If you restored from iTunes, some apps would not sync to the selected device. Has this been fixed?
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Is iTunes App Syncing fixed?
- Thread starter AmazingTechGeek
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According to Apple. it is by design. So don't expect any fix.
That is because a true universal app does not exist anymore. Apps have to be built for specific iOS device. So if you backup an app meant for iPhone 5S to itunes, it won't be able to correctly work for iPhone 6S because resources are optimized for 5S's smaller screen size. Things would complicate if the same app is transferred to iPhone 6S. It would look downright horrible or not work. So Apple has disabled app syncing and transferring of purchases.
Blame it on Apple's greedy business tactic of still selling 16 GB entry level device.
App store also requires more computational power to calculate and push the correct resources from app's master file. If they are maintaining separate versions of every app for every device, that would increase their storage requirements by 5-6 times.
App thinning will end up costing Apple and developers more in the long run compared to selling 32 GB entry level devices.
Either way it is a fail scenario.
its garbage thatll probably never be "fixed", app thinning is the one & only failure with ios 9, if its considered part of ios itself
If I understand correctly, iTunes 12 and iOS 9 will no longer transfer apps to a device, by design? You gotta be effing kidding me.
I can understand a thinned app downloaded on a device not getting copied back to a host computer, but you'd think iTunes would be smart enough to download a full version, and upload what's needed for a particular device.
What's next, are they going to remove app syncing entirely from iTunes? Doesn't seem like a far fetched idea now.
I was wondering why iTunes 12 wasn't moving updated apps to my devices automatically, and forcing me to Update each one manually from the Apps list. To hear that it might not be a bug, but a feature, is flabbergasting.
I can understand a thinned app downloaded on a device not getting copied back to a host computer, but you'd think iTunes would be smart enough to download a full version, and upload what's needed for a particular device.
What's next, are they going to remove app syncing entirely from iTunes? Doesn't seem like a far fetched idea now.
I was wondering why iTunes 12 wasn't moving updated apps to my devices automatically, and forcing me to Update each one manually from the Apps list. To hear that it might not be a bug, but a feature, is flabbergasting.
In iTunes click on Apps: Updates and then in the bottom right hit the Update All Apps button. Setup a weekly reminder in the Reminders App (or App of your choice) to do this.
The problem I'm having isn't acquiring updated apps, either by downloading the whole lot via the Update All button, or picking or choosing which ones to update.
The issue is that the Sync button in iTunes used to push all those updated apps to my devices automatically, along with the rest of the music and data from a sync operation.
iTunes 12 doesn't seem to do that any more, so I have to go the app picker list, determine which apps are newer than what's installed on the device, press the Update button for each, then click on the Apply button in the lower right corner.
I can't imagine that is by design, but if it is, heads need to roll.
Personally, I'm not concerned about syncing from a device to iTunes, since I make all my purchases and downloads through iTunes. But I understand it sucks for those whose workflow functioned that way.
I just want syncing from iTunes to a device to work properly, which should apply to everyone.
Obviously Apple doesn't see it that way.According to Apple. it is by design. So don't expect any fix.
That is because a true universal app does not exist anymore. Apps have to be built for specific iOS device. So if you backup an app meant for iPhone 5S to itunes, it won't be able to correctly work for iPhone 6S because resources are optimized for 5S's smaller screen size. Things would complicate if the same app is transferred to iPhone 6S. It would look downright horrible or not work. So Apple has disabled app syncing and transferring of purchases.
Blame it on Apple's greedy business tactic of still selling 16 GB entry level device.
App store also requires more computational power to calculate and push the correct resources from app's master file. If they are maintaining separate versions of every app for every device, that would increase their storage requirements by 5-6 times.
App thinning will end up costing Apple and developers more in the long run compared to selling 32 GB entry level devices.
Either way it is a fail scenario.
In the long run it makes supporting multiple devices much easier.
So how about "Automatic App Updates" for iTunes?
Honestly, couldn't they at least request updated universal apps from Apple at device sync for the full version?
Yes, you can no longer transfer apps purchased on an iOS Device running iOS 9.x to iTunes. And yes, iTunes and app thinning are seriously fubarred, but not completely broken.
If you ALWAYS “purchase” your iOS apps via iTunes using the same account on the same Mac, you can…
* maintain an up-to-date library of all your iOS apps for all of your iOS devices by updating the apps ONLY via iTunes, then
* sync these up-to-date apps (USB or OTA) with your iOS devices via iTunes without downloading them again.
The biggest issue is if you forget and “purchase” an app on an iOS device. In that case you have to find it in the iTunes store and download it via iTunes (again) to keep your iOS apps library complete. From then on you just update those iOS apps like the others and sync them with your iOS devices. The list of updated apps on your iOS device will no longer correctly reflect when apps were updated. It takes a few minutes after syncing via iTunes, but the apps showing that they need to be updated will eventually change from "update" to "open" and later disappear from the list.
—-GetRealBro
If you ALWAYS “purchase” your iOS apps via iTunes using the same account on the same Mac, you can…
* maintain an up-to-date library of all your iOS apps for all of your iOS devices by updating the apps ONLY via iTunes, then
* sync these up-to-date apps (USB or OTA) with your iOS devices via iTunes without downloading them again.
