So, as we recall, the Palm Pre is supposed to have some sort of iTunes syncing feature built-in. With the Apple pedigree of most of its programmers, this isn’t surprising. When you plug in your Pre, it seems, it will show up as an “iPod.” But how did they do it? John Gruber smells a rat:
If you’re still holding out any sort of hope that Palm is using some sort of heretofore sanctioned, semi-sanctioned, or even maybe-sorta-kinda-sanctioned-if-you-squint-your-eyes means for a third-party device to sync with iTunes via USB, note that the Pre, when connected to iTunes, is labelled as an “iPod”. If you think Apple would ever allow the use of “iPod” to describe anything other than an actual iPod, you’re nuts.
Whoa. So what’s going on here? John believes Palm is doing this to force Apple’s hand to allow outside phones access to the iTunes database. There are very few outside devices that work with iTunes – most of them are from the early days of MP3 players (MOTOROKR was one) – and the Palm Pre wasn’t invited to the party.
Again, I’m hoping the Palm Pre amazes me and my whole family with its greatness. I’m hoping that Sprint hasn’t ruined this phone. I hope Palm survives the coming apocalypse. But what’s going on here?
Where’s the article? All I see is that 500px wide image of an “iPod”.
Oooh, wait a sec. I see some text over there to the left. That couldn’t be the article though, it’s only 50px wide.
Click on the article’s author’s name, which is a hyperlink (John Gruber) — that takes you to the article…
Works just fine for me, Chris. Maybe something was wrong earlier.
And the Pre definitely isn’t going to have iTunes syncing. think about it. Thats like if Chickfila let McDonalds use their chicken sandwich recipe. It just doesn’t make sense for a rivaling company to claim features currently limited to Apple’s domain of iPods and iPhones. If anything, Apple is more likely to open up iTunes to every other phone manufacturer except Palm, just to rub it in their faces.
Wrong. The Pre will definitely have I-Tunes syncing. Apple infringes on SO MANY of Palm’s patents that Apple cannot risk having Palm sue them for infringement. Take Palm patent #7,268,775, entitled “Dynamic brightness range for portable computer displays based on ambient conditions,” for example — it covers automatically adjusting display brightness using an ambient light sensor while leaving a user-selected brightness setting alone. Yep, that’s exactly how the iPhone does it: Or how about #7,007,239, “Method and apparatus for accessing a contacts database and telephone services”? Claim 10 is an almost exact description of the iPhone’s phone app — buttons for dialing, call history, contacts, and speed dial that stay on-screen as you toggle between them.
Apple has no choice but to let Palm to what they want or they might be forced to remove many features from their precious I-phone.
You don’t get it do you? Must people hate being trapped in iTunes. For those that do use it, they either use their own music or buy some from Apple. If it is the first, why would Apple care? If it is the latter, they would rather get those music sales regardless of whether you are listening to them on the PC, iPhone, MP3 player or Palm Pre as long as they get their loot.
Apple has several income streams: computers, ipods, phones, computer software, mobile applications, music, movies, audiobooks, etc.
Each stream needs to survive with or WITHOUT the other streams. Apple would love for iTunes.com to generate cash no matter whether it is on their product or not.
Apple is not blind to the opportunities; contrary to what everyone wants to think. the iPhone nor the Palm Pre’s survival dependent on whether or not it squashes the other. There are billions of people to which they all are bidding for their dollars. Get over your need to see blood.
You clearly don’t get it. Apple might still be gaining revenue from iTunes sales, but the Pre is targeted at the iPhone using audience along with others, and less iPhone sales means less revenue.
If Apple has the choice to, they are not going to let the competition roll out a similar device that has a feature-set (iTunes syncing) that has up until now been an Apple exclusive.
Panadaman, you are a moron, sure Apple may be infringing on the first patent you mention, but take note, everyone else is aswell. All Blackberries have been doing that for years now. To even bring up the 2nd patent is idiotic, there isn’t a single phone on the market today that doesn’t infringe on that if Palm even really does own that. Imagine if McDonalds pulled up a patent for serving soda in its restaurants and sued every other restaurant in existence. Thats how ridiculous your claim is, that Palm has patent infringement evidence and is holding it over Apple’s head.
Apple will not stand for this. Those that think they will obviously have no history skills. Apple has ways built their products to only work with their other products, period. It was a total surprise that they allowed iTunes to be pc compatible (although it has ended up to be their most genius move). All you have to do is look at history to see Apple will pull the plug on the pre, and soon. The sooner they do it, the less impact the pre will have as their competitor