14 DAY TRIAL // The newly launched Palm Pre high-end mobile phone includes one functionality that Apple seems to disagree with: syncing with iTunes. According to some news reports on the Internet, the fact that Pre is presented on iTunes as a basic iPod, and not as a third-party device, can be seen as a hacking maneuver, yet the fact that the feature exists can only make end users rejoice.
That is until Apple will decide to end the support for any third-party device with future releases of iTunes, a move that the company already announced as being possible in the future. “Newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with non-Apple digital media players,” the company says. At the same time, Apple adds that it does not offer support for non-Apple digital media players, although it is aware of the fact that they exist.
Given the fact that the Pre is seen as a basic iPod could generate some difficulties for Apple in its attempt to block all non-Apple devices from syncing with iTunes. Basically, the company will have to specifically identify the smartphone when the connection is made and single it out this way. Although Apple says that this can be done with future versions of iTunes, it remains to be seen whether the company will indeed do it, as this move might push away users from the iTunes Store, something that it might not want.
At the same time, Palm is also aware of the fact that users “will be deprived of a seamless synchronization experience,” which is now offered by the Pre, and which might be blocked in the future. Even so, the company says that other solutions might surface in the future, which means that not all is lost: “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.” Lynn Fox, spokesperson for Palm, said.