Bad news for Palm Pre owners: the latest update for iTunes kills the ability to sync the Pre with your PC or Mac computer.

With version 8.2.1 of iTunes, Apple’s software for iPods, iPhones and iPod Touches, the program will no longer sync your phone with your computer. Previous versions of iTunes still work, however, so it might be worth your while to hold off on upgrading iTunes — perhaps indefinitely.

Apple didn’t come right out and say that it was killing support for the Pre, a competing smartphone, but  it did say that 8.2.1 “addresses an issue with verification of Apple devices.” That’s Apple’s way apparently of making sure you can’t use it with the Pre.

Note that there are third-party programs that will enable syncing with iTunes and the Pre, including the latest version of iTunes. But you may have to pay for those.

The Pre, since its debut in June, has been popular and well-reviewed. In a way, it makes good business sense for Apple to not enable functionality with a direct competitor; on the other hand, Apple risks backlash from an angry user community that may look elsewhere for options to iTunes and Mac computers and other Apple devices in the future.

Apple is not a very open company in terms of compatibility with non-Apple products; this action will only reinforce that reputation. But Apple doesn’t seem to care; and so far, it’s done just fine with that attitude.