How to locally sync an iPhone with OS X Mavericks? iCloud is NOT an option.

@ boglott

Thanks, I tried to get server for Mopuntain Lion, but couldn't make it happen. I amy keep searching or a way to get Mountain Lion Server or jsut give up and make a dedicated Mavericks server.

Andy

I use dynamically assigned local IP addresses as well. But you may configure your devices to use your Computers name +.local as domain name, instead of the IP address. E.g. My-MacBook-Pro.local. OS X and iOS then use Multicast DNS (Bonjour) to find your machine. This works quite reliably for me.

I have another Server-newbie question:

I would set up my iMac to do this, but I don't want it to run day and night. Can a server still go idle and go to sleep after 15 minutes or will the server process prevent this? I would hate to see that electricity bill.

Thanks.

Boglott's suggestion regarding Mac OS X Server seems to be one of the few options available and it's one that I'm having to consider and research.

So although Mac OS X 10.9 was free, I will now have to pay £13.99 for Mac OS X 10.9 Server and then twiddle around getting CardDAV setup so that I can restore some functionality and control over the device-to-device syncing of personal/confidential information.

I would have happily paid £13.99 for Mac OS X 10.9 providing, of course, that it had continued to provide local syncing of contacts and email account information, happily.

Incidentally, I have double-checked and my pre-upgrade clone is sporting iTunes 11.1.2 (31) with the Info tab. My post-upgrade iTunes is also 11.1.2 (31) but without the Info tab, so am I right in thinking that our missing function is still there somewhere albeit side-lined or somehow hidden by Mavericks?

Whilst I had the clone running I was able to sync Contacts as normal and tested with a minor amendment to a contact; all good. For the moment, I guess I'll just have to sync my contacts through the external USB clone (so that'll be a quick and pleasant chore compared to syncing 'the old way').

There is some obvious truth in Meg St._Clair's comment regarding the contact information that will always be out there in the wild and, therefore, open to abuse by those that would do harm. However, there are ways to limit the publicity of that information and things like opting out of the Electoral Register, signing up to Telephone Preference Services, being very careful with social media and the like, all play a part in that.

The fundamental issue is that the information in our Contacts/AddressBook is collated: contact name, nickname, emails, addresses, job titles, birth-dates etc. Having all of that information accurately related to one party is a gift on a gold plate to someone looking for a data theft opportunity. I for one would find it difficult to bear if a friend or family member's identity was lifted for gain because I hadn't exercised some diligence over the data I held on them.

It is true, of course, that just by having that information on a mobile or a computer immediately exposes that data to theft. Connecting such devices to WiFi or the internet also immediately puts that data at risk. However, there is at least some control on my part with all these aspects (eg. changing router passwords, being clued up on rogue emails, firewalls, latest OS X (uh-oh) etc).

Any argument about how simply having a computer or a mobile creates a risk and therefore I shouldn't be concerned about syncing such sensitive information to iCloud is absurd. Syncing to iCloud creates an additional risk, and it is a risk that one has little, if any, control of in terms of security.

It may be apparent that I'm growing a little angrier about this:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/ (iCloud, iTunes and Mac OS X).

so am I right in thinking that our missing function is still there somewhere albeit side-lined or somehow hidden by Mavericks?

You are not. The simple fact is that iTunes is smart enough to know that the SyncServices APIs are not present, and not show you broken functionality.

AndyD wrote:

Quote

boglott Switzerland

Re: How to locally sync an iPhone with OS X Mavericks? iCloud is NOT an option.

Oct 23, 2013 1:43 PM ( in response to Gerrit7)

So, here is what I did: I bought the OS X Server and run a local Calendar and Contacts server.

I switched all my iOS devices and OS X Calendar and Contacts application config to that server in the local network. And I exported my contacts and calendar entries from the local store in OS X to a file and then reimported them to the server store using the same OS X client applications. Now my devices are in sync again and should keep automatically synced whenever I am home an the Mac is running.

End Quote

@boglott

One more question...

Are you running server under Mavericks or Mountain Lion (or previous)?

Thanks,

Andy

Is this easy to set up for a newbie? I'd need another Mac to do this for sure. Any online guides showing how to do it?

