What does syncing actually do

Good question? How did the music and other similar type soft products get out to the iPhone.

But...

When you Sync the iPhone it takes information that you may have updated through outlook, calendar, music, etc. that you may have updated on your computer and compares and coordinates that information with that on the iPhone.

If the information is not on the iPhone but on the computer, it will move the computer information to the iPhone as an addition to the what is already on the iPhone. In the case of music, I believes that it re-writes all of the music you have designated under the music tab to the the iPhone.

It looks under the tabs indicated by:

Info
Ringtones
Music
Photos
Podcasts
Video

and moves that information, file by file to the iPhone.

In the case of the contacts on the iPhone, it will compare the contacts on the iPhone and determine which contacts are new o and modified and moves them to the computer since you may have made entries directly into your iPhone.

It also does the same thing with the calendar. If you made entries directly into the iPhone and not on the computer it will sync the calendar from the iPhone to the computer.

The precedent of whether the change on the computer has precedent over the ones on the iPhone, if in conflict are resolved during the sync operation and the user syncing the the devices gets a choice of which data to use.

I have never lost data during the sync operation.

Whew!!

Keith,

When you sync an iPhone, or a device that uses iSync, the changes are compared to the data. For example say a friend gives you a new phone number, and you add it to your iPhone. When you sync that number will be added to iCal. There is an option in iSync to set so that it shows you any change before it is made, and asks approval.

As with any other data, its a good idea to keep a backup of yoru Address Book, iCal, etc.

Both of those applications have options to save backups, in addition there are several backup applications available, including the .Mac Backup application that I currently use to backup personal data to my iDisk. With Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, Time Machine will keep backups of your information. More about Time Machine can be found here:
http://www.apple.com/macosx/

Hope this helps,

Nathan C.

bhatia,

The iPhone uses SyncServices to keep track of which information needs to synced in which direction.

The settings for SyncServices on Mac OS X 10.4 are in iSync. I would recomend opening iSync, and reseting Sync History. Also make sure the the data change warning is set to Any change so that it will warn you before anything is changed, since you are working with one or the other being empty currently.

During the first sync data is merged between the computer and the device.

After the first sync, the most recent change is assumed to be correct, and will be applied to both.

Hope this helps,

Nathan C.

Make sure that you have the appropriate boxes checked under the contacts parameters.

The parameters appear on the Info page. If you do not check the box, it will wipe out the contacts on the iPhone.

I had entered names and phone numbers in iphone and then i connected it to my comp for sync.I clicked in info section sync contacts from windows it would not transfer my contacts from my comp contacts to the phone.I have been wrecking my brains for last few days but no luck.I feel it must be very simple step which I am missing.Pl guide me.Thanks

Nathan,
Thanks .I have windows xp on my comp.I tried all permutations combinations for transferring my contacts from comp to phone but no luck.I am sure it must be simple but i cant figure it out.Pl guide.

bhatia wrote:
Nathan,
Thanks .I have windows xp on my comp.I tried all permutations combinations for transferring my contacts from comp to phone but no luck.I am sure it must be simple but i cant figure it out.Pl guide.

being that you are from India which would also mean your phone is unlocked with some sort of hacking method, maybe however you unlocked the iPhone you also made it not possible to sync...

just a possible thought

without more information it is tough to help you

I don't understand. If your wife never sync'd her phone..how does she have music and pictures on it?

My contacts from are getting transferred to my lap top and empties my contacts in the phone.How do I transfer my contacts from my comp to Iphone ? Need urgent help.

If you are using Outlook, I would strongly suggest getting the "personal folders" backup utility from Microsoft's website.