I know you're trolling, but the key word there is "someday". So far no one has come up with anything comparable at the same price point. All the cheaper ones have crappy screens or some other compromise. Stick a USB port and an SD card slot on the new one and it'll be pretty much done.
It is true. As someone earlier in the thread noted, if the domain is slashdot.org then it works and you can paste. If the domain is tech.slashdot.org, or yro.slashdot.org etc etc, ie any of the subdomains, then you cannot paste into the box once you have typed into it.
It means that you can't reply in-line if you want to paste, but you can click on the post ID and load it in a new page and reply that way. It's just annoying.
This is broken on Safari on OS X too. You can't paste into boxes you have already typed into. It used to work, then slashdot changed something (around the time this god awful new system arrived). It's obviously something in Webkit itself that is tripping it up.
It's something to do with Webkit, since this is a problem with the latest version of Safari too. Not being able to paste into slashdot text boxes that you have already typed into is very annoying.
No, what's happening is that the US cellular market is catching up with the rest of the world, where we've had the iPhone on multiple carriers for a long time.
It was only the backwards, stone-age US cellular market that was "special" with the exclusivity of AT&T. Sure the other markets also launched with exclusive deals (O2 in the UK, for example) but these ended quickly and opened up the market, offering the choice of an iPhone if you wanted on, on your carrier of choice - just like Android handsets.
He cited one source not "many" as he claims were in use.
The OP asked for sourceS with an s on the end.
Either way, it looks like that store (with no space between the words) did come first, but I would argue it is considerably less famous (he claimed "if they didn't have exclusive use or even most famous use") - this is certainly the first I have heard of this sales force store. They seem to have different markets too, which doesn't necessarily mean they infringe on each other.
People were calling software on OS X "apps" long before the iPhone existed, due to the extension for programs being.app
Mail is even called "mail app" by many people.
It was only natural that this was extended to the iPhone when it came out, although the program extension on the bundle for an iPhone app is no longer.app, the name stuck.
No, it generally is the shortening of "application", since programs on the Mac operating system, especially from OS X onwards were already called "apps" for short, since the extension is.app (and what an app actually is, is a folder containing all the resources necessary to run the program, called a bundle, named nameofprogram.app that OS X treats as a single entity (although you can drill down into it if you really want).
The common parlance for some of these apps has appended the word app onto the end, for example "Mail" is often called "Mail app" since it is less cumbersome. Others have not taken this suffix, like iTunes or Safari. In fact, Mail is the only common one I can think of right now - perhaps also Preview app.
Either way, I think Apple were the first to use the term "App Store" when referring to a mobile program storefront, and it seems obvious now, since it has gained popular traction.
When you're done, can I borrow your spade? I have some gardening I need to do.
You honestly think I thought "oh wait, that was satire I used!" after the fact? Come on, that's just weak. You're also trying to frame my initial reasonably light hearted satirical musing about whether you had ever used a computer before (come on, you think that's not obvious satire?!) as some heinous attack that justifies your response that I'm a "hypocritical piece of shit".
You can try and justify stooping to that level as much as you like, but you're not going to find solace here. Try again with another argument if you like.
I have yet to see how I am wrong - everything I have posted in this exchange is verifiable fact. I know because not only did I look it up, I also tested it (on Mac OS X and Windows Vista). Admittedly only with an iPhone 3G, since that is all I have to hand right now, but I figure it covers me enough.
I'm not bullying anyone, and if you consider me calling you on questionable content as bullying then I suggest you toughen up a little. Whether I "win" is not really at issue here - I presented my arguments and people are free to take what they will from them. Rather than just blindly assert "I'm right" I would prefer people actually look things up and test for themselves, with my information as a starting point, rather than simply taking me at face value.
My only surprise is that you resorted to abusive swearing rather than actually address the points. It doesn't do much to bolster you're claim that you're *not* an idiot, but each to his own.
