Sync iPod Touch with iTunes via bluetooth

Question

Level 1

0 points

Sync iPod Touch with iTunes via bluetooth

I would like to sync my "touch" with iTunes via Bluetooth. This would eliminate the need to plug in the USB cable each time I carry out this activity. Can someone explain to me why Apple has decided not to implement this? Will the next release of iTunes support this? Or, does it require some kind of a third part app to do this?

PC, Windows Vista

Posted on Nov 21, 2009 7:53 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Jolly Giant

Level 7

25,464 points

Nov 21, 2009 7:58 AM in response to vicexpress

vicexpress wrote:
I would like to sync my "touch" with iTunes via Bluetooth. This would eliminate the need to plug in the USB cable each time I carry out this activity. Can someone explain to me why Apple has decided not to implement this? Will the next release of iTunes support this? Or, does it require some kind of a third part app to do this?

it's currently not possible. bluetooth on the Touch supports headsets only.

as for the future, only Apple knows.

you can request new features via iPod Touch Feedback

Reply

Answer 2

Nov 21, 2009 8:03 AM in response to vicexpress

I would like to sync my "touch" with iTunes via Bluetooth.

You can't - it's not possible.

Can someone explain to me why Apple has decided not to implement this?

Probably because Bluetooth is incredibly slow compared to USB. It would take many, many hours to sync even an 8GB iPod, let alone a 16GB, 32GB or 64GB one, whereas it takes a matter of minutes via USB.

Will the next release of iTunes support this?

I would say it's 99.99999% certain that it won't ever support Bluetooth syncing.

Reply

Answer 3

vicexpress Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 21, 2009 8:06 AM in response to Jolly Giant

If you look at http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3647 it would appear that more than just Bluetooth headsets are supported.

So for example, what should I be able to do under the Personal Area Network Profile?

Reply

Answer 4

Nov 21, 2009 8:08 AM in response to vicexpress

So for example, what should I be able to do under the Personal Area Network Profile?

Play peer-to-peer games only.

Reply

Answer 5

vicexpress Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 21, 2009 8:21 AM in response to Julian Wright

I am sorry if I am wandering off topic, but let me try some more qestions.

What kind of data rates are required to stream music to a bluetooth enabled headset. Would these data rates not be fast enough for a Touch snyc to iTunes.

Second question, more off topic. I have downloaded and enabled an Apple provided app called "Remote." Could an app similiar to this be written to allow a Touch - iTunes sync via the WiFi interface?

Reply

Answer 6

deggie

Level 10

167,183 points

Nov 21, 2009 8:24 AM in response to vicexpress

You would need a much higher transfer rate/bandwidth to sync/backup all of your data via BT than USB and you also have the potential for interference that could damage your transfer.

WiFi sync would be preferable, but that is also not available at this time and also has the potential for interference. Is it really that hard to connect a cable?

Reply

Answer 7

Nov 21, 2009 10:20 AM in response to vicexpress

What kind of data rates are required to stream music to a bluetooth enabled headset.

The A2DP standard calls for 723Kbps maximum, which is about 90kilobytes/second.

At 90KB/second, an average 4MB music file would take about 45 seconds to transfer (minimum).

Just 1GB of music at 90KB/sec would take 194 minutes (1 hr 34 mins) to transfer over Bluetooth.

If you had a 32GB iPod touch, would you really be willing to wait 2 days for it to sync over Bluetooth?

Reply