This was on the front page of Apple.com today:
What do you think that means? Billboard.com is saying that the Beatles is finally coming to iTunes. Meanwhile MacRumors claims that a new service called “Live Stream” is going to make an appearance for iTunes users. Or perhaps we’re all suffering the effects of the reality distortion field?
I guess we’ll all find out tomorrow. Meanwhile, post your thoughts below.
To paraphrase the Cylons, it’s happened before and it just happened again. The latest version of iTunes which was punted out to the planet yesterday by Apple has once again stopped the Palm Pre from syncing with it. So, the only question that really matters is this: Will Palm finally do the right thing and do what RIM has done which is to write software that can access an iTunes library without having to pretend to be an iPod, or will Palm just continue with the same craptastic nonsense of pretending to be an iPod. This cat and mouse game that they’re playing doesn’t help their users who are likely sick of this circus by now.
So Palm, will you finally do the right thing? Will you?
I guess that Palm really wants to tick off Apple and the USB Implementers Forum as the just released WebOS 1.2.1 has re-enabled the iTunes sync ability of the Palm Pre. But this update isn’t all about stirring up a hornet’s nest of trouble. This update also fixes a bug that stopped Exchange 2007 from working with the Palm Pre. That’s kind of important if you want to sell these to corporate types who don’t want a Blackberry. But of course, that won’t be what people talk about, now will it.
One wonders how long before iTunes syncing is broken again. Or worse for Palm, how long will it be before Apple sends in the iLawyers or the USB-IF brings the smack down on them.
Frequent readers of my blog will recall that Palm has been playing a cat and mouse game with Apple by trying to get the Palm Pre to sync with iTunes. Palm tried to up the stakes by reporting Apple to the USB Implementers Forum for trying to shut out competition. Today, they got their answer back and I don’t think that anybody at Palm is going to be happy:
In a letter submitted to Apple and Palm today, the group dismissed Palm’s claim that Apple has violated its USB-IF Membership Agreement. Worse, it took issue with Palm’s alleged use of Apple’s Vendor Identification Number (VID), which it says violates USB-IF policy.
Oh, it actually gets worse than that. Palm was sent a letter that includes the following:
I attach for your information the USB-IF’s adopted and published policy regarding Vendor Identification Numbers (VIDs). Under the Policy, Palm may only use the single Vendor ID issued to Palm for Palm’s usage. Usage of any other company’s Vendor ID is specifically precluded. Palm’s expressed intent to use Apple’s VID appears to violate the attached policy.
Please clarify Palm’s intent and respond to this potential violation within seven days.
That’s craptastic if you’re Palm. Clearly Apple now has the upper hand in this war. The question is, will Palm now play nice or will they once again raise the stakes?
Speaking of iTunes, the latest version of iTunes has hit the streets tonight. Get your copy here. Here’s what this version fixes:
Download away! Unless of course you have a Palm Pre which likely won’t work with iTunes.
Let the cat and mouse game begin. After Apple killed the ability for iTunes to sync to non-Apple products, Palm has come out with an update to the WebOS for the Pre that restores this ability. Oh, it adds a bunch of other things that business users might care about. Check out the details here. You can expect this to not last long as Apple is likely to kill this again.
Assuming that they don’t unleash the iLawyers first.
I had a feeling that this wouldn’t last long. iTunes 8.2.1 hit the streets today. Here’s what the read me from Software update says:
iTunes 8.2 now supports iPhone or iPod touch with the iPhone 3.0 Software Update. iTunes 8.2 also includes many accessibility improvements and bug fixes.
iTunes 8.2.1 provides a number of important bug fixes and addresses an issue with verification of Apple devices.
So, what does “addresses an issue with verification of Apple devices” mean? If you’re a Palm Pre user, it means your smartphone won’t sync with iTunes anymore. Don’t buy it? Here’s what Apple said to BusinessWeek:
“iTunes 8.2.1 is a free software update that provides a number of important bug fixes,” says Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris. “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.”
So if you’re a Pre user you should not update to the latest iTunes. Of course you can expect Palm to come out with some kind of firmware update to enable syncing again. At which point you can expect Apple to come out with another iTunes update that breaks that ability. At which point, lawyers (or iLawyers if you’re Apple) may get involved.
