Backing up data from iPhone to Mac

iPhone and iPod touch: About backups:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766

kcirred wrote:
Pls pardon my ignorance but I did a search on Google and got many difference opinions. I am using an iMac and intend to get the iPhone HD once its out. I've never used an iPhone before. I heard rumours that one can only backup settings on iPhone not SMS, applications and contacts.

This is what is in an iPhone backup - nobody knows what the next version will do or if it will ever be released as its not out. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766

One website I visited claims that everything gets backed up when you sync your iPhone to iMac using iTunes.

The process involves iTunes certainly and some bits are backed up yes

Another website claims that only settings are backed up not SMS hence the need to use Tansee and the like.

No idea what Tansee is but its not needed - see the above article from Apple.

Yet another site says contacts can only be backed up via Mac OS's address book not iTunes.

Yes and No - contacts are normally synced from another application such as Contacts to the device but the above article shows they are backed up.

I am now major confused and would appreciate confirmation from folks who own an iPhone and have tried backing up their iPhone by synching to their Macs via iTunes. Are you or are you not able to back up your SMS, contacts and iPhone apps?

Yes you can and do.

I've restored my phone from a backup before, and it restored all my texts, notes, etc. But in case you want to be extra careful, check out JuicePhone (I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post a link).

Whenever you sync your iphone to your computer, it completely backs up the phone including apps, text messages, videos, photographs, SMS text messages, etc. Absolutely everything with the exception of web browser cookies is backed up. I had an issue with my iPhone, and Apple replaced the unit as it was in warranty, and when they handed me the new unit, it was in 'fresh out of the box condition'. I took the phone home, and synced it to my computer and restored it. I copied everything, including contacts (including contact photos), wallpaper, and ALL data, SMS, video, MP3s, text messages, notes, etc back onto the phone, and within about 20 minutes, the phone was a mirror image of the original unit. The only thing I had to do was to log back into a few web pages that I go to that require logging in, no big deal there. It's actually quite erie because even though it's a new unit, it 'feels' like the one I had to have replaced. When you install iTunes, just be sure to sync the phone once a day or so to keep the backup on your computer up to date with the phone (and vice versa) so that if you loose one (or the other), you can back the lost phone (or computer iTunes) up and recover data with no loss.