14 DAY TRIAL // The latest iteration of iTunes for Mac and Windows, version 8.2.1, has been released into the wild from Apple's labs, and it comes with support for the company's iPhone or iPod touch that feature the iPhone 3.0 Software Update, as well as with a series of improvements and bug fixes, not to mention support for a variety of languages.
But that is not all. ITunes 8.2.1, as Apple puts it, also “addresses an issue with verification of Apple devices.” To be more specific, Palm Pre users who were previously enabled to sync their devices with iTunes won't benefit from the same functionality from now on. Apple already stated that this might happen in the future, and it seems that it really has.
Here is what the company had to say about the move. “iTunes 8.2.1 is a free software update that provides a number of important bug fixes,” Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris stated. “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.”
For what it's worth, Apple's move is a good one when it comes to security, as it verifies what devices can sync with its app, yet users might not find it as great as the company would think. Palm Pre is considered a great device on the market, and the lack of this functionality might negatively influence Apple's image as well. At the same time, not all is lost, as the handset can still connect via USB, so users will be able to add music in a traditional way.
However, it should be interesting to see whether a patch for the blocked feature will surface in the near future, or whether users will consider hacking the Apple app to find a solution of their own. We should also mention that there are other tools that sync music with the Pre, and that ways to revert to an older version of iTunes have also surfaced, which means that all is not lost just yet.
Here is what Pre's maker had to say on Apple's move: “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.”
Those willing to download the latest version of iTunes can find the solution available for free on Softpedia as well, both for Mac OS X and Windows computers.