
The amount of apps in the Windows Phone Marketplace
Microsoft's Windows Phone Marketplace has now reported to have passed 25,000 apps by one site tracking comings and goings within it. (source: WindowsPhoneAppslist, July 2011)

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I don't understand why the syncing of a Pre is a bad thing for Apple. Doesn't that mean that even MORE people are using their product and accessing their online store? I'm confused.
No, because you can't buy songs from the iTunes store and listen to them on your Pre.
Apple wants people to buy things from the iTunes store, which you can only listen to on your iPod or iPhone.
Because Apple can't get it out of their head that software can be profitable. They believe themselves as a hardware company first. And to use their software, you must use their hardware. It's the same question as to why they refuse to just sell Mac OSX for standard PCs?
You can buy songs from iTunes and use them on a Pre since the iTunes Store is now DRM free.
Its bad for apple because one of the main reasons people buy their ipods is because itunes makes it easy to put music and stuff on it. If other devices(better devices) had itunes support, why would anyone buy an ipod?
Apparently you are mistaken Apple with Microsoft. Apple is a hardware company and it still is. iTunes store does not even generate the revenue to support its online store operation. The only reason for Apple to keep the iTunes store is only because Apple wants you to buy the iPod or iPhone. Once the chain is broken, the revenue will suffer.
Because syncing with iTunes is a feature of the iPhone. It's one of the reasons I want one. To have all your contacts, calendar, music, movies, websites, etc, synced from one piece of software is a really handy trait. Even Palm touted it as a feature of their pre, even though the pre could only do music.
Now, the iTunes store is DRM free, meaning you can still buy music from it for the Pre, you just can't sync it automatically. Dragging and dropping the artist folders in your itunes folder should do the trick though. Of course, it's not as easy. One of the advantages of the iPod and iPhone is it's ability to sync with iTunes.
Get it?
Thank you for thinking logically! But this is Apple we're talking about. Leave logical thinking to Logitech.
But really I don't see Apple's purpose either. It only helps iTunes and if they were smart, they would all numerous products to sync to iTunes and stop trying to monopolize everything they make. They force you to buy hardware to use their half-assed software(though somewhat good at times). When they instead could push THE SOFTWARE side to numerous hardware, making them then dependent on Apple's store.
I hope that Palm repatches it, but I honestly am still surprised that they even acknowledged that it had the iTunes syncing capability. If they were to patch it, that would be more of a spit in Apple's face than originally allowing the Pre to sync with it in the first place.
Oh, and the pre certainly isn't better hardware.
Small keyboard, cheap construction, small screen, slower, and now, can't sync with itunes.
I've held both in my hands, used both. Pre was a catchup game from Palm. Catches up more to the other feature phones than the iPhone though.
Think about it this way. You buy a Pre being a normal customer, you sync with itunes but you have a problem, who do you think they will call first for support Apple or Palm? If i was apple i wouldn’t want a bunch of palm customers calling me with their problems that has nothing to do with my systems.
@ John
AAC is a widely used format, almost used as much as MP3 these days. The Pre will play iTunes downloads just fine as long as they aren't protected.
Apple wants iTunes to be a desired, easy to use program that is only available to Apple device users.
It's very simple
@ rhcpsfan "Its bad for apple because one of the main reasons people buy their ipods is because itunes makes it easy to put music and stuff on it. If other devices(better devices) had itunes support, why would anyone buy an ipod?"
I don't understand this argument. Yes, iTunes is sort of useful, but it certainly wasn't my "main reason for buying an iPod." My main reason was having an easy to use, small mp3 player, and the iPod is one of the easiest to use. For an mp3 player, the only features I care about are how it plays music once it is on the player... I don't give a rat's ass what program is used to get the music onto the player. Yes, I use iTunes, but not because it is some great program. Rather, I use it because it is (a) free; and (b) designed for use with the iPod (my mp3 player of choice) so there is much less liklihood of technical hiccups. Are there honestly people out there who think "Hmm, I don't know what music player to buy. Let's see, what is compatable with this mp3-playing program on my computer... that's the one I want."?!?! Don't people buy iPods because they want iPods, not because they want iTunes?
I bought an iPod because it was the best hardware for me. But, if there was another player that I liked better, I wouldn't hesitate to get it regardless of which program is used to get the music on there.
And as for Greg's argument about syncing contacts, calendars, etc., who cares if a phone can sync those things with iTunes, as long as it can sync with MS Outlook (or whatever PIM program you happen to use)? Do you honestly think "Hey, when is my next haircut appointment?... let me open up iTunes and find out."? Weird.
@Mikey
I used the zune software for about a month and half before I actually purchased a zune. I have to say, it was certainly a good reason for me to go for the zune, because I loved using the zune software along with the zune pass. Itunes have never really been for me, and I really despised using it. I've been Itunes free for about 2 years now, and I have never looked back and wished I had stuck with it.
I suppose my great experience with the zune software did contribute quite a bit to my zune purchase.
@Dez
Keep in mind though buddy, the Zune is still a great piece of hardware, I think Greg's point was that even if it (software) could be a factor, it is incredibly far from being THE factor.
Sorry, make that Mikey's point, Greg's a loon.
@Mikey
I don't think you understand the iPhone syncing - you don't open up itunes to get your calendar, contacts, etc. You open up your calendar, or contact book, or mail program which has access to your contact book... it nearly instantaneously updates all your info, backwards and forwards, from phone to computer and vice versa, across the entire spectrum of your record-keeping programs.
I haven't played around with a Pre - it probably pushes syncs in similar ways, I'd imagine, at least it better - but the imaginary limitations on the iTunes/iPhone software aren't a good line of attack. There are enough real issues out there - you just gotta take the time to find 'em.
I was thinking the EXACT same thing... I have always believed that there is some sort of mind-control switch in their devices and this goes a long to towards proving it. Would they not make SOOOOOOO much more money if EVERYONE was using their service?
Apple licenses iTunes (see Motorola ROKR). To allow Palm to do this for free would be doing a disservice to their licensees. Unsurprising. If Palm wanted to offer iTunes compatibility they should have done it properly.
@Anthony...
I'm not sure they can patch it. Doing so risks violating the DMCA. True, I'd love to see that heinous piece of legislation thrown out. But right now it's the law and it supports Apple's position.
"Apple is a hardware company and it still is."
Hence the problem. I remember another company that was the hot-tech of the decade.It was a h/w company selling [free] software. It was called Sun Microsystems. It was the hottest company since slice bread back in the 1990's.
And we know where Sun went--bought out by a REAL software company.
Offering OSX to the masses would break Apple into pieces. Not only would they have to work harder to get the OS to run on a huge variety of hardware, they'd lose a great deal of people who are forced into buying they're more expensive hardware. Not ALL people buy Apple Macs because they're sexy...some are forced into it for work, and lots of kids like it because it's pretty.
The whole, not allowing the Pre to use Itunes is pretty simple...it's the competition. When has Apple EVER let the competition link with it's devices/software? I'm not entirely sure that there's any real benefit to using Itunes itself other than for the features of the program itself....there's def. no benefit for Apple which is why they've done this. Peronally I think the Pre used this as a gimmick to try to sway Iphone users. It's not supposed to be a hack, and they've said they weren't going to hack to get the Pre to sync, so let's see what happens now.
Actually i used iTunes because it was the only easy way to get my favorite podcast to sync seamlessly with the Pre.. because the guys running the network are Total Mac heads and don't support anything other than iTunes.