don't protect your profits at the expense of your customers, Apple.
Larry from Newhall said “Remember that iPhone works only with the iTunes store, but other hardware can work with any online music store.”
Sorry Larry, but that is absolutely wrong.. iPhone users can obtain music from ANY source, including CDs and any other online music stores.. You can import ANY music into iTunes, regardless of whether you purchase it from the iTunes store or somewhere else. iTunes is free software for users of any Mac or PC. Apple does not make any money off iTunes, as it is free to users of any Mac OR PC, and does not require an iPod or iPhone to organize and play music on your computer. Apple does make money from the iTunes store, but if you want to buy music elsewhere, you are free to do so and import it into iTunes.
Palm is using Apple’s technology as a selling point for the Pre, and there is absolutely no reason ANY business would allow a third party competitor to benefit from its own technology.
I will use whatever application the Palm Pre will synch with. It also means that I'll buy my music through that service whether I own a Pre or an iPhone.
It's Apple's choice (maybe not such a smart one) whether or not they want to start alienating former iPhone/iTunes users just because they've decided to switch to a competitor's phone. You don't need iTunes to own/synch a Pre anyway. There are other services available out there.
I love the futility of these comments against Apple and iTunes. It's like 2 guys arguing in a row boat as to which side to start paddling while a hurricane approaches…it doesn't really matter!
Saying that Apple is wrong for blocking a device from loading iTunes music onto it is silly. Microsoft's Zune software is perfectly capable of detecting non-DRM'd iTunes music, loading it onto a Zune, and playing it. Loading iTunes music onto the device (directly or through software designed by Palm) isn't the issue. The issue is that Palm hacked iTunes and touted it as a feature. That's just bad business, and Apple probably sees it as a slap in the face.
@Bob – It's silly that Apple wants to severe the relationship between them and the people that want to use iTunes but not an iPhone. Instead of making some money from me, a Pre user who syncs my iTunes with it, they would rather deny me the opportunity to buy music from them just to spite a rival. Bad business if you ask me. I would gladly sell my two MacBooks, my two iPods, and stop buying from Apple's store if they want to throw this tantrum.
…and I know I'm not alone in this sentiment.
Apple needs to get off their high horse and understand that iTunes isn't the only way to put tunes on your phone. Blackberry users have been dealing with that from the beginning. Also, I am not sure how many people are putting music on their phones; the batteries suffer as it is with phones just being phones.
Definitely sounds like some anti-trust action might need to happen…
A more reasonable interpretation of what Apple is saying:
"Our (free) iTunes software works with our (paid) iPhones and iPods, and we will make sure that it continues to do so in the future, too.
"But Palm's hack to make Pre work with our software is THEIR responsibility. We don't intend to constrain future iTunes updates to continue to work with Palm's hack, nor to test those updates with Palm's hack. Nor will we give Palm (and our other competitors) an advanced copy of these updates so they can test/fix those hacks.
"Thus, if a future iTunes update doesn't work with Palm's 'fake IPod', that's your problem and Palm's.
"You've been warned — now it's your decision and your responsibility for that decision."
this is not an anti-trust case. apple makes the hardware and software and has SDK's for the apps. they are their own thing.
microsoft basically bullied out netscape, same with intel and AMD.
apple makes its own products.
no one is suing toyota because parts from their ford won't work as replacements.
I don't see Apple trying to lock down anything here. They are just stating the obvious. Next time they upgrade iTunes, Apple isn't going to worry about whether or not their new version syncs with the Pre. Duh?! Does Apple really care that thousands of Pre users are using iTunes to sync their music and buy music? I doubt it, especially since iTunes exposes Pre users to the 50K apps they don't have.
Again, why haven't companies like Palm, RIM, MS, Verizon, etc. created easy to use software for syncing and purchasing apps, music and videos. That's one of the MAIN reasons iPods and iPhones are so stinkin' successful! Everything is easy: browsing, organizing, searching and paying MONEY–it's all easy.
It sounds like it's time for an anti-trust action against Apple.
Microsoft used this tactic with Netscape in the 90's. They lost the lawsuit. While Netscape is a memory, the business cost of working under a Department of Justice Consent Decree made it a Pyrrhic victory for Microsoft. You lose a lot of flexibility working under a Consent Decree.
Apples are cool, but Apple's statement just showed why it's a bad idea to commit yourself to a single vendor computing architecture. The single vendor will always use its power squeeze you dry.
@Bob
You are correct that Palm needs to focus on their SDK and their App/Music store but you're forgetting that Palm also needs to make the Palm Pre appeal to current iTunes users. Those users are potential customers and if the Palm Pre saves them money over an iPhone they may very well go Palm Pre.
iTMS exists for only one purpose. To drive Apple hardware sales. Not Pre sales. Only Apple HARDWARE sales. iTMS doesn't exist for users' pleasure of music or video watching. It's merely a side effect after Apple has made you buy Apple HARDWARE. For Pre to glom on to iTunes is like a free roaming leech sucking on anything blood-filled thing that happens to pass by.
I'm sorry but I'm afraid Apple will be forced to stop the Pre from leeching. As it is, iPhone and iPod Touch sales have slowed considerably, not to mention the rest of the product line's sales. WS is disciplining Apple for this severely. You don't get rewarded for being the nice guy. You think analysts are going to clap Apple on the back for letting the Pre suck from iTunes. Hell, no. All they see is lost iPhone and iPod revenue from a device that Apple doesn't make.
