Z001

Q: sync without iCloud?

After I have installed Mountain Lion, I have had a number of sync issues via iTunes and for a while I thought these were the same reasons I could not sync my notes from my iPhone with the fancy new application on my Macbook.....until I came across this article informing me that it is no longer supported in Mountain Lion(!!!!): http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4191  (relevant part half way down under Syncing Notes with iTunes and OS X Mountain Lion v10.8)

 

I am a traditionalist when it comes to privacy and data security. I like to keep my data on my hardware behind firewall, only upload data onto the web that I genuinly want to share with others (...even to the point of using POP mail account). I have no intention to use iCloud (it seems I am not alone in this, sure you all read the comments by Steve Wozniak http://www.techradar.com/news/networking/routers-storage/apple-co-founder-thinks -the-cloud-will-be-horrendous-1091188).

 

The way things go, I will end up with 6 different Mac devices at home that will stop talking to each other unless I feed all the data into the cloud.

 

Does anyone know a way to sync everything just on your home network, without having to upload stuff to the web? Why cannot we have our own homeCloud? Any suggestions welcome (including from Apple)......Hope I will not have to abandon my Mac devices and consider (dare I even say) Windows!?

MacBook Air (13-inch Late 2010), OS X Mountain Lion, iPhone 4 with latest IOS

Posted on Aug 11, 2012 6:57 AM

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Q: sync without iCloud?

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  • by TopSteve,

    TopSteve TopSteve Feb 4, 2014 10:02 AM in response to TopSteve
    Level 1 (69 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 4, 2014 10:02 AM in response to TopSteve

    a update I can sync evey thing with OS X 10.9 and my iPhone 3G but not NOTEs and that's a problem.  Can any one help I can not use icloud and google seems to hide there NOTES and I have not manages to sync with these iver.  I will be sending this as a feedback to apple feedback site.

  • by AkChap,

    AkChap AkChap Feb 4, 2014 10:25 AM in response to Z001
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 4, 2014 10:25 AM in response to Z001

    I am checking out ownCloud for our personal use (at ownCloud dot org) and running it on a Raspberry Pi.  Our use is mainly for calendar and contacts with some file use perhaps.  Worst case we'll get an older intel Mini and install Snow Leopard Server on it.

  • by Z001,

    Z001 Z001 Feb 4, 2014 1:15 PM in response to TopSteve
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Feb 4, 2014 1:15 PM in response to TopSteve

    TopSteve,  You mentioned you are able to sync calendars and contacts between iPhone and Mavericks. Just want to make sure, this is still using the server solution, correct? (For a minute I thought you managed to find a miracle cure for the iTunes sync probem.)

  • by TopSteve,

    TopSteve TopSteve Feb 4, 2014 1:29 PM in response to Z001
    Level 1 (69 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 4, 2014 1:29 PM in response to Z001

    Z001 wrote:

     

    TopSteve,  You mentioned you are able to sync calendars and contacts between iPhone and Mavericks. Just want to make sure, this is still using the server solution, correct? (For a minute I thought you managed to find a miracle cure for the iTunes sync probem.)

    "server solution" NO I have GMAIL and YAHOO both have "Calendar" and "Contacts" and all of my devices are set to access these.  So my iPhone has my gmail calendar and contacts on it so dose my MacBook pro and Powerbook and PC laptop so they all have the same e-mail, calendar and contacts.

     

    The problem I have is: When I am out and about and I get an idear I used to type that in the the notes on my iPhone 3G then when I got home would plug it in the the USB port and iTunes run sync and the notes appeared in mail but now they do not niver do the appear in notes.

  • by Z001,

    Z001 Z001 Feb 4, 2014 4:47 PM in response to TopSteve
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Feb 4, 2014 4:47 PM in response to TopSteve

    TopSteve, I thought (around the middle of this thread) you were using server, hence the question. In OSX 10.9 onwards there is no USB or local Wifi sync for Calendar, Contacts and Notes (actually for notes since 10.8). You can sync notes via one of your IMAP accounts (Yahoo would support it I believe) but not via local sync. I do not know any solutions for local (USB or WIFI) sync. You can use third party notes apps that sync with their desktop versions but not using the native Apple OSX or IOS Notes apps. Unfortunately I have no experience on syncing via IMAP as I do not use these for notes, calendar, etc. for the same reason I do not use iCloud.