For the record, I do not think you are an idiot per se, just that you have demonstrated that you are willing to stick to a stupid argument in the face of evidence to the contrary.
The original assertion by you was that iTunes was difficult to use because it took a long time to discover how to back up an iPhone. I pointed out three easy ways to do that task, in order of simplicity, including a quick run down on how to find out this information, both via the internet and via the program's own help files. You then went off on a non sequitur about how my first suggestion was "wrong" because that didn;t work for you "hence the post in the first place". You may have noticed that my post continued with two further methods to use if the first one did not work (usually because auto sync has been turned off - I do it on my iPhone because it's annoying - I don't always want to sync when I connect the phone). I included the default behaviour for completeness, and to indicate one of the three ways I know to do the task that you had indicated was so difficult.
The other two methods are not all that complex either, but I figured including them all was thorough.
This is when it got somewhat sidetracked and you started calling me a hypocrite and blind Apple worshipper and it only went downhill from there. Something tells me you don;t often retreat from an argument when defeated, you just resort to slinging insults until your opponent gets bored and goes away, or is browbeaten into "defeat". Suffice to say "a piece of shit" is not the worst thing I've been called, and it's not particularly offensive to me. At least I know you're actually getting worked up trying to dig yourself out of a losing position. Enjoy your procrastination.
Have you ever been in a debate? You are free to question someone's intelligence *if* you can back up your assertion with fact.
So, I can say "you must be stupid if you think the Earth is flat, because it's been well documented that it is not the case".
What I can't say is "You're stupid", with no qualifying statement.
So, I can question your intelligence based on the supposed issues you have had with iTunes, but in reality what I am doing is framing an argument that says "you're not that stupid, you just have a serious axe to grind with iTunes".
That is a long way from "you hypocritical piece of shit". Even if you totally disagree with me, you went beyond the typical level of "agree to disagree". Not that it offends me or anything - I swear like a sailor with the clap, but I don't go around calling people pieces of shit.
You can think that if you like, but it doesn't make it any more true. Just look at the way the discourse has gone - a certain level of pseudo-friendly satirical jibing is natural, but you went in for the "stuff you wouldn't say in polite company" route.
Like I say, I have no dog in this fight - I'm ambivalent to whether you solved the problem or your personal outlook on life or the state of iTunes. I was correcting erroneous information, and then later offering a potential reason that an automatic sync may have failed.
My initial post was hardly combative; merely a comeback to the initial post, written with some clear vitriol towards a piece of software that isn't as bad as everyone makes out.
You set yourself up with *your* first post for a combative reply - you just didn't expect to get one that would argue against you with some actual facts. I've said nothing to you that wouldn't be allowed in a debate. You, on the other hand, have.
Now who is being all emotional? I'm completely unmoved by this, I simply questioned your need to descend to calling me "a piece of hypocritical shit" in response to some satire and a query over whether it *really* took you all that time to diagnose an issue with a piece of software that you had preconceived ideas about. I'm not saying it's the best piece of software in the world - it's a little clunky here and there with the grafted on iOS sync features, but it's not horrible and virtually impossible to navigate (like, for example, the EvE Online UI).
I haven't sworn at you, nor have I thrown baseless insults at you. I presented some options about whether you were stupid or not (with the disclaimer that I don;t necessarily think that you are, but given the thread it's hard to come to any other conclusion since you were so dead set on telling me that everything I was saying was wrong, despite citations and other evidence to the contrary).
Certainly at no point have I called you a piece of shit. So, feel free to use this thread as an example in any case you wish - it doesn't present your discourse abilities in a good light at all, regardless of whether you think you're right or not.
I tested this on MS Windows - I dual boot. Admittedly Vista, so who knows what's going on with that, but I checked to see if it was the same as my primary OS. It is.
Whether something else is at play, who knows - the most likely cause is the iTunes helper agent process (which also exists on OS X) not working.
