Comments on: Volley and return: Palm re-enables Pre iTunes syncing

By: James G

James G — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 07:59:23 +0000

I think it’s kind of shady, but in the end… You own the music, so why should apple care where you put it?
It’s not as if people buying the Pre will suddenly abandon iPods in droves. And, having done it both ways, I prefer to just move my iTunes songs over by using the USB feature. & leaving the iTunes alone.

By: Paul Webster

Paul Webster — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 07:32:48 +0000

Firmware checksum check will not do it – since Palm could emulate that as well (assuming it is possible to request checksum).
Unless Apple have some other secret challenge/response mechanism available in their old iPods they are going to remain open to such emulation. I can’t see it worth Apple’s time to force firmware update on all old devices – so if they really want to stop this (rather than come up with a way that can be officially endorsed) then it is proobaly going to have to be via quasi-legal route.
E.g. some pressure from USB “authority” because Palm is not using their assigned id

All very silly. Apple could extract a few cents per Palm Pre sales by granting a licence – which might then also lead to other manufacturers going the same route.

By: Dan Martin

Dan Martin — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:51:23 +0000

How do PCs access iTunes?

By: Dan Martin

Dan Martin — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:47:34 +0000

Don’t PC computer’s have access to iTunes? Why make the distinction between a portable device you hold in your hand, when a laptop or desktop PC already HAS access?

By: Dan Martin

Dan Martin — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:46:18 +0000

Sorry, I was thinking, not about typing and misspelled Palm.

Don’t PC computer’s have access to iTunes? Why make the distinction between a portable device you hold in your hand, when a laptop or desktop PC already HAS access?

By: Dan Martin

Dan Martin — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:39:44 +0000

I don’t get it. It’s not like the people buying Plam’s device are the target market for iPhones. No one would pay AT&Ts fees just to have access to iTunes. Rather than make some money from Palm’s users, Apple would prefer to have none?

By: James Katt

James Katt — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:59:31 +0000

Apple has many ways to have iTunes verify that is is connected to an iPod or iPhone.

My suggestion to Apple is to simply do a checksum on the firmware to verify the identity of the connected device.

After all, iTunes checks the firmware anyway to see if an update is needed.

The Pre doesn’t have Apple firmware. Thus, the Pre would fail a checksum.

That is an easy way for iTunes to connect to only iPods and iPhones.

By: win39

win39 — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:03:06 +0000

I find that Palm’s efforts to emulate the cuckoo bird laying its eggs in other birds nests amazing. But I am not a sociopath. If I was in the market for a new phone I would only be impressed that Palm was a company that was not willing to do the hard work for their own product which is just a variation on their past behavior. If I remembered that ex-Apple employees went to Palm to resurrect it, I would think the Pre is just a tool for someone with an agenda to settle a score with Apple. Palm is done.