Hard to argue with this video (thanks). Yes, there are some problems with iPhone 2.0.x. Even if you have every application in the App store, 8 hours is a long time.
We are really hoping 2.1 fixes all of these issues :D
...and we were upset with out 30 minute sync times !
I had that problem too. It turned out that my "USB 2.0 hub" was the culprit.... I removed it from my Mac and replaced it with a name-brand USB hub and my backup was reduced to several minutes.
So lesson learned: beware of crappy old USB peripherals. They're not all equal.
I just hit the x next to the backup status when backing up is taking too long. then it cancels the backup but then continues with the rest of the sync.
When people are saying that the syncing takes 8 hours they are incorrect. i am glad that this site actually specifies "backing up" as the process which takes too long.
mine varies from 15 minutes to ... 2 hours. 5 hours being the longest (the morning after the 2.0.2 update)
I either leave it over night when I can remember. Normally I don't since it doesn't seem like a valid backup anyway. I just can't understand those small files it's copying for backup. I miss the old 1.x stability but not the 3G and the apps. Can't wait for the fix.
- Let us turn off backups, or schedule them, i.e. once a day rather than EVERY OTHER SESSION.
Clicking X isn't exactly an "option" if you have to sit and wait for it to churn before it starts the backup.
- Let Apps be manually managed. And add more selection controls. I f**kin hate that you have to manually uncheck EVERY SINGLE FRIGGING APP just to tell it to install ONE. What IDIOT writes this shit?
Just an aside that isn't particularly material to this, but USB does eat a lot of CPU and having a heavy load on the CPU can slow it down. That's a big reason why Intel is such a heavy backer of USB (vs say Firewire). As the transfer rates for the USB standards rise and USB remains prevalent, it creates demand for faster CPUs.
Just an aside that isn't particularly material to this, but USB does eat a lot of CPU and having a heavy load on the CPU can slow it down. That's a big reason why Intel is such a heavy backer of USB (vs say Firewire). As the transfer rates for the USB standards rise and USB remains prevalent, it creates demand for faster CPUs.
... until I realized that I had inadvertently created a second itunes account id after I got the 3g. A handful of apps were of a slightly different id (I entered in the wrong id and it just created a new account). iTunes can run multiple accounts, but not the phone- it chooses the last one you used in iTunes. So I had apps from two separate accounts trying to backup on a one account devise. Once I realized that I trashed the apps from the new account and re-downloaded the apps. I was out $15, but now all the apps are under one account id. Backups went from me canceling after 2.5 hours to a cool 6 minutes.
Fri, 08/29/2008 - 18:07 — John Litton (not verified)
98
I too pray the solution is coming but here is a work-a-round:
1. Remove all applications.
2. Get all Ringtones, Favorites for Dialing, Mail Accounts Setup and assume this is the BARE BONES recovery data you'd need.
3: Quit iTunes.
4. Open Terminal.app.
5. Type or copy/paste the following command, and then hit Return:
7. Plug in and connect iPhone 3G or original classic iPhone on version 2.0 OS to computer for syncing. The backup process should be bypassed and skipped now, and only music or podcasts are synced.
The command above changes a hidden setting in the iTunes preferences to disable and turn off the backup process.
To re-enable or turn on and run the backup of iPhone again, just issue the following command:
Knowing the problem exists and having to recover and go through the paingul backup and recovery period at least ten times in as many days, I've opted to settle for the primary ten extra APPS I feel I can't live without 'for now.'
I know this is only temporary, hey we're talking about Apple here ... they won't let us suffer like this too much longer.
I am among those who are seriously frustrated with the time that it takes to backup and sync my new 3G iPhone. Typically it takes 2 + hours for the process. Considering that I am backing up far less than 1 GB of applications over USB 2.0 (with a very modern, powered USB 2.0 Hub) it seems ridiculous for it to take so long to back up so little data. I am a longtime Apple fan (Bought my First Apple ][ Plus in 1979 and haven't looked back) but if any other manufacturer had this kind of problem, the tech press and users would fry them. With Apple, it seems that most treat it as the cost of living on the supposed bleeding edge of technology. Unfortunately, the iPhone has been out long enough that Apple should have fixed these problems. Their bleeding edge is getting a bit dull. JMHO.
That sucks, however i would suggest hooking the iphone strait to the computer. I have 3.5 gb of things on mine and it only takes 6 minutes to back up and sync. (but i also have a altered mobile instalation file [directs how itunes manages applications on your phone, ipod] on my iphone). So i guess that means that its fixable or not related to data size.
Here's a tip for those wih USB performance issues:
A kinked or grossly distorted cable can significantly reduce the transfer time over USB. That's because the error detection protocol of USB kicks in, resulting in potentially many times the number of retransmissions before the data is received correctly by the host computer. A 30 second transfer could easily become a 30 minute exercise with a bad cable.