So forget the crappy few cents that a Pre owner might purchase from iTunes and worry about that $199 that could have been used to purchase an iPhone plus the few crappy cents for a song or video.
Apple share price is being shafted by WS, so they better start shafting back.
"Anyone that buys music, videos, or e-books is simply not paying attention. All of these can be downloaded for free" Did you think maybe people just want to compensate the artists/labels/studios for putting out a product? Do you say, anyone that buys pencils is not paying attention b/c you can just go to the store and stuff them in your pocket.
Apple spends a lot of money making its iTunes software, which it gives away for free to support its ecosystem (including iPhone sales). What Palm has done gives Palm a competitive advantage in that Palm does not have to spend any money developing and maintaining its own jukebox/sync client software. Apple is not a charity. What business reason would they have to give Palm this advantage?
Anyone that buys music, videos, or e-books is simply not paying attention. All of these can be downloaded for free and made tp work on any computer, phone, or other device equipped to use that kind of media. There are free converters available that will change any format to any other.
The entertainment industry, instead of trying to hold back the tide, needs to develop a new business model to work with the reality of today and tomorrow instead of desperately clinging to what worked in the 1980's.
If Palm and other companies had had some foresight, maybe they would now have their own version of iTunes and a great App store, and we wouldn't have people complaining about an Apple monopoly. Instead, they try to leach on what Apple has created…how is that innovative? And why would Palm aggressively market the fact that the Pre is compatible with iTunes, you're giving money to Apple everytime a Pre user downloads an iTune song.
I think there's a bit of a vendetta on the part of Palm's former Apple employees, trying to stick it to Jobs. Palm should focus on their own music/game/video store and forget the Apple comparisons.
I find it so very ammusing that when Microsoft, IBM, or any other large tech has a product that becomes so entrenched it becomes a standard; that everyone expects, no, demands that they allow for any and all products and applications to work seemlessly with it. However, when apple has an application (in this case itunes) that becomes a standard, people defend their right to break seemless integration with anything they want for any reason they want. I agree they have this right, I would like to see other companies allowed to do the same. I guess you are free to do what you want with what you created only if you are "cool" enough.
I think the fear for Apple is that by losing phone market share, they lose itunes market share. Remember that iPhone works only with the iTunes store, but other hardware can work with any online music store. If users begin to switch to other hardware, then they will be free to use any online music store, thus Apple loses its grip on that market as well.
Surely it's about time that Apple was treated just like Microsoft was over their monopoly position!! I don't by and large hear the howls of protest regarding Apple's anti-social behaviour.
Interesting – When Steve Jobs is lobbying the musing industry for an end to DRM, his rationale is that "music should play everywhere", but when it comes to interoperability, it's iPhone or nothing.
Apple is going to have to make an important choice here: Which goose laying golden eggs are they going to kill? Are they going to be a gadget manufacturer or a content provider?
This is not about Apple limiting access to and losing revenue from sales iTunes. This is about hacking of the underlying code (based on confidential IP) to allow the Pre to be seen as an authorized device to iTunes and subsequent marketing of this capability as a selling point for the Pre.
"This is just a a thought and just wanted to bring it out.. By Apple disabling the seamless sync, wouldn’t that hurt their expansion and market share of digital media? "
For the same reason they don't allow OSX to be released on generic intel boxes, it's to lock users into their hardware AND their software. Apple's goal is to control the software and the hardware it runs on. By making itunes ipod compatable only they force users who want to use itunes to buy an ipod as their portable music player. At the same time people who want to use ipods over other mp3 players are forced to use itunes. Add a cycle of planned obsolessence and you've created a cycle garunteeing a continuous revinue stream in the billions on 2 fronts.
If itunes removes it compatibility with the Pre and other devices it would be seen as a slap in the face to those users more than to the competition. there are after all buying music from the itunes store. there are lots of other (cheaper, better) sites to down load music. Apple maybe shooting itself in the foot if it tries something.
Is anyone suprised by this? Apple does everything they can to lock down their platforms and hook their users into a system of lock-in. They're IBM for the masses. When it comes to who is more monopolistic,,, compared to Apple microsoft is the open source community!
And now the apple fans will come in to defend apple and bend themselves into pretzels to justify their monopolistic behavior. For some reason they think Apple should have a monopoly on computers, music, tv, etc…. Hey who cares if it breaks after 3 years and I have to go buy a new apple product because I'm locked into their platoform!!! IT LOOKS PRETTY!!!
This is just a a thought and just wanted to bring it out.. By Apple disabling the seamless sync, wouldn't that hurt their expansion and market share of digital media?
I understand the phone market and how it could hurt (though I doubt it reall will) but with apps and music being purchases by those who have a Pre, wouldn't that increase revenues? The question I am deciphering is if the end-user would download more music from Apple if they just had iPod and no Pre.. I think this is free possiblity for Apple and better grip on the music market (and though this could hinder their smartphone market, I think it the long run gives them a stronger market..)
Lol @ the guy in the "wireless industry" Apple takes up 9.8% of all the worlds computers, I am sure MS is shaking in there boots right now. http://marketshare.hitslink.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=8