  • by I am Mel,

    I am Mel I am Mel Feb 4, 2014 6:31 PM in response to TopSteve
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 4, 2014 6:31 PM in response to TopSteve

    @TopSteve

     

    Somewhere in this thread, or another one, I posted my workaround. It's not ideal, but I've gotten used to it, and it works for me.

     

    I created a new group in my contacts called "Notes." For each Note I had, I created a new contact in that group, then copied and pasted the old note, into the "notes" field of the contact. I then selected the "company" option for the title of the contact and named it whatever I wanted to title the note. The rest of the contact fields were left blank.

     

    Now when I sync my contacts, those are synced too (because they are contacts) and when I want to only see my notes, I select the "Notes" group in contacts, and see the list of titles, with the notes in the notes fields.

     

    Again, it's not ideal, but now that I'm used to it, it works well enough.

  • by TopSteve,

    TopSteve TopSteve Feb 5, 2014 4:50 AM in response to Z001
    Level 1 (69 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 5, 2014 4:50 AM in response to Z001

    Yes Z001 I did say about running a server(I have 10.5 server) at home and I could use this for Calendar and Contacts but not for Notes may be Server 10.9 dose Notes (I'll have to check)

     

    "I am Mel"  :-)  I love your answer to the Sync Notes problem.

     

    Last night I did looked at the Notes.app in 10.9 and noted that some of my notes where there but then I relised that when I first installed 10.9 I downgraded the iTunes 11 to iTunes 10 and I might have had the iPhone pluged in then so perhaps iTunes 10 sync'ed them then BUT!!! with iTunes 10 there where problems with the App Store so I had to go back to iTunes 11.  I have not tested this yeat but perhas a downgrade to iTunes 10, MAY!!!(downgrading can be a bit hit and miss) work for some.

     

    Steve

  • by TopSteve,

    TopSteve TopSteve Feb 5, 2014 1:58 PM in response to I am Mel
    Level 1 (69 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 5, 2014 1:58 PM in response to I am Mel

    Update I have just found a longwinded way of doing it.  Plug the iPhone into the USB port and do a genal sync with iTunes now use a program like iExplorer and goto "Backup -> Notes" and your new notes will be there.  You can export all the notes or just the ones you have just added.  then inport them to where/what ever you want.  There may be better ways.  If you want the none iCloud ways of doing this please use apples feedback site.

  • by eastudio,

    eastudio eastudio Feb 4, 2015 1:09 PM in response to Keksi
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 4, 2015 1:09 PM in response to Keksi

    I also wished to sync my MS Outlook notes (from my PC) to my iPhone without using iCloud and faced the same issue.

    The only work around besides downgrade or third party is a little labored.

    My solution:

    1. Mail  notes to myself

    2. Access  my  service provider email web account and access email

    3. Copy notes from the email attachment into my web email notes

    4. Sync notes

    Note: I have been able to sync notes between the provider web email account and my iPhone but NOT MS Outlook on my PC

  • by James Chou1,

    James Chou1 James Chou1 Mar 1, 2015 9:42 AM in response to Z001
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mar 1, 2015 9:42 AM in response to Z001

    I recommend checking out Notebooks http://www.notebooksapp.com They have a Mac desktop App and mobile apps and they allow to sync locally.  The Mac App has an internal webdav server that will let you sync when you are on your local network. The app is not as refined as services like Evernote / MS Notes but they have a lot of features, they are actively advancing the product, and responsive to support requests, and of course the security aspect is great.  When setting the sync up be aware of the following issue: https://www.helpify.de/notebooks-for-ipad-iphone-mac-and-pc/3142/cant-sync-betwe en-iphone-and-notebook-server?c=0

  • by Bruce Macevoy,

    Bruce Macevoy Bruce Macevoy Sep 2, 2015 10:36 AM in response to Glenn Leblanc
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 2, 2015 10:36 AM in response to Glenn Leblanc

    i think there are three issues here.

