• The Wall Street Journal, Thursday, July 16, 2009 1:30 PM

Apple this week released a software update to its iTunes media store that blocks rival Palm Inc.'s Pre smart phone from accessing it. The update "disables devices falsely pretending to be iPods," an Apple spokesperson said. Apple regularly updates its iTunes software, prompting users to download the new versions whenever they access iTunes.

Palm's Pre had been able to access iTunes since going on sale in the U.S. in early June, but The Wall Street Journal notes that it was always unclear whether the Pre was doing so with Apple's permission. The new update is seen as a big setback for Palm, which is hoping that sales of the Pre will help turn the company around.

"If Apple chooses to disable media sync in iTunes, it will be a direct blow to their users who will be deprived of a seamless synchronization experience," Palm spokesman Lynn Fox said. However, she noted that "people will have options," which include using previous versions of iTunes that are still compatible with the Pre.

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