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> Why can’t I backup an iOS device to a local NAS in the way I can use Time Machine, for example? When I connect my iPhone to my iMac it does to a local backup

> Why can’t I backup an iOS device to a local NAS in the way I can use Time Machine, for example? When I connect my iPhone to my iMac it does to a local backup to a file, which then gets backed up via Time Machine (and SuperDuper/CarbonCopyCloner). "How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch with your Mac": * https://support.apple.com/en-ca/108796 https://support.apple.com/en-ca/108796 There's also a checkbox for 'Wifi syncing' so a cable isn't necessarily needed.

lxgr 1y ago
That’s exactly my point: Why on Earth do I need a separate computer to mediate the backup? iOS natively supports SMB over any network connection including wired Ethernet, mounting encrypted APFS volumes on USB storage devices at 10 Gbps etc. It’s Apples explicit vision that an iPad Pro can replace a Mac even for some professional users. Why don’t these deserve local backups?
- GeekyBear 1y ago
  How many people own a NAS, but not a PC or Mac? Apple already provides first party software to handle iDevice backups on Windows or Mac. Backing up an Android device to a PC using adb is significantly more difficult, especially for the less technically minded.
  - lxgr 1y ago
    > How many people own a NAS, but not a PC or Mac? That’s arguably the wrong question: I bet a lot more would own one if they could easily backup their iOS devices to it.
    - hnaccount_rng 1y ago
      The number of people that would but a NAS over just spending the 5$/month for storage is well below a percent and if you combine that with the requirement of not having a PC/Mac you may well end up in the hundreds… There aren’t that many people that are willing to own a device from a company but not trusting that company with their data
      - lxgr 1y ago
        Your numbers might be right, but Apple has implemented niche features, some even requiring expensive per-device hardware, for much less than that.
        hnaccount_rng 1y ago
        Do you have an example?
        lxgr 1y ago
        All new iPhone models support native DisplayPort output via USB-C, yet I’m not sure 1% of users even have the required cable/adapter. Some of the power amplifiers for rarely-used bands probably qualify as well (mmWave in particular). On the software side I’d have to dig a bit, but I bet many code paths on iOS see use of less than 1% of all users.
    - GeekyBear 1y ago
      I'm willing to bet that more people would backup their Android device if Google provided a first party tool for user friendly backups of Android devices to local computers.

lxgr 1y ago

That’s exactly my point: Why on Earth do I need a separate computer to mediate the backup? iOS natively supports SMB over any network connection including wired Ethernet, mounting encrypted APFS volumes on USB storage devices at 10 Gbps etc. It’s Apples explicit vision that an iPad Pro can replace a Mac even for some professional users. Why don’t these deserve local backups?

GeekyBear 1y ago
How many people own a NAS, but not a PC or Mac? Apple already provides first party software to handle iDevice backups on Windows or Mac. Backing up an Android device to a PC using adb is significantly more difficult, especially for the less technically minded.
- lxgr 1y ago
  > How many people own a NAS, but not a PC or Mac? That’s arguably the wrong question: I bet a lot more would own one if they could easily backup their iOS devices to it.
  - hnaccount_rng 1y ago
    The number of people that would but a NAS over just spending the 5$/month for storage is well below a percent and if you combine that with the requirement of not having a PC/Mac you may well end up in the hundreds… There aren’t that many people that are willing to own a device from a company but not trusting that company with their data
    - lxgr 1y ago
      Your numbers might be right, but Apple has implemented niche features, some even requiring expensive per-device hardware, for much less than that.
      - hnaccount_rng 1y ago
        Do you have an example?
        lxgr 1y ago
        All new iPhone models support native DisplayPort output via USB-C, yet I’m not sure 1% of users even have the required cable/adapter. Some of the power amplifiers for rarely-used bands probably qualify as well (mmWave in particular). On the software side I’d have to dig a bit, but I bet many code paths on iOS see use of less than 1% of all users.
  - GeekyBear 1y ago
    I'm willing to bet that more people would backup their Android device if Google provided a first party tool for user friendly backups of Android devices to local computers.