1 iTunes account, 2 iPhones, 3 computers...

[ElPinko]

Hi all, just want to throw something out to this community as you all seem to have the answers!

Heres the plan, currently I own no iphone and a windows laptop. Tomorrow my girlfriend and I will be getting 3gs's, we want to use the same itunes account with manual sync on songs, so we can both share apps only buying them the once... I believe this can be done.

But now to throw in a couple of curve balls! We both own seperate Laptops and would like to put the same iTunes account on them both so we can sync etc when we're apart, can this be done? Also how would it work, for instance if I purchased an app on my itunes for £1, would she then be able to log onto itunes on her laptop and download the app for free?

I know you can authorize multiple computers to use one account.

But now, since I know you're a smart bunch I'm gonna add another layer! In September I will be getting an iMac and selling the laptop, is it possible to de-authorize the laptop, authorize the iMac and keep the girlfriends laptop in sync?

****

On a separate note, thanks to 'iphone.aggie' for his help yesterday, didn't want to needlessly bump the thread but thanks for your fast and detailed response!

 

[GoCubsGo]

It that like two girls ... never mind.

You can basically have 5 computers authorized with one iTunes account.
Also check out this thread.

 

[-aggie-]

It that like two girls ... never mind.

You can basically have 5 computers authorized with one iTunes account.
Also check out this thread.

I'd like to hear the rest of that story, jessica.

Thanks for noting my help OP. Glad to help!

 

[plinden]

You usually can't sync an iPhone/iPod with more than one iTunes Library, but with a little bit of work it can be done.

The iTunes Library database file holds a key called the Library Persistent Id - you can see its value from the iTunes Library Music.xml file. This is what your iPhone uses to determine what computer it can sync with. If this "Library Persistent Id" value is the same on each computer, your iPhone will think it's being sync'ed with its "home" computer.

This involves keeping the "iTunes Library" database file the same on each computer. So make sure the contents of Music/iTunes is exactly the same. The main piece of work involved is making sure the libraries are in sync.

 

[ElPinko]

...ahh

So does that factor in when you are set to manual sync? We don't necessarily want the same music, thats why we're going for manual sync, we just want the same apps?

Is it going to end up just being a case of using the one computer itunes at all times and dropping the other one? In which case migrating over too the iMac in September is going to be a pain...