But for Windows users that doesn't help.
Fundamentally it appears its just a bad design from Apple in iTunes, because a user absolutely should be able to separately manage the occurrence of backup and sync.
We all know that backup is important and should be done regularly but when it takes several minutes to do it and the data isn't changing that much, I don't need a backup done every time I plug in to sync. Most of the time, I'm plugging in to get my outlook calendar to sync with the phone's calendar. I want that done at the end of the day and quickly.
Having the ability to control when backup happens is missing - auto-backup if its not happened in the past 7 days, ok. Or have me press a button to backup on demand. But to tie sync with backup so tightly is a bad design.
There's a checkbox in itunes for "Automatically sync when the iPhone is connected". There should be one for "Backup automatically (if not backed up in x days)" as well.
Itunes is still too much a 'media push/management' tool, and not a 'device management tool' - I think most of us use it to manage our devices most of the time..
Itunes needs a major rewrite. As time goes on, it becomes "the worst itunes ever" <in jonny ive's voice>