I see you have devolved beyond reading the rest of my post - in much the same way you accused me of doing, when in fact I read everything in there and attempted to troubleshoot your issue, or at least offer a potential explanation about the UI issue, which you only stated vaguely.
Your quote is also not an ad hominem attack, it is an expression of surprise, based in satire (clearly you are using a computer to have posted the comment) and an initial setup on my skepticism over the problems of a clearly computer literate person (anyone posting on slashdot is de facto computer literate, although I'm sure that will make people laugh) would have so much trouble performing a simple operation in iTunes, and that really what the post was, was hyperbole designed to state "isn't iTunes terrible".
Now, it may be terrible (it's not the best program ever written), but it has genuine issues that can be addressed on that point without needing to severely exaggerate a trivial backup issue.
If it *wasn't* trivial to solve or troubleshoot, then we are back to computer illiteracy, which leads me to "stupid or trolling (or stuck digging a hole and too stubborn to admit he lost the argument when called on some bullshit)".
You then drop into even further aggressive namecalling, with swearing. Not once have I stooped to that level. I may call you slightly foolish or stupid (or rather question that you might be based on the evidence you have presented with me, although I am erring on "not stupid, just stubborn"), but I have not gone as far as calling you a piece of shit.
Do you know what the term "heresy" actually means. It's not a religious term, it specifically means "rumour" - which is exactly what your attempts to tell me that factual information that I have posted, cited by official sources, and personally experienced by me on many occasions across several iOS devices across numerous generations (since before it was even called iOS) is incorrect.
You have latched onto one word, that you do not seem to fully understand, and have resorted to throwing ad hom attacks at me, which is fair enough I suppose - I have suggested that you are either stupid or a troll, not quite in an ad hominem way (I have backed it up with evidence and questions), but I suppose it's inevitable eventually that you would go that route, in the face of no other available direction.
In terms of what I "worship", Apple would not be among them - Apple stuff is a tool to get the job done, and it has plenty of flaws both in terms of corporate policy of Apple as a whole and in various hardware and software implementations - ask a Mac user about what they think of the Finder, for example. Now *there's* code they really need to go back and start again with, never mind iTunes. Since we are actually talking about iOS and iTunes, I think it is *crazy* that the iOS calendar app doesn't have a way to show (or sync) ToDo items that are part of the iCal app on OS X - those go into your Mail.app, and don't across that way either, meaning I need a third party app to enable that function.
I also think it is stupid that in 2010, now 2011, you can't do a bluetooth file transfer using your iPhone - you have to go via USB to transfer files, usually photos, onto your computer.
Anyway, we're getting sidetracked - I shouldn't have to justify that I'm not a blind "worshipper" of Apple to point out flaws in your own arguments.
You said you were going to "outline the problem" in the rest of your comment, that you asked me to read. I read it all and it doesn't appear that you have actually outlined a problem - just posted something vague about UI issues. What specifically was the problem you were having? The sync operation (listed in the menu) includes a full backup. Perhaps it could be labelled "backup and sync" to make it more explicit, but other than that "a computer user with 2 degrees" should be able to handle it. It's not rocket surgery.
As an aside, "2 degrees" doesn't necessarily mean you can use a computer (not saying you personally can't) but I have met a couple of extremely smart academics with multiple PhDs who are totally clueless when it comes to computers. You can be smart and not computer literate.
No, the auto backup solution, as described stops if it discovers apps that are on the iPhone but not on the computer, during the auto backup sequence and ASKS THE USER IF THEY WANT TO COPY THEM OVER TO THE COMPUTER DURING THE BACKUP SO THEY DON'T LOSE ACCESS TO THEM, OR HAVE TO REPURCHASE. It says this *very explicitly* and you have to confirm *very explicitly* if you want it to ignore the apps that are not on your computer already (and thus lose them) or copy them over as part of the backup process.
If you select "yes, transfer my purchases" (the button is also labelled 'transfer purchases') then it will copy your apps (that don't already exist on the home machine, so it will copy over apps you have updated on the phone in between sync sessions), and then it will perform a full backup and sync.
