Syncing two iPhones, two users, and one shared iPad2 with iCloud, iOS5
I'm a little confused over the relationship between iTunes-to-device syncing and iCloud-to-device syncing and how they overlap (if not the same).
My wife and I each just got an iPhone 4S. Previously, we did not have iPhones, but we did share one iPad2. I am curious what the best way to sync our devices is going forward given the following scenario:
We used to share the iPad, and still do. We both have many apps and data (notes, pictures, etc) that we share on the iPad. We have used one iTunes account for everything to date, my iTunes account.
However, now that we both have iPhones with iCloud, the first thing I noticed when I synced my iPhone with my computer using my iTunes account, is that all of our shared data/apps from the iPad are now synced to my iPhone.
My wife created her own iTunes account for use with iCloud, so that we could each get 5GB of storage, vs sharing the same account like we do on the iPad. However, she would like to sync with the iPad content going forward (since she's the primary user of the iPad, even though it had previously used my iTunes account). I imagine there's a way to just un-pair it from my account and pair it to hers? Any unintended consequences to this? Alternatives?
The other issue is that with iCloud, I presume that all the pictures that she takes of our kids with her phone will be stored to her iCloud account, and all of my pictures of the kids to mine. Is there a way to sync just our pictures with one anothers', but keep the rest of our data from the devices silo'ed in our respective iCloud accounts (notes, to-do lists, apps, etc)?
My wife and I each just got an iPhone 4S. Previously, we did not have iPhones, but we did share one iPad2. I am curious what the best way to sync our devices is going forward given the following scenario:
We used to share the iPad, and still do. We both have many apps and data (notes, pictures, etc) that we share on the iPad. We have used one iTunes account for everything to date, my iTunes account.
However, now that we both have iPhones with iCloud, the first thing I noticed when I synced my iPhone with my computer using my iTunes account, is that all of our shared data/apps from the iPad are now synced to my iPhone.
My wife created her own iTunes account for use with iCloud, so that we could each get 5GB of storage, vs sharing the same account like we do on the iPad. However, she would like to sync with the iPad content going forward (since she's the primary user of the iPad, even though it had previously used my iTunes account). I imagine there's a way to just un-pair it from my account and pair it to hers? Any unintended consequences to this? Alternatives?
The other issue is that with iCloud, I presume that all the pictures that she takes of our kids with her phone will be stored to her iCloud account, and all of my pictures of the kids to mine. Is there a way to sync just our pictures with one anothers', but keep the rest of our data from the devices silo'ed in our respective iCloud accounts (notes, to-do lists, apps, etc)?
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Also: https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/27326602/iPad-problems.htmlHeh, thanks for the relief, Jason. Too true.
I guess I was hoping for some kind of "shared" folder a la Dropbox, where we could designate our photos be sync'ed to their by default.
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Yeah, I think I'll just copy both our iCloud pics to the local iPhoto repository. I'm just not sure yet how that existing repository will interact with iCloud, if at all.
So, any unintended consequences awaiting me if I go ahead and un-pair the iPad from my account and pair to her new iTunes/iCloud account?
So, any unintended consequences awaiting me if I go ahead and un-pair the iPad from my account and pair to her new iTunes/iCloud account?
I wouldn't do that until you are reasonably sure that home sharing and other measures are displaying "her" content on her iTunes instance. Once you can see that stuff, it should be okay to switch ownership as she won't lose all that much. Stuff like email accounts would need to be recreated, too.
Remember, switching ownership of the device causes iTunes to wipe it. Backups, backups, backups.
Remember, switching ownership of the device causes iTunes to wipe it. Backups, backups, backups.
Also she will have to switch accounts constantly to upgrade her apps. It's really really annoying. Even free apps get "purchased" and tied to an account.
Yeah, there is that.
ASKER
I'm still a bit confused about the home sharing, never used it before.
