Why can't Palm follow Zune's lead?
As predicted, Apple decided it didn't want a competitor piggybacking off its software, and the latest update to iTunes prevents Apple's iconic media-management app from recognizing the Palm Pre.
It ain't pretty, but it works: the Zune software automatically indexes songs in your iTunes library.
Pre customers have a couple of workarounds--DoubleTwist, a free app that will sync media from your Mac or PC to almost any device, sounds particularly promising. (Bonus: it was created by DVD Jon, who's been tweaking digital-media control schemes since before the iPod was born.)
But that doesn't help Palm, who recognizes that having a strong digital media story is key to competing in the consumer smartphone space. Here's my suggestion: instead of being drawn into a cat-and-mouse game with Apple, Palm should build (or acquire) its own digital media sync software, and make sure it indexes every file in the user's iTunes library. This is what Microsoft did with the Zune software (PC-only, of course, this being Microsoft), and while it's not a perfectly elegant solution--it doesn't carry playlists over, for example--it solves the problem of getting your tunes out of iTunes and onto the device of your choice.
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Matt Rosoff is an analyst with Directions on Microsoft, where he covers Microsoft's consumer products and corporate news. He's written about the technology industry since 1995, and reviewed the first Rio MP3 player for CNET.com in 1998. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network. Disclosure. You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattrosoff. 
Oh wait, it already happened.
Regarding Zune software, how well is that working out for Microsoft exactly?
I don't know if a Pre is better or worse than an iPhone. I know iPhones are very solid hardware with a great OS, but it troubles me when I see a company like Apple behaving like this. It reminds me too much of Microsoft and I would rather not see another company go down that path.
Well your impression is wrong.
Sans iTunes, Pre only appears to be another bland "usb mass storage device".
Windows have public APIs & SDKs, so it's not only disgusting if Windows intentionally block certain software (Trust me it did, just ask Real), but also illegal.
On the other hand iTunes stated quite frankly it is not designed to work with non-apple devices, and Pre didn't get the syncing ability via any kind of public method, so what do you expect?
Yes, any device with storage capability can be "set up" to sync any data you want. Heck two computers can be set up to sync each other.
But that is not the problem here, isn't it?
The iTunes charactoristic plug & sync ability is still unparalleled, at least by WMP syncing mechanism.
For instance, play count & rating metadata don't work across WMP & your mass storage mode player. Not to mention Podcast support is non existent.
About the iTunes & Windows comparison frequently came up in the discussion. It's not the same thing! Though at first iTunes was a stand along mac only jukebox bought by Apple to compliment the iLife suit. It since became a companion software exist for only one purpose - improve iPod user experience thus sale more Apple branded PMP device. This is even more true on the windows platform. Not to mention you are actually comparing a eff Operating System with a music play/manage/purchase software runs on two major OSs.
Next I suppose you are gonna want FTC to force iTunes run on linux, after all, it puts linux in a unfavorable position especially in the consumer market.
This has nothing to do with WMP or their own player. This is all about the simplicity of allowing people who have iTunes and an iPod but not a smartphone yet, to easily buy a Pre and plug it into their existing iTunes library. Grandma simple. It eliminates a big barrier for people (especially the average consumer) to simply say, I'll get an iPhone because then I don't have to think about anything.
Just think of all the features you could do without, a new non-bloated preTunes! We all love the fun of Version 1.0!
I mean, who needs a way to buy music? Ability to play or buy videos? Easy playlist construction? Smart playlists? Audiobooks? Merging tracks together for continuous playback, like for opera nuts? A way to burn albums onto CDs? Ripping with multiple, high-quality formats, variable bitrates? Plugin visualizers? Album art? Track names? Genius recommendations?
See, no real people ever use these features in iTunes; they're just there to intimidate the Palm and Zune types. This is obviously the case, because Microsoft just dashed something off, and it's a HUUGE success!
Get with it, Palm. We tech writer types understand BOTH the engineering AND business issues better than you pitiable software failures ever will. When will you listen?
Palm could easily create a Songbird add-on for the Pre and promote Songbird as their preferred music player.
Those who have not seen or tried Songbird should definitely check it out.
http://getsongbird.com/
I know it is trying to copy iTunes UI, but something is just off, or more accurately, crazy.
Your experience with Songbird is certainly different than mine. Songbird is now my exclusive music player.
I would definitely recommend that others try it and judge for themselves.
Hi, I'm a very early adopter of this project. The birdy cartoon is really cute.
But I can never recommend to any non-tech savvy friend of mine.
It started very buggy but simple, as they gradually getting rid of bugs and adding features, it became more and more cumbersome. As it is now, it's even worse than WMP, which is truly a shame. The cartoon is still cute though.
Also its plug-in system is so broken it's beyond belief, yeah, it's worse than Apple iTunes app store, you think Firefox extensions are bad? Wait till you see songbird's XUL plug-ins . Oh the craziness!!!
To be fair.
I love their attitudes. I just don't think so far the product's been really good.
I'm sure it'd be relatively straight forward and Songbird, for me, is a much better media player than iTunes
Having Songbird bundled on the Palm Pre cd-in-the-box would be great for Songbird and great for Palm - those two kids should get it together ;-)
Great idea! Songbird has a lot of cool functionality that is not even available with iTunes, so Palm could actually end up with a "premium" music package for the Pre.
The other smartphone platform vendors probably should consider Songbird integration, as well.
Well, yes I suppose it was a clinical business stunt to drum up popular support more than anything else. Still it's all good entertainment.
Is Apple that afraid of the Pre or competition in general so that they make a change to its software to restrict users from using different devices? This should be a good thing that Apple shows their colors by updating iTunes so that 3rd party devices cannot sync with it.
Is media management going to be like the browser wars of the 90's?
This assumes Microsoft "of course" would never make software for a rival platform, like MacOS.
And you know what happens when you ASSuME.....now excuse me while I go back to my copy of Office for Mac....
Also I don't think anyone on this list could give Apple (or Microsoft) a business lesson - evil or no, they are playing out the moves that will give them maximum shareholder value. There is no rational reason why any business would "cut off their nose to spite their face" and I would guess that Apple have considered their hand very carefully: if they allowed this, they would gain short-term customers but ultimately lose the control that their business is based on.
You say that "less integration is bad" and by implication "more integration is good", but these are just business models and I don't know how you can ascribe emotional intent to them. It's nothing personal!
- by Tergon July 16, 2009 7:28 PM PDT
- This is silly 1) Pre sync with alllll of the other major programs (WMP, REALplayer, probably winamp and others too) for itunes users plenty of alternative programs (yamipod etc)
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