palm-vs-apple

Palm has continued to play their cat and mouse game with Apple regarding iTunes syncing for the Palm Pre.  Recently, Apple updated iTunes to 8.2.1 which seemingly was released with the sole purpose of patching the hole Palm used to allow the Pre to sync with the flagship digital music store.  Now, Palm has pushed an update of webOS to the Pre that once again allows syncing through Apples desktop client.

Palm’s webOS 1.1 includes updates that now integrate Exchange ActiveSync, which is great for business users, and also a few small upgrades such as emoticons.  On Palm’s blog release of these new features they throw in one more nanny nanny boo boo:

“Oh, and one more thing: Palm webOS 1.1 re-enables Palm media sync. That’s right — you once again can have seamless access to your music, photos and videos from the current version of iTunes (8.2.1).”

Palm seems to want to take this fight to the end. A Palm spokesperson is quoted as saying:

“Palm believes that openness and interoperability offer better experiences for users by allowing them the freedom to use the content they own without interference across devices and services, so on behalf of consumers, we have notified the USB Implementers Forum of what we believe is improper use of the Vendor ID number by another member.”

Now, I’m not exactly sure what this statement does for Palm’s cause. From my investigation, I believe the Vendor ID number must be specific to each manufacturer (ie. Palm) and must be specific to the device (ie. Pre). If I’m correct, Palm is calling themselves out for spoofing their own Vendor ID number to spoof itself as an iPod.

Here is an excerpt from the USB Implementers Forum compliance update from 2007:

“The Vendor ID used by a product must match the VID of the company producing the product (the integrator). Please ensure that the VID used by the product matches the company making the product. The USB-IF does not permit the product to display the silicon VID instead of the company making the product…With written permission, the device may be listed on the Integrators List.”

If I read this correctly, Palm just shot itself in the foot. I don’t think this is really about providing a better experience for users as Palm states. I believe this is nothing more then pure PR. Palm is just trying to get publicity for being the hero while they fight the mighty giant (Apple). If anything, it will be interesting to watch this little dance they do.

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Related Posts

Palm Pre Keynote CES 2009 (8/13) – webOS Notifications, How to Sync Up Itunes with the Palm Pre, WebOS 2.0 Tour (on Palm Pre 2)

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