iPad Sync iPad without backing up?

[TheIntruder]

Ummm... no. Here's a screen shot of iTunes when the iPad is connected. There is no option to turn off automatic backups. So sorry, but it IS part of the regular sync process whether you want it or not. How do you turn it off short of a Terminal hack?
It appears to be more Apple "We know better than you what's good for you" hubris.

As long as you keep the setting of "Automatically Back Up" set to "This Computer" that's how it will act.

Switch it to "iCloud" and it will not. Unfortunately, there is no setting, or other explicit method to prevent iTunes from performing local back ups altogether, possibly short of issuing the terminal command in the article.

That may not be the solution you desire, but it has proven to prevent back ups during the sync process.

If that is not a satisfying answer, then become a vocal part of the minority of iOS users who still connect their devices to their computers, sync data manually; and leave feedback. But don't be surprised if such a narrow use case inside a minority group doesn't get the priority you may think it deserves.

Otherwise, you'll have to deign to employ the solutions that have been presented, and known to work, or refuse to and continue to stew.

 

[Jethro!]

If you Sync right after a sync it does not backup..

Huh? Who in the world would do that? That never happens. Syncing the Calendar ALWAYS takes 5-10 mins because it forces full backups every time.

Your solution is to downgrade OS X to the last version which had iTunes that works they way you want.

And who in the world would do that? The solution would be a simple "Off" or "None" checkbox on the backup option.

Try sending feedback to Apple. I complained to them that the first version of Catalina didn't even have a Sync progress bar, it just displayed a spinning wheel until the sync was complete, and now we have that feature back.

Ok, but I don't think they're listening. This appears to be intentional Apple hubris which trumps what customers actually want.

 

[Jethro!]

As long as you keep the setting of "Automatically Back Up" set to "This Computer" that's how it will act.

Switch it to "iCloud" and it will not.

I don't use iCloud. Not gonna.

Unfortunately, there is no setting, or other explicit method to prevent iTunes from performing local back ups altogether, possibly short of issuing the terminal command in the article.

Yeah, and that's intentional and retarded.

If that is not a satisfying answer, then become a vocal part of the minority of iOS users who still connect their devices to their computers, sync data manually; and leave feedback. But don't be surprised if such a narrow use case inside a minority group doesn't get the priority you may think it deserves.

Otherwise, you'll have to deign to employ the solutions that have been presented, and known to work, or refuse to and continue to stew.

Awww, thanks for the superior posturing. Makes me feel warm and fuzzy. Let me tell you a little something about this "minority group" guy who "continues to stew"...

I was one of the few that supported Apple Computers (remember when their name included "Computers"?) during their dark days when they were barely hanging on by a thread. Microsoft threw them a financial lifeline. Word on the street then was, "Don't buy an Apple Computer -- they're about to go belly up." Most people didn't. But I did. As did a handful of others. Just barely enough to keep them afloat. But thanks to this "minority group," Apple (Computers) hung on long enough to eventually become the behemoth iToy company it's become. Good for them, except for the fact that they're ignoring us "minority group" folks who actually know something about computers in favor of the fickle iToy crowd. The latter will abandon Apple in a heartbeat as soon as the next shiny toy technology emerges.

So yeah, I think this "minority group" will "continue to stew" a bit.

 

[darngooddesign]

And who in the world would do that?

Someone who needs a feature from the previous version of OSX.

The solution would be a simple "Off" or "None" checkbox on the backup option.

Until Apple implements that checkbox option, or until you use iCloud for contacts and calendars, downgrading OSX is your solution to get the functionality you need.

 

[Zazoh]

I don't use iCloud. Not gonna.

Absolutely your choice. It is not the strategic direction Apple has decided to go. There are discussions happening now where Apple is considering portless devices. May not be the next version, but soon there will not be an option to synchronize by wire. It is an outdated mode of transferring data.

 

[Jethro!]

Someone who needs a feature from the previous version of OSX.

Until Apple implements that checkbox option, or until you use iCloud for contacts and calendars, downgrading OSX is your solution to get the functionality you need.

Or ditching Apple altogether. It's no longer the same company.

 

[Jethro!]

Absolutely your choice. It is not the strategic direction Apple has decided to go. There are discussions happening now where Apple is considering portless devices. May not be the next version, but soon there will not be an option to synchronize by wire. It is an outdated mode of transferring data.

"Outdated" by whose standard? Apple's? Their success was built on the philosophy of choices for the user. Now it's "Our way or no way." Completely opposite.
Someone's been drinking too much Apple Kool Aid.

 

[doboy]

"Outdated" by whose standard? Apple's? Their success was built on the philosophy of choices for the user. Now it's "Our way or no way." Completely opposite.
Someone's been drinking too much Apple Kool Aid.

Their philosophy was never about giving user choices, at least during Job’s era. Even now, most of the “choices” you get are the different config of the hardware, but not much in the way of the software. It’s their way or the highway. Although they are starting to open up a bit more.

