Palm Pre Shut Out of iTunes — Or Is It?

Apple has made good on its threat to shut the Palm Pre out of iTunes. The Pre had done a nifty trick: when you plugged it in to a computer, iTunes thought the Pre was an iPod, then filled it with your music, video and photos. But iTunes update 8.2.1 takes care of all of that. Now iTunes doesn’t recognize the Palm. In Apple’s words, the update, “addresses an issue with verification of Apple devices.”

Of course, you have the option of not installing the update, or you can use a workaround.

One that is free and in public beta test is dazzboard, a Web-based application that is intended to transfer files from your desktop (PC only) and the Web to any mobile device.

The Finnish company Linkotech just recently made dazzboard public. It is free, but it’s also in beta, so be prepared for possible glitches.

Linkotech’s chief executive, Tero Salonen, said that when you plug the Palm in — even if you have installed 8.2.1 –- iTunes will start to open. Just close it, he said, it won’t hurt anything. Dazzboard installs as a browser extension to Firefox or Internet Explorer. Connect with the Palm in Media Sync mode for the best result, he said.

If there aren’t others out there already, I’m sure there will be soon. Maybe one for the Mac? Got one to share?

By Roy Furchgott