My apologies if I am making you (or the original commenter) look ignorant, but you don't seem to have any actual experience of what iTunes actually *does* in these situations. All of your comments reek of heresy and half-truths, retold from second hand experience of ill-informed slashdot commenters.
If you had actually experienced what iTunes does (or actually read the prompts that it gives you) then you wouldn't be making such absurdly false statements that I could disprove to you with an iPhone, a copy if iTunes that it is synced to (or not synced to even) and a fresh purchase (even of a free app) from the app store, followed by plugging that iPhone in, even if auto sync is turned off.
My computer literacy is not in question here - I have actually done these steps personally.
Yes, there's not "special" backup needed before sending it in for repair - a normal backup will do just fine for that, so any of the three methods that I indicated (the automatic one, the normal manual sync, or the right click and backup from the side menu) are all perfectly suitable for backing up your phone before sending it in for repair - the iTunes help file even states that the backup is suitable if you are completely changing to a new phone and want to restore everything on the old phone onto it.
You are looking for ways to make me wrong here, and are rapidly running out of options. The original poster was called on some total bullshit in his attempt to use hyperbole to make iTunes and the iPhone look bad, and ever since then him and other people have been attempting to justify it in the face of cited evidence to the contrary. The only two choices in this situation are either trolling or stupidity - pick your poison.
I turned 30 two days ago, insofar as growing up goes, it seems that it doesn't stop me arguing on the internet. I guess I am retarded.
How was it incorrect? Plugging in the phone and having it sync automatically is the default behaviour, and includes a full phone backup as the very first part of that process. The only time you would have to do anything else *ie, looking for options of how to backup) is if the automatic sync had been disabled by the user (or someone else who set up his iPhone for him) on purpose.
For the record, go to help, type in "iPhone", then the go to the section about backing up your iOS device. From the help files from within iTunes itself:
When you connect your iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad to your computer, certain files and settings on your device are automatically backed up to your computer. You can restore this information to your device if you need to (if you get a new iPhone, for example, and want to transfer your previous settings to it).
Automatically backed-up information includes text messages, notes, call history, contact favorites, sound settings, widget settings, and more.
In addition, photos in Camera Roll (iPhone or iPod touch 4th generation) or in Saved Photos (iPad or iPod touch 3rd generation or earlier) are also backed up. Other media files (such as songs, videos, and some photos) aren’t backed up, but can be restored by syncing with iTunes.
iTunes can also encrypt your backups to secure your data. iPhone OS 3.0 or later and Mac OS X 10.5.7 or later are required for encrypted backups.
Correction, it warns you *very explicitly* that your are not syncing with your "home" computer, and you have to click through at least two warnings that it will restore your phone if you proceed to sync with a new computer.
Well, you could buy a Seat - that's exactly what you're after. The "European" model, but with the cheaper pricetag. Seats are equivalent to VW, since they are made by the same people.
The help *is* in the software, that is what I am saying, It took me less than a minute to find it *in the software's own help*.
The point about the mouse was that if you really can't see someone stating "a system that only has a one button mouse" with a correction from me stating that it supports multi button mice and has for a very long time, even if it can still use a one button mouse if you like... well, we'll just leave that one in the "you're not going to see the debate my way". I corrected an erroneous statement, such is life.
Sometimes they are, I agree. Like a Rolex or something; you're simply paying for a name, there's no added benefit (beyond brand name).
In the car space though, I agree to a certain extent. The VW Golf and the Seat Ibiza are pretty much the same car (literally), just with different body and interior, yet you pay a premium for the VW name with very little extra in the way of luxury or reliability.
However, a Subaru Impreza WRX is certainly a cut above your average American economy junker.
Slashdot Mirror
I know you're trolling, but the key word there is "someday". So far no one has come up with anything comparable at the same price point. All the cheaper ones have crappy screens or some other compromise. Stick a USB port and an SD card slot on the new one and it'll be pretty much done.
