Backup iPhone and Entire Contents Without iTunes

[barr08]

Hey all,

I am trying to totally eliminate iTunes from my iPhone experience. I only have one step left, and that's backing up. I have my JB'd iPhone to an almost perfect place right now, and I want to save it exactly as-is in case my tweaking messes something up. Is there an app that will create like a full copy of my iPhone, and could restore it if necessary? It needs to get all of my official apps from the app store as well as all the jailbroken apps, settings and themes. I would also like it to backup pics, movies and music if possible, but apps and settings are more important.

Any advice or app suggestions would be greatly appreciated! TIA!

 

[-aggie-]

You might look into doing this:

http://modmyi.com/wiki/index.php/Ba...e_(Accepting_all_suggestion-just_edit_and_add)

 

[Applejuiced]

Why dont you want to use itunes?
Almost everything is done thru itunes, like updating, syncing, restoring, backup etc...
I dont think there will be anything that can replace itunes or its ease of use.

 

[lionheartednyhc]

You might look into doing this:

http://modmyi.com/wiki/index.php/Ba...e_(Accepting_all_suggestion-just_edit_and_add)

That link doesn't work.
try this.
http://modmyi.com/wiki/index.php/Ba...n-just_edit_and_add)#3RD_PARTY_APPLICATIONS_-

 

[barr08]

Why dont you want to use itunes?
Almost everything is done thru itunes, like updating, syncing, restoring, backup etc...
I dont think there will be anything that can replace itunes or its ease of use.

I really dislike iTunes and the whole closed attitude Apple has about the iPhone. If I want to add music to my phone, I don't want to be locked to one computer - I want to add some songs from my PC before I leave on a trip, but also have the option to add songs from my MacBook while traveling.

Also, (and I'll admit I don't know exactly how this works), but right now, when I plug my phone into iTunes, it wants me to wipe everything, which would obviously wipe all my JB apps, of which I have many. iTunes asks me to do this a lot (like whenever I try to add a ringtone) - I don't know in what situations iTunes asks you to wipe your phone, but in my short experience pre-JB, it was way too often. Perhaps I wasn't doing something right, but that's my experience.

I'm actually very surprised that iTunes has any support at all in this sub-forum. For me, one of the biggest draws to jailbreaking was cutting the cord from iTunes, a normally vital part of the iPhone experience.

TBH, I feel like a mindless drone, having my phone rely on iTunes for everything. I paid a lot for this phone and the service, I want to be able to do EXACTLY what I want to do, and iTunes is a hurdle for that.

I like the Apple mindset from a business perspective - people are dumb, so you can control their phones completely and they won't even know or care. As tech people, on this forum, we know better though. To me, i feel like I'm getting strangled when my phone is locked to iTunes. That isn't what I paid for.

/rant

 

[Applejuiced]

I really dislike iTunes and the whole closed attitude Apple has about the iPhone. If I want to add music to my phone, I don't want to be locked to one computer - I want to add some songs from my PC before I leave on a trip, but also have the option to add songs from my MacBook while traveling.

Also, (and I'll admit I don't know exactly how this works), but right now, when I plug my phone into iTunes, it wants me to wipe everything, which would obviously wipe all my JB apps, of which I have many. iTunes asks me to do this a lot (like whenever I try to add a ringtone) - I don't know in what situations iTunes asks you to wipe your phone, but in my short experience pre-JB, it was way too often. Perhaps I wasn't doing something right, but that's my experience.

I'm actually very surprised that iTunes has any support at all in this sub-forum. For me, one of the biggest draws to jailbreaking was cutting the cord from iTunes, a normally vital part of the iPhone experience.

TBH, I feel like a mindless drone, having my phone rely on iTunes for everything. I paid a lot for this phone and the service, I want to be able to do EXACTLY what I want to do, and iTunes is a hurdle for that.

I like the Apple mindset from a business perspective - people are dumb, so you can control their phones completely and they won't even know or care. As tech people, on this forum, we know better though. To me, i feel like I'm getting strangled when my phone is locked to iTunes. That isn't what I paid for.

/rant

I hear you that its a closed system but to go around it and not use it cause you dont like it you will have to jump thru many hoops and make it alot harder for yourself.
And again you wont be able to do most things without itunes.

 

[barr08]

I hear you that its a closed system but to go around it and not use it cause you dont like it you will have to jump thru many hoops and make it alot harder for yourself.
And again you wont be able to do most things without itunes.

