Dear Aunt TUAW: Why is iTunes deleting my apps?

This happened to me, and it nuked a bunch of the apps I paid for. Just plugged in my phone and poof, apps gone.

I completely stopped buying apps after that. If there's something I must have, I'll pirate it, but I'm also realizing that buying iphone apps is a sucker's game anyway.

I have my iTunes application sync set up. I've noticed that if I have the app in iTunes but not set up to sync and download a copy on to the iPhone directly when I sync that app gets removed.

I used to think "Dear Aunt TUAW" was the gayest thing ever. As soon as I saw the question, I got excited, because i've been having this problem. But alas, the answer didn't do a damn thing helpful. It's still gay.

Here's one for you, why do new apps show up on the second page of my iphone when there is space on the first page, it just started happening one day, and it irritates me.

Which reminds me, what ever happenend to the "Ask TUAW" segments you guys used to do? I always liked little but of extra info that those articles provided.

"Transfer purchases back to your computer." I wish that really worked as meant by this sentence.
Unforunately though "iLost" all the music purchased directly from my iPhone.
Why? Because I unchecked my iPhone Music sync functionality in iTunes. And when I checked the checkbox back the next sync "iLost" my music and money.
Why in the world this behaviour? This sucks so bad and I'm sure at some point in time Apple Inc. is gonna get a nice class action form the user base.
In my opinion the feature doesn't work as advertised. And even if Apple warned you about it I see it as pocket pick all the same.

Thank ya'll for ya'll attention.
*your :)

Andrea

Personally I like the Auntie persona, and have no problems with y'all using y'all.

I don't know if this is the case, but I have seen problems when there are two devices syncing to the same iTunes account that aren't running the same (i)OS. My phone is a 3GS running iOS4 and my wife's is a 3G running 3.1.2 (have yet to see the need to upgrade hers). There are some apps (notably Ocarina) that are iOS4 only. If I upgrade them on my phone, and they're later sync'd back to iTunes, then I will see a few times a warning that they're not compatible with my wife's phone. But eventually they will be removed from her phone.

Of course that may be a good reason to upgrade her phone to iOS4.

I've not found a way for one iTunes account to manage two versions of an app.

You have mis-stated the functionality and given an entirely wrong answer. Yes, you are asked (and can opt out of) the ability to "Transfer purchases back to your computer." What that does is take purchased content from your device and put it in your iTunes library. It does not REMOVE it from the device.

In addition, apps are always reverse-synced to your computer and you are never prompted nor can you opt out.

I read so many of these dear aunt tuaw (especially about itunes) with missing or incorrect information. All it takes is to check your answer with documentation, or even just test it yourself!

Well, it was me that wrote in. Sadly, it didn't solve the issue. Did some more troubleshooting and found that if its an app I didn't already have in iTunes, it transfers correctly. But, if its one that I owned in iTunes and re-added during the day it disappears. On a whim, I re-checked the new option for Automatically sync new apps in the Apps tab. Now, the app remains on the iPhone! So that was an unexpected side effect of that setting!!! Hope this helps others, I just didn't love the idea of having all new apps auto-sync, I was pleased when I had the option not to....

I am not comfortable with the Auntie persona.