Palm Admits Violation to USB-IF in Process of Accusing Apple of Same

Palm, enraged by a recent update to iTunes that disconnected Pre users from iTunes, has submitted a complaint to the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF). This is the governing body that owns the intellectual property and leases that connectivity to the world, but not without rules. The 8.2.1 update to iTunes basically broke a vital selling point for the Palm Pre. One of the Pre's major selling points was its ability to natively sync with iTunes. Apple decided this was enough of an encroachment on the iPhone sales, and decided to have iTunes reject connections with the Pre. Now thousands of Pre users are stuck and aggravated.

Palm has brought the matter to the attention of the USB-IF with the accusation that Apple is violating the spirit of inter-connectivity that USB was designed to enable. Palm went further and described the efforts it had to go through to spoof themselves as an Apple device in order to regain connection. While the original intention of this hardware ID was to enable PCs to correctly identify drivers, it has become a tool for business to control operation with their software. Unfortunately for Palm, the steps it was 'forced' to resort to are a violation of the letter of the USB-IF's policies. Palm now has to answer for that violation of the letter of the law and has denied Palm's claim that Apple is in the wrong. Hair-pulling and clawing is about to ensue, we're sure. Stayed tuned, the next tantrum will likely land them both on Springer.

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