What does iTunes actually back up?

What is iTunes backing up when it backups your iDevice?  Here’s the complete list….

  • Address Book and Address Book favorites.
  • App Store Application data (except the Application itself, its tmp and Caches folder).
  • Application settings, preferences, and data.
  • Autofill for webpages.
  • CalDAV and subscribed calendar accounts.
  • Calendar accounts.
  • Calendar events.
  • Call history.
  • Camera Roll (Photos, screenshots, images saved, and videos taken. Videos greater than 2 GB are backed up with iOS 4.0 and later.)  Note: For devices without a camera, Camera Roll is called Saved Photos.
  • In-app purchases.
  • Keychain (this includes email account passwords, Wi-Fi passwords, and passwords you enter into websites and some other applications. If you encrypt the backup with iOS 4 and later, the keychain information is transferred to the new device. With an unencrypted backup, the keychain can only be restored to the same iPhone or iPod touch. If you are restoring to a new device with an unencrypted backup, you will need to enter these passwords again.)
  • List of External Sync Sources (Mobile Me, Exchange ActiveSync).
  • Location service preferences for apps and websites you have allowed to use your location.
  • Mail accounts.
  • Managed Configurations/Profiles. When restoring a backup to a different device, all settings related to the configuration profiles will not be restored (accounts, restrictions, or anything else that can be specified through a configuration profile). Note that accounts and settings that are not associated with a configuration profile will still be restored.
  • Map bookmarks, recent searches, and the current location displayed in Maps.
  • Microsoft Exchange account configurations.
  • Network settings (saved wifi spots, VPN settings, network preferences).
  • Nike + iPod saved workouts and settings.
  • Notes.
  • Offline web application cache/database.
  • Paired Bluetooth devices (which can only be used if restored to the same phone that did the backup).
  • Safari bookmarks, cookies, history, offline data, and currently open pages.
  • Saved suggestion corrections (these are saved automatically as you reject suggested corrections).
  • SMS and MMS (pictures and video) messages.
  • Trusted hosts that have certificates that cannot be verified.
  • Voice memos.
  • Voicemail token (This is not the Voicemail password, but is used for validation when connecting. This is only restored to a phone with the same phone number on the SIM card).
  • Wallpapers.
  • Web clips.
  • YouTube bookmarks and history.

If you are concerned about security, then you will want to Encrypt your Backup.  In the iTunes Summary screen, select “Encrypt iPhone Backup”.  If you do this, make sure you know your password.  You will need your password to restore the device from the backup, and your data will be unrecoverable if you forget your password.
iTunes places the backup files in the following places:

  • Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/
  • Windows XP: \Documents and Settings\(username)\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\
  • Windows Vista and Windows 7: \Users\(username)\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\

 

Get Mass Effect 2 for Free for Dragon Age II purchasers…

BioWare says Dragon Age II has sold more than one million copies in less than two weeks, and as a thank you note they are offering a free copy of Mass Effect 2 for PC to DAII owners.

Go here if you own Dragon Age II, just enter the code for the online pass that you got with the game (The Black Emporium DLC) and the rest should explain itself. Even easier, or if you had previously registered the code on BioWare Social but threw away the card with the code, just log in and click the ‘Lost my code’ link to automatically activate it.

Activation should work regardless of the platform you bought the game on (it’s a code after all), and apparently the free copy of Mass Effect 2 doesn’t come with Cerberus Network access totally comes with Cerberus Network access and some DLC, haha!”

Is the AirPort Extreme worth the price?

A friend was looking to replace her wireless router, and I suggested a refurbished AirPort Extreme. New units sell for around US$180, but refurbished models from Apple are $130. Still, that’s significantly more expensive than the average Linksys router you’ll find at Walmart or Best Buy. Is it worth it?

There’s no scientific answer to that question, and reasonable people can disagree, but I will share my experiences and my decisions. First, I don’t claim that my knowledge is exhaustive of all makes and models. I have used several Linksys models (including some with DD-WRT), a few Netgear models, and a few Belkin ones. I have also used AirPort Extreme units since the days when they looked like spaceships. In every case, the non-Apple hardware ended up being replaced with Apple hardware. The only thing that ever replaced Apple hardware was newer Apple hardware, not because the older model had worn out or stopped working, but because newer models came with new features.

I have found two main differences between Apple and non-Apple hardware: stability and features. Stability means I don’t worry about it locking up, becoming unresponsive, or simply ceasing to work until I unplug it. While I routinely had to make sure to keep a paperclip next to the other routers, the only time I do a full reset on my AirPort equipment is when I move it to a new location and want to start with a clean slate. It’s hard to overemphasize this point, especially if you’re putting this somewhere difficult to access. So far my favorite installation place for a more reliable AirPort Extreme has been at my mom’s house, which has eliminated phone calls from her telling me that she can’t get online because “the Internet is down.”

After stability comes several important features, each of which are important to me and add to the AirPort Extreme’s value.

Is the AirPort Extreme worth the price?.

How to Fix an HP Laserjet P2015 Formattter Board Error

HP’s Laserjet P2015 printer has a known issue with the formatter board that usually comes up after the one year warranty has expired. When this issue occurs, the paper-jam and the toner light stay on and will not respond to a reset. The cost to have it fixed is almost as much as replacing the printer. Fortunately there is a relatively easy and cost free way to fix the problem that has shown to be very reliable.

How to Fix an HP Laserjet P2015 Formattter Board Error