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Syncing app data between iPhone and iPad?

T

tys

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 3, 2008
373
62
Hi,
I was wondering if there will be a way to have application data sync between the iPhone and the iPad?
I know iTunes or MobileMe can handle the contacts, notes, music, etc, but what about other apps?
For example, if I keep track of my bike rides on the "Cycling log" app in the iPhone, will I be able to have that information sync over to the iPad?
I plan to use the Phone on the go and the Pad at home, so it would be nice if everything was kept in sync so information could be entered and viewed on either device?
Individual app developers could provide for syncing data, I guess, but it would be ideal if it could happen automatically (in iTunes, through MobileMe, or over wifi?) for all apps, or at least apps that the user selects.
Has anyone heard anything on this?

tys
 
Ps.

It occurred to me that maybe this already happens in iTunes.
When I restore my iPhone or get a new one, all my data is put back exactly like I left it.
Can anyone who syncs both an iPhone and iPod Touch in iTunes confirm one way or the other?
 
tys said:
It occurred to me that maybe this already happens in iTunes.
When I restore my iPhone or get a new one, all my data is put back exactly like I left it.
Can anyone who syncs both an iPhone and iPod Touch in iTunes confirm one way or the other?
Click to expand...

iTunes does this for 2 iPhones (wife and I) with no issues. Also the nice fact I can load all the apps I've already paid for onto the iPad day one. Yay Slingplayer mobile :)
 
I've wondered about this too, but have refrained from bringing it up, because there's just no way to get a definitive answer to this until Apple tells us or the iPad is released. For what it's worth, it's possible to transfer settings and app data from an iPhone to iPod touch and vice versa using backup and restore, but there's no way to keep two devices in sync during normal use. For example, say you have a database app on both an iPhone and a touch, and you add some data to it on the iPhone, and you add some other data using the touch. There's no way to combine the two datasets into one. Or say you are playing Game A on the iPhone, and advance a few levels, and you play Game B on the touch and advance a few levels. There's no way to preserve both game levels. I really hope Apple does come up with a way to address this, because while it would have been rare for someone to use two or more iPhones / iPod touches concurrently, with the iPad, it's highly likely that people would use it concurrent with an iPhone or touch.
 
It is possible that Apple can make this easier in the future, but for the moment one way that I know it can work is that developers simply have to implement their own solution to this in their iPhone and iPad apps, just like they currently do for syncing between an iPhone app and a desktop app. Of course the down side of this is you have to manually sync each app in a different way. I could see a better solution to this coming in iPhone OS 4 and/or future versions of iTunes.
 
I am using Mobile Me and it syncs 3 Macs and my iPhone. I really hope that the iPad will sync with my other devices as well. I really need the iPhone and the iPad to have all of my contacts and calendars in sync for my sales job. Mabye Mobile Me takes care of that. Any thoughts?
 
davidlw said:
I am using Mobile Me and it syncs 3 Macs and my iPhone. I really hope that the iPad will sync with my other devices as well. I really need the iPhone and the iPad to have all of my contacts and calendars in sync for my sales job. Mabye Mobile Me takes care of that. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

I don't see why MobileMe wouldn't work with the iPad, given that it's basically a feature of the OS, which we already know supports it.
 
I said it before and I'll say it again. the data should be embedded within the app somehow. that way it would also be saved on your computer each time you sync and you wouldnt have to worry when restoring. its ******* ridiculous they havent done it like this
 
felixen said:
I said it before and I'll say it again. the data should be embedded within the app somehow. that way it would also be saved on your computer each time you sync and you wouldnt have to worry when restoring. its ******* ridiculous they havent done it like this
Click to expand...

I think it will work like this in the iPad - one folder per app... see:
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2010/01/29/apple-reinventing-file-access-wireless-sharing-for-ipad/
It won't be "in" the app, but close enough...

What I'd like to know is how will various apps account for differences between iPad & iPhone/touch apps. For example, it seems the new iPad calendar allows you to categorize appointments by color. Will those colors disappear on the iPhone? Will the iPhone app be updated to show the colors? I reckon there are similar issues today - syncing data between a Mac & iPhone, but I'm just not clear on how that works... I currently have an iPod Touch & a PC... and no apps which have a "PC presence".

Also, what happens if you are editing both your iPhone & iPad separately, and don't get to syncing them until sometime later? How does iTunes resolve overlapping changes? Does anyone with two devices today have any insight into that?
 
felixen said:
I said it before and I'll say it again. the data should be embedded within the app somehow. that way it would also be saved on your computer each time you sync and you wouldnt have to worry when restoring. its ******* ridiculous they havent done it like this
Click to expand...

If by sync you mean when iTunes backs up your phone, then I'm pretty sure this is exactly how it currently works.
 
vini-vidi-vici said:
I think it will work like this in the iPad - one folder per app... see:
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2010/01/29/apple-reinventing-file-access-wireless-sharing-for-ipad/
It won't be "in" the app, but close enough...

