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

I read that OS X Mavericks will no longer allow me to use iTunes to sync my iPhone to a local system but makes iCloud mandatory? Is that correct?


iCloud is not a valid option for me since I have no control about my data there, I need to keep all my data (contacts, calendar...) on a system under my control and so far iTunes allowed me to do that which was one of the reasons I didn't even consider Android or Windows Phone.

OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Oct 20, 2013 8:54 AM

Reply
3,162 replies

Oct 24, 2013 2:24 PM in response to Gerrit7

I just submitted this to http://www.apple.com/feedback/icloud.html after talking to a Senior Customer Service Rep.

(I suspect I'm a little more "senior" than he, as I bought my first "Fat Mac" in 1985)

He advised that this is the proper venue, and Apple takes Feedbacks seriously. I hope others will do likewise...


Subject:

Need to back up data without iCloud


Feedback type:

Documents in the Cloud


Comments:

In Mavericks there is no opportunity to back up/sync my contacts and calendar (plus) info between my IOS devices to my Mac without using iCloud wherein you store this info.


RE Apple Help Center "If you use OS X Mavericks v.10.9 or later, your contacts, calendars, and other info are updated on your computers and iOS devices via iCloud."


This means:

1) No internet=no back up. (I travel a lot in rural Mexico...)


2) You state you will monitor my data and judge it. RE iCloud Terms and Conditions; Removal of Content


3) You will provide my content to anyone you wish whether legally required or not. RE iCloud Terms and Conditions; Access to Your Account and Content


This means I need to revert to 10.8 and postpone or cancel my planned Apple purchases.


Were these decisions your choice or were you forced to implement?


Let me know when you rectify these decisions so that I can resume replacing my hardware.

Oct 24, 2013 3:36 PM in response to Gerrit7

There's really no point in discussing this here, other than for self-edification, Apple does not read these posts.


I implore everyone here to post a complaint at apple.com/feedback. Supposedly Apple does read that. It's our best chance to get USB sync put back into Mavericks. Also, calling a senior Apple tech may help a little, although they always just tell you to submit feedback online.


Please do this and tell everyone you can to also do it. If we can get a large enough, focused campaign going, the change may happen. After all, in iOS 7.0.3, Apple caved and put in the option to turn off the incessant zooming transitions from apps to home screen and vice versa. Even though the zoom was an integral part of the iOS 7 design, Apple gave in because thousands of people (including me) were getting motion sickness from the zoom effects.


This sync issue is just a important, if not more important. The importance of having the option of local calendar/contacts syncing goes without saying. There's no need to even conjure up an argument for it, it's so obvious. So let's please put our collective energy directly towards Apple, and get this abhorrent change corrected.


Thanks

Oct 24, 2013 9:49 PM in response to KiltedTim

If Apple pointed out I could no longer sync without the cloud, I would not upgraded to Maverick. I am now looking at going back. I will never use iCloud, my reasons, my choice.


I have been getting upset with my iPhone for a long time now, I want a bigger screen and keep holding on for it. I was going to change to the S4 if it didnt get bigger on 5S. It didnt and I thought I will give it one more upgrade try and wait one more time.


This sync thing is over the top, to take my contact sync away is unbeliveable, Now I have now way to save my contacts from my iphone without a pencil. Great idea in the computer age.


I am going to buy an S4 now, someting I did not want to do but Apple has just forced it. I will be sorry to see my iPhone 5 go but go it must, since I cant sync anymore. So silly a point they are trying to make. I have many expensive translating, and other apps on my iphone that will have to be paid for again. Better now than later



Is there any way to get my contacts off of my iPhone and install them into an S4, I sure dont want to do it manually?

Oct 24, 2013 11:41 PM in response to Retiredthailand

I have a Samsung Galaxy and sync contacts, calendar, notes, photos, files and so on locally, using Missing Sync on Snow Leopard. Even write my own Android apps using LiveCode. It all still works on Mountain Lion. It will not work on Mavericks. Unless Missing Sync is rewritten to include the functionality of the sync services layer.