So here’s a question that I’ve got for you guys and girls. Is Apple justified in doing this or are they acting kind of Microsoft like (seeing as they control the majority of the digital media player market)? Please leave a comment and let us know your thoughts.
You knew that Apple wasn’t going to sit idly by and allow third party devices to sync to iTunes. But what I didn’t expect was a warning about it that is posted in their knowledge base:
Apple is aware that some third-parties claim that their digital media players are able to sync with Apple software. However, Apple does not provide support for, or test for compatibility with, non-Apple digital media players and, because software changes over time, newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with non-Apple digital media players.
I guess that translates to “It works for now. But if it doesn’t work in the future because we do something, don’t come crying to us.” That’s pretty soft by Apple standards. I really thought that they would have sent the iLawyers after companies that have made their devices sync with iTunes. I’m thinking specifically of Palm and the new Pre here, but the BlackBerry does the same thing via BlackBerry Desktop Manager on Windows. Perhaps Apple isn’t looking for a fight… At least not yet.
UPDATE: Palm has responded to Apple via All Things Digital. Let the mud slinging begin.
Fortune Magazine tripped over something interesting. The Palm Pre syncs “flawlessly” with iTunes:
In fact, the iTunes Store treats the Pre just as it would an iPod or an iPhone with one exception: it can’t handle old copy-protected songs.
One wonders if Palm is about to have the iLawyers unleashed upon them, or a new version of iTunes will ship around the time that the Pre hits the streets that “breaks” this feature. My bet is all of the above seeing as acting Apple God CEO Tim Cook has already told the world that legal action will be unleashed upon Palm if they infringe upon any Apple IP. Plus Apple has in the past come out with fixes that stop some third party software/hardware from working.
I think we should get the popcorn ready, this is about to get interesting.
If you’ve got a second generation iPod Shuffle, you may want to put off upgrading to the latest version of iTunes. That’s because Apple’s latest version of iTunes causes a number of issues for owners of these iPods and Apple’s own discussion boards are littered with the postings of pissed off users. The symptoms are:
Perhaps this is a not so subtle hint sent by “The Steve” that these users should buy the third generation iPod Shuffle? Or perhaps this is an oversight in the rush to get the third generation iPod Shuffle out the door? Either way, Apple better come up with a fix for this fast. Until then, downgrade to iTunes 8.
The Beatles Finally Appear On iTunes
Posted in Commentary with tags Apple, iTunes, The Beatles on November 16, 2010 by itnerdAfter putting up a teaser page yesterday, here’s what appeared on the Apple website today:
The Beatles who have been holding out from selling their music digitally have signed a deal that will see their music sold on iTunes. Here’s what the press release had to say:
Apple Corps, EMI and Apple® today announced that the Beatles, the most influential and beloved rock band in music history, are now available for the first time on the iTunes Store® (www.itunes.com). Starting today, the group’s 13 legendary remastered studio albums with iTunes LPs, the two-volume “Past Masters” compilation and the classic “Red” and “Blue” collections are available for purchase and download on iTunes® worldwide as either albums or individual songs. Fans can also get a special digital “Beatles Box Set” featuring the “Live at the Washington Coliseum, 1964” concert film, a worldwide iTunes exclusive which captures the Beatles’ very first US concert.
Single albums are available for purchase for $12.99 each, double albums for $19.99 each and individual songs for $1.29 each. The special digital “Beatles Box Set” is $149.
So you’re wondering what the big deal is (beyond the obvious)? Let me give you the story. Apple was sued by Apple Corps (the corporation founded by The Beatles in 1968) back in 1978. It was settled in 1981 with the promise of Jobs and company to stay out of the music business. That was cool until 1989 where the legal issues flared up again due to the fact that Macs did MIDI. This was again settled out of court and things were cool. That was until September 2003 where the iPod and the iTunes music store caused this issue to flare up for a third time. That case was dealt with in court which ruled in favor of “Steve-O” and company. The legal issues were settled once and for all in 2007 when Apple Corps licensed the word Apple and any apple logos from Apple Inc. It was thought that beyond the fact that the band weren’t fans of having their music being distributed digitally at a price they were comfortable with, the legal problems between the two Apples were factors in them not popping up in iTunes. Clearly they’ve resolved that.
So will you be buying The Beatles on iTunes?
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