The iPod and iPhone cables are quite thin, and many are used/abused much more than a typical USB cable (I know mine moved from the computer, to the car, to the laptop, and back - sometimes several times per day... and previously, I was syncing my iphone with the USB cable that came with my 3rd generation iPod).
So if you experience surprisingly poor transfer rates over USB, try a new cable. You'll be shocked by the difference.
Have you checked your "Mobile Applications" folder in the "iTunes" folder? I noticed each time the application was updated it would make a new copy and leave the old one behind. (Evernote, Evernote 1, Evernote 2, etc)
I when through them and kept the one with the newest date, then threw away the older duplicates. The next backup was still slow,(probably because it had to go through and delete all the duplicates from the backup) but backups from then on were considerably faster. Can anyone else confirm these results?
step 1. Just sync as if it isn't going to wait for the backup.
step 2. when the backup is in process, there is an "X" button.
step 3. Click it and it skips the backup process.
How easy is that?..........pretty easy, it doesn't backup but at least you dont hav to wait 8 hours!!!.
NOTE. This doesn't backup your iphone, it just syncs the things you want in your phone, like music, videos, apps, etc.
I just dont understand why some ppls experience 8 hrs pain but some only takes 10 mins or so.. the different is so big. All my backup and syncs only takes 10-15mins. Are we using the same iphone? Okay, that's not a question anyway. My suspect goes to the cable... not so much to do with firmware and itune. Anyway..
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Just suffered thru a 2 1/2
Just suffered thru a 2 1/2 hour backup this morning, all just to update two currently installed apps.
Here's hoping that Apple fixes this fiasco!
You can reduce it
Turn off the error reporting - it can help reduce the time.
how do you do that?
how do you do that?
That saves about 5 seconds.
That saves about 5 seconds. Compared to 2 hours I have at the moment it's not worth the effort.
I'm the guy that made the video
I did turn off the error reporting. Check the vid.
I had that problem too. It
I had that problem too. It turned out that my "USB 2.0 hub" was the culprit.... I removed it from my Mac and replaced it with a name-brand USB hub and my backup was reduced to several minutes.
So lesson learned: beware of crappy old USB peripherals. They're not all equal.
mine gives me problems
mine gives me problems plugged straight in to a macbook pro usb port
Good call. My old USB2
Good call. My old USB2 extension cable is now in the trash. You've saved me hours, buddy. Thanks!
I just hit the x next to the
I just hit the x next to the backup status when backing up is taking too long. then it cancels the backup but then continues with the rest of the sync.
When people are saying that the syncing takes 8 hours they are incorrect. i am glad that this site actually specifies "backing up" as the process which takes too long.
mine varies from 15 minutes to ... 2 hours. 5 hours being the longest (the morning after the 2.0.2 update)
almost 8, been skipping backups
I either leave it over night when I can remember. Normally I don't since it doesn't seem like a valid backup anyway. I just can't understand those small files it's copying for backup. I miss the old 1.x stability but not the 3G and the apps. Can't wait for the fix.
iPhone Backup
My backup usually is an overnight affair.
They really need to do a few
They really need to do a few simple things:
- Let us turn off backups, or schedule them, i.e. once a day rather than EVERY OTHER SESSION.
Clicking X isn't exactly an "option" if you have to sit and wait for it to churn before it starts the backup.
- Let Apps be manually managed. And add more selection controls. I f**kin hate that you have to manually uncheck EVERY SINGLE FRIGGING APP just to tell it to install ONE. What IDIOT writes this shit?
You could get a faster
You could get a faster computer?
I don't think that's the
I don't think that's the problem. I have a brand new MacBook Pro and my iPhone takes a long time to backup...
Well since a 2.6Ghz core 2
Well since a 2.6Ghz core 2 Duo takes about 2 hours I'd reckon to get it down to 5 minutes I'd need a 62.4Ghz processor. Got one of those handy?
Duh.
An I/O-bound process won't be helped by faster CPU speeds.
Instead, you need faster bus speeds.
Some people are just idiots.
That wooshing sound was the
That wooshing sound was the point flying over your head.
I agree with the last line of your post though.
Just an aside that isn't
Just an aside that isn't particularly material to this, but USB does eat a lot of CPU and having a heavy load on the CPU can slow it down. That's a big reason why Intel is such a heavy backer of USB (vs say Firewire). As the transfer rates for the USB standards rise and USB remains prevalent, it creates demand for faster CPUs.
Just an aside that isn't
Just an aside that isn't particularly material to this, but USB does eat a lot of CPU and having a heavy load on the CPU can slow it down. That's a big reason why Intel is such a heavy backer of USB (vs say Firewire). As the transfer rates for the USB standards rise and USB remains prevalent, it creates demand for faster CPUs.
My backups took hours...
