iPhone Syncing: I Don't Want It!

[Tallest Skil]

Disclaimer: If this is has been posted somewhere else, don't hesitate to close this thread. I'm not proud, just link me there first!

Here's my dilemma: I have all my music on my iPhone and iPod Nano. I have SOME of that (three albums, to be exact) on my iMac, and don't want it all on my iMac (that's what my Nano and iPhone are for, I thought...). How can I charge-dock my iPhone to my iMac without it syncing and deleting what's not on my iMac from my iPhone? Don't say, "Just untick 'sync music' from the iPhone menu," or, "Choose 'Disable...iPhones' in Preferences." I've done the latter, and the former makes me clear my music and movie from my iPhone. Have I just done this out of order? Did I somehow need to not sync before putting everything on? That doesn't make sense, as you need to sync to get anything on there... And where's drag-and-drop, for crying out loud?! Sorry for the rant, I just want to charge through my iMac and keep my music where it belongs. Is that so much to ask?

 

[gr8tfly]

It's a bit confusing to me what you trying to do (or not do), but I'll take a stab at it.

If all of your music is on your iPod(s), then how is it possible "all of your music" is NOT on your iMac? Do you have another computer you are using for syncing? iPod syncing always makes the computer the "master". The iPod/iPhone will always contain either the entire library [on the computer] or a subset (by playlist, for example).

It sounds like you have your other iPod set to sync the entire library. So, it's an all or nothing deal. Try making playlists (like "iPhone"), then drag the music into that playlist. Then, select ONLY that playlist for syncing.

 

[Tallest Skil]

I'm confused that you're confused, but then again, I wrote it; it makes sense to me. I put all of my music on my Nano and then took everything off my iMac that I didn't want there anymore. Time passed. I won my iPhone, put the music back on my iMac, put it on my iPhone, and retook off what I didn't want again. Now when I plug my iPhone in it deletes the music it has on it that isn't on my iMac. My Nano doesn't do this; it retains everything thanks to the non-synching thing iPods have going for them. Also drag-and-drop. I'm just wondering if there's a way to have the iPhone not delete its contents every time I dock it with my computer. I'd just prefer to charge it over my iMac rather than the wall socket.

Long Story Short: Is this (stoppage of synching with computer files in the manner of iPods) possible for the iPhone?

Edit: I read this and realized that it makes sense. This is not an accident, although it seems like it based on my previous post. This is just a lot more coherent than the other one, and I'll try to make all of my posts more like this one in the future...

 

[gr8tfly]

Ok, that's what I thought.

The problem is sync only works one direction - iTunes to iPod/iPhone. iTunes will try to create an image of your library on the iPod. So, as you've found out, when you delete media from the iMac, it will mirror that on the iPod. If you need the space on your iMac's internal HD, you probably need to move your media to an external drive. You can set iTunes to look for your media on the new location.

 

[Tallest Skil]

Tanj. Thanks for the info. What's up with that, anyway? Why would Apple have done it like that? Here's hoping for a fix in iTunes 7.3.2. Or 7.4, whichever.

 

[26139]

yep

Yes, what you want to do is sync playlists manually (which includes the option not to sync at all), which is an option on iPods, but not the iPhone.

As previously stated, this should be fixed eventually, I would hope.

 

[gr8tfly]

Not that convinced it's broken. It works the same way it has since the 1G iPod came out in 2001. I'm sure the behavior is part of the agreements with the music industry. Unfortunately, DRM free media gets caught up in it.

 

[After G]

I am wondering why 3 albums worth of space is so valuable that you can't keep copies of your music on your iMac.

I would love a drag-and-drop iPod as well, but I have to say iTunes saved me twice acting as a backup for my iPod.

 

[26139]

No

Not that convinced it's broken. It works the same way it has since the 1G iPod came out in 2001. I'm sure the behavior is part of the agreements with the music industry. Unfortunately, DRM free media gets caught up in it.

Not true. There's no option to manual sync your music on iPhones, but there is on all iPods.

It's different.

Look at iTunes when you plug either one in.

 

[gr8tfly]

Not true. There's no option to manual sync your music on iPhones, but there is on all iPods.

It's different.

Look at iTunes when you plug either one in.

I'm referring to the fact that if you delete music from the source mac, it will delete it from the iPod/iPhone. Doesn't matter whether you use playlists, full library, or manual. If you delete or disable a file for syncing, it will be removed from the device.

edit: Apple tv works almost the same way as the iPhone.

 

[diamond.g]

Turn off Auto Sync. It should then wait for you to manually initiate a sync before deleting everything.

 

[gr8tfly]

Turn off Auto Sync. It should then wait for you to manually initiate a sync before deleting everything.

That should work - just have to remember to do it right after sync. Then, remember to put the music back on before syncing. Also, with the iPhone, I believe if you turn off AutoSync, you don't get any sync - i.e. contacts, calendars, etc.