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Wireless iPhone sync software rejected by Apple from App Store

Apple this week rejected "Wi-Fi Sync," a third-party application that allows the iPhone and iPod touch to sync wirelessly with iTunes.

The developer, Greg Hughes, has instead turned to the unauthorized source for iPhone software, Cydia, which is available only on "jailbroken" devices that can run software not approved by Apple. Wi-Fi Sync is available to purchase through the Cydia Store for $9.99.

Hughes told Engadget that an Apple representative told him over the phone that the application was not specifically in violation of the terms of the iPhone OS developer agreement.

"While he agreed that the app doesn't technically break the rules, he said that it does encroach upon the boundaries of what they can and cannot allow on their store," the developer said. "He also cited security concerns."

Wi-Fi Sync allows an iPhone or iPod touch to wirelessly transfer data such as music to the device without tethering it to a computer via a USB cable. It is not supported on the iPad. The current application works with Mac OS X and requires separate, free software to be installed on the machine running iTunes. Hughes said a Windows version of the desktop application is forthcoming.

The developer first introduced the application in late April.

Apple has maintained tight control of the ability of its devices to sync with the iTunes desktop client. Last year, the iPhone maker was engaged in a well-publicized sync spat with rival Palm.

Originally, Palm's WebOS mobile operating system identified itself as an iPod to allow the device to sync with iTunes by default. But Apple released numerous iTunes updates that killed the functionality. The back-and-forth battle continued for months, until the USB Implementers Forum sided with Apple and warned Palm that its actions were in violation of the organization's rules.



140 Comments

rocjetblue320 20 Years · 34 comments

This is why jailbreaking is the only way to have a iPhone.

fixmdude 18 Years · 80 comments

Wow, did we all buy our iPhones or are we just renting them from Apple? Even if I rented a laptop, I'd still have the freedom to put software on it.

tazinlwfl 16 Years · 117 comments

I'm a bit disappointed about this... I would have LOVED this one! I dont want to JB my 3GS, especially with 4.0 coming... but this is tempting :-(

ktappe 17 Years · 825 comments

This is pretty much a fail on Apple's part. They can't hide behind "think of the children" on this one; no, they're stuck looking like overbearing doofuses who are exercising their right to reject apps "just because". I'd planned to get a new iPhone next month to replace my 3G, but now I'll at least wait until jailbreak is proven to work on it, and look seriously at an HTC Incredible while I wait. I've had about enough of this.

babiasu 15 Years · 12 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by fixmdude

Wow, did we all buy our iPhones or are we just renting them from Apple? Even if I rented a laptop, I'd still have the freedom to put software on it.

If you think Android is open, you're wrong!