... until I realized that I had inadvertently created a second itunes account id after I got the 3g. A handful of apps were of a slightly different id (I entered in the wrong id and it just created a new account). iTunes can run multiple accounts, but not the phone- it chooses the last one you used in iTunes. So I had apps from two separate accounts trying to backup on a one account devise. Once I realized that I trashed the apps from the new account and re-downloaded the apps. I was out $15, but now all the apps are under one account id. Backups went from me canceling after 2.5 hours to a cool 6 minutes.
iPhones Backups - Excruciating time - Mine also 8-9 hours Until:
I too pray the solution is coming but here is a work-a-round:
1. Remove all applications.
2. Get all Ringtones, Favorites for Dialing, Mail Accounts Setup and assume this is the BARE BONES recovery data you'd need.
3: Quit iTunes.
4. Open Terminal.app.
5. Type or copy/paste the following command, and then hit Return:
defaults write com.apple.iTunes DeviceBackupsDisabled -bool true
6. Open and run iTunes.
7. Plug in and connect iPhone 3G or original classic iPhone on version 2.0 OS to computer for syncing. The backup process should be bypassed and skipped now, and only music or podcasts are synced.
The command above changes a hidden setting in the iTunes preferences to disable and turn off the backup process.
To re-enable or turn on and run the backup of iPhone again, just issue the following command:
defaults write com.apple.iTunes DeviceBackupsDisabled -bool false
Knowing the problem exists and having to recover and go through the paingul backup and recovery period at least ten times in as many days, I've opted to settle for the primary ten extra APPS I feel I can't live without 'for now.'
I know this is only temporary, hey we're talking about Apple here ... they won't let us suffer like this too much longer.
This is a sure fire solution for me.
Backup / Sync unreasonably sloooooowwwwwww!
I am among those who are seriously frustrated with the time that it takes to backup and sync my new 3G iPhone. Typically it takes 2 + hours for the process. Considering that I am backing up far less than 1 GB of applications over USB 2.0 (with a very modern, powered USB 2.0 Hub) it seems ridiculous for it to take so long to back up so little data. I am a longtime Apple fan (Bought my First Apple ][ Plus in 1979 and haven't looked back) but if any other manufacturer had this kind of problem, the tech press and users would fry them. With Apple, it seems that most treat it as the cost of living on the supposed bleeding edge of technology. Unfortunately, the iPhone has been out long enough that Apple should have fixed these problems. Their bleeding edge is getting a bit dull. JMHO.
That sucks, however i would
That sucks, however i would suggest hooking the iphone strait to the computer. I have 3.5 gb of things on mine and it only takes 6 minutes to back up and sync. (but i also have a altered mobile instalation file [directs how itunes manages applications on your phone, ipod] on my iphone). So i guess that means that its fixable or not related to data size.
It's not connections - the
It's not connections - the same problem occurs connected directly to the computer.
itunes backup is just slow. It isn't even backing up the music, just the apps.. *every time* whether they've been changed or not.
You can speed it up short term by restoring and starting again, but it just goes slow again after 2-3 syncs.
Kinked USB cables
Here's a tip for those wih USB performance issues:
A kinked or grossly distorted cable can significantly reduce the transfer time over USB. That's because the error detection protocol of USB kicks in, resulting in potentially many times the number of retransmissions before the data is received correctly by the host computer. A 30 second transfer could easily become a 30 minute exercise with a bad cable.
The iPod and iPhone cables are quite thin, and many are used/abused much more than a typical USB cable (I know mine moved from the computer, to the car, to the laptop, and back - sometimes several times per day... and previously, I was syncing my iphone with the USB cable that came with my 3rd generation iPod).
So if you experience surprisingly poor transfer rates over USB, try a new cable. You'll be shocked by the difference.
Deleting duplicates helped me.
Have you checked your "Mobile Applications" folder in the "iTunes" folder? I noticed each time the application was updated it would make a new copy and leave the old one behind. (Evernote, Evernote 1, Evernote 2, etc)
I when through them and kept the one with the newest date, then threw away the older duplicates. The next backup was still slow,(probably because it had to go through and delete all the duplicates from the backup) but backups from then on were considerably faster. Can anyone else confirm these results?
how to skip the backup process with a click
you can wait for 8 hours to sync or........
step 1. Just sync as if it isn't going to wait for the backup.
step 2. when the backup is in process, there is an "X" button.
step 3. Click it and it skips the backup process.
How easy is that?..........pretty easy, it doesn't backup but at least you dont hav to wait 8 hours!!!.
NOTE. This doesn't backup your iphone, it just syncs the things you want in your phone, like music, videos, apps, etc.
Disable backups to speed iPhone/iPod touch syncing
Have a look at : http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20080727060037590
It really saved my day !
I just dont understand why
I just dont understand why some ppls experience 8 hrs pain but some only takes 10 mins or so.. the different is so big. All my backup and syncs only takes 10-15mins. Are we using the same iphone? Okay, that's not a question anyway. My suspect goes to the cable... not so much to do with firmware and itune. Anyway..