IPhone – Will iTunes recognize existing apps when it “overwrites” the apps on the iPhone

applicationsiphoneitunessettings

I recently reinstalled Windows 7 and I just didn't bother about iTunes (anymore).
Now I luckily found a way to transfer all my apps "back" to iTunes (see here), but now when I don't want to keep downloading the updates with my phone, but instead in iTunes, the sync activation leads to one being forced to overwrite the iPhone data. Three questions:

a). Will iTunes be so smart to recognize that the apps are basically identical, or will it just takes ages to stupidly overwrite all the existing apps?

b). Will this have an effect on the app settings (or e.g. favorites in my dropbox app)?

c). As I (now) only sync the apps, I assume this won't affect any data or music?!

Thanks for your help in advance!

Kind regards

Best Answer

When using the standard iTunes/iPhone sync mechanism:

a) iTunes won't copy over an app to the iphone unless the app in iTunes is newer
b) It won't have an affect on app settings
c) If you only sync apps then it won't touch data/music