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

>  I never did like the peer-to-peer synching arrangement before anyway, because it seemed to duplicate contacts a pretty often.

That's exactly the sort of situation iCloud, Google Sync, Exchange, Fruux and all the others avoids. That's why the previous SyncServices method of syncing was scrapped.

As I've mentioned before, conflict resolution is very difficult to get right. Your manual method of 'syncing' (it's not really a sync at all), completely avoids conflict resolution by simply wiping out and re-loading the data each time.

Not really. If two devices are offline changes there can still be conflict issues. People that used Notes had to watch out for it but Notes handled conflicts resonably intuitively. And had rollback.

The real way to avoid problems is masterslave if you can do it. And I can functionally and sync sevices used to support it. This is great for managing devices in a more corporate setting.

I wonder if iCloud syncing supports rollback at the event or calendar level. The fear is something goes amiss on the iDevice and delete things you do not want deleted.

Anyone seen a write-up in how the iCloud syncing is implemented? Can you snapshot and recover from historical state. What happens if you restore your calendar from Time Machine or CCC backup??

iCloud IS a master/slave system. That what server/client means.

Master data is stored on the iCloud server. Each iCloud client (slave) subscribes to the master data on the server.

SyncServices worked fine (mostly) when only computer and one device were involved. As soon as you brought in additional devices all attempting to sync with the same computer, that's when problems quickly arose.

iCloud uses the open, industry standard CalDAV and CardDAV protocols. You can search Google for write-ups.

"iCloud IS a master/slave system. That what server/client means."

Not really. If iCloud was the master and all devices were slaves then the devices by definition could not update the master (iCloud). iCloud is more peer-to-peer with iCloud being a cache (more or less).

I do not want iDevices changing what is being pushed from the master -- in my case the iMacs/MacBook pairs.

So for me iCloud is not an option. And it does not sound like DAV(s) are either unless I can nominate true master and its slaves.

Or are you saying I can set the DAV(s) to only accept changes from one nominated device (an iMac) and push to other devices (iDevices) and to reject changes from these iDevices?

Under pre-Mavericks  this was an easy "sync" option. One to many.

BTW, client/server != master/slave.

SomePlaceWarm wrote:

 

Not really. If iCloud was the master and all devices were slaves then the devices by definition could not update the master (iCloud). iCloud is more peer-to-peer with iCloud being a cache (more or less).

That's incorrect, iCloud is a client/server system.

If you don't understand how it works Google CardDav and CalDav.

iCloud is the server, all else are clients.

Snozdop

What's wrong with reloading (pushing) the contacts to your mobile?. Isn't that in fact what services like iCloud are precisely doing. They keep the master copy and distribute it to all of your devices. The only difference is they run the automatic consolidation algorithms to try to keep duplicates out of the database.

You seem to think that this auto-consolidation of contact information is more important that security or privacy. What I'm reading in this thread is that it is not. I also do not agree that iCloud solves duplicate contact issues. I've still heard of instances where similar contacts created on different devices get duplicated in the contacts database.

But this isn't a discusion of the merits or lack thereof of iCloud sync services. It's a discussion exploring ways to continue privately, securely, and directly exchanging contact and calendar information between your devices. For me, DirectSync fits the bill for my contact information. I don't really care if it's a "true" sync service or not. It works exactly the way I want it to.

Defector, I'm with you. iCloud is peer-to-peer syncing. That works for some people but not everybody. For me, I do not want any change on iDevices to possible change or corrupt the MASTER iMac.

Seems like a simple concept that has been around for a long time. Seems like your solution works for contacts but not calendars. BTW, I sent them a message and they said they are looking at it.

Plus, Defector, I find it pretty easy to remove duplicates from contacts. But restoring when an intended slave causes undesired changes is really hard to do and to discover in real time.

Plus, Defector, you are so, so correct. The value in this tread are ways to find workarounds for those of us that want/need them to apple's unfortunate decision. Others try to bogart or act-the-boss.

Your tip on DirectSync is worth all the noise -- some what : )

Thanks, Mate.

