Palm Makes Fist & Shakes it Apple with a Finger for USB-IF

After a large stink was made last week over Palm alleging that Apple was intentionally misusing the 'open' spirit of USB connectivity. It got slapped back while admitting that, to get around Apple's lock-out of non-Apple devices, it was 'forced' to use software to masquerade as an iPod. The USB-IF promised to review Palm's claim about the spirit of the contract but Palm's actions were citing as very literally violating the contract. With all of its Pre sales finally breathing some much needed life back into the ailing Palm, you had to know they were going to defend their product. Palm has thumbed its nose at the warning and updated the Pre's software to fool iTunes. They've even gone on step further and enabled MORE iPod / iTunes functionality on the Pre. Let the firmware war begin. It's hard to pick a side here. The mp3 market isn't really a noble pursuit to begin with. Mp3's turned more people into pirates than having a peg leg and a parrot. I'll personally worry about whether my mp3s are legitimate when all those impoverished musicians regularly submit to drug tests.

In a haze, we recall the birth of the iPod mp3 player and that non-DRM'd mp3's have always played fine. All those illegal songs found a ...y and stylish home in the iPod. Yes, iTunes has funnelled legitimate sales into the mainstream. It's just a coincidence that all these finally legitimate sales go through their cash registers. How much more market share will Apple need before it decides to lock iTunes to only Apple computers. As Microsoft participates in more and more open source endeavours is Apple trying on shiny helmets and getting fitted for long black capes? Time will tell.