Palm vs. Apple: The Battle for iTunes Interoperability
Posted in News and Opinion, Technology on July 24th, 2009 by Carl ZulaufA week before launching the Palm Pre, on May 28th, 2009, Palm announced their upcoming Pre would have a feature called “Media Sync”. This feature would allow the Palm Pre to sync directly with Apple’s iTunes music software without any additional tools or software. Shortly after the release of the Palm Pre it was discovered that this capability was enabled partly by the Pre masquerading as an iPod when using Media Sync mode.
For over a month all was well and Palm Pre owners who used iTunes could sync their music with the Palm Pre seamlessly. Then, on July 15th, 2009, Apple did what many had feared. Version 8.2.1 of iTunes included an update that appeared to specifically block the Palm Pre from syncing with iTunes. Although many people were outraged and saddened by this, the response I saw was surprisingly small. It appears as though most Palm Pre owners who weren’t already using iTunes used other media managers to sync with their Pre. I myself use Winamp, RhythmBox, and manual syncing.
Today Palm released version 1.1.0 of their WebOS software to Palm Pre owners. Along with many new features this update included a return volley in the battle over iTunes compatibility by restoring the Palm Pre’s ability to sync with Apple’s iTunes. To accomplish this it appears Palm took more steps to disguise the Palm Pre as an iPod. This time not only does the device identify itself as an iPod, it also identifies itself as being manufactured by Apple.
A shallow examination of the methods used by Apple to block the Palm Pre from syncing and the methods used by Palm to re-enable it seem to indicate there are still a few more ways Apple could easily block the Palm Pre. However, it also appears that Palm’s ability to disguise the Pre as an iPod is virtually limitless. If Apple chooses to fight this battle further they may find themselves stuck with the decision of forcing firmware updates on iPod users in order to prevent the Palm Pre from syncing with iTunes, a move that will surely upset many long-term iPod users who have never even heard of the Pre. Even in that scenario it’s possible Palm could yet again re-enable iTunes syncing, meaning Apple could alienate its own faithful customers and still fail to block the Pre from iTunes.
This fight by Apple is not surprising when put in the perspective of Apple’s history with third party hardware and software. Apple has actively fought its own customers on the ability to use third party media managers for iPods/iPhones by constantly breaking compatibility through firmware updates and even threatening those who share information on how to load/unload media from their devices. In the past Apple may have had a valid argument for preventing third party media managers from managing content on iPods due to the DRM present on many tracks purchased through iTunes. Apple no longer sells music with DRM and has not done so for a while, so the argument that they must fight third party software to prevent piracy is outlandish. This stance of Apple makes it extremely difficult for legitimate iPod and iPhone users from using anything else but iTunes to load content onto their devices. For some using iTunes isn’t even an option as iTunes is not available (and does not have any plans to be made available) on Linux, meaning those of us who use Linux cannot use an iPod or iPhone at all.
Palm Pre’s Media Sync capability is different story though. In this case Apple isn’t forcing their hardware users to use their software, they are forcing software users to use their hardware. At first this seemed to me to be slightly less anti-consumer than the previous scenario until I thought about who actually uses iTunes to sync with their Palm Pre. Most people who use iTunes own an iPod or iPhone. iTunes is a decent media player but there is very little incentive for those who don’t own an iPod to use it. Both iPod owners and non-owners are encouraged by Apple to use iTunes for all their music needs and it is the only way to purchase music from Apple’s music store. Many users have invested large sums of money to build a collection of music through the iTunes Music Store, and those users believe they “own” that music. Put yourself in their shoes. Imagine you have purcahse ~$500 worth of DRM-free music over the past couple years and you have stored that music on your trusty iPod. Now, imagine you are shopping for a new phone and for whatever reason you decide to purchase a Palm Pre (maybe AT&T isn’t an option, or maybe Sprint is your current carrier, or maybe even though you are an iPod user you just don’t like or want the iPhone). In the process of purchasing your Pre you discover it actually makes a great media player that allows you to lower the number of devices in your pocket. Sure, you still use your iPod for certain things like jogging, but on a daily basis you don’t want both devices in your pocket so you want to use the Pre for music as well. Now, how do you go about getting your music onto your device? Well, without an iTunes syncing capability there are ways to get your MP3s out of iTunes and onto your device, but doing this manually or migrating to another media manager may be difficult and cumbersome. Plus, you still have to use iTunes for your iPod. Wouldn’t it be great if the Pre “just worked” with iTunes? Yeah, Palm thought so too so they made it happen. Apple’s response to this is to punish their own customers by putting up road blocks to this kind of interoperability.
