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iSyncr for Android Helps You Sync Your iTunes Library Over USB or WiFi Effortlessly

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Many converts from the iPhone look for solutions to keep their iTunes library seamlessly synced up with their phones without much of an effort. Third party applications providing this functionality is nothing new, but they often require the user to use a new media management application such as DoubleSync. You’ll be happy to know that you don’t have to ditch iTunes in order to enjoy powerful media management, though, thanks to iSyncr.

I’d go as far as saying it’s even better than the native iTunes and iPhone syncing mechanism and you’ll quickly forget about that “other” phone. iSyncr is very simple to set up and easy to use. The base application works much like the iPhone/iTunes hookup as it uses your USB port to transfer files to and from your phone. Once you mount your microSD card, you can open the iSyncr application that sits on your microSD card on your desktop computer. (They have versions for Mac OSX and PC.)

From here, you’re presented with an interface that’ll allow you to select which playlists you want to sync. Going deeper than that, you can have it only sync items that are checked in iTunes, select the name of the folder the music will be sycned to, and you can have it delete any files on your phone that are not present in the playlists you choose to sync. Once you get everything the way you want it, just hit the sync button and you’re off. It takes a while on your first sync if you have a ton of content, but this is true with any syncing solution.

That functionality isn’t what impressed me, though – it’s the WiFi add-on that’ll make you wonder why Apple had never thought of implementing wireless syncing for the iPhone. With my phone and my MacBook always being on the same WiFi network, I figured it was worth the extra 99 cents to be able to sync my playlists without having to even touch my laptop, perfect for podcast listeners who have episodes of their favorite shows automatically downloading them as they’re released.

You do have to set up a server application on your PC, but this is extremely easy and you won’t have to fuss around with it much afterward. As soon as you connect the device to sync, you’re presented with a list of your iTunes playlists. From there, just touch the ones you want to sync and hit the start button. I had over 1,000 songs to sync and it did so without fail. (Though it did take very long.) After your initial sync, though, the experience will be such a bliss and a joy to use.

Other features such as automatic synchronization at several intervals, photo and music upload  and enhanced security (for those who anticipate syncing over a shared WiFi connection) all come together to make the experience that much more of a pleasure to use.

Pros:

  • One click sync between your iTunes library and your Android device
  • Syncs over WiFi to avoid being tethered to your desktop and does so without fail
  • Available for both PC and Mac
  • Helpful tutorials make an already easy-to-use application even easier

Cons:

  • Some DRM-protected content is not eligible for transfer or playback, but that’s expected from a non-official solution

There are full and lite versions available for both PC and Mac. The full version of the base app can be had for $2.99 (PC here, Mac here) while the full version of the universal WiFi add-on is $.99. The lite (PC, Mac, Universal WiFi add-on) versions of both apps limit how much music you can sync at a time. Try those out first to see if you like the functionality iSyncr provides and get the full version for even more flexibility.

Quentyn Kennemer
The "Google Phone" sounded too awesome to pass up, so I bought a G1. The rest is history. And yes, I know my name isn't Wilson.

Digital Stylus for the HTC Flyer Priced at $79.99 at Best Buy

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20 Comments

  1. I’ve been using this app for over 6 months now and LOVE it. I’ve tried other sycning apps, but like the article says, you have to install another program to manage your media. This program interfaces with what’s going on in your iTunes seemlessly. Well worth the money.

  2. can you sync movies?

    1. Yes, anything in your iTunes library.

      1. even if the music or movie has that drm, like i have digital copies of movies on my itunes burnt from the extra disc they put in with movies now a days…..

        1. Oh, I doubt that. Should have been more clear. I don’t use the iTunes ecosystem, just the app itself.

  3. Wow…. this just killed the last reason I have for keeping my Verizon iPhone 4 and not moving to the Thunderbolt.

  4. I thought it only pulled non-drm songs and left most songs that were purchased from iTunes.

  5. But it only syncs playlists? Sure, that’s nice – but what about just manually dragging music – that’s what I really want.

  6. If you want to drag, then drag to a playlist and then synch. Dragging to a phone is poor data management.

    I use Double Twist. It does require the desktop middle management program, but it’s very easy to use. What I like about DT is it will take my Apple Lossless files, and compress them for my phone. Since I listen to my phone in the car and through headphones, this works very well.

    Does iSyncr compress lossless?

  7. This is really good news (to me), IF Apple doesn’t disable this, like it goes out of its way to do with DoubleSync, for instance.

  8. iTunes required, sorry, dealbreaker.

  9. I’m going to give it a try. DoubleTwist was crappy. I had no instructions on how to use it.

  10. How about podcast played status and positions -does it sync that too?

  11. Look open webite

  12. Still beyond me why people use itunes and not Media Monkey. People must like their music being converted to horrendous formats.

  13. I like this ap

  14. I tried different apps. to transfer my itunes playlist to my Evo for the first two months and couldn’t find anything that worked. Then I came across iSyncr. It really works well, and I love it. I’ve been using it for the past eight months. I highly recommend it.

    1. did u try doubletwist first? i have that app downloaded and it refuses to work. skeptical about trying another to only be disappointed

  15. This app has been around for a fair while now and is great. Should arguably be preinstalled with Android. Still think usability could be sicker though.

    Isyncr also has an awesome tool to create smart playlists on your phone. Something the iPhone/ipod people can’t do.

  16. WINDOWS>>>NOT UBUNTU ??????????????

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