What I'd like to know is how will various apps account for differences between iPad & iPhone/touch apps. For example, it seems the new iPad calendar allows you to categorize appointments by color. Will those colors disappear on the iPhone? Will the iPhone app be updated to show the colors? I reckon there are similar issues today - syncing data between a Mac & iPhone, but I'm just not clear on how that works... I currently have an iPod Touch & a PC... and no apps which have a "PC presence".

Also, what happens if you are editing both your iPhone & iPad separately, and don't get to syncing them until sometime later? How does iTunes resolve overlapping changes? Does anyone with two devices today have any insight into that?
Click to expand...

iCal on the Mac and iPhone allows you to use different colors for different calendars; i.e. Home, Work, Kids, whatever. But on the iPhone those calendars' colors are represents by colored dots next to each calendar and when viewing all calendars at once, the individual appt entries have the dots next to them, unless you view them in list view.

 
Well the Kindle app does this by 'talking' to the Amazon cloud.

If you go to page 45 in a Kindle book on your iPhone, then open the book on your actual Kindle, it'll go to page 45 (assuming it to has sync'd wirelessly to the Amazon cloud, which it does). And vice versa.

So it's certainly possible. Like a PP said, it just requires the dev to handle the back end some how.

Which raises an interesting business opportunity - a cloud database hosting service focused on apps. I know Amazon offers cloud services, but I wonder if they offer something relatively turnkey for this type of solution. Anyone know?
 
felixen said:
I said it before and I'll say it again. the data should be embedded within the app somehow. that way it would also be saved on your computer each time you sync and you wouldnt have to worry when restoring. its ******* ridiculous they havent done it like this
Click to expand...

i agree. i hate restoring and loosing all data within my apps
 
mtnDewFTW said:
Yes, it can. Any app that you get in the App Store will automatically sync with your iPad the next time you plug it in
Click to expand...

I was really surprised with this... So I buy an app once, and I can use it on all my devices? This is really different than what I'm used to with computer software.
 
bossxii said:
Also the nice fact I can load all the apps I've already paid for onto the iPad day one. Yay Slingplayer mobile :)
Click to expand...

I'm excited that I won't have to break out my MacBook when I'm away from home and I want to use my slingbox.
 
e.n.d. said:
I was really surprised with this... So I buy an app once, and I can use it on all my devices? This is really different than what I'm used to with computer software.
Click to expand...

You can use apps you've bought on 5 devices. I have put my apps on other people's iphones and vice versa.
 
If you watch the keynote, during the NY Times app, she said something like "if you like you can just save this article and read it on your iPhone later". I remember thinking that's a huge plus and I'm surprised it wasn't touched on further.
 
felixen said:
I said it before and I'll say it again. the data should be embedded within the app somehow. that way it would also be saved on your computer each time you sync and you wouldnt have to worry when restoring. its ******* ridiculous they havent done it like this
Click to expand...

It actually needs to be a separate file from the App. 1 file for the app, 1 for the data. Then you could restore as new, install apps and move over the data.

I have orders to restore a Touch as new from a genius - however, i have ONE APP that doesn't have a restore on the backup they do. So, i'll lose it all - and it stores a bunch of medical info... so well, don't want to redo it all. Every other app i can get back - well, not my games, but that is minor to me - but the developers has to code a solution instead of just dealing with it properly.

WHY????? Apple needs to implement this, or quit demanding the Genius' require you to do this. The "too bad so sad" thing bites.

I'm hoping the shared area solves this in 3.2, and that it carries over to the Touch.
 
mtnDewFTW said:
Yes, it can. Any app that you get in the App Store will automatically sync with your iPad the next time you plug it in
Click to expand...

From what Apple and everyone else is saying this should be the case, which is good. But my question is....what if I want a different selection of apps between my iPhone and my not yet arrived iPad? Do I have to go through the trouble of checking and un-checking apps every time I sync each unit? This would be bad. :(
 
Jethrotoe said:
From what Apple and everyone else is saying this should be the case, which is good. But my question is....what if I want a different selection of apps between my iPhone and my not yet arrived iPad? Do I have to go through the trouble of checking and un-checking apps every time I sync each unit? This would be bad. :(
Click to expand...

No. I have an iPod touch and my partner has an iPhone and both are synced to the same computer. He has his own set of apps and I have my own set, and each device remembers which app is synced to itself. I expect the iPad will work the same way.
 
Software Piracy?

LSUtigers03 said:
You can use apps you've bought on 5 devices. I have put my apps on other people's iphones and vice versa.
Click to expand...

So, you could buy apps with 4 other people and split the cost 5 ways?
Seems a bit unethical if not downright shady :confused:
There is a reason why software developers usually limit installation to one computer, unless you purchase multiple licenses.
 
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