Apple iTunes update terminates Palm Pre sync

Apple made good on its threat to guarantee newer versions of its iTunes multimedia software would not provide syncing functionality with non-Apple media players via Wednesday's release of its iTunes 8.2.1 update, promising support for the iPhone 3.0 software update, a series of accessibility improvements and bug fixes, and software that "addresses an issue with verification of Apple devices"--in short, making sure that Palm Pre smartphone owners can no longer sync their devices to the digital media platform. Some Palm Pre users previously relied on iTunes to transfer and manage multimedia content. "iTunes 8.2.1 is a free software update that provides a number of important bug fixes," an Apple spokesperson told BusinessWeek. "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."

Palm responded with the following statement: "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."

Palm first confirmed the Pre smartphone would enable users to synchronize with iTunes at The Wall Street Journal's D: All Things Digital event in late May. Palm executive chairman (and Apple veteran) Jon Rubinstein said users who plug their Pre into their computer would be offered the option of using the device as a USB drive, charging it or beginning a "media sync" session--the device would sync with iTunes, although it would not be able to download DRM-protected digital music or mobile applications optimized for Apple's iPhone or iPod touch.

Asked by the Journal's Walt Mossberg how Apple would likely feel about the Pre synchronization, Rubinstein tried to evade the question, responding that there are a variety of methods to get music out of iTunes. After Mossberg pressed the subject, pointing out that the Pre would be the first non-Apple device that Mac systems still recognize as Apple hardware, Rubinstein again dodged the issue, at which point Roger McNamee, managing director of Palm investor Elevation Partners, stepped in to contend that Apple is "practically a monopolist" and that consumers should be able to use the music they purchase however they see fit.

For more on the Palm Pre sync controversy:
- read this BusinessWeek article