 

[Zazoh]

"Outdated" by whose standard? Apple's? Their success was built on the philosophy of choices for the user. Now it's "Our way or no way." Completely opposite.
Someone's been drinking too much Apple Kool Aid.

I think we’re talking about a different Apple.

Floppy, optical drive, headphone jack, wired headphones all outdated, all removal put in motion by Apple.

I don’t have a copper wire home phone either. I carry a device in my pocket that connects in various over the air methods that allow me to communicate in the same room or around the world. It’s not the future. It is now. Anything else is outdated.

The kool aid tastes good.

 

[darngooddesign]

Or ditching Apple altogether. It's no longer the same company.

Sure that's also an option. Do something tho because complaining on the internet won't accomplish anything.

"Outdated" by whose standard? Apple's? Their success was built on the philosophy of choices for the user. Now it's "Our way or no way." Completely opposite.

Outdated does not necessarily mean good or bad, it just means its no longer the current trend or standard; doesn't matter if it's just your preference or a security need. For example, wired internet at home is outdated, but in government or corporate offices it isn't necessarily outdated.

So yes, syncing with a cable is outdated.

 

[darngooddesign]

Did you try the terminal command?

Did you contact Apple to register this as a feature request?

 

[Jethro!]

Their philosophy was never about giving user choices, at least during Job’s era.

Yes, it was. e.g. Jobs expressly said so during the 'infamous' 1997 announcement of Microsoft's cash infusion into Apple... "We believe in choice." This was in the context of making MS Internet Explorer the default Mac browser, yet they allowed the CHOICE to change the default browser if you so wished.

Now they would remove the option and the Apple fanboys would cheer the exclusion of other browsers as "outdated."

 

[Jethro!]

I think we’re talking about a different Apple.

Floppy, optical drive, headphone jack, wired headphones all outdated, all removal put in motion by Apple.

I don’t have a copper wire home phone either. I carry a device in my pocket that connects in various over the air methods that allow me to communicate in the same room or around the world. It’s not the future. It is now. Anything else is outdated.

The kool aid tastes good.

Guess what? I (and lots of others) still use optical media, wired headphone jacks and copper wire home phones daily, in addition to newer stuff. That stuff is all still "now." So no, it's not "outdated" at all. The only reason you think it is is because you're a victim of marketing. Your strings are being pulled without you even realizing it.

Try setting down your latte and exiting the Apple store for once. You might encounter the real world!

 

[Jethro!]

Sure that's also an option. Do something tho because complaining on the internet won't accomplish anything.

Yes, it does. Squeaky wheel gets the grease. (So long as the wheel attendant hasn't gotten to arrogant).

Outdated does not necessarily mean good or bad, it just means its no longer the current trend or standard; doesn't matter if it's just your preference or a security need. For example, wired internet at home is outdated, but in government or corporate offices it isn't necessarily outdated.

So yes, syncing with a cable is outdated.

No, outdated means outdated. Current trend means current trend. Two different terms.

Sync via cable is hardly outdated. Current trend really means... buy new stuff even though you don't really need to. Follow the money.

 

[darngooddesign]

Yes, it does. Squeaky wheel gets the grease. (So long as the wheel attendant hasn't gotten to arrogant).

The squeaky wheel only gets grease if the person with the grease can hear it. Complaining to Apple and submitting a feature request is more useful than grousing on Macrumors.

No, outdated means outdated. Current trend means current trend. Two different terms.

It is outdated because it is no longer the current trend.

Definition of OUTDATED

no longer current : outmoded… See the full definition

www.merriam-webster.com

Sync via cable is hardly outdated. Current trend really means... buy new stuff even though you don't really need to. Follow the money.

I use iCloud for contacts, keychain, and calendars, and a cable for all media and iOS backups; relying on cables has cost me far more than iCloud which is free. So "following the money" actually means only using first and second party cables.

 

[darngooddesign]

These steps will let you bypass the sync backup by removing all permissions to the Backup folder.

1. Give Terminal full disk access in System Preferences > Security
2. Type "chmod 000 ~/Library/Application\ Support/MobileSync/Backup/" in terminal.
3. Type "chmod 755 ~/Library/Application\ Support/MobileSync/Backup/" in terminal to restore -wrr permissions.

You won't be able to use the "Back Up Now" button until you complete #3.

I bet you could automate the entire process by creating an AppleScript.

 

[Zazoh]

Guess what? I (and lots of others) still use optical media, wired headphone jacks and copper wire home phones daily, in addition to newer stuff. That stuff is all still "now." So no, it's not "outdated" at all. The only reason you think it is is because you're a victim of marketing. Your strings are being pulled without you even realizing it.

Try setting down your latte and exiting the Apple store for once. You might encounter the real world!

I’m not attacking you. Why do you find the need to attack me? You seem to be getting very worked up over outdated ways.