It is true. As someone earlier in the thread noted, if the domain is slashdot.org then it works and you can paste. If the domain is tech.slashdot.org, or yro.slashdot.org etc etc, ie any of the subdomains, then you cannot paste into the box once you have typed into it.
It means that you can't reply in-line if you want to paste, but you can click on the post ID and load it in a new page and reply that way. It's just annoying.
This is broken on Safari on OS X too. You can't paste into boxes you have already typed into. It used to work, then slashdot changed something (around the time this god awful new system arrived). It's obviously something in Webkit itself that is tripping it up.
It's something to do with Webkit, since this is a problem with the latest version of Safari too. Not being able to paste into slashdot text boxes that you have already typed into is very annoying.
Safari will play anything that is installed as a Quicktime Component - that includes vorbis/theora/WebM/x264
No, what's happening is that the US cellular market is catching up with the rest of the world, where we've had the iPhone on multiple carriers for a long time.
It was only the backwards, stone-age US cellular market that was "special" with the exclusivity of AT&T. Sure the other markets also launched with exclusive deals (O2 in the UK, for example) but these ended quickly and opened up the market, offering the choice of an iPhone if you wanted on, on your carrier of choice - just like Android handsets.
He cited one source not "many" as he claims were in use.
The OP asked for sourceS with an s on the end.
Either way, it looks like that store (with no space between the words) did come first, but I would argue it is considerably less famous (he claimed "if they didn't have exclusive use or even most famous use") - this is certainly the first I have heard of this sales force store. They seem to have different markets too, which doesn't necessarily mean they infringe on each other.
People were calling software on OS X "apps" long before the iPhone existed, due to the extension for programs being .app
Mail is even called "mail app" by many people.
It was only natural that this was extended to the iPhone when it came out, although the program extension on the bundle for an iPhone app is no longer .app, the name stuck.
No, it generally is the shortening of "application", since programs on the Mac operating system, especially from OS X onwards were already called "apps" for short, since the extension is .app (and what an app actually is, is a folder containing all the resources necessary to run the program, called a bundle, named nameofprogram.app that OS X treats as a single entity (although you can drill down into it if you really want).
The common parlance for some of these apps has appended the word app onto the end, for example "Mail" is often called "Mail app" since it is less cumbersome. Others have not taken this suffix, like iTunes or Safari. In fact, Mail is the only common one I can think of right now - perhaps also Preview app.
Either way, I think Apple were the first to use the term "App Store" when referring to a mobile program storefront, and it seems obvious now, since it has gained popular traction.
When you're done, can I borrow your spade? I have some gardening I need to do.
You honestly think I thought "oh wait, that was satire I used!" after the fact? Come on, that's just weak. You're also trying to frame my initial reasonably light hearted satirical musing about whether you had ever used a computer before (come on, you think that's not obvious satire?!) as some heinous attack that justifies your response that I'm a "hypocritical piece of shit".
You can try and justify stooping to that level as much as you like, but you're not going to find solace here. Try again with another argument if you like.
I have yet to see how I am wrong - everything I have posted in this exchange is verifiable fact. I know because not only did I look it up, I also tested it (on Mac OS X and Windows Vista). Admittedly only with an iPhone 3G, since that is all I have to hand right now, but I figure it covers me enough.
I'm not bullying anyone, and if you consider me calling you on questionable content as bullying then I suggest you toughen up a little. Whether I "win" is not really at issue here - I presented my arguments and people are free to take what they will from them. Rather than just blindly assert "I'm right" I would prefer people actually look things up and test for themselves, with my information as a starting point, rather than simply taking me at face value.
My only surprise is that you resorted to abusive swearing rather than actually address the points. It doesn't do much to bolster you're claim that you're *not* an idiot, but each to his own.
For the record, I do not think you are an idiot per se, just that you have demonstrated that you are willing to stick to a stupid argument in the face of evidence to the contrary.
