Palm Pre: the iPhone killer no longer syncs with iTunes

July 16, 8:11 AMiPhone ExaminerKristina Allen

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Palm Pre, the iPhone "killer"

Apple released the iTunes 8.2.1 software update today. Included in the update are minor bug fixes, and a verification of Apple devices. What does this mean? Primarily that Apple only wants its own products -various models of the iPod and iPhone- to be able to sync with the music player. This comes as a huge defeat to the Palm Pre; one of the biggest selling points to the Pre was its ability to sync with iTunes.

Palm recently gave a statement to Business Week regarding Apple's announcement that iTunes would no longer sync to non-Apple devices:

Palm's media sync works with iTunes 8.2. If Apple chooses to disable media sync in iTunes, it will be a direct blow to their users who will be deprived of a seamless syncronization experience. However, people will have options."

So what exactly are these options:

1. Don't upgrade to iTunes 8.2.1 or any newer versions that come out
2. Transfer music via USB
3. Use a 3rd party application 

Palm may try to push through a firmware update to the Pre that allows for syncing with the newer version of iTunes, but Apple is sure to counter with an update of their own if that happens.

In the past many phones have been skeptically called the "iPhone killer" prior to release, but it was widely believed the Pre would be the one to actually live up to the title. While the Pre is selling well and getting good reviews, the iPhone 3GS sales are also up way higher than had been projected. In fact the iPhone 3GS broke the iPhone 3G record for biggest first day sales of any mobile phone at AT&T.