Apple is the bad guy?

Maybe it’s me, but I don’t get why everyone seems to be bent out of shape over Apple’s decision to block the Palm Pre from synchronizing with iTunes.

Here’s what’s important to remember: iTunes is free software provided by Apple to manage the music - as well as movies, TV shows, apps and so on - that plays on an iPod and iPhone. Apple sells iPods and iPhones and they want to keep selling more. If they suddenly opened iTunes - along with all of the content that could be purchased there - to other devices, what incentive would there be for consumers to stick with Apple’s devices?

Just to be clear: I’m not saying that Apple’s approach is right or wrong. I’m just saying that I understand why Apple would push out a software update that would block a competing device from synchronizing with iTunes. With that said, if I were an Apple shareholder, I’d have serious concerns if Apple didn’t take action and just allowed another company to come in and use another Apple product to compromise iPod or iPhone sales.

Palm went out on a limb to sell the idea that the Pre could sync with iTunes. You would think that they had cut some sort of partnership with Apple to make that happen - but, clearly, that wasn’t the case. Now, Palm is trying to save face by telling Pre owners that they can continue to sync with iTunes by declining an iTunes software update.

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Please. That was a horrible response. This isn’t Apple’s fault. This is Palm’s fault. They marketed a feature of a new phone without having any control over that feature - and now they’re trying to make Apple look like the bad guy.

Read the rest here.