The original assertion by you was that iTunes was difficult to use because it took a long time to discover how to back up an iPhone. I pointed out three easy ways to do that task, in order of simplicity, including a quick run down on how to find out this information, both via the internet and via the program's own help files. You then went off on a non sequitur about how my first suggestion was "wrong" because that didn;t work for you "hence the post in the first place". You may have noticed that my post continued with two further methods to use if the first one did not work (usually because auto sync has been turned off - I do it on my iPhone because it's annoying - I don't always want to sync when I connect the phone). I included the default behaviour for completeness, and to indicate one of the three ways I know to do the task that you had indicated was so difficult.
The other two methods are not all that complex either, but I figured including them all was thorough.
This is when it got somewhat sidetracked and you started calling me a hypocrite and blind Apple worshipper and it only went downhill from there. Something tells me you don;t often retreat from an argument when defeated, you just resort to slinging insults until your opponent gets bored and goes away, or is browbeaten into "defeat". Suffice to say "a piece of shit" is not the worst thing I've been called, and it's not particularly offensive to me. At least I know you're actually getting worked up trying to dig yourself out of a losing position. Enjoy your procrastination.
Have you ever been in a debate? You are free to question someone's intelligence *if* you can back up your assertion with fact.
So, I can say "you must be stupid if you think the Earth is flat, because it's been well documented that it is not the case".
What I can't say is "You're stupid", with no qualifying statement.
So, I can question your intelligence based on the supposed issues you have had with iTunes, but in reality what I am doing is framing an argument that says "you're not that stupid, you just have a serious axe to grind with iTunes".
That is a long way from "you hypocritical piece of shit". Even if you totally disagree with me, you went beyond the typical level of "agree to disagree". Not that it offends me or anything - I swear like a sailor with the clap, but I don't go around calling people pieces of shit.
You can think that if you like, but it doesn't make it any more true. Just look at the way the discourse has gone - a certain level of pseudo-friendly satirical jibing is natural, but you went in for the "stuff you wouldn't say in polite company" route.
Like I say, I have no dog in this fight - I'm ambivalent to whether you solved the problem or your personal outlook on life or the state of iTunes. I was correcting erroneous information, and then later offering a potential reason that an automatic sync may have failed.
My initial post was hardly combative; merely a comeback to the initial post, written with some clear vitriol towards a piece of software that isn't as bad as everyone makes out.
You set yourself up with *your* first post for a combative reply - you just didn't expect to get one that would argue against you with some actual facts. I've said nothing to you that wouldn't be allowed in a debate. You, on the other hand, have.
Now who is being all emotional? I'm completely unmoved by this, I simply questioned your need to descend to calling me "a piece of hypocritical shit" in response to some satire and a query over whether it *really* took you all that time to diagnose an issue with a piece of software that you had preconceived ideas about. I'm not saying it's the best piece of software in the world - it's a little clunky here and there with the grafted on iOS sync features, but it's not horrible and virtually impossible to navigate (like, for example, the EvE Online UI).
I haven't sworn at you, nor have I thrown baseless insults at you. I presented some options about whether you were stupid or not (with the disclaimer that I don;t necessarily think that you are, but given the thread it's hard to come to any other conclusion since you were so dead set on telling me that everything I was saying was wrong, despite citations and other evidence to the contrary).
Certainly at no point have I called you a piece of shit. So, feel free to use this thread as an example in any case you wish - it doesn't present your discourse abilities in a good light at all, regardless of whether you think you're right or not.
I tested this on MS Windows - I dual boot. Admittedly Vista, so who knows what's going on with that, but I checked to see if it was the same as my primary OS. It is.
Whether something else is at play, who knows - the most likely cause is the iTunes helper agent process (which also exists on OS X) not working.
I see you have devolved beyond reading the rest of my post - in much the same way you accused me of doing, when in fact I read everything in there and attempted to troubleshoot your issue, or at least offer a potential explanation about the UI issue, which you only stated vaguely.
