Updated: Data Loss Issues Across the iPhone Community
Mar/26/10 07:48
There are some reviews of MEO that complain about
data loss. These reviews are misdirected at
My Eyes Only™.
The problem seems to be related to the iPhone OS or the iTunes app update and sync process. I have confirmed with other developers who have data app that on occasion their customers complain of data loss. MEO customers are not immune to this rare problem. In addition, some customers do not fully understand how iTunes works and the complications of syncing with multiple desktops or wrongly initiating full restores of their devices and getting results they were not ready to accept.
One developer I spoke to believes that the data loss issue is such rare occurrence because it is related to hardware issues; as in faulty memory causing an unstable iPhone OS system. I believe that this is very possible. Another developer believes that there are bugs in the app update, iTunes to iPhone sync process and the app update process. From our experience this seems highly probable and I believe that this is happening. I also believe that the iPhone when it is running out of memory begins to act strangely. Software Ops is working with Apple on this problem but they are unable to collect any data on this issue because it is so rare. At the moment Apple and Software Ops is stumped, but we are working this issue.
Update: Some customers are losing data when the sync with a different iTunes on a different computer. I don’t know how this is happening without iTunes providing a warning to the user that the date on the device will be lost, because every-time we try this, we get the warning. Simply don’t do this if you want your data kept safe.
- Confirm that your iTunes is keeping backups of all your apps.
- Most of our recently reported data loss problems occurred during an update of MEO when it is performed on an iPhone. We recommend that you do your updates of all data style apps using iTunes on the desktop. If you must do them on your device we ask you to follow these simple instructions.
- Software Ops is working on a desktop backup/restore application. We recommend you get a copy when it is ready and backup your data.
MEO had an historic problem that is described here and the technical explanation is here. While this problem did happen to only a few people in thousands of customers with version 1.3. It is now resolved and will not happen again. The few recent problems are not related to that historic problem.
The problem seems to be related to the iPhone OS or the iTunes app update and sync process. I have confirmed with other developers who have data app that on occasion their customers complain of data loss. MEO customers are not immune to this rare problem. In addition, some customers do not fully understand how iTunes works and the complications of syncing with multiple desktops or wrongly initiating full restores of their devices and getting results they were not ready to accept.
One developer I spoke to believes that the data loss issue is such rare occurrence because it is related to hardware issues; as in faulty memory causing an unstable iPhone OS system. I believe that this is very possible. Another developer believes that there are bugs in the app update, iTunes to iPhone sync process and the app update process. From our experience this seems highly probable and I believe that this is happening. I also believe that the iPhone when it is running out of memory begins to act strangely. Software Ops is working with Apple on this problem but they are unable to collect any data on this issue because it is so rare. At the moment Apple and Software Ops is stumped, but we are working this issue.
Update: Some customers are losing data when the sync with a different iTunes on a different computer. I don’t know how this is happening without iTunes providing a warning to the user that the date on the device will be lost, because every-time we try this, we get the warning. Simply don’t do this if you want your data kept safe.
What can you do to protect yourself?
- Confirm that your iTunes is keeping backups of all your apps.
- Most of our recently reported data loss problems occurred during an update of MEO when it is performed on an iPhone. We recommend that you do your updates of all data style apps using iTunes on the desktop. If you must do them on your device we ask you to follow these simple instructions.
- Software Ops is working on a desktop backup/restore application. We recommend you get a copy when it is ready and backup your data.
Historic MEO Problem
MEO had an historic problem that is described here and the technical explanation is here. While this problem did happen to only a few people in thousands of customers with version 1.3. It is now resolved and will not happen again. The few recent problems are not related to that historic problem.