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I actually took many hours this morning to find out how to do it, but I want to see alternatives to it.

I got my iPhone in sync with my iTunes at home, my first machine. I could "just" bring the app folder/file back home and sync through that. It works just fine.

The question here is on alternatives to that. Jailbreak or not, how could we do it on a second machine?

edit: I mean to install an actual file like application.app or application.ipa just like they are on the Mobile Applications folder or on iPhone's own /Applications one.

cregox
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For most users, the headache free method is preserving the iTunes folder in its entirety and bringing it over to the other computer. You would then sign into the account you obtain the app with on that computer, and authorize it.

If you're simply without the first computer and want to get the app back, then you would simply re-download from the App Store for free (assuming it hasn't been removed).

David Metcalfe
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    Nice alternative! Very similar to another answer from Philip's link on the question: http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/2528/sync-itunes-u-on-2-macs-with-an-ipod/2608#2608 – cregox Jan 05 '11 at 14:10
  • would it make sence to have the iTunes-Folder synchronized through dropbox? – daefu Jan 05 '11 at 15:30
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    Nice find, Cawas. As for daefu, syncing via Dropbox is great if you have a library that fits within the size limits of their service. If you're on the same network, then Home sharing might be more appropriate: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3819 – David Metcalfe Jan 11 '11 at 17:21
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I seem to remember this question being asked before, but the link eludes me at this moment.

In short, you can't. iPhone syncing is on a per iTunes-installation basis. Plugging the phone into a different machine and trying to sync will result in iTunes asking if you want to wipe the data and re-sync from the new iTunes repository.

Philip Regan
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  • I just said I could, and I know it used to be possible with JB - but I just couldn't do it this time. Sorry I took so long to write my alternative. I'm on it! :P – cregox Jan 04 '11 at 18:19
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    @Cawas you will run into the same issue that you asked in your other question. Anytime there is an update to the app you will need the username and password of the person you got the app from. – Ryan Sharp Jan 04 '11 at 18:38
  • @Ryan not if the app isn't on the apple store! ;) – cregox Jan 04 '11 at 18:47
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It's quite simple if you have iOS SDK installed. I've found the solution in the first place I should have looked for, because I actually generated the app file using Corona. But I suppose this is irrelevant to the question.

Open Xcode Organizer, plug in the iDevice and drag n' drop the app into "applications". That's it.

Now, if you don't have iOS SDK, I highly recommend against installing it just for this. It's almost 5GB of downloading. This is why I'd like to know of alternatives.

edit: I believe the best way is using the iPhone Configuration Utility, yet again like that guide from corona. I've confirmed it works just like using the Organizer, but it doesn't need the Xcode. Just download it (this needs a free login, or find another place on the web with that file, v3.2 is about 10Mb), and drag the app / ipa inside your phone. Dealing with licensing the iphone is a whole nother issue (don't you love self promoting?).

Community
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cregox
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    The information concerning you developing the application with Corona should have been included in your original question. Development-centric questions like this, while not out of scope, don't get asked much here and you're going to end up with non-development answers. "Using Xcode" is not a reasonable expectation around here. – Philip Regan Jan 04 '11 at 20:02
  • @Philip what the heck? I really have no idea what you meant, but this isn't strictly about development at all even if it is the reason that lead me to it. You seem to have looked forward for such a solution, why would you hate it? I brought it here for both document it in a good site and, as a I said, find more alternatives. – cregox Jan 04 '11 at 20:17
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    @Cawas: Development scenarios, such as working with an app file that you generated using a third-party SDK, follow a distinctly different workflow than typical users. I think it is safe to say that judging by the types of questions posted here, a vast majority of users do not have Apple's development tools installed on their Macs (and does absolutely nothing for Windows-based iTunes users). Yes, doing what you want to do is simple if you have the developer tools installed with an application you created, but you made no mention of that in your original question. [...] – Philip Regan Jan 04 '11 at 20:54
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    [...] Stating that information up front puts the question in an entirely different context, and that context is crucial to asking good questions that receive useful answers. The question when held up to the answer you posted do nothing to help either. I don't like downvoting anything, but I feel it is appropriate here. – Philip Regan Jan 04 '11 at 20:57
  • @Philip I still can't get what's your point. About the downvoting, go ahead and make the question a CW for what I care. I'm just trying to understand your point. My question does not require SDK, I just gave an answer that do. As I said, I know in the past it was possible to do with JB, and I'm almost positive you can do it with an alternate program without the SDK as well - I just haven't tried and won't for now. – cregox Jan 04 '11 at 22:27
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    @Cawas: Okay, one more time... You ultimately were asking the question from a developer's standpoint, which is markedly different than just using iTunes. You were trying to install an application from a second Mac, which, for all intents and purposes, can't be done (at least not without a lot of technical work; see the question linked in the comment to the question). You should have said up front that this was an application you built. Developer-related questions and answers, while not technically out of scope, have almost no traction in this forum. Thus, -1. That's it. – Philip Regan Jan 04 '11 at 23:46
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    In other words, it's one thing to ling around an application digitally signed by you, it's something else slinging around someone else's you don't have the source code for. – Philip Regan Jan 05 '11 at 00:05
  • @Philip I think I see what you mean now. And, as I should be used by now, you did like many others before you and completely missed my point. A very similar question could be done as developer-related. This was not meant to be it. I'm not requesting codes or providing any. There's no compilation or code execution envolved and I brought this from a complete user point of view. Maybe my mistake was trying to be too concise, like in here: http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/4998/why-automatically-adjust-brightness-doesnt-work-after-i-change-the-brightness/5258#5258 – cregox Jan 05 '11 at 14:09
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    @Cawas: No, you weren't asking for codes, but you were working with applications you built and using tools that clearly aren't typically used by non-developers. Just because you don't ask, provide, or compile code doesn't mean it isn't a developer-related question and answer. Your answer (and thus your question) clearly use developer tools, which gets almost no traction here. I get your point, I just don't agree with it, and I'm not sure how else I can explain this that you'll understand mine as to why the -1 stays. Sorry. – Philip Regan Jan 05 '11 at 14:34
  • @Philip still don't care about the -1, your opinion. But if you had got my point you would drop the "no traction here" and "wrong place". My question has no need for developer tools as another answer already proved. If you still think it's the wrong place, flag the question instead of flaming it. It would soon be closed. – cregox Jan 05 '11 at 16:45