Apple can try to spin this however it wants, but its hard to deny that they are punishing their own customers. If they continue this fight it may also be tough for organizations like the Department of Justice to ignore these actions in the context of the current digital music market, where roughly 70% of all music sold online occurs through iTunes. Even in the greater music market Apple is now the number one seller of music in the USA. Apple’s position in the market gives them a lot of power, and they appear to be using that power to dictate significantly the terms with which customers shall have access to content. This matches accepted definitions of “monopoly” almost verbatim. Apple can avoid that label by not strong-arming their customers, but if this battle continues that is exactly what they will be doing.
In conclusion, I strongly disagree with critics who claim Palm is wrong for trying to be interoperable with iTunes. The Palm Pre’s ability to sync with iTunes is just one of the many ways Palm allows users to load media onto the Pre. Palm is not attempting to “rely” on iTunes or any single sync method, and is instead taking the approach of giving users as many options as possible. I think this is the right approach and in most cases this allows users, who have already amassed huge media collections, to sync that media with the Pre using their current setup, whatever that may be. I believe Apple is wrong here for trying to punish their own customers who have added a non-Apple device to their collection of devices. Apple’s actions are anti-competitive and, possibly more importantly, anti-customer. They aren’t hurting Palm much by playing cat and mouse, they are hurting their own paying customers.
Tags: apple, itunes, palm, palm pre
Now here\’s an honest and objective response to the Apple and Sprint PamPre conundrum to share in the playing field of technology. Thank you for this valued insight.
I am and have been an avid Apple/Macintosh user since 1983. I have in my collection, an iPod Mini, 5th generation classic and an iPod Touch. In addition, an Apple 12\" G4 Laptop and current iMac Desk Top (6 months old). This embattlement involves me as I\’ve just purchased a PalmPre ~ having waited long to find a device WITH a keyboard instead of a touch screen method. Liked the T-Moble G1 ~ but no interface capability ~ ruled out also, as I dis~like T`Moble for personal reasons.
I just am not getting the dispute and hubbub between the two… intellectual properties or, otherwise. The contradiction and rub here lays in, the fact, Apple for the longest time was providing to the open market \"free iTune\" downloads to all platforms in the past. Hence, the 70% controlling share of the marketplace of which you speak. Now this? I\’m just not getting it ~ other then, with the engineer of the iPod itself, has assisted in collaboration with the design of the PalmPre for Sprint, thereby, an eminent threat to Apple itself and market~share. (I think it\’s a personal thing with Steve Jobs here) I guess it may also come down to sheer greed and nothing more ~ shameful regardless. This, after Apple struggled for years to \"integrate\" it\’s product(s) with a \"universal\" interface is a contradiction of intent. Ultimately, leaving a very bad taste in my mouth on the part of Apple… enough so, I may rid myself of the entire lot I have. What\’s the difference, now that they\’re \"Intel Core 2\" powered these days. The G5 had to go this way as they reach a point where they couldn\’t control the heat the CPU\’s were producing. The engineering hit the wall!