Your quote is also not an ad hominem attack, it is an expression of surprise, based in satire (clearly you are using a computer to have posted the comment) and an initial setup on my skepticism over the problems of a clearly computer literate person (anyone posting on slashdot is de facto computer literate, although I'm sure that will make people laugh) would have so much trouble performing a simple operation in iTunes, and that really what the post was, was hyperbole designed to state "isn't iTunes terrible".
Now, it may be terrible (it's not the best program ever written), but it has genuine issues that can be addressed on that point without needing to severely exaggerate a trivial backup issue.
If it *wasn't* trivial to solve or troubleshoot, then we are back to computer illiteracy, which leads me to "stupid or trolling (or stuck digging a hole and too stubborn to admit he lost the argument when called on some bullshit)".
You then drop into even further aggressive namecalling, with swearing. Not once have I stooped to that level. I may call you slightly foolish or stupid (or rather question that you might be based on the evidence you have presented with me, although I am erring on "not stupid, just stubborn"), but I have not gone as far as calling you a piece of shit.
What purpose does that serve?
Do you know what the term "heresy" actually means. It's not a religious term, it specifically means "rumour" - which is exactly what your attempts to tell me that factual information that I have posted, cited by official sources, and personally experienced by me on many occasions across several iOS devices across numerous generations (since before it was even called iOS) is incorrect.
You have latched onto one word, that you do not seem to fully understand, and have resorted to throwing ad hom attacks at me, which is fair enough I suppose - I have suggested that you are either stupid or a troll, not quite in an ad hominem way (I have backed it up with evidence and questions), but I suppose it's inevitable eventually that you would go that route, in the face of no other available direction.
In terms of what I "worship", Apple would not be among them - Apple stuff is a tool to get the job done, and it has plenty of flaws both in terms of corporate policy of Apple as a whole and in various hardware and software implementations - ask a Mac user about what they think of the Finder, for example. Now *there's* code they really need to go back and start again with, never mind iTunes. Since we are actually talking about iOS and iTunes, I think it is *crazy* that the iOS calendar app doesn't have a way to show (or sync) ToDo items that are part of the iCal app on OS X - those go into your Mail.app, and don't across that way either, meaning I need a third party app to enable that function.
I also think it is stupid that in 2010, now 2011, you can't do a bluetooth file transfer using your iPhone - you have to go via USB to transfer files, usually photos, onto your computer.
Anyway, we're getting sidetracked - I shouldn't have to justify that I'm not a blind "worshipper" of Apple to point out flaws in your own arguments.
You said you were going to "outline the problem" in the rest of your comment, that you asked me to read. I read it all and it doesn't appear that you have actually outlined a problem - just posted something vague about UI issues. What specifically was the problem you were having? The sync operation (listed in the menu) includes a full backup. Perhaps it could be labelled "backup and sync" to make it more explicit, but other than that "a computer user with 2 degrees" should be able to handle it. It's not rocket surgery.
As an aside, "2 degrees" doesn't necessarily mean you can use a computer (not saying you personally can't) but I have met a couple of extremely smart academics with multiple PhDs who are totally clueless when it comes to computers. You can be smart and not computer literate.
No, the auto backup solution, as described stops if it discovers apps that are on the iPhone but not on the computer, during the auto backup sequence and ASKS THE USER IF THEY WANT TO COPY THEM OVER TO THE COMPUTER DURING THE BACKUP SO THEY DON'T LOSE ACCESS TO THEM, OR HAVE TO REPURCHASE. It says this *very explicitly* and you have to confirm *very explicitly* if you want it to ignore the apps that are not on your computer already (and thus lose them) or copy them over as part of the backup process.
If you select "yes, transfer my purchases" (the button is also labelled 'transfer purchases') then it will copy your apps (that don't already exist on the home machine, so it will copy over apps you have updated on the phone in between sync sessions), and then it will perform a full backup and sync.
