With Apple’s iTunes update to version 9.0.2, the Palm Pre sync with iTunes is broken again. Dead. Kaput. Yep, that’s right. Using webOS 1.2.1, all of Palm’s efforts to mimic and defeat the iTunes USB identification is (again) for naught. Syncing the Pre with iTunes is one heck of a convenience, so hopefully Palm is hard at work in this ongoing cat-and-mouse game to once again circumvent Apple’s efforts to play Pre sync spoiler.

Keep the faith, people. It will likely just be a matter of time.

source: precentral

For the time being, Palm’s latest webOS update, 1.2.1, weighing in at 38MB, addresses issues with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, adds photo albums to Media Sync, and continues the cat-and-mouse game with Apple by repairing the broken iTunes sync. Maybe Apple will quickly push out an incremental update that breaks the sync again? We hope not, but until that day comes, enjoy the restored iTunes sync-ability.

Following are the rest of the official updates:

New applications
NONE

Feature changes to existing applications
Email

Resolved an issue where after installing the 1.2.0 webOS update some customers running Exchange 2007 could no longer synchronize with their Exchange account for Email, Calendar, Contacts, and Tasks.

System

Resolves an issue preventing media sync from working with latest version of iTunes (9.0.1).
Media sync now synchronizes photo albums, maintaining the album structure in the Photos app.
Media sync now allows for synchronizing photos without requiring the full-resolution originals. This provides faster display of high-quality full-screen images and enables users to store more photos on the phone.

Web

Resolved an issue where if a user tried to play streaming music or video, the media stream might drop out or have a long delay before starting.

Security

This release implements several security fixes, including the following:
Addresses a security issue encountered by webkit developers. This issue did not impact end users.

Individuals interested in contacting Palm to report suspected security issues can find more information at palm.com/security.

source: mypre.com

There is a bit of a history between Palm and Apple and the Palm Pre’s use of iTunes for syncing media. Palm has been manipulating the hardware Vendor ID so that iTunes has recognized the Pre as an iPod, and iTunes responds by closing the loophole with each subsequent iTunes update. Then, Palm circumvents Apple’s update and the cat-and-mouse game continues. Recently, Palm approached the USB Implementers Forum to seek support in preventing Apple from restricting use of iTunes. Instead of garnering support, the USB-IF Forum is riled up. They don’t see that Apple is in violation of their rules and regulations by blocking Palm’s use of iTunes, and they are upset by Palm’s position that they will use Apple’s Vendor ID to access iTunes – they view this as a violation and expect Palm to respond with their intent within a week.

Where does Palm go from here? We should find out soon. Although use of iTunes is convenient, Palm may consider devising their own syncing method so they no longer stir up the Apple and USB-IF hornets nest.

source: engadget mobile

Does the breaking of the iTunes/Pre sync due to Apple’s latest iTunes update got you down? It’s unfortunate that Apple would sabotage this admittedly unholy reunion to begin with, but if new Pre owners wanted an iPhone, wouldn’t they have bought one in the first place? Given that Pre users would undoubtedly purchase music and other media from iTunes, thus putting more coin in Apple’s pockets, it seems counterproductive to disable the Pre’s ability to sync with iTunes, but where one door closes, a window opens, and through that window comes Dazzboard.

Dazzboard is a media management webtop application that’s free and enables syncing music to iTunes and syncing for photos and video as well. For those of you with a Pre and willing to give Dazzboard a spin, let us know about your experience in comments and the forum.

Source: mypre

As expected, Apple has released an update for iTunes, which seems to put an end to the happy syncing time Pre users had. So, if you would rather keep iTunes syncing, then you should avoid updating it to version 8.2.1, which brings “important bug fixes” and “addresses an issue with verification of Apple devices”. However, it looks like plugging the Pre in actually brings iTunes 8.2.1 up, but then Palm’s smartphone does not appear in the sidebar.

Until the developers have figured out a way to override the fix, you can go for an alternative way to sync your content; for example, by using doubleTwist. You can find more information about it here. Mac users also have their alternative – The Missing Sync app, more about it here.

source

We have to admit, we didn’t see this one coming.  After promising never-before-speculated features Palm delivered at the first day of D7, revealing that the Pre will not only be capable of syncing with iTunes (provided its not DRM content), but that iTunes will actually recognize it as an Apple device!  This may very well be a key piece of dethroning the iPhone; for as many flaws as it has the seamless syncing capabilities is one of the major selling points of Apple’s hardware.  With an advanced OS, and now iTunes support, the Pre looks to keep swinging and hitting it out of the park, much to the chagrin of Apple.  Palm went on to say that they don’t forsee future iTunes updates breaking this compatibility.

The interview also produces some other interesting tidbits.  At launch there will only be a handful of apps through the App Catalog, though personally we’d expect to see that number grow rather quickly.  Palm admitted that it has made SDK access scarse in order to keep the quality high, and while it has hundreds of developers on board now they also have thousands of applications queued.  They also confirmed that they are at full production and delivering shipments to Sprint daily, but that they still expect demand to outpace supply.  With the launch just over a week away we wonder who will be first in line.

source: All Things D