iTunes Automated iPhone Backup WORKS!! - iPhone 3G

GQmacguy · 07-12-2007, 11:04 PM

iTunes actually keeps a backup of your iPhone when you sync (iTunes/Prefs/iPhone). One might thinks that is just keeping a backup of your information/settings that you have saved on your phone, which is the case, but it also does so much more.

I know that a few people have discovered this feature, but I wanted to give a little detail on how well it works.

Yesterday I swapped my 4g for an 8g because they finally had 8g's in stock at my Apple store. I proceeded to take it home and spent some time emailing myself all my bookmarks and notes that I had saved on my old iPhone. Then I when through the process of switching out the SIM's, calling ATT to do a little dirty work, then proceeded to sync my new 8g to continue the activation. Upon sync, iTunes asked me if I wanted to sync the 8g as a new iPhone or from a restore. I clicked restore, etc, etc, and when I unplugged my iPhone and started flicking through it, I noticed that is was in the EXACT SAME STATE as my 4g was 15 minutes ago before the new activation!
All my texts, recent call history, missed calls, voicemails, bookmarks, browsing history, Youtube bookmarks, notes, and all my settings and saved wireless networks were all there on my new 8g.

I must say I was pretty impressed at Apple, and how well they made that work. I am in no fear now, for I know if my iPhone were to ever crash, everything would be ok. I actually was talking with one of the managers at our Apple store yesterday and told him how impressed I was with that, and he stated he didn't know it worked like that and a lot of people had been asking questions to that extent so now he has something to tell them.

Once again, I'm still pretty impressed with my iPhone experience.

burniksapwet · 07-12-2007, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GQmacguy

iTunes actually keeps a backup of your iPhone when you sync (iTunes/Prefs/iPhone). One might thinks that is just keeping a backup of your information/settings that you have saved on your phone, which is the case, but it also does so much more.

I know that a few people have discovered this feature, but I wanted to give a little detail on how well it works.

Yesterday I swapped my 4g for an 8g because they finally had 8g's in stock at my Apple store. I proceeded to take it home and spent some time emailing myself all my bookmarks and notes that I had saved on my old iPhone. Then I when through the process of switching out the SIM's, calling ATT to do a little dirty work, then proceeded to sync my new 8g to continue the activation. Upon sync, iTunes asked me if I wanted to sync the 8g as a new iPhone or from a restore. I clicked restore, etc, etc, and when I unplugged my iPhone and started flicking through it, I noticed that is was in the EXACT SAME STATE as my 4g was 15 minutes ago before the new activation!
All my texts, recent call history, missed calls, voicemails, bookmarks, browsing history, Youtube bookmarks, notes, and all my settings and saved wireless networks were all there on my new 8g.

I must say I was pretty impressed at Apple, and how well they made that work. I am in no fear now, for I know if my iPhone were to ever crash, everything would be ok. I actually was talking with one of the managers at our Apple store yesterday and told him how impressed I was with that, and he stated he didn't know it worked like that and a lot of people had been asking questions to that extent so now he has something to tell them.

Once again, I'm still pretty impressed with my iPhone experience.

Do you need to be syncing something specifically? (contacts calendar...) How do I get to save all my info in the first place? Thanks.

GQmacguy · 07-13-2007, 01:15 AM

Apparently it does it automatically upon your normal sync, videos, music, etc

ColsTiger · 07-13-2007, 01:17 AM

Just Apple being Apple.

Regnad · 07-13-2007, 02:51 AM

I assume that you were using a Mac?

I restored my iPhone from my PC and lost those things like bookmarks, notes, etc. Minor thing, but I really don't see why that would be the case.

Brandon! · 07-13-2007, 02:56 AM

Interesting. When I was on tech support and we some how lost all of my contacts, he said there was no way for me to get them back. Do you know if there are rolling backups or just a single backup?

GQmacguy · 07-13-2007, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regnad

I assume that you were using a Mac?

Yes, I'm using a mac. I would think that as long are you sync it is a Crossplatform backup. Maybe not though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandon!

Interesting. When I was on tech support and we some how lost all of my contacts, he said there was no way for me to get them back. Do you know if there are rolling backups or just a single backup?

They are rolling. If you go into your iTunes preferences under the iPhone tab, it should show the dates of the backups. Mine has 3 in there at the moment.

neo · 07-13-2007, 03:45 AM

I did the same exact thing two days ago, except i didnt even change my sim card. Just synched my info on my 4gb took it in, exchanged for the 8gb went to work came home that night and activated the new one through i tunes (3-5 minutes this time versus the 36hrs the first time

) kept all my info as the OP stated and this was with a PC.

Regnad · 07-13-2007, 05:21 AM

My situation was slightly different in that I had done a restore and recovery on the same 8 gig phone. It did not restore bookmarks, notes and contact favorites, etc.

I just looked in iTunes and I see no options that should affect this. No big, but if someone runs into more on this I would appreciate a heads-up.

Oh, Vista32 in case that's relevant...