Itunes alternates?

[Midwayman]

One of the worst things about iOS devices has to be the association with itunes. Are there any good alternatives out there? Full backup and file system access are what I'd love.

 

[TheStu]

One of the worst things about iOS devices has to be the association with itunes. Are there any good alternatives out there? Full backup and file system access are what I'd love.

You can back up to iCloud when the phone is locked, charging, and connected to wifi.

Nothing gives you file system access.

 

[Midwayman]

iTools is the best option to re[place iTunes!

Any concerns with the very chinese website and security? Always worries me on sites like that were the software appears free.

 

[Phynaz]

iTunes device backup is easy, what else do you need? The device doesn't even have to be plugged in.

 

[Midwayman]

iTunes device backup is easy, what else do you need? The device doesn't even have to be plugged in.

Something without a crappy UI and doesn't bury the ability to sync media with non-apple software. Something with a file browser and two way transfer of all media.

 

[Phynaz]

But wait, you said backup.

Nothing is going to get you file system access. Check out ilounge for software.

I just don't get why you would manually sync anyway. Turn on wifi sync and be done.

 

[LightPattern]

I use iMazing (formerly known as DiskAid) imazing.com

 

[lotust]

I use iMazing (formerly known as DiskAid) imazing.com

That looks nice thanks

 

[Zahid Iqbal]

iCloud is best alternative

 

[Midwayman]

I've tried a few.
Copytrans looks pretty neat. Some free tools, but everything seems to work well. Probably the most talked about tool when I was googling for results. Don't like that I have to open individual programs to do different functions.

IFunbox- Looks like there are a lot of tools, but clunky interface and chinese with no apparently payment scheme worries me.

iMazing- Works well on ios9. Not as complete as I'd like. Missing a way to import ringtones for example.

iexplorer- couldn't see my infuse library on device, appears to require itunes installed.

 

[kmmatney]

I'm might be in the minority, but I don't mind iTunes. While I use to abhor it for the bloat, I found out that most of the alternatives were just as bloated, and all other alternatives had their various problems. So I just bit the bullet and started using it, and it's really not that bad. Overall it does a nice job of keeping 20+ GB of music sorted, and has just enough customization in the UI to make it look like I want (I like "classic" look, with artists and albums on top, and the song list below). So I can't complain about iTunes too much - it does everything I need, although sometimes I have to dig around a lot, or use Google to figure out how to do soemthing that should be simple.

 

[tyler_hob]

Simply use iCloud

 

[golem]

Which one did you end up sticking with?

 

[Midwayman]

Which one did you end up sticking with?

Haven't paid for one yet, but copy trans or imazing would be my choices. Waiting for one of the sales. Apparently 40% off is pretty normal.

 

[golem]

Haven't paid for one yet, but copy trans or imazing would be my choices. Waiting for one of the sales. Apparently 40% off is pretty normal.

Those were the 2 that interested me also, and 40% would be nice. 30% for Imazing and $5 off for the 4 pack copytrans were the biggest discounts I could find. Maybe when Black Friday rolls around.

Can either of them do a full backup of the phone or its that something for Itunes?

 

[Midwayman]

Those were the 2 that interested me also, and 40% would be nice. 30% for Imazing and $5 off for the 4 pack copytrans were the biggest discounts I could find. Maybe when Black Friday rolls around.

Can either of them do a full backup of the phone or its that something for Itunes?

Were you able to get 30% off the family pack on imazing? I could get it on a single license only. Both of them look like they backup. I think copytrans is probably the better of the two. More features and it looks like unlimited devices. 5 installs per key allowed. Kinda sucks you can't just install it on a random PC then revoke a key.

 

[golem]

Were you able to get 30% off the family pack on imazing? I could get it on a single license only. Both of them look like they backup. I think copytrans is probably the better of the two. More features and it looks like unlimited devices. 5 installs per key allowed. Kinda sucks you can't just install it on a random PC then revoke a key.

Nope, I could only get it to work on the single license too. Both for the code or the educational license code would work on the family pack.

 

[golem]

It does seem like the latest version of iMazing is the only program that can back up app states (with some exceptions) for ios 8.3 and up.

 

[Midwayman]

You just can't manage apps and text messages with iCloud efficiently, especially the internet connect is not that good.

The biggest joke with iCloud is that you only get 5gb. That's a serious problem if you have multiple iDevices as you can only backup 1, maybe 2. My iphone is 3.7gb and my ipad was 1.9. Insane that its not at least 5gb per device. That'd still be tight.

 

[weevilone]

The biggest joke with iCloud is that you only get 5gb. That's a serious problem if you have multiple iDevices as you can only backup 1, maybe 2. My iphone is 3.7gb and my ipad was 1.9. Insane that its not at least 5gb per device. That'd still be tight.

On the flip side, 50GB for $.99 per month seems fine to me (USA price, obv).

 

[TheStu]

The biggest joke with iCloud is that you only get 5gb. That's a serious problem if you have multiple iDevices as you can only backup 1, maybe 2. My iphone is 3.7gb and my ipad was 1.9. Insane that its not at least 5gb per device. That'd still be tight.

I saw 1 person's suggestion that made a lot of sense (maybe mod it a little bit), you get as much iCloud space as you have on your device. Buy a 128GB iPhone? Get 128GB of iCloud space.

I mean, maybe halve that, it still be big and probably more than sufficient for people, and it's one of those things that Apple could literally AFFORD to do, and would be massive value-add. Not that they are struggling to get people to buy their devices, I just wish they acted more scrappy sometimes.

 

[Ham n' Eggs]

Apple has done a fantastic job of screwing over users when it comes to freedom to use your device as you like. I have an awesome (I think) setup with my home theater and customized Foobar2000 music player and my wife hates it because it doesn't work with her iPhone.

I've tried program after program and nothing is easy to use with an iPhone except iTunes. I tried banning iTunes and in my long quest to keep it banned I searched and searched and tried MediaMokney which has a plugin to work with iPhones but it proved to be pretty crap and confusing for my wife who just wants someting to work easy. I think I even paid for MediaMonkey through some overly complicated transaction process ( I don't recommend it).

Anyway, I've finally installed iTunes back on the PC.
If you want better control over your device you should get a non-apple device.

 

[Jembo]

I'm not a fan of the software itself but when I just want to change an album or 2 it's much easier to use MediaMonkey. I wish someone would build a good iPhone add-on for MusicBee.

 

[golem]

Were you able to get 30% off the family pack on imazing? I could get it on a single license only. Both of them look like they backup. I think copytrans is probably the better of the two. More features and it looks like unlimited devices. 5 installs per key allowed. Kinda sucks you can't just install it on a random PC then revoke a key.

Imazing is having it black friday sale. It's still only 30%, and it only applies to the single license. Too bad.

 

[lotust]

I love imazing so far thanks guys