Google's desktop syncing strategy for Android has always been clear: there is now desktop syncing strategy. Just drag, drop and be content, people! Now, T-Mobile's giving their customers what Google won't, bundling DoubleTwist with new Android phones.
As bundled, DoubleTwist apparently lacks Amazon MP3 store integration, but includes all the rest of the features of the (still) downloadable default version, including multi-device support, library management and photos and movies. As part of the deal, T-Mobile will be hanging DoubleTwist banners in retail stores, and pushing the download on their website. And yeah, DVD Jon's getting paid, apparently well.
As minor an issue as it sounds, sync—or lack of sync—is actually a serious feature for a smartphone. The iPhone thrived with it, taking a population acclimated to the iTunes sync model and sneakily tricking them into two-year cell contracts, while Windows Mobile and BlackBerry have made it a banner feature for their handsets. Palm listed iTunes syncing prominently on the Pre's spec sheet, at least until their hacks were thwarted, and Android...well, Android, despite being the most media-savvy smartphone platform behind iPhone OS, had no syncing provision whatsoever.
Dragging and dropping isn't a big deal by any means, but it can be irritating to manage a large, fluid music and podcast collection one by one. People appreciate syncing. This should be a boon for T-Mobile, but it'd be nice if Google, no stranger to late-stage course-correction, could take a hint here. [TechCrunch]


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