I am disappointed with Apple these days.

It is scary to think what the reasoning is for this. I can sync my phone directly to my computer, but my persoanl information has to go through the clould now, something they had to delibertly change. I will wait another week for a solution and if I dont get it I will get an S4, not by choice. I know several who have done it already, not sure why I will wait since I doubt they will fix it. I will miss my iPhone, but it is my phone, I paid cash, its not a rental, and I should be alble to use it like I want.

Silly Apple

I am having trouble trying to totally comprehend the context in today's world of online everything (shopping, banking, tax reporting, blogging, social media, etc., etc.) how the Sync with Mavericks / iTunes and your iPhone which does a local sync with much of your iPhones data and media is driving some to think they need to make such a change. To each his own. We are talking about a device that is connected one way or another day and night wirelessly. You either trust encryption or use a tin can.

@Retiredthailand

No one is stopping you from using your phone how you like. If you want to sync you contacts from your phone to your computer directly, don't upgrade to Mavricks or find an alternative like the server solution. Apple is stopping you, they are just not providing a way to do it.

This is a very dissapoiting move by Apple to change a very simple functionality to essentially "twist a users arm" in to using iCloud service.

People who understand consequences of "sharing" their data with a 3ed party such a iCloud storage service and don't wish to use services they have no desire to use, should have an option to sync their devices locally.

After all the money been paid for the hardware, I would expect that it should be up to me how to manage my data, where it is stored and how it is synced. I have paid for the iPhone, and I have paid for the apple computer, and I want two devices to work with each other in the manner where my data does not go beyond my home network, and/or recorded and stored anywhere else.

This is a simply a matter of respecting the privacy of the clients vs pushing Apples own agenda to advance dependance on the iCloud.

First sync for notes was gone, now sync for Contacts.

The only thing this change has accomplished is alienated me as a user from apple line of products.

All the innovation and perfection of the new OS Mavericks undermined by this "broken" functionality of iTunes.

For those of you who are reading this searching for the solution, let me save you your time… You can not sync your notes and contacts between your computer and iPhone locally with USB cable. Even if you roll back to Mountain Lion, iTunes still will get updated to the new version and you WILL NOT be able to sync via USB cable.

The only real choice you have left as of today, is to not updated iTunes, or abandon OSX and iOS all together.

Sure you can continue using current version of OSX and iTunes with it and you will have to sync through the iCloud, but understand that no matter what Apple tells you about your data been encrypted and protected, and how this is end to end encryption method does not allow even Apple engineers to access it - this is simply not the case.

What does matter is your data ( and yes, contacts and personal notes can be very privet and sensitive info ) no longer in your hands and control. You do not ⚠ have any control over how it is handled on the datacenter side by apple, or apples engineer gone rouge or government agency looking for a specific pattern in your contacts records in the name of National Security.

This is a privacy issue!

There is those of us who are in very competitive business where industrial espionage very real, sad every day reality. For Apple to assume that I am as a user would trust iCloud security measures, without a choice to avoid cloud base storage is at least to say arrogant and inconsiderate.

I truly hope that Apple as a company, would reassess the issue, otherwise - I am a customer with the "power of wallet".

iPhone is just a electronic device and it functionality is not uniqe. There is a alternatives out there that do not involve insidious techniques of data-mining.

Even if you roll back to Mountain Lion, iTunes still will get updated to the new version and you WILL NOT be able to sync via USB cable.

This is not true. The current version of iTunes running under 10.8.5 WILL allow you to sync contacts, calendars, bookmarks, and account info locally.

just looking for an alternative to sync my devices without the iCloud .. as many other as it seems!!!!!!!!!!

did anyone try SabreDAV?

or knows an "easy" to setup&use alternative?

Dear all,

The situation is now clear. It is was indeed quite predictible as someone mentioned in this thread (see Reminders and Notes). Still, the way Apple did it is less than friendly (litote).

Running a local server makes sense, either using Mac OS X server (@blogott) or a home made solution (@RobertCailliau). I suggest to anyone having done it to post somewhere a detailed how to.

Best.

PS. What about Reminders and Notes sync on a local server?

whooooo...kiltedtim getting biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig!!! LOL