Apple Inc. has disabled one of the most compelling features on rival Palm Inc.’s Pre smart phone. There will be no iTunes sync feature for Palm Pre which will restrict the Pre’s ability to act like an iPod.

Till now, Pre users had been able to use Apple’s free iTunes software to get music to their Pre. This was unique feature for a device not made by Apple. Apple has updated iTunes on Wednesday and blocked this feature.

Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr said the update “disables devices falsely pretending to be iPods, including the Palm Pre.”

Palm spokeswoman Leslie Letts said Apple’s move is a “direct blow to their users,” but offered a workaround to Pre owners. Pre owners can use the older version of iTunes, or can get their music from computers to a Pre using a USB cable or use third-party music applications.

The iTunes software smackdown gives a hint of the tensions brewing between Apple and Palm. The Pre costs $200 and has many things similar to iPhone. It has a “multi-touch” screen, let users pinch photos to zoom in and out among others. Apple’s squashing the Pre’s iTunes function could lead to lesser sale, but it is not going to affect all of the existing or would-be Pre owners.

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