data synchronizationipadiphoneitunes
I've just got a new iPhone and I want to sync my iPad apps between the iPhone and the iPad.
However when I try to enable synchronization for apps for my iPad, it says that if I try to synchronize, all of my apps will be deleted.
Am I doing something wrong? I understand that I should first synchronize my iPad apps into iTunes and then enable app synchronization for the iPhone … but I don't want to lose the apps that are installed on the iPad in the process.
Under the Apps tab in iTunes (when your iPad is plugged in), you should be able to sort your applications by type, using the dropdown box above the list of apps. I believe you can then move down the list with your arrow keys and press the spacebar to check/uncheck the ones you don't want. It's not quite automatic, but I think this may be the fastest way to do it.
(I can't verify 100% the key presses here; I'm on a machine right now that doesn't have iTunes installed.)
You might have an old version of iTunes which does not support folders. The current version is 10.0.1 so I would highly recommend upgrading. If you have the latest then try to reinstall it. This should fix your app/playlist issues.
As for the applications being randomly added ... uncheck the "Automatically sync new apps" box if it is checked. If it is already unchecked, then hopefully reinstalling iTunes will fix this too.
Best Answer
No, you're not. The iOS device is a consumption device - every time you toggle the app sync option it will try to "reset"/wipe the existing apps and re-transfer them. Either leave that option on or tweak it and set your sync to Manual.
To sync your apps to a new device, you have to transfer as to it as a new device. Existing folder structures you had on the iPad do not transfer to phones. You cannot restore configs between different devices.
New phone = new setup of apps and their folders. You sync between your iTunes library and device not device to device.