OS X Server has a caching server designed to resolve exactly these bandwidth concerns.
http://www.apple.com/osx/server/features/#caching-server
http://www.apple.com/osx/server/features/#caching-server
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Is iTunes iOS' weakest link?
- Thread starter SmileyBlast!
- Start date
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Just read an article that makes the point that iTunes is a very wasteful way to manage iOS app installs and updates on your home network.
The article also points out a way forto gracefully fix the problem.
http://www.buyingiphones.com/2014/02/10/ios-has-a-big-problem-itunes/
Do you agree?
I think that's nonsense and COMPLETELY backwards. Wasting power and bandwith? NO! iTunes allows THE EXACT OPPOSITE of that. Windows Phone and Android "apps" I have to manage them on each device. There's no option but to download updates and everything multiple times if you have multiple devices, or everything over again if you're reinstalling, or whatever. iOS allows me to download updates ONE TIME, and then sync them ONCE to my various devices.
It's a HUGE benefit being able to manage things on iTunes. The thing is, you don't even have to. If you WANT to just do it on each device, you can, just like on Android and Windows Phone, but iOS gives you a great option which I think is superior. So I think that article is just nonsensical, arriving at exactly an utterly backwards conclusion.
Say you have 1 Mac Book with a 256 GB SD internal drive and 1 new Airport Time Capsule. Could you really Manage 6 iOS devices with 4 different Apple IDs from that one iTunes app installation?
Also the out of the box "Convenient, Just Works" experience is that those devices are are all doing multi Gigabyte redundant downloads.
You may say that is not a problem but it simply isn't efficient for restricted Internet Access Plans. 10GB or 50 GB is often a hard limit for Rural ISP packages.
Also there are Mobile Device Management Software suites that are solving this problem for Business.
It looks like the OS X Server Cache is the Apple solution to the problem.
That must also be why they did not put that feature into the new Airport Time Capsules. It's a reason to sell a Mac Mini with Mac OS X Server on it.
I guess that might be the only way to get the "Hands off" Bandwidth efficient experience I'm look for. After all, who wants to manage 100s of Apps for family members just to save bandwidth.
It should just be easier.
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Have you tried this? How does it work? Do you have to have a dedicated machine (on all the time) for this or could it run from a Mac Book?
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Funny and Sarcastic!
[/QUOTE]
I'm not sure how it behaves if you have separate accounts. It may be that it could be handled better...though it's still a moot point as the alternatives are at best the same, and for many configurations far worse, so the article is nonsensical.
I agree with you. I have 3 iTunes accounts with 3 iPads and 2 iPhones and no issues. The 2 newer iPads we don't have they connected to iTunes because here is no need at all. Just like you said, it gives me that option.
Say you have 1 Mac Book with a 256 GB SD internal drive and 1 new Airport Time Capsule. Could you really Manage 6 iOS devices with 4 different Apple IDs from that one iTunes app installation?
Also the out of the box "Convenient, Just Works" experience is that those devices are are all doing multi Gigabyte redundant downloads.
You may say that is not a problem but it simply isn't efficient for restricted Internet Access Plans. 10GB or 50 GB is often a hard limit for Rural ISP packages.
Also there are Mobile Device Management Software suites that are solving this problem for Business.
It looks like the OS X Server Cache is the Apple solution to the problem.
That must also be why they did not put that feature into the new Airport Time Capsules. It's a reason to sell a Mac Mini with Mac OS X Server on it.
I guess that might be the only way to get the "Hands off" Bandwidth efficient experience I'm look for. After all, who wants to manage 100s of Apps for family members just to save bandwidth.
It should just be easier.
----------
Have you tried this? How does it work? Do you have to have a dedicated machine (on all the time) for this or could it run from a Mac Book?
----------
Funny and Sarcastic!
I think you're making a bigger deal out of this than it is. I been managing many iOS devises on iTunes for years and no issues at all, AND like it has been said before, you dont have too.