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:
Resolves issues browsing the iTunes Store.
Addresses a performance issue where iTunes may become unresponsive.
Fixes a problem where iTunes may unexpectedly quit.
Fixes a problem syncing Podcasts in playlists to iPod or iPhone.
Fixes a problem sorting albums with multiple discs.
Addresses an issue with the Zoom button not switching to Mini Player.
Improves application syncing for iPod touch and iPhone.
Genius is now automatically updated to show Genius Mixes.
Download away! Unless of course you have a Palm Pre which likely won’t work with iTunes.
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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