July 16th, 2009

Apple’s just move to squash the iTunes function could turn off some people looking to buy the Pre, one of the most compelling features on Palm Inc.’s rival Palm Pre’sPre smartphone, crippling the Pre’s ability to act like an iPod, since they might have considered the device as a way to consolidate their music player and mobile phone.

Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr said “disables devices falsely pretending to be iPods, including the Palm Pre.” a unique twist for a device not made by Apple. But Apple updated iTunes on Wednesday to block this feature, which Palm user able to put the music on the Pre by using Apple’s free iTunes software.

Palm spokeswoman Leslie Letts said Apple’s move is a “direct blow to their users, who will be deprived of a seamless synchronization experience.” Meant for a workaround phone and Pre owners can join to the older version of iTunes, move music from laptop computers to a Pre with a USB cable or consider third-party music applications.

Apple’s iTunes software is the example of tensions brewing flanked by Apple and Palm, which since June has been led by the former executive behind the iPod, Jon Rubinstein. He became to Palm’s executive chairman in October 2007, while the Pre smartphone came includes a “multi-touch” screen like Apple’s iPhone, letting users do things like pinch photos to zoom in and out. Apple was granted a patent in January related to certain multi-touch functions.

The news has appear on Tuesday, Samsung Electronics America Inc. introduced new HD camcorders that make easy video recording in new Samsung camcorder by the series SMX-K40 and SMX-K45 both take a different approach to capturing clips by logging them at 720 x 480. Samsung offering users “HD upscaling” to the HDTV via HDMI port.

Both Samsung HD camcorder also powerful zoom lenses, consumers have a 65x Intelli-Zoom, but both devices have difference in the storage options; the K40 requires that you bring your own SD or SDHC card, while the K45 is equipped with a 32GB SSD. Both units sport 2.7-inch LCDs, USB charging and upload-to-YouTube functionality, the company will ship this August for $329.99 and $499.99, see more photos below.

Tracfone Wireless, is the biggest provider of “prepaid” mobile phones, quietly testing a new service uses Verizon Wireless’ network since June, company has been selling unlimited calling and texting for $45 per month under the “Straight Talk” brand, and 1,000 minutes and 1,000 text messages per month for $30, that appears to be a response to the fierce price competition in the prepaid market.

The company plans to a better value for more-frequent callers, and represent Tracfone’s entry into the unlimited plans at the “high end” of the prepaid market. The “high end” is relative because even the most expensive prepaid plans cost less than traditional, contract-based mobile phone plans.

Straight Talk is a test for the company, whose main customer base uses a phone for fewer than 100 minutes per month, paying an average of $10 per month, said F.J. Pollak, Tracfone’s chief executive.

Sprint Nextel Corp. shook up the prepaid market this year with an unlimited calling plan beneath the Boost brand, captivating on regional carriers like MetroPCS and Leap Wireless International Inc. so as to have long offered such strategy.

People can find the mobile phones for Straight Talk are sold by Wal-Mart Stores at 234 locations or if people like to buy online they can visit Wal-Mart Web site, Pollak said. Dallas and Atlanta are some of the largest markets targeted and the mobile phones start at $30. But for Tracfone Verizon Wireless’ network service Straight Talk, Verizon’s subscribers on contracts pay $130 per month for unlimited calling and texting.

Tracfone is a unit of Mexico-based America Movil SA, which doesn’t have its own wireless network in the U.S. Instead it buys wholesale access to the networks of U.S. carriers to support its 11.8 million subscribers. Sanford Bernstein analyst Craig Moffett says the introduction of Straight Talk is a further sign of trouble for wireless carriers.

Maybe contract-based plans make low prices for mobile phones prepaid service strength start to bring down prices in the more positive business.