05-05-2011, 04:00 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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iPad Restore: Someone Please Explain This To Me
I admit it: when it comes to the world of Apple devices, there's still a lot I don't know. Some things make intuitive sense, while others I find baffling. This is the latter. Today I returned my black 32 GB iPad 2 and exchanged it for a 64 GB model. I've become quite enamoured with the iPad and am excited to use it for photography so I wanted to have the extra storage. The local Apple store here gave me some amazing customer service - I'll write more about that in another post - and I was able to upgrade to the more expensive product fairly easily. Before returning the 32 GB iPad 2 to the store, I did one final sync to back it up, then I reset it back to factory specs before boxing it up. When I connected the 64 GB iPad 2, I opted to restore the image I'd created just a few hours earlier. The results of the restore weren't very impressive. First, rather than the three screens of icons that I very carefully organized over a period of two weeks, I have ten screens of apps. It will take me at least an hour to put everything back where I want it. Only four of my dozen or so folders are there, and they only have one app each. Next, after I connected to my Wi-Fi network - it needed the password, which I found odd - I was peppered with half a dozen password prompts. Exactly what kind of a restore is this? Other than putting my background wallpaper on there, this seems like a poor "backup" that was taken of my previous iPad. I watched as every app was installed again - though than. I can understand somewhat the password issue - it's a security precaution so someone doesn't clone your device and get access to all your accounts. But it's a hassle for the user. If my backup was encrypted in iTunes, would it still work this way? Am I missing something, or does Apple really not understand the expectation that a backup should restore a device to the exact same state it was in at the time of the backup?
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05-05-2011, 04:29 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,305
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My experience going from the iPhone 3GS to the iPhone 4 was identical. Granted, two different pieces of hardware. The apps scattered all over was the most frustrating for me as well.
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05-05-2011, 04:32 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 28
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I don't know about the icon bit. When I migrated from iPad to iPad2, I didn't experience that.
I did however experience the password bit. I was actually satisfied that it asked me for all the passwords. I like the sense of security it gave me.
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05-05-2011, 04:35 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 676
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Jason, if you encrypt your backups (which you should be doing anyway), you won't be prompted for the passwords on restore (at least it works for email, WiFi, and MobileMe passwords- not sure about 3rd party apps).
The folders issue is a painful bug. I've had some weird experiences with that. In some cases it seems to organize apps into their folders on the 2nd sync after a restore. But yeah I went through the same thing when I wanted to start my iPad 2 off by restoring it from my most recent iPad 1 backup.
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64 GB iPad 2 WiFi, Apple TV 2, 32 GB iPhone 4
Early 2011 MacBook Pro 13" (dual boot with Windows 7), Early 2009 Mac Mini
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05-05-2011, 04:37 PM
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Executive Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,471
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Do you sync your iPod Touch to that same computer? I'd bet any amount of money you do.
Not that this is an excuse, because I agree it's broken, but I never have this problem with my iPhones and ALWAYS with my iPads. It seems that iTunes doesn't deal with multiple iOS devices very well and always mucks up the process.
Apple definitely needs to fix this.
PS: That's why I just call it a day when I lose an iPad. I NEVER sync apps on my iPad to iTunes any more; just music and tv shows and such. Everything else, I do OTA. Yes, it's a pain in the ass when I have to 'start over' but I'd rather deal with that than the syncing drama.
It's definitely a broken experience, which is surprising because Apple really is good with UX stuff.
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Current Apple Stuff: 24" iMac, iPhone 4, AppleTV (original), 4gb Shuffle, 64gb iPad 2.
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05-05-2011, 04:38 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 676
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And off-topic, I'm really enjoying using my iPad 2 to preview photos taken with my shiny new Nikon D3100 (which I got after watching your video review of it), which is my first DSLR.
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64 GB iPad 2 WiFi, Apple TV 2, 32 GB iPhone 4
Early 2011 MacBook Pro 13" (dual boot with Windows 7), Early 2009 Mac Mini
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05-05-2011, 05:01 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dyvim
Jason, if you encrypt your backups (which you should be doing anyway), you won't be prompted for the passwords on restore (at least it works for email, WiFi, and MobileMe passwords- not sure about 3rd party apps).
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OK, that's what I figured. I'd have encrypted it if I knew about that feature - I frankly didn't look at the little check box down there until recently. Might be nice to make that part of the initial iPad setup ("Do you want your backup to be encrypted?").
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dyvim
The folders issue is a painful bug. I've had some weird experiences with that. In some cases it seems to organize apps into their folders on the 2nd sync after a restore.
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I tried a second sync, but no dice.
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05-05-2011, 05:03 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vincent Ferrari
Do you sync your iPod Touch to that same computer? I'd bet any amount of money you do.
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You bet. Just like most people I'd guess. You'd think that over the past year Apple would have fixed this. Sucks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vincent Ferrari
PS: That's why I just call it a day when I lose an iPad.
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Uh, how many iPads have you gone through exactly???
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05-05-2011, 05:04 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dyvim
And off-topic, I'm really enjoying using my iPad 2 to preview photos taken with my shiny new Nikon D3100 (which I got after watching your video review of it), which is my first DSLR.
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Nice. Glad you're enjoying the camera!
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05-05-2011, 05:04 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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OK, now I'm getting more irritated: none of my Flipboard settings were transferred over, so I have to re-input Facebook and Twitter feeds. Grr. This is the most useless "backup" process I've ever seen!
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