Agreed on both points. Fortunately, I enjoy this kind of 'troubleshooting' (for lack of a better word), and have been working towards this goal since the day i Got my iP4. I am almost to an iTunes-free place - I can load and unload music, pics, vids, tones, etc. with Copytrans Manager, which was the first and most important step. Now all I need is the app/setting backup that I am inquiring about here. Beyond these two functionalities, what else does iTunes offer?

I will still use iTunes if my phone ever NEEDS a fresh install, but otherwise I want to wash my hands of it.

 

[Daiden]

Beyond these two functionalities, what else does iTunes offer?

Firmware and carrier updates. I see your point but you will never be totally iTunes-free if you plan to keep your iPhone current.

Also, if Apple ever updates the way data is loaded onto the device (say, in iOS 5) you may have to wait a few days/weeks for any third party applications to release a new version (whereas iTunes will always provide this functionality on day one).

 

[Applejuiced]

Lol Hey whatever makes you happy.

 

[barr08]

Firmware and carrier updates. I see your point but you will never be totally iTunes-free if you plan to keep your iPhone current.

Also, if Apple ever updates the way data is loaded onto the device (say, in iOS 5) you may have to wait a few days/weeks for any third party applications to release a new version (whereas iTunes will always provide this functionality on day one).

I think it's clear that periodically I will need to use iTunes for major updates of either the software or firmware. In the mean time, given the software available to us through jailbreaking, I think I can realistically survive without it.

I am open to more suggestions!

 

[barrian]

Your iPhone automatically backs up all it's data to iTunes when you plug it in to your Mac or PC. This back up data is locked and you can set a password by scrolling down in the "Summary" tab and checking the "Encrypt iPhone Backup Box" and set a password. All your data (Music, Movies, Apps, Contacts, Photos) etc. will be in your iTunes libraries and on file (just in case you lose or somehow delete your data) and it will always be there with your input of a password. Besides the Music on your device, you can't add anything else on a CD.

Another way of backup is easier- iCloud. Assuming your device is an iOS 5 device (iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 2, iPad 1st generation, iPod touch 3rd generation, iPod touch 4th generation, and Apple TV) you have iCloud. Your iPhone automatically backs up all your data (even home screen layout and wallpaper!) to the Cloud (Apple's Servers) when your device is locked, on WiFi, and plugged in charging. You will need to turn on iCloud Backup in Settings> iCloud> Storage and Backup> and slide the toggle switch to ON.

What this will do is save your data, so if something happens to your device, Example: You get the new iPhone 5 when it comes out next year, and when you setup your device, you can just tap "Restore from iCloud backup" and that's it. Your device is back to normal. (You don't have to do this by the way).

Hope this helps.

 

[fdjofre]

I enjoy using iTools to do all my syncing and stuff. I'm unaware if it can perform backups but it's a nifty little piece of software which makes the whole syncing and managing experience a breeze.

Look it up.

 

[Rome0]

Hey all,

I am trying to totally eliminate iTunes from my iPhone experience. I only have one step left, and that's backing up. I have my JB'd iPhone to an almost perfect place right now, and I want to save it exactly as-is in case my tweaking messes something up. Is there an app that will create like a full copy of my iPhone, and could restore it if necessary? It needs to get all of my official apps from the app store as well as all the jailbroken apps, settings and themes. I would also like it to backup pics, movies and music if possible, but apps and settings are more important.

Any advice or app suggestions would be greatly appreciated! TIA!

If your iPhone is connecting to Wi-Fi, you can use iCloud to backup iPhone without iTunes. Go to Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup and then toggle the iCloud Backup switch on. It will back up photos and videos in your Camera Roll, device settings, app data, home screen and app organisation, iMessage, text (SMS) and MMS messages, ringtones, visual Voicemail.
If you want to backup iPhone to computer, you can use FonePaw iOS Transfer to fast backup iPhone.

 

[eyoungren]

If your iPhone is connecting to Wi-Fi, you can use iCloud to backup iPhone without iTunes. Go to Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup and then toggle the iCloud Backup switch on. It will back up photos and videos in your Camera Roll, device settings, app data, home screen and app organisation, iMessage, text (SMS) and MMS messages, ringtones, visual Voicemail.
If you want to backup iPhone to computer, you can use FonePaw iOS Transfer to fast backup iPhone.

You have resurrected a five year old thread to suggest something to the OP that was not available in 2010.