TangentSun had the right approach: tell Apple by submitting feedback. I am going to do the same.

Shoot_me is also right: transmission is encrypted, but at the other end it is decrypted. Read point 2) of TangetSun: if content can be refused, it must be because they can view it. Obviously, if you have not entered an encryption key of your choice just before transmission, then the whole process is under control of the cloud/mobile software and not you.


As kllewyMac says: perhaps next is Linux. I already run an Ubuntu server in the basement; putting a calDAV server on it should not be too difficult.


Bye guys, this is becoming a flame war.

Oct 25, 2013 1:40 AM in response to Z001

I've just submitted the following to Apple's iCloud feedback page:


http://www.apple.com/feedback/icloud.html


The latest Mac OS 10, Mavericks has removed local sync and imposed iCloud sync instead. The fact that you have removed local sync and forced users to use iCloud without warning or consultation is outrageous.


I do not use iCloud now and never will.


Because you cannot guarantee the security of my data I will not be upgrading to OS X Mavericks, nor will I be updating or upgrading any of the Apple software that forces me to use iCloud to transfer files between devices.


Using iCloud would force me to use part of my monthly data plan which I don't think is fair, you can't impose costs on a consumer/user like this without a legally binding agreement, using iCloud is NOT free.


iCloud Keychain is a joke, any user would be a fool to expose their personal information in this way.

Oct 25, 2013 3:16 AM in response to Retiredthailand

Okay, an opportunity to control our own data is at least for now, unavailable. Having said that, for many iPhone users this is not an issue worth thinking about staying on the previous OS X on their Mac. If you think this is the first time your iPhone data is vulnerable, think again. Perhaps with all of these posts and the fact that these feelings represent many more folk's reaction than those who post within this Community, may get Apple to reconsider. I would think until that happens, for many it may be smart to update to Mavericks and deal with whatever increased Risk you believe has been brought about by this change. I don't mean to imply that I favor this change, as I personally would rather keep the local sync capability, but realistically with a device that you have connected to the Internet every day ...I'm not at all sure how much your Risk has been increased.

Oct 25, 2013 3:27 AM in response to WiseJD

It is not a matter of risk.

My phone is never connected to the internet.

I am often off-line with my laptop.

I still want to sync, including with my wife's calendar, on our LAN,

I want control,

I want it locally.

I was happy.


But about risk: I repeat that one of my posts on this forum thread was removed within minutes of posting it (you can still see it on my own site).


Hands out of my trouser pockets.

Oct 25, 2013 4:28 AM in response to pedro ramon

Here is what I did. My wife loves her Outlook 2011 calendar and contacts. Could not sync them any longer. Not even to iCloud.


So, I went to Microsoft Exchange Online and created an exhange account for her. Cost is $4.28/month. If you buy Office 365 for Business, you might be able to get Exchange Online for free (not sure about that and while on the subject, forget Microsoft chat for help; the person wanted to know why I wanted to migrate and suggested looking into "Microsoft partners" to migrate.


in any even, created an account for her, made it the default, then had to drag all of the information from her contacts to the new Exchange identity in Outlook. Calendar items need to be done from the "list" view. It took me about an hour but only because I was not sure what to do.


When done uncheck the "on my computer" boxes in Calendar and Contacts. Everything will then update and sync through exchange. There are microsoft support topics that will walk you through it.


I know, it's not really different from iCloud, but wife is happy. Happy wife, happy life.

Oct 25, 2013 5:31 AM in response to Mac Allan

I have not tried that but reading the help documentation of iTunes it appears that the removal of local sync is more a Mavericks issue than iTunes. This is the notification at the end of the section still talking about syncing calendar and contacts locally in iTunes 11.1.2:


"Note: These instructions apply only if you use OS X v.10.8.5 or earlier. If you use OS X Mavericks v.10.9 or later, your contacts, calendars, and other info are updated on your computers and iOS devices via iCloud. For more information, see iCloud Help at icloud.com."



It seems iTunes 11.1.2 must work fine with earlier version of OSX as well, without loss of local sync (have not tested this though!).

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

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