Why must iTunes try to back up every time I connect my iPhone?

Thanks for the reply, but Im not interested in a kludge terminal work-around; it was more of a suggestion for a future Apple iTunes update, or perhaps a question for other users just to make sure I didn't miss the setting elsewhere.

I'm wondering why Apple simply doesn't add an option to iTunes to allow users to set the back-up period as a preference of their choosing, for inclusion in a future iTunes update? How hard can it be?

Chris

Well, that's more like it. I didn't notice that 'x' button, and it seems a bit un-Apple-like for programmers to offer that 'x' option without explanation. I dunno, maybe I'm spoiled by Apple's approach that things should just be be obvious or intuitive to the user based on the appearance of the user interface, following 'Apple' philosophy. I guess I get a bit frustrated when computers, much moreso Apple computers, don't act 'Apple-like'. 🙂

Anyway, the ability to bypass the back-up step seems like a decent work-around for this, as you don't have to wait too long for the 'x' to appear. It'll do, in lieu of Apple adding the pref option for users to set a period for automatically performing back-ups when next synced.

I've read that clicking on 'x' may NOT be the best approach here: supposedly some users have reported corruption of data from doing so. I'm taking those reports with a HUGE grain of salt, though, as if it's true, then Apple has really screwed up by NOT making sure that using that x' button doesn't cause corruption! Sloppy programming, if true, so I find it kind of hard to believe.

Anyway, I've researched this a bit more, and found that you can disable the auto-back up feature by following the procedure below (and as posted above):

+This command will change a hidden setting in the iTunes preferences that will force it to skip the backup process.+

+1. - Quit iTunes.+
+2. - Open Terminal.app+
+3. - Copy and paste this in, then hit return:+
+defaults write com.apple.iTunes DeviceBackupsDisabled -bool true+

+4. - Open iTunes+
+5. - Plug in your iPhone (2.0 or 3G) and sync.+

To reverse this (i.e. enable auto back-up), then enter the same line, but replace the 'true' with 'false'.

From http://www.zerologic.com/site/page/pg4047-as131-pnDisable_iTunes_iPhonebackup.html

As some have pointed out, this terminal command approach disables the AUTOMATIC-back-up feature only, but you STILL have the ability to initiate a manual backup by right-clicking on the iPhone icon in iTunes Devices, and selecting backup. Seems like the best approach, as you have the ability to do a full backup when it's convenient for you.

Some people have written free mini-apps to stop auto and manual back-ups (e.g. Backup Disabler 1.3), but frankly I'd rather Apple fix this, and for now the terminal approach seems to be the safest, with the ability to manually initiate backups when it's convenient.

FWIW, I've deleted the old back-up file(s) (there were three (!)) and now find that a new back-up proceeds MUCH quicker than it did before doing this (the old file may have been corrupted).