In the Apple world, why does 'Sync' mean 'Erase' ??

Question

In the Apple world, why does 'Sync' mean 'Erase' ??

I have some photos on my iPod, and a few applications. When I try to 'Sync' at work, iTunes 8.0.1 tells me that it will erase the content on the iPod and 'Sync' it to the current iTunes library, which does not contain any photos or apps.

Why does 'Sync' mean 'Erase' and is there a way around this?

I'm fine not syncing the photos, but I want to be able to add applications to the iPod from my work machine, and dragging the app icon from the iTunes Library to the iPod does not work.

Work computer is authorized...

Macbook 2.4Ghz/4GB, Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Oct 28, 2008 7:29 AM

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Answer 1

varjak paw

Level 10

170,200 points

Oct 28, 2008 11:44 AM in response to Nathan Bennett

Sync means sync. But it's a one-way sync, not two-way. That is, iTunes will, if it's set to automatic, sync your library to your iPod making it identical to the content on your computer. By demand of the content owners, way back when the iPods first came out (who by some ludicrous logic feared that it would promote piracy if it was easy to get tracks back off an iPod), though, the reverse isn't the case; iTunes will not sync your iPod back to your library on your computer (except for content purchased from the iTunes Store and for that there's a command; it doesn't happen automatically).

If you want to connect your iPod to more than one computer's iTunes library, set things up for manual control:

Managing content manually on iPod

Regards.

Message was edited by: Dave Sawyer

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Answer 2

Oct 28, 2008 1:08 PM in response to varjak paw

Thanks Dave - but I've bought music at work, downloaded to my work machine, added it to the iPod, taken it home, synch'd and had the music I bought at work added to my home library. Which would be a two way sync, so I'm not sure why it would choose to destroy content on the iPod rather than copy it in certain cases.

I'll check out the manual content control.

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Answer 3

Oct 29, 2008 9:25 AM in response to Nathan Bennett

You can only manually manage your music and video files, not photos, applications or podcasts.

so when you 'sync,' you're only two-way syncing music and video, any photos or applications or podcasts are one-way from computer to iPod, effectively erasing any content on the iPod that falls within those categories.

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