Notices

Is there a way for force/trick iTunes into accepting the N900 as an Apple USB product, the way Palm cheated with the Pre??

or


is there any news on this kind of functionality being developed??

I hate saying that, but why should someone develop an extension to something that will be locked in the next release?

Why does Apple behave like this anyway? Is there any other company that forces you to buy their hardware to use their software? And shouldn't it be illegal? I fail to see how only allowing ipods with itunes is worse than anything Microsoft does that results in them constantly being fined.

Last I checked, Apple wasn't holding a gun to anyone's head FORCING them to buy their hardware in order to use their software.

You can easily install OS X on a PC. You can use iTunes on windows OS as well.

As far as them only allowing iPods on iTunes... Why should Apple develop drivers for say, a Microsoft Zune? Where is the incentive for them to do that?

Apple is also under no obligation to release iTunes API's or code and by extent, it's hard for a 3rd party to write software that will allow other devices to sync with itunes.

Perhaps Apple should be found guilty of contributory infringement by making it harder for people without Apple media players to acquire music, etc. legally.

So... Let me get this straight, and make sure I understand what you're saying, dmj...

If you come up with an engine that is extremely powerful and extremely efficient, but only runs on say, a proprietary fuel that you also invented, do you think you should be found guilty if that engine only works on your fuel?

What would be your incentive to make the engine run on different fuels if you also sell the specific fuel your engine requires?

If Apple should be sued for this, Shouldn't Microsoft also be sued?
Last I checked, Microsoft doesn't support the iPod/iPhone with their WMP, Well, not without a paid add on, but then MediaMonkey owns them all anyway.

Well, I was making at dig at the concept of contributory infringement as much as at Apple.
Though, the car analogy (we all love those, right?) would be more apt if you had the car maker preventing anyone else from making engines that could also run on their proprietary environment-saving super-fuel.
All I was suggesting was that locking people out of ways to actually acquire legal copies of media (and pay money that sometimes actually ends up in artists pockets) does as much to encourage illegal filesharing as anything else, so Apple's policies likely encourage some people not to pay for legal media.

Is iTunes Music Store the only way to buy music legally?
I personally prefer Amazon's MP3 downloads. The albums usually have the same bonus content as iTunes, but are much cheaper.
You can then use some other music manager/player to sync them with the N900. No need to force iTunes to accept N900 as an iPod.

Is it the only way, no. Do I really care about hacking iTunes support, no. Actually, the best services are the ones that will work with any device, and don't depend on continued operation of a server somewhere and the maintenance of a specific client program. There are a few music services that behave like this already (and I've noticed them on the n900 too!).