My apologies if I am making you (or the original commenter) look ignorant, but you don't seem to have any actual experience of what iTunes actually *does* in these situations. All of your comments reek of heresy and half-truths, retold from second hand experience of ill-informed slashdot commenters.
If you had actually experienced what iTunes does (or actually read the prompts that it gives you) then you wouldn't be making such absurdly false statements that I could disprove to you with an iPhone, a copy if iTunes that it is synced to (or not synced to even) and a fresh purchase (even of a free app) from the app store, followed by plugging that iPhone in, even if auto sync is turned off.
My computer literacy is not in question here - I have actually done these steps personally.
Yes, there's not "special" backup needed before sending it in for repair - a normal backup will do just fine for that, so any of the three methods that I indicated (the automatic one, the normal manual sync, or the right click and backup from the side menu) are all perfectly suitable for backing up your phone before sending it in for repair - the iTunes help file even states that the backup is suitable if you are completely changing to a new phone and want to restore everything on the old phone onto it.
You are looking for ways to make me wrong here, and are rapidly running out of options. The original poster was called on some total bullshit in his attempt to use hyperbole to make iTunes and the iPhone look bad, and ever since then him and other people have been attempting to justify it in the face of cited evidence to the contrary. The only two choices in this situation are either trolling or stupidity - pick your poison.
I turned 30 two days ago, insofar as growing up goes, it seems that it doesn't stop me arguing on the internet. I guess I am retarded.
Oh I did mean mid 2000s, my correction - in my head I had "5" and thought 95 instead of 05.
I was certainly using a two button mouse in OS 8.6 though.
How was it incorrect? Plugging in the phone and having it sync automatically is the default behaviour, and includes a full phone backup as the very first part of that process. The only time you would have to do anything else *ie, looking for options of how to backup) is if the automatic sync had been disabled by the user (or someone else who set up his iPhone for him) on purpose.
For the record, go to help, type in "iPhone", then the go to the section about backing up your iOS device. From the help files from within iTunes itself:
When you connect your iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad to your computer, certain files and settings on your device are automatically backed up to your computer. You can restore this information to your device if you need to (if you get a new iPhone, for example, and want to transfer your previous settings to it).
Automatically backed-up information includes text messages, notes, call history, contact favorites, sound settings, widget settings, and more.
In addition, photos in Camera Roll (iPhone or iPod touch 4th generation) or in Saved Photos (iPad or iPod touch 3rd generation or earlier) are also backed up. Other media files (such as songs, videos, and some photos) aren’t backed up, but can be restored by syncing with iTunes.
iTunes can also encrypt your backups to secure your data. iPhone OS 3.0 or later and Mac OS X 10.5.7 or later are required for encrypted backups.
(emphasis mine)
Correction, it warns you *very explicitly* that your are not syncing with your "home" computer, and you have to click through at least two warnings that it will restore your phone if you proceed to sync with a new computer.
It doesn't just "rebuild your phone".
You get plenty of warning.
Well, you could buy a Seat - that's exactly what you're after. The "European" model, but with the cheaper pricetag. Seats are equivalent to VW, since they are made by the same people.
The help *is* in the software, that is what I am saying, It took me less than a minute to find it *in the software's own help*.
The point about the mouse was that if you really can't see someone stating "a system that only has a one button mouse" with a correction from me stating that it supports multi button mice and has for a very long time, even if it can still use a one button mouse if you like... well, we'll just leave that one in the "you're not going to see the debate my way". I corrected an erroneous statement, such is life.
Sometimes they are, I agree. Like a Rolex or something; you're simply paying for a name, there's no added benefit (beyond brand name).
In the car space though, I agree to a certain extent. The VW Golf and the Seat Ibiza are pretty much the same car (literally), just with different body and interior, yet you pay a premium for the VW name with very little extra in the way of luxury or reliability.
However, a Subaru Impreza WRX is certainly a cut above your average American economy junker.