Newer version of Apple`s iTunes no longer provides syncing functionality

Palm`s spokesman confirmed that Pre owners can no longer use Apple's iTunes to sync their smartphones to Macs or PCs. Apple said that it updated iTunes to Version 8.2.1, which provides a number of important bug fixes and addresses an issue with verification of Apple devices.

Pre users began reporting on Palm's support forum that the reference to "verification of Apple devices" meant iTunes syncing was broken. However, some blamed Palm more than Apple. The solutions offered in the support thread today included not updating iTunes, rolling back iTunes to the previous version or using the "doubleTwist" software. Previously, Palm had also said Pre users could sync by directly connecting the smartphone to a desktop with a cable.

Besides, last month, Apple threatened to flip the kill switch on Pre syncing, saying iTunes doesn't support non-Apple hardware and warned that newer versions of Apple`s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with non-Apple digital media players. And Palm laid out the choices Pre users would have if Apple did kill Pre sync, saying users can always stay with the current version of iTunes and continue to sync their music.

Apple last updated iTunes on June 1, when it patched a critical security vulnerability and prepped the software for iPhone 3.0. One of the Pre users who posted to the Palm support forum reported that version, 8.2, can be downloaded from an archive of out-of-date software.