Icloud is client server. Server is in the cloud and by your definition the master. Conflicts are avoided by timestamps.  If you want one device to be master, don't use icloud. No problem.

I presume therefore if your imac is the master you never want to create or update a calendar entry on your phone to then update the imac? Ok don't use icloud. (Strange way to work tho?)

You are half close. I will not use iCloud. Can't.

What I am seeking is a way to duplicate what is on the iMac to the iDevices without allowing the iDevices to muck with the iMac. The solution I seek would do a complete refresh of the iDevices sourcing the Mac. Easy-peasy prior to Mavwrecks.

"Strange way to work tho?" Thanks for sharing your OPINION.

Hmm, I wonder if this can be done the same way I can subscribe to calendars. Hmm.

It was a question. Most people out of the office generally make changes to contacts and schedule on their phone or ipad then either sync when they get back, or more likely now get back to find iCloud already did that.

So i guess you write the changes down on paper then update the iMac when you get back? Or do you have multiple staff go out with fixed cal and contact files they cant change? Both would be "unusual" if you don't like my use of english word "strange"

SomePlaceWarm wrote:

 

I wonder if iCloud syncing supports rollback at the event or calendar level. The fear is something goes amiss on the iDevice and delete things you do not want deleted.

 

Anyone seen a write-up in how the iCloud syncing is implemented? Can you snapshot and recover from historical state. What happens if you restore your calendar from Time Machine or CCC backup??

iCloud has no ability to rollback anything, you can't even see history of contacts/ calendars. You need to rely on Time Machine (or document revisions) for that.

I haven't tried restoring individual events via TM to a calendar, in theory Time Machine should allow that, however I don't think it keeps granular changes per event so it may just restore an entire calendar (my 10.9 mac isn't running TM). Good luck reverting anything in iCloud via the web UI or iOS!

It sounds like you are looking for a system where iOS has NO write privilege for shared content.

You could probably achieve 'read only' by sharing calendars as read only, all the mentioned caldav/carddav servers should support that.

You would then set iOS to use the read only version & Macs that need read+write would use the main account details.

iCloud may be able to do the same thing via it's sharing options in the web UI.

Obvously the usual caveats apply with iCloud - if you are doing something a bit different don't be surprised when Apple remove the feature (think different, but not too different).

iCloud is peer-to-peer syncing.

No, it is not. You clearly don't know what you are talking about at all.

Peer to peer means without a centralised server. iCloud is that server, and each device must sync via the server. They cannot sync directly with each other, which is what a peer-to-peer system would do.

BTW, client/server != master/slave.

Yes, it does. Please educate yourself:

http://mblogic.sourceforge.net/mbapps/ComBasics.html

http://www.control.com/thread/1295434153

http://devmaster.net/posts/9682/difference-between-client-server-peer-2-peer-and -master-server

I absolutely don't want to use Cloud.  Supposedly, there is a chance Apple will rever if enough complaints are made through

www.apple.com/feedback

If they're not prepared to listen, our next phones will be Samsung for sure. 

peter_watt in OS X Mavericks - wrote: View the full discussion

     "It was a question. Most people out of the office generally make changes to contacts and schedule on their phone or ipad then either sync when they get back, or more likely now get back to find iCloud already did that."

     "So i guess you write the changes down on paper then update the iMac when you get back? Or do you have multiple staff go out with fixed cal and contact files they cant change? Both would be "unusual" if you don't like my use of english word "strange"

Actually the way you say 'most people out ot the office' is totally opposite to my experience and most of my colleagues - keep the date clean on the base office mac, update whenever possible and sync revises and changes to the i gadgets. That way you avoid sync conflicts, duplication of contacts, calendar entries that seem to happen often if you update on the i gadgets and then try to sync to the base office mac.

And I like 'Some Warm Place' do not need to have yet more ramming iCloud down out throats - thanks - please keep to the topic of this discussion. This discussion, in case you and a number of others don;t seem to want to acknowlege is for people trying to find a sync solution with NO iCloud or similar - go sell iCloud elsewhere, please!