Multiple iPhone/iPod Households and Itunes

[Larry]

Paying more how? iTunes accounts are free. Music gets purchased once no matter what (if you go the legal route) and can be shared. As the admin Mac account, I can see, edit, copying music to and from the other iTunes accounts set up on the computer.

If you share iTunes on one Mac user account instead of going the multiple Mac user route, there's just too much risk of someone jacking something up, deleting something, changing a setting, etc for my peace of mind.

[TimH]

is this on a mac? Why not set up multiple user accounts on the computer? You'd share applications that are on the computer (like itunes). Each user accesses their itunes when they are logged in to the mac. If you log in under your user account, your phone is synced to your itunes. If michaela logs in to the computer under her user account, her phone is synced to her itunes. The admin account could set some music to be shared between accounts.

ditto!

[gspbrad]

Is this on a Mac? Why not set up multiple user accounts on the computer? You'd share applications that are on the computer (like iTunes). Each user accesses their iTunes when they are logged in to the Mac. If you log in under your user account, your phone is synced to your iTunes. If Michaela logs in to the computer under her user account, her phone is synced to her iTunes. The admin account could set some music to be shared between accounts.

Yep to the above. We have 2 ipads, 2 iphone 4, and a couple nanos, ipods and a touch. We have multiple user accounts on our iMac. We are able to manage our contacts and calendars separately (excluding a family calendar), but we use the same iTunes log in id. That allows is to share purchases; apps and songs. I fly a lot so I download movies rentals every 2 weeks to the iMac vs a specific device. It gives me a little more flexibility which device I load it to for viewing.

Photo Sharing is throwing us off a little. It's great for the 1 pic a month thats worth sharing, but sucks on the other 300+ pics that are worthless. Still trying to get an optimal approach.

[Duane]

I'm interested in opinions as well. Come Sunday, we'll have 2 IPhones, 4 iPads, and a few iPods in the family. And one big Idon'tunderstand.

[tgil]

I'm not an expert, but I live, breath, and bleed Apple. Separate Mac user accounts and separate iTunes accounts is the way to go to eliminate the chances of confusion, combining contacts and iTunes music, etc sync issues.

Fify! Larry is th' man!

[JimN]

Even with a PC you can set up each Iphone/Ipod to sync differently. My wife and I both have Gmail accounts and sync our own calendars, contacts and mail to our phone but we share the music. We actually share calendars on our phones so I know what she has planned and we both know the kids schedules.

Kids Ipods sync to the music without any issues.

[tx07]

After Christmas, our family will have multiple iPhones (4+) and an iPod Touch, and I'm not sure the best way to handle music and contacts through iTunes. I'd like to be able to share music between all devices, but don't necessarily want all the kid's songs on my device, and definitely don't want my contacts shared between all the accounts.

How do you other multi-iDevice families handle such situations?

Michael

We just use the same account. As for the music, just select the ones you want on your device. Unless your using wireless sync that won't work.

[Chad C]

Listen to Larry!

[bboswell]

Paying more how? iTunes accounts are free. Music gets purchased once no matter what (if you go the legal route) and can be shared. As the admin Mac account, I can see, edit, copying music to and from the other iTunes accounts set up on the computer.

If you share iTunes on one Mac user account instead of going the multiple Mac user route, there's just too much risk of someone jacking something up, deleting something, changing a setting, etc for my peace of mind.

Will this work the same on a PC? I think not but not at all sure.

Right now I have 2 idevices on 1 iTunes account and can control what pictures and what music goes on each by specifying what computer file that device syncs to. Music is also made easier because it is all in MP3 format, I don't think I would have this flexibility with music purchased through iTunes?

I have no idea how you would control contacts and calenders since those are done through the email account and each email account would need its own iTunes (wouldn't it?)

And whats wrong with BLACK letters Larry, I can never read anything you write on Tapatalk.

[TexaswBOWhunter]

We have 2- Ipod touches, 1- Iphone and 1-Ipad.... we also have 4 compuers (windows) that we use.

I have set up home share within Itunes so that all computers log into the same acct. Thats how me manage it, when my daughter buys songs it ill stay on her computer unless I sync hers with the main computer, which I don't do b/c 90% of the time the music and what not that she buys I have no use for. The wife and I just share it all on the main computer, music, apps, etc...

[JimN]

I have no idea how you would control contacts and calenders since those are done through the email account and each email account would need its own iTunes (wouldn't it?)

Not at all. It is set up on the device. I have 3 different email accounts on my Iphone (2 work / exchange and a Gmail) and my wife has hers. We share each others Gmail calendars on our phones.

[tgil]

And whats wrong with BLACK letters Larry, I can never read anything you write on Tapatalk.

He's an artist! That's his flamboyance shining through