The biggest issue is if you forget and “purchase” an app on an iOS device. In that case you have to find it in the iTunes store and download it via iTunes (again) to keep your iOS apps library complete. From then on you just update those iOS apps like the others and sync them with your iOS devices. The list of updated apps on your iOS device will no longer correctly reflect when apps were updated. It takes a few minutes after syncing via iTunes, but the apps showing that they need to be updated will eventually change from "update" to "open" and later disappear from the list.
—-GetRealBro
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That's about as good a summation as I've seen.
But, with the part highlighted broken in iTunes 12.3.1 (for me at least), using this style of workflow as I've always done, is problematic.
I think Apple's ultimate goal is to just have every device and computer only have the capability to suck directly off their cloud services' teat through Apple Music, iCloud, the App Store, and not have to worry about pesky things like syncing, backups and multiple device management.
Too bad their online services have never risen above mediocre, dating back to eWorld.
I've been maintaining an up-to-date iTunes app library (as I described) since i got my 6s on Day1. This system works for me. I update apps once in iTunes and then sync the updated apps to both of our iPhones with no problems. Well except the delay in the App store on the iPhones recognizing that the apps have been updated via iTunes. But this delay is usually only a few minutes.
I agree with your comments on Apple's ultimate goal vis a vis the cloud. Once Apple gets most of us running iOS 9, the link to iTunes will probably be broken. We'll be forced to deal with the iCloud for backups, app updates, etc. If that happens folks like me, whose only options are low bandwidth or capped internet connections, will be shafted.
---GetRealBro
I agree with your comments on Apple's ultimate goal vis a vis the cloud. Once Apple gets most of us running iOS 9, the link to iTunes will probably be broken. We'll be forced to deal with the iCloud for backups, app updates, etc. If that happens folks like me, whose only options are low bandwidth or capped internet connections, will be shafted.
---GetRealBro
FWIW I don't have automatic downloads turned on because AFAIK I can't control when these downloads happen. Auto-downloads are devastating to low bandwidth internet connections like ours -- 256KB/sec on a good day. For example when Microsoft or Apple update their "office" apps it can take several hours to download the set. And we really don't want that to happen when we are trying to stream Netflix.
I'd turn on auto-downloads in a heart beat if I could limit them to between 12-6AM.
--- GetRealBro
You can enable automatic download for apps in the iTunes preferences. It will then automatically check for apps you have purchased on other devices every time it's started. Edit: Just noticed that this was addressed in the following postings.
But yes, the whole situation sucks. iCloud backup is not a replacement for a fully functional local backup since it's much slower and a potential security risk (see the "fappening"). I really hope they fix it.
So, automatic app syncing works for you with 12.3/9.1? You just press the Sync button from the device summary screen and it transfers apps you've updated in iTunes? I've always ignored the update badge on the App Store app anyway, using this workflow. It used to refresh decently quickly in iOS 7, got worse in 8, and at some point, I just turned off the notification so I don't have to see it at all.
That's the way it has always worked, since my original iPod touch and previous versions of iTunes, until now. There is never a "Step 5" when it transfers apps.
I've examined all the settings, to see if I missed anything, and nothing stands out, unless they've changed the way things work. The only possibility is "Automatically install new (iPhone/iPad) apps," in the App management screen, but I interpret that to install any new app that has been purchased, and that's not what I want.
I've also tried reinstalling iTunes, signing in/out of the account, authorizing/deauthorizing the computer, and a different cable (!). And this is coming from a clean install of 10.11, iTunes, and devices restored with 9.1.
In researching possible solutions, one comment section describing the problem had multiple "likes," and that was with iTunes 11, so apparently, this is not a new thing!
Correct. But it is not automatic. I do it all manually. When I see an app needs updating, I download it via iTunes, then manually sync it to our 3 iDevices via iTunes.
Downloading iOS app updates to iTunes then syncing them to our iDevices has worked for me since I got my iPhone 6s on Sept 25th. It worked with iTunes 12.3.044 on an iMac running OS X 10.9.5 and currently works with iTunes 12.3.123 on that same iMac after upgrading to OS X 10.11.1. For example, I just downloaded the updated FedEx app via iTunes and synced it to our iPhone 6s, iPhone 5s and iPad Mini all running iOS 9.1
FWIW I tried automatic downloads to iTunes as suggested by PNutts. But decided against it because it kicks off two simultaneous downloads -- to the iOS device and iTunes. This would be OK on a fast pipe but not our 256KBS pipe.
--- GetRealBro
I doubt Apple needs to store the same app 5-6x times. I think the apps are built on the fly.According to Apple. it is by design. So don't expect any fix.
That is because a true universal app does not exist anymore. Apps have to be built for specific iOS device. So if you backup an app meant for iPhone 5S to itunes, it won't be able to correctly work for iPhone 6S because resources are optimized for 5S's smaller screen size. Things would complicate if the same app is transferred to iPhone 6S. It would look downright horrible or not work. So Apple has disabled app syncing and transferring of purchases.
Blame it on Apple's greedy business tactic of still selling 16 GB entry level device.
App store also requires more computational power to calculate and push the correct resources from app's master file. If they are maintaining separate versions of every app for every device, that would increase their storage requirements by 5-6 times.
App thinning will end up costing Apple and developers more in the long run compared to selling 32 GB entry level devices.
Either way it is a fail scenario.