     

    1. why is a functionality removed? was something broken in the iMac<-->iPad syncing? was there a security issue? was data being erased? was the syncing operation becoming too complicated? i doubt it.

     

    2. why is a single functionality or utility required? what's wrong with multiple ways of doing a simple task? i have drop down menu, clickable buttons, hot keys, command key combinations, all to evoke the same operation inside a software environment. i can save, save as, save to a new disk, new folder, why do i need so many save alternatives? the basic answer is that i might prefer them or need them as circumstances require.

     

    3. why is a corporation intruding into personal data management? this is really the crux, and it's separate from the issue of "cloud security". fact is, when i upload data to a corporate server, or pass data through a corporate network, it is no longer "my" data. in extreme cases, the corporation may be acquired by some other corporation, which can void the original privacy contract under which the data was transmitted or stored. but the larger issue is that now i am dealing with user agreements, privacy disclosures, corporate security requirements: i am enmeshed. why is that choice necessary in order to do a private task on private computers?

     

    in my case, i live in the country and must rely on satellite ISP. i do not live in an urban digital hub. in many situations my ISP is slow or bandwidth constrained. i already must drive 20 minutes to an apple store to use their wireless connection to download software updates. i am already heavily dependent on apple connectivity just to keep my systems in working order.

     

    before i retired 15 years ago i was an executive at Yahoo! and i understand software, data and internet issues pretty well. there is no reason i can think of why a local functionality would be removed so that users are FORCED to use corporate services and hardware. it's hostage taking, pure and simple, and it's really the fact that this degrades my convenience, freedom of use, freedom from hassles, freedom from service interruptions and just plain freedom to do things the way i prefer to do them that is at issue here. i have long been a supporter of apple as a corporation and i'm pretty sure this is not something that steve jobs would have ever given his approval.

  • by Rayof Light,

    Rayof Light Rayof Light Oct 31, 2015 5:31 AM in response to I am Mel
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 31, 2015 5:31 AM in response to I am Mel

    I now believe that Apple has changed these settings (not being to use NOTE without icloud) so they can spy or/and transmit data of users to NSA and other governmental agencies! Trough some ''back door'' entry to your ''stored data''.

     

    If anyone got a solution to being able to use NOTE ''without'' icloud i'll be glad to receive the information!

     

    Cheers,

    PJ

  • by BruceHBlack,

    BruceHBlack BruceHBlack Oct 31, 2015 6:20 AM in response to Rayof Light
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Notebooks
    Oct 31, 2015 6:20 AM in response to Rayof Light

    PJ,

    Its even worse now.  Mavericks, Yosemite and El Capitan (10.9, .10, .11) do not support Sync anymore.  The solution I was using, Mark Space's Notebook, Calendar and Fliq, will not work with them and have been discontinued. 

     

    !!!DO NOT UPGRADE BEYOND SNOW LEOPARD IF YOU WISH TO KEEP YOUR DATA OFF THE CLOUD!!!

     

    Unfortunately, that will limit what you can do with iOS and Mail and other programs, not to mention the use of legacy software.

     

    Yes, I do think it is to "force" us on to the Cloud and may leave your data vulnerable to others.  Will it be exploited...to what end...who knows, but it is what it is.

     

    At one point in the discussion, there was talk about setting up your own server and designating that as the "Cloud" that you use to sync through.  I would like to see that discussion revisited and detailed for us.

     

    However, that still does nothing for those of us that spend most of our time in the field and away from internet connection and wish to have some data ONLY reside on the devices we physically have control of.

     

    If you hear further about work-arounds I'd love to hear them!

     

    Bruce

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Oct 31, 2015 9:10 AM in response to BruceHBlack
    Level 9 (50,397 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 31, 2015 9:10 AM in response to BruceHBlack

    Pencil and Paper?

  • by BruceHBlack,

    BruceHBlack BruceHBlack Nov 2, 2015 7:43 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Notebooks
    Nov 2, 2015 7:43 AM in response to Csound1

    I guess!

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