can I sync contacts on an iPhone with Outlook 2010 on Windows XP via iTunes AND on Macbook Pro via icloud at the same time?

Question

can I sync contacts on an iPhone with Outlook 2010 on Windows XP via iTunes AND on Macbook Pro via icloud at the same time?

I would like to buy an iphone 5 and I would like to do the following:

Using itunes to sync calendar and contacts from Outlook 2010 on a Windows XP computer (also syncing music via itunes from this computer)

Using icloud to sync contacts between iphone and Macbook Pro.

Reason why I ask this question: There is a hint in the iphone manual which says that one should sync only via itunes OR icloud to avoid double entries.

Posted on Dec 25, 2012 3:38 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 25, 2012 3:42 AM in response to Community User

If you sync via iTunes and iCloud, you will end up with two sets of contacts and calendars. Ones stored on the iCloud server synced over the Internet, and ones stored locally on the phone synced from iTunes via USB.

However, iCloud can also keep your contacts and calendars in sync between your Mac and Windows PC, so you could just use iCloud on all devices/computers and then all will be perfectly in sync with each other.

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Answer 2

Dec 25, 2012 3:49 AM in response to Julian Wright

Julian,

Thanks for the reply.

There is one drawback: I understood that I cannot use icloud with Windows XP!?!

[Background information: The Windows XP computer is my laptop from work - I cannot change the operation system].

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Answer 3

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Dec 25, 2012 3:53 AM in response to Community User

That's correct, the iCloud control panel requires:

Microsoft Windows Vista SP2,
Windows 7, or Windows 8

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Answer 4

Dec 25, 2012 3:58 AM in response to Community User

Yes, that's correct I'm afraid. Windows 7 is now the minimum requirement for Windows based computers.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4759

If you are unable to use Windows 7 my suggestion will not work for you.

To be honest, I would not recommend setting up a personal iCloud account on a work PC anyway. There may be other issues (firewall, corporate security, company policy) that would prevent you from using personal iCloud on a work computer.

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Answer 5

Dec 25, 2012 4:04 AM in response to Julian Wright

yeah, the firewall, corporate security and company policy might be an issue - thank you for this hint

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Answer 6

Dec 25, 2012 4:29 AM in response to Community User

Just another question / idea:

Can I sync the iphone contacts with itunes on the Macbook AND the Windows XP computer?

I mean I could imagine the sync's as follows:

from Windows XP:

* Outlook 2010 contacts

* Outlook 2010 calendar

* music

from Macbook:

* contacts

OR

from Windows XP:

* Outlook 2010 contacts

* Outlook 2010 calendar

from Macbook:

* contacts

* music

How would I have to do the set-up?

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