Palm Pre Syncs With iTunes Again

It appears that Palm is prepared to engage in a game of chess –- or maybe tag -– with Apple.

Last week Apple sent out a software update for iTunes that stopped the Palm Pre from syncing with it. Before the update, when you plugged a Palm Pre into your computer, it appeared as an iPod to iTunes, which happily linked up and downloaded music, photos and videos. No other phone — besides the iPhone — could do that.

But after Apple’s iTunes update 8.2.1, which said it “addresses an issue with verification of Apple devices,” iTunes didn’t recognize the Palm. A major selling point of the Pre went poof.

Now it’s Palm’s turn. It has released update 1.1.0, which addresses Apple’s previous addressing. Just go to the Palm Pre menu and touch the gift box icon labeled “update” to start the download. Make sure you are on a fast network (Wi-Fi is preferred) or it won’t load.

With 1.1.0 in place, the Palm can once again sync with iTunes.

Your move, Apple.

In the meantime, if you want to make sure you can sync your Pre no matter whose turn it is, there is a free Web-based app for PCs called Dazzboard and a $40 software product for Mac called The Missing Sync. Each claims it will do the job.

By Roy Furchgott