iTunes Wireless Sync NOT plugged in

[Photogdave]

Did we get an update or something. I read that in order for iPhone 4s to wireless sync with iTunes, phone needed to be plugged into charger and connected to wifi.

Well this a.m, I was able to sync with iTunes wireless without charger.
I'm moving some PDFs to iBooks and fired up iTunes, it found my Phone, so I synced and boom.

I was trying to avoid connecting to charger because I still had 60% and didn't want to reset my usage history. I'm trying to document for a user here that's having battery issues.

But am I missing something on the need for charger.
In fact, in the "iTunes Wi-Fi Sync" menu the "Sync Now" button is grayed out until the wall charger was connected. And it states,
"Automatically sync with iTunes on your computer when your iPhone is plugged in to power and connected to Wi-Fi"

I'm not complaining, its definitely easier to sync without need for charger. I mean if I'm gonna get charger our and plug in, why not just plug in to computer and then sync is faster. I always thought that was odd for the need of power, but after thinking a bit......i guess it would be bad if the phone died due to low battery right in middle of sync. So I never complained.

I definitely like this better, just wondering when and if it changed or am I the only one getting this "feature"
Oh and BTW, I screenshot 3 or 4 screens in middle of sync for those who are skeptical
It shows sync in top and you can see its not plugged in.
Also a usage screen shot of battery life so we can see it wasn't plugged in at anytime because the usage wasn't reset.

 

[Ultimates]

Definitely seems to betray the point of wireless syncing if you need to plug it into something.

 

[MaxBurn]

You on PC? Wireless sync was very unreliable for me and it even brought itunes video player performance down to the point where it was dropping frames, freezing etc.

I went back to the cable.

 

[chenks]

you've always been able to initiate a wifi sync manually without having the power cable connected.

auto wifi sync will only happen though when power cable is connected.

 

[Photogdave]

You on PC? Wireless sync was very unreliable for me and it even brought itunes video player performance down to the point where it was dropping frames, freezing etc.

I went back to the cable.

Yes I'm on PC.
Do you mean playing video from phone through iTunes or do you mean after you sync wireless to computer then it skipped frames.

The wireless sync is ok, but its not as fast as with usb cable. In most instances, I'll sync with USB cable just for speed etc. But for those like this am, wireless syn is nice if there's not too much

But I have 25mbps service here. So that may be why its more stable.
The data transfer on video that's shot in 1080p may not be fast enough to keep up with video on some service.

Also, most wifi computers aren't getting full service speed from router for various reasons
My service is 25down, 3Mb up and I get all of it, so its no issue.

But still cant figure out why it let me sync with power cord plugged in. I'm glad, but seems odd if that's the way Apple wanted it, unless they changed it.

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Definitely seems to betray the point of wireless syncing if you need to plug it into something.

Yeah that was my thought too. If I get out the charger, why not just plug the other end into USB instead of wall

But, I guess they were worried about battery dieing in middle of sync....don't know what issues that could cause.
I'm sure there are still benefits too of being able to wireless sync even though still need charger, but not use USB.
I guess if you had no more USB slots available to plug phone into at moment, you could still sync......Im trying to give Apple benefit of doubt, can you tell

 

[Photogdave]

you've always been able to initiate a wifi sync manually without having the power cable connected.

auto wifi sync will only happen though when power cable is connected.

Ahhhhh, so the need for power cord is when I initiate sync from my end(the phone), but I can initiate with no cord from the PC side....correct?

If that's right I guess that's kinda nice then.

As a side note, when Im syncing, is there a chance I can remove stuff from the phone by accident.

 

[Small White Car]

Ahhhhh, so the need for power cord is when I initiate sync from my end(the phone), but I can initiate with no cord from the PC side....correct?

No, you can do a cordless wifi sync that you start from the phone.

iPhone SETTINGS > GENERAL > iTunes Wifi Sync > Sync Now

The only thing that needs a cord is an auto-sync, because you don't want your phone suddenly draining its battery without your knowledge.

 

[SplicedBanjo]

If, for some reason, you really want to auto-sync even on battery power, a workaround is to get a Mophie Juice Pack (which I recommend anyway). As long as there is some charge left in the Juice Pack and charging is turned on, that counts as "plugged in" as far as the iPhone can tell.

 

[MaxBurn]

Yes I'm on PC.
Do you mean playing video from phone through iTunes or do you mean after you sync wireless to computer then it skipped frames.

Playing a video on the computer in itunes sucked with wifi sync enabled. But I could play the same video in quicktime which was fine. Disabling wifi sync fixed it. I'll try again after 5.1 and the itunes updates come out.

 

[Photogdave]

No, you can do a cordless wifi sync that you start from the phone.

iPhone SETTINGS > GENERAL > iTunes Wifi Sync > Sync Now

The only thing that needs a cord is an auto-sync, because you don't want your phone suddenly draining its battery without your knowledge.

Oh yeah, I see now.

Before, that was gray'd out....but I didnt give iTunes time to see my phone once opened. After it sees the phone, then I can sync now.

I guess when I tried before, it was coincidence that by the time i got charger and plugged it in, thats when the phone showed up in iTunes and it made me think it was because I plugged it into power.

Well it makes more sense this way for sure. Thanks for help.
I dont want any part of Auto Sync. I keep most auto push, sync etc off for battery.

I have great battery at moment so I dont plan to do anything to change that. I dont need to know every email I get as soon as it comes through. I check it periodically on my own.

Right now, since my last charge, Im at 50%.

 

[Photogdave]

Playing a video on the computer in itunes sucked with wifi sync enabled. But I could play the same video in quicktime which was fine. Disabling wifi sync fixed it. I'll try again after 5.1 and the itunes updates come out.

yeah I noticed the video playback wasnt good in iTunes either. Its clear, sharp, but skips a lot.

Quick time was better, but I got the smoothest from Windows Media Player......I KNOW. It must be a setting in quick time I have wrong or something.

I'll try turning off wireless sync to see if it helps. It shouldnt have anything to do with playback of a video on pc.....but what do I know.

 

[PNutts]

You on PC? Wireless sync was very unreliable for me...

I went back to the cable.

Me too. It's too bad because I would like to use it to also sync the kid's iPod.