You may have seen the recent furore (actually began in January) online regarding the Palm Pre and iTunes. For those that haven’t, the gist of the problem is this;

Palm are releasing a sexy looking new phone, the Pre, which not only looks like the only realistic contender to the iPhone but has a completely bespoke webOS (based on Linux). There’s a comprehensive review on Engadget with some videos.

Palm would like to be able to sync this phone with iTunes, so they made it appear like an iPhone/iPod when connected to do so. Apple took incredible umbradge at this and have released several updates to stop it working. As there are several zealous Macolytes in our agency a debate has been raging via email which I present to you here. The two opposing sides can be summarised as:

Side (a): Consumers should have freedom of choice and Apple should let them use iTunes with the Pre, the decision not to damages their reputation

Side (b): Apple are protecting their business interests and don’t think this decision will damage their reputation

Can't we just use these?

(a) Says:
““Palm is currently locked in a long-running battle with Apple over the Pre’s ability to synchronise with a user’s iTunes library. When the Pre first launched, it could copy across songs from a user’s iTunes library by tricking the software in to thinking that it was communicating with an iPod. But Apple quickly issued an iTunes software update that disabled this capability, only for Palm to issue its own software update for the Pre to reinstate iTunes synchronisation.”

Last week’s launch of iTunes 9 has again disabled the Pre’s iTunes syncing feature, and users are waiting anxiously to see what Palm’s next move will be.

“As we’ve said before, newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with unsupported digital media players,” warned Apple in a statement.

“Apple’s decision to disable Palm media sync again is yet another direct blow to its own iTunes customers who will be deprived of a seamless and familiar synchronisation experience,” retaliated Palm in a statement.”
Why? Because Apple want you to roll over and receive your iPhone/iPod as a suppository every 12 months.”

(b) Says:
When the Pre first launched, it could copy across songs from a user’s iTunes library by tricking the software in to thinking that it was communicating with an iPod. But Apple quickly issued an iTunes software update that disabled this capability

LOL! Why does Palm have to keep trying to hack iTunes to get it to work? Maybe its because there is no other song purchase program out there that is as good?! Of course with Spotify released as an app that could change! Laughable how Palm have to look for ways to hack iTunes!

(a) Says:
I know this is one for the blog (SPT – Yes it is!) – but please take your Apple tinted glasses off for a moment! Apple has just denied another reasonable source of income by locking out the Pre.

Maybe they (Apple) should look at the opportunities to open up iTMS to other devices and therefore increase their opportunities of even further revenue generation!

Besides which, you could use Double Twist (http://www.doubletwist.com/dt/Home/Index.dt) and sync anyway!

(b) Says:
Perhaps Apple are trying to protect itself from other vendor’s carbon copying them…

4) Poach a senior iPhone architect – check
5) Infringe Apple’s Multitouch and Gestures Patents – check
6) Hack iTunes ‘integration’ by violating USB regulations and get ass slapped – check

And yet Apple is in the wrong for protecting their own platform? I don’t think Apple needs the dribbles of revenue that the Pre will generate.

(a) Says:
I don’t see how they’re protecting their platform, people who want an iPhone will still get one and allowing their main competitor in the phone sector access to their own music sales channel is surely the best way to capture lost revenue from people who buy a Pre instead?

In regards to these points:

1) Poach a senior iPhone architect – check – unlucky, he obviously felt he could do better elsewhere
2) Infringe Apple’s Multitouch and Gestures Patents – check – the ascension of touchscreens means there will be a lot more of this in future
3) Hack iTunes ‘integration’ by violating USB regulations and get ass slapped – check – again they haven’t hacked iTunes, they make their phone appear like an iPhone as this is the only way to use it with iTunes if you’re not going to be forced into getting a contract from O2 for an iPhone

What’s the beef with getting more people access to iTunes? Maybe you want the software but not an iPhone (this is going to be an issue outside of just the Pre) but all Apple are saying is ‘No, buy an iPhone’. It’s just not (to my mind) a sensible way to get the most out of iTunes…

(a) and (b) Say:
Woah there!

(a)
There are other options to sync, it just strikes me as very odd that Apple have gone down this road that’s al. Fair enough if they don’t make any money from iTunes but they would still maintain a larger presence (from a branding point of view) but letting more people use iTunes. And if they only break even surely that’s an even bigger reason to grow the iTunes user base, rather than limit it?

(b)
I don’t see it as odd in any way. They make much more profit selling iPhones and iPod’s, not content on iTunes. In order to use iTunes, the music biggest retailer in the US, and largest online retailer in the world, you need an iPhone or an iPod. Allowing other vendors to use iTunes would likely mean less hardware sold, but (I agree) increased iTunes revenue. However, the difference between the two would result in negative profit growth.

(a)
I’m hearing a lot of Apple do no wrong talk is all I’m saying. You can’t groundlessly assume that the Pre is an inferior platform prior to a UK release or UK road test – if Apple are that worried that it will rob iPhone marketshare maybe they should just roll out another cash in update? Make it a little bit faster again maybe?

(b)
All I hear is that Apple always do wrong, and have inferior products and software. IMO the Pre is inferior; it doesn’t support native apps, there is no music subscription service, it has poor battery life, apparently feels cheap and the lack of software keyboard is a major disadvantage. (ed. the Pre actually does feature a software keyboard, other facts are uncited as yet)

The Judgement!

Conclusion?
Well as you can see we have not reached any kind of conclusion here, the Macboys love Apple, the others love other stuff.

For my part I think the Pre will be an excellent alternative to the iPhone, the review (above) is positive and considering the iPhone has a 3 year headstart in terms of App developement and software fixes it would be foolish to rule the Pre out yet.

But at the end of the day, Apple, Palm, can’t we all just learn to get along?