"Her" content on "the" iPad is currently associated with my iTunes account. Her content on Her iPhone is currently associated with Her iTunes account. Home sharing would presumably be set up with my Apple ID on our computers, no? What would the scenario look like when she syncs her iPhone to a computer that has iTunes logged in with my Account, presuming it's the "shared" account? Unless home sharing allows different iTunes instances to be logged into different Apple IDs and still "share" from a specified iTunes account?
I wouldn't do that until you are reasonably sure that home sharing and other measures are displaying "her" content on her iTunes instance.
"Her" content on "the" iPad is currently associated with my iTunes account. Her content on Her iPhone is currently associated with Her iTunes account. Home sharing would presumably be set up with my Apple ID on our computers, no? What would the scenario look like when she syncs her iPhone to a computer that has iTunes logged in with my Account, presuming it's the "shared" account? Unless home sharing allows different iTunes instances to be logged into different Apple IDs and still "share" from a specified iTunes account?
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Thanks, Jason. Here's what I ended up doing:
Sharing the same Apple ID between all devices so that we can share apps. What I realized is that you can either selectively download from the App Store the purchased Apps you want (vs. syncing) on each device, or, in your settings you can tell it to automatically push all new purchases to your other devices (or not).
Separate iCloud ID for my phone, and separate one for my wife's phone which is also used on the iPad (so her iPad and iPhone can be synced over iCloud).
I guess I just didn't originally realize you could separate your iCloud ID from your App Store ID. On top of that, I'll have her iCloud photo stream to the iPad and her computer, and my photo stream to my computer. Via home sharing, I can then copy photos from one album to the other to consolidate.
Sharing the same Apple ID between all devices so that we can share apps. What I realized is that you can either selectively download from the App Store the purchased Apps you want (vs. syncing) on each device, or, in your settings you can tell it to automatically push all new purchases to your other devices (or not).
Separate iCloud ID for my phone, and separate one for my wife's phone which is also used on the iPad (so her iPad and iPhone can be synced over iCloud).
I guess I just didn't originally realize you could separate your iCloud ID from your App Store ID. On top of that, I'll have her iCloud photo stream to the iPad and her computer, and my photo stream to my computer. Via home sharing, I can then copy photos from one album to the other to consolidate.
ASKER
K, one last clarifying question, if you guys are game ...
Does iCloud only sync my calander, contacts, apps, and Photostream? Further, am I to understand that on my desktops, the only files that are sort of "synced" are Photos and music via "Home Sharing"?
Ideally, does iCloud have a means of syncing other files on my Macs yet like how Dropbox installs a folder in the finder that syncs the contents across all devices?
Does iCloud only sync my calander, contacts, apps, and Photostream? Further, am I to understand that on my desktops, the only files that are sort of "synced" are Photos and music via "Home Sharing"?
Ideally, does iCloud have a means of syncing other files on my Macs yet like how Dropbox installs a folder in the finder that syncs the contents across all devices?
To be honest, I'm unclear on iCloud's full capabilities and if Apple makes a distinction between "sync" and "backup". I know it will backup music and also sync documents under Pages, Numbers, Keynote and I'm assuming the rest of the app devs will get API hooks over time.
I don't think iCloud has the DropBox sharing method enabled but logging into the same account from multiple devices should be supported. But to the best of my knowledge, you can't designate a part of user A's iCloud to be shared with user B in the same way that I can designate a file or folder on my DropBox to be shared with any other user via email.
I don't think iCloud has the DropBox sharing method enabled but logging into the same account from multiple devices should be supported. But to the best of my knowledge, you can't designate a part of user A's iCloud to be shared with user B in the same way that I can designate a file or folder on my DropBox to be shared with any other user via email.
Rather than share one iTunes account, create two accounts (user profile) and use Home Sharing to handle the distribution of content between the two phones. The iPad can remain on the primary account with sharing used to divvy up some of the stuff there.
Also: https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/27326602/iPad-problems.html