Which iPhone sync settings will give mimum duration?

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Which iPhone sync settings will give mimum duration?

I recently got the 16Gb iPhone and I can't seem to find the correct settings for speedy updates.

I use iCal and Address book, there are 13 photo's on the iPhone and the remaining 14.7 Gb is filled with music.

If I just modify one (1) calendar item, it now takes about two and a half hour to sync!

I think this is because the syncing re-loads all music again. I have tried to modify this by (un)checking "Sync only checked songs and videos" and "manually manage music and videos" but I find it difficult to tell the effects of this (if any) because it still takes a long time (you can only modify with a connected iPhone, which means you have to wait a cycle and then apply and then check for differences).

I was not yet able to find any postings on this and I did not yet find any help texts on this. But two and a half hours is a ridiculous amount of time for syncing.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Bob

PowerMac G5, Mac OS X (10.4.11), iTunes 7.6 iPod Classic 80Gb iPhone 16Gb

Posted on May 7, 2008 4:03 AM

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Answer 1

drsailer

Level 4

1,537 points

May 7, 2008 5:10 AM in response to Bob Aalsma

Bob,

There is a definite problem if it is taking that long to sync. All of your music should not sync each time, only songs which have been added, or had their metadata changed (added artwork, etc). Couple of questions to help figure this out: What type of Macintosh are you using for your iTunes library, and what type of USB port (hub, keyboard, in computer) are you using when syncing? What version of iTunes are you using? And what version of the firmware is installed on your phone?

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Answer 2

Bob Aalsma Author

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May 7, 2008 5:48 AM in response to drsailer

Thanks for the fast reply.

The iTunes library is on my G5 (1.8 Ghz), the files are stored on a LaCie Big Disk connected through Firewire 800.
I am using the USB port of the Apple Cinema Display, which is supposed to be USB 2.0.
iTunes is 7.6.2 (9), which should be current as far as I am aware.
Umm, how do I tell the firmware? OS is 1.1.4 (4A102)

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Answer 3

drsailer

Level 4

1,537 points

May 7, 2008 6:44 AM in response to Bob Aalsma

The first thing to try is syncing the phone from a USB port directly on the computer that has USB 2.0. The USB port on the monitor is considered to be part of a hub, and the iPhone is not designed to work with USB hub ports. In a similar fashion, it tends not to work on a keyboard USB hub. Second, are your computer USB ports 2.0? You can check from Apple System Profiler. The iPhone will sync over a 1.0 USB port but it will be very slow. And even if the USB port on the monitor is 2.0, it will only be 1.0 when connected to a 1.0 port on the computer.

After checking the speed of your computers USB ports, try syncing directly plugged into the G5 and see what happens.

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Answer 4

May 7, 2008 6:46 AM in response to Bob Aalsma

Using an available USB port on a monitor or keyboard is considered a hub.

Connect your iPhone to a USB port on your computer to see if this makes any difference.

You can also turn off automatic syncing with your iPhone sync preferences, or globally for all iPods and iPhones connected to your computer via iTunes preferences.

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Answer 5

Bob Aalsma Author

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May 7, 2008 12:39 PM in response to drsailer

🙂

Test results:
- System profiler says "Up to 480 Mb/Sec" (which I think means USB 2.0) for the direct port I am now using.
- Syncing calenders, contacts, mail and bookmarks each took less than a minute.
- The next phase, 'Syncing iPhone', took nine minutes even though I have unchecked all songs and videos in all possibly connected lists.

So yes, a very large improvement in speed indeed. Thanks!

I still feel that twelve minutes syncing is long: I would prefer to sync just before I leave my workplace, in order to carry an up-to-date iPhone.

So I'm still wondering what is synced during those nine minutes and how to stop that part (or rather: how to make this an optional part). How can I determine what is synced?

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Answer 6

May 7, 2008 12:49 PM in response to Bob Aalsma

Still much too long.

I suggest trying a Restore.

This will completely erase your iPhone, re-install the current firmware version, and after the current firmware version is re-installed, you will be prompted to restore your iPhone from your iPhone's backup, followed by a sync.

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