Apple Block Palm Pre Sync In iTunes 8.2.1

Apple have yanked Pre compatibility from iTunes 8.2.1, in an update to the media management software described as "an issue with verification of Apple devices."  The move is not exactly unexpected; the two companies traded feints in mid-June, with Apple suggesting that future versions of iTunes "may no longer provide syncing functionality" with anything other than iPods and iPhones, while Palm accused them of threatening "a direct blow" to users seeking a seamless experience.

Sure enough, Apple have risen to the challenge and blocked the Pre from interacting with iTunes.  Plugging in the smartphone reportedly brings the Apple software to the foreground, but the Palm handset fails to show up in the iTunes sidebar.

"iTunes 8.2.1 is a free software update that provides a number of important bug fixes.  It also disables devices falsely pretending to be iPods, including the Palm Pre. As we've said before, newer versions of Apple's iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with unsupported digital media players" Natalie Kerris, spokesperson, Apple

Palm, for their part, have repeated their initial statement, highlighting the fact that this isn't a Pre problem and basically saying that it's Apple's spite which is now responsible for both Pre and iTunes users frustration.  They also highlight the fact that USB transfers still work, and of course there are third-party apps such as DoubleTwist for Palm Pre and Missing Sync.

[via MyPre]