Good ethical business is increasingly important here. I truly enjoy my new PalmPre. For Apple to be resistant to, not just competition, but free enterprise, is contrary to our capitalistic and global economies and structure. I wonder if Apples\’ unhappy with their $8.7 Billion (US) made here recently ~ and wants for nothing less ~ then it ALL! If so, they\’ll never receive another nickel of mine ~ wooden or otherwise!!! Apple, don\’t cut your nose off to spite your face…
I really enjoy the PalmPre… like the iPod in the beginning and all ~ even with the few bugaboos ~ and developmental growing pains and all. Still hearing the primary complaint, \"We want more applications\"! Apple had very few apps in the beginning as well ~ be patient. I returned my 1st generation iPod because it simply didn\’t work as claimed or, touted in their representation. After all this time, I also still hear numerous complaints in the grapevine ~ AT&T does not serve Apple iPhone well… another reason going to a different product. Happy with the choice made here… looking to seeing its fullest potentials in due course. SO, Apple, be VERY careful in your manner of conduct here ~ you CANNOT have it all!!!
@J Bradley
I really appreciate your comment and the perspective of a long-term Apple user is welcome and relevant.
Before commenting further I want to point out that I have no intent of Apple bashing and I hope my post did not come across that way. I don’t want to see Apple “die” or anything like that. I do not consider myself a fan boy. Before the Palm Pre I never owned a Palm device and honestly I really disliked the PalmOS interface that powered previous Palm devices. I don’t feel brand loyalty is ever justified… I feel I must constantly re-evaluate my perception of various brands as new products arrive. Companies do reinvent themselves and having brand loyalty means buying into marketing hype. This hype often blinds consumers from the reality of various products and serves only to stand in the way of rationally selecting the best solutions for your needs.
A decade ago I hated Apple. I was far younger then and didn’t yet realize the fallacy of brand bias. At the time I also had some very good talking points I could use whenever the subject of Apple products came up. MacOS 9 and below simply sucked… its hard to argue otherwise. Apple hardware was obscenely overpriced compared to PC counterparts. And, in many usage scenarios the G3/G4/G5 RISC CPU architectures lagged far behind their much less expensive PC counterparts in performance.
Times have changed though. MacOS X ushered in a slick user interface based on the BSD kernel which offered much more robust resource and memory management in addition to a slick and beautiful user interface. Where it was hard to argue Mac OS 9 and below wasn’t seriously flawed it became similarly hard to argue that OSX was anything but brilliant. Next, Apple solved the issue of performance short-comings by adopting Intel based processors, giving Macs equal hardware specs to their PC counterparts. This move also caused the price premium for Apple hardware to shrink. I still have yet to purchase a Mac but I respect their user experience and build quality. As an open source advocate I prefer a more open platform, but I have respect for those who chose Apple products and I believe they are the best solution for certain customers.
I mention all this simply to provide insight into my position. I don’t feel Apple is a shitty company, I simply feel they are taking wrong and potentially unethical positions against consumers and their own customers. Apple may make good products but in the last several years they have become an increasingly secretive, protective, and paranoid corporation. The results of this paranoia are policies that hurt and alienate their customers, even the loyal ones like yourself.
Palm has had similar issues in their past. A decade ago I also disliked Palm products. I felt Palm Pilots were overpriced (HandSpring devices were cheaper and ran the same OS) and underpowered (WindowsCE devices offered much more power). Palm has reinvented itself though and the result seems to be a company offering a fantastic user experience and policies that foster creative use of their products. They even make an effort to support efforts to hack the Palm Pre, which is both extremely rare and extremely right.
Apple has great products but could learn a thing or two from their newly re-invigorated competitor.
As the case and position of your own, it’s not my wish to “bash” Apple either. As I had stated, they shouldn’t cut their own nose off to spite their face! This ever perpetuation of a Hatfield and McCoys’ fued/scenario is leading to disaster for all parties concerned ~ on both ends of the spectrum.
The key aspect Apple needs to weigh is they inevitably will lose cash stream/flow, or the potential thereof, by denying others (any party) access to iTunes ~ where the consumer may purchase music via this network!!! That’s MAJOR money, for both, Apple and the Artists they represent. All because of EGO and a very stupid pissin’ contest. It’s true, sometimes ya just can’t fix STUPID… but ignorance IS NOT bliss!
Hence, my suggestion for Apple to be careful how they treat this… there are other accessible sources for us to purchase and gain the works Artists produce and make their living too. C’mon Apple, wise up!
@J Bradley: Well said. You are absolutely right.