Why doesn't Palm just write their own sync program that happens to know how to access the iTunes playlists? They USED TO have the best sync software out, so it's not like they don't know how to do it.

This could turn into a real pissing match and Apple is more than willing to make the consumer suffer as they twist Palm's arm.

Then again Apple may just be stating the obvious, that being that any change on a technical level to iTunes and how it works with devices may cause your non-apple, non-supported device to fail with iTunes.

I don't think Apple officially supports anything but the iPhone/iPod on iTunes so they should not be forced to keep any competing products compatible.

I'd like to think that Apple would not intentionally make changes just to break the Pre with iTunes but who knows. Its a crazy market with some crazy players.

I hope they fall flat on their face with this 'mock iPod' type of syncing, and angry Pre owners revolt.

I was 100% in favor of the Pre and hoped it would be an iContender but the fake-iPod-syncing really turned me off towards it.

Viva la $99 iPhone!

Yah, I don't know I think it would be kinda petty for Apple to break support for the Pre for no reason. I mean if it appears like an old school iPod then that's fine, it's not like they've done software updates for the old ones in a long time. Until Apple cuts them off I don't see a reason for cutting the Pre off. Besides odds are if the customer is using iTunes then they may be buying from the iTMS in which case this just means that they've got a worse experience using one of your products. The Mac and Apple products are supposed to be part of your digital hub regardless of whether everything has an Apple on it.

Years ago, Apple made the strategic decision to allow only Apple products to sync with itunes. It's only natural to assume they'll make an effort to break hacked compatibility with the Pre. Also, apple and palm now compete directly with media-focused smart phones. If apple has the capability of knee-capping palm by removing compatibility, why wouldn't they?
Smart business. Move along. Nothing to see here.

No - Really??!!
Time to figure out how to write your own media software Palm - good luck!

Apple has put a lot of time, effort, and money into the iTunes store. The financial profit pretty much goes to the record companies and a little to the artists. Very little of it goes to Apple. What Apple does get from it is a leg up for it's iPods and iPhones. Palm is trying to rob Apple of that hard earned advantage, and I wouldn't blame Apple if they went to extraordinary measures to stop them.

Can someone help me? I bought some apps on the App Store, and when I hook up my Palm Prey, they won't sync. What's up with that?

They have still yet to actively code to break jailbreaking the iPhone, and I think there's more financial incentive for them to stop that than anything else.

And that game been going on for 2 years with no clear winner.

Salty makes an extremely valid point that Apple aspired to become the hub of your digital life without condition. When they bought SoundJam (which supported almost every MP3 player at the time) and it initially became iTunes, other devices were still supported. The removal of support is not the same as if the support never existed. What's next, an Apple digital camera? Wait, they had one of them, if you're old enough to remember! I can understand that there is no reason to implement support for every new thing that crawls onto the market (Zune anyone?) but they shouldn't jam support for devices that don't require any special effort from Apple themselves.