James Delahunty
28 Sep 2009 22:26
Palm's webOS 1.2 update for the Pre didn't launch as expected last week, but is expected to become available sometime during this week. It is reported that a test of a revamped App Catalog is what triggered the delay. A PreCentral source said that the software update will provide native sync for the iTunes 9 software when it is released, which will undoubtedly up the tension between Apple and Palm over the Pre-iTunes dispute.
The source said that Apple's blocking of iTunes syncing has never caused a delay in the release of new software. In fact, the source claimed that the first attempt to break sync between the software and the device was fixed in just five minutes, by simply changing the USB VendorID to mimic Apple's ID.
Palm is reportedly committed to continuing efforts to keep iTunes sync working until the amount of time required patching software becomes unreasonable. More specifically, the company will only stop restoring the sync when the process of patching the software takes more than 40 hours; the average work week for an employee.
The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) recently sided with Apple in the dispute and asked Palm to clarify its position.