Palm Smacked Down In USB Dispute With Apple

This pointless game Palm is playing makes no sense to me. Has nobody at Palm ever owned a Mac and a Nokia phone or Blackberry?

I just don't understand why they didn't take the obvious and professional route (that many other companies have taken), and just access the public XML file that iTunes generates to allow 3rd party syncing applications.

It would be a much more significant issue had there been no way for 3rd party devices to access the iTunes library. But there is, and its been there forever & is in use by other phone companies for the exact same purpose Palm is attempting to achieve.

What does Palm stand to gain from a feature that can break at another companies whim with no advance notice?

Its a shame too, because besides this one really stupid move, I'm really starting to like Palm's current direction. A new OS that is actually out, on new devices, with more in the pipeline? And I can actually hold this device with this OS in my hand rather than just reading about it? Bring on the new Palm.

Just drop this one stupid issue, PLEASE. To everyone but Engadget commenters, it makes them look bad.

Sure seemed there was no way this could go any other way for Palm. Their letter to USB seemed a PR stunt at best, and likely to backfire at worst. For the sake of OS stability, I'm glad it did.

Each vendor of devices and software for those devices should be able to have its drivers and apps listen to and interact with its own devices without worrying about interlopers.

Good for USB-IF.

The USB-IF, Inc. Board of Directors is composed of the following companies and their designated representative Directors:

    * Hewlett-Packard Company - Alan Berkema
    * Intel Corporation - Jeff Ravencraft
    * LSI Corporation - Dave Thompson 
    * Microsoft Corporation - Fred Bhesania 
    * NEC Corporation - Steve Roux 
    * ST-Ericsson - Geert Knapen 

Microsoft has always been pro DRM. Intel has leaned pro DRM often. I don't know where HP, NEC, or Ericsson stand, but If the first two hold any sway, I'm not surprised by this ruling.

Simple solution: Palm should make the USB ID field a text box in a preferences screen somewhere.

It would default to the correct "Palm" ID, but hey, if the user wants to change it...