I gave you my use case. It is hardly marketing.

 

[darngooddesign]

I knocked out a simple AppleScript to do this task. Run this as an application to sync without the backup and you can still use the regular syncing and backup buttons. I'm using a delay to restore permission after it has passed the backup stage but you could further modify it to sense when the sync button becomes enabled.

-----

tell application "Terminal"
activate
do script "chmod 000 ~/Library/Application' 'Support/MobileSync/Backup/"
display notification "Permissions changed"

tell application "Finder" to open ("/" as POSIX file)

tell application "System Events" to tell outline 1 of scroll area 1 of splitter group 1 of window 1 of application process "Finder"
set theElements to first UI element of every row whose name is "YourPhoneName"
repeat with e in theElements
try
if name of e is "YourPhoneName" then
tell e to perform action "AXOpen"
exit repeat
end if
end try
end repeat
end tell

tell application "System Events" to tell application process "Finder"
repeat until button "Sync" of splitter group 1 of splitter group 1 of window "YourPhoneName" exists
end repeat

click button "Sync" of splitter group 1 of splitter group 1 of window "YourPhoneName"
end tell

delay 30

tell application "Terminal"
do script "chmod 755 ~/Library/Application' 'Support/MobileSync/Backup/"
display notification "Permissions restored"
end tell

end tell

 

[Jethro!]

I’m not attacking you. Why do you find the need to attack me? You seem to be getting very worked up over outdated ways.

I gave you my use case. It is hardly marketing.

Pointing out that you're a victim of marketing is an attack? Well, if you say so.

And yes, it is marketing. If Apple owned exclusive rights to cables every one of their products would connect via physical wire. They would say everything else is "obsolete" and the fanboys would buy it up then preach how everyone else is "outdated."
Would you like your Apple cable in rose gold or graphite?

 

[Zazoh]

Pointing out that you're a victim of marketing is an attack? Well, if you say so.

“Your strings are being pulled without you even realizing it.”

“Try setting down your latte and exiting the Apple store for once. You might encounter the real world!”

No. Read the tone of your reply. I’m presenting ideas about wireless technology. This somehow upsets you, so you attempt to belittle me. Others have also given you options and you continue to do the same to them.

Later.

 

[ericwn]

Or ditching Apple altogether. It's no longer the same company.

That’s right and pretty obvious . Steve Jobs transformed it from the mediocre mess it was 20 years ago.
The fact that so much time has passed since adds to that. It is very much a different company. Like any company from back then is not the same either.

 

[ericwn]

Guess what? I (and lots of others) still use optical media, wired headphone jacks and copper wire home phones daily, in addition to newer stuff. That stuff is all still "now." So no, it's not "outdated" at all. The only reason you think it is is because you're a victim of marketing. Your strings are being pulled without you even realizing it.

Try setting down your latte and exiting the Apple store for once. You might encounter the real world!

The stuff you mention is leftover technology from the last century that most you get people don’t get in contact with anymore. You and I might because we are from that time.

Apple was benefiting for a while from the removal of this old stuff. Just because they’re the type of company that likes to cut old tech off when they see fit. Their way or the highway. No tweaking their interfaces. No tweaking their experiences. No tweaking their hardware. Choice is just a word Jobs used once. Just like he claimed they’d never do a video iPod, then was the first to show it on stage.

 

[darngooddesign]

Well Jethro, you now have a solution to your problem. It's not a checkbox created by Apple, but long-time Apple users like us have no problem fixing our own problems.

 

[Jethro!]

Apple was benefiting for a while from the removal of this old stuff. Just because they’re the type of company that likes to cut old tech off when they see fit. Their way or the highway. No tweaking their interfaces. No tweaking their experiences. No tweaking their hardware. Choice is just a word Jobs used once. .

No, "choice" was not just a word Jobs used once, it was a design philosophy they generally adhered to. It's what rose them from the ashes in the 90's. Since his passing, they have consciously abandoned this philosophy in favor of Shiny New Toy philosophy. You even acknowledged they're not the same. As you can see from some fan boys on this thread, it's worked -- if it's new, it's gooder than the last! No doubt they've made huge $$ with SNT philosophy, but it's as shallow as the customer it appeals to. Once they've driven off their previously loyal base, they'll be left only with the Shiny Toy crowd, and no one else to blame when they inevitably abandon them.

 

[Jethro!]

No. Read the tone of your reply. I’m presenting ideas about wireless technology. This somehow upsets you, so you attempt to belittle me. Others have also given you options and you continue to do the same to them.

Later.

You might want to check your own tone before accusing others of the same. You declare anything but the Shiny New Toy as "outdated" -- when it's not -- then get huffy when it's pointed out you've been sold a bill of goods... Oh yes, you "need" these things! Right. Maybe some self-reflection on whose will is actually governing yourself is on order -- yours or Cook's? Mmmkay?