fixed : transfer game progress in iOS (without Game Center)

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Question :

I want to transfer the game progress from our iPhone to our iPad, but since it’s our children’s iPad I don’t want to activate Game Center (and some games don’t even support Game Center).

I can’t find a way to do so in iTunes, since iTunes doesn’t seem to back-up game progress…

…is there any way to do this without jailbreaking my iOS-devices ?

Answer :

Yes !

Even though Apple’s Game Center app (and service) is a probably the easiest way to sync your game progress (and in-app purchases) among your iPhones and iPad, there may be various reasons why Game Center is no option for you (e.g. since not all iOS-games have Game Center-support).

The second-easiest way to transfer your game progress from one iPhone/iPad to another is via your Mac (or PC), using either iExplorer or DiskAid. Using either of both works nearly the same, and both can be used in FREE-mode, so here’s an explanation for using DiskAid only :

1- download and install DiskAid from this link (or iExplorer from this link)

2- make sure that every game that you want to transfer game progress file for is installed on both iDevices

3- startup DiskAid on your Mac (or PC) and connect both your iPhone and your iPad (or other iDevices) to your Mac (or PC) using the USB-cable

4- in DiskAid, select the iDevice you want the game progress you want to copy from (from the list on the left), click “Storage”, then “Apps”, then the app you want to copy the game progress from [note : even though all apps are listed alphabetically, the naming might be slightly different from the regular name, so you might not immediately find what you’re looking for where you would expect it…)

5- when the app’s folder opens, select all files displayed, then click the “Copy to Mac” button in the menu bar

6- in the pulldown screen that opens, click the “New Folder”-button to create a folder (for instance on your Desktop) where you want the game progress files to be ‘back-upped’, and call the folder something like “iOS game progress files”, then inside that folder, create another new folder (by clicking “New Folder” again) and give it the app’s name

7- repeat this process until you have folders with game progress back-ups for all games you need

8- then select the iDevice you want to copy the game progress files to (from the list on the left), click on “Apps”, then on the app you want to transfer the game progress files to, and then click the “Copy to Device”-button from the menu bar

9- in the pull-down window that opens, browse to the location where you have the game progress files on your Mac and select all of them, then click “Select”

10- then, check if the game progress files a now visible on your iPhone/iPad from DiskAid ; if not, right-click (or CTRL-click) on the app’s folder in DiskAid and select “Refresh” from the pulldown-menu (you might even have to do this a few times before they will appear)

…that’s it !

enjoy !

note : personally, I like the concept of the ‘both iDevices side-by-side’-layout, and the fact that the transfer is not going through a folder on your Mac, that can be found in the specialised AppTrans (and AnyTrans) app, but I think their pricing is extreme, even with their ‘regular’ discount of about 60%… and I found that they don’t include sales-taxes in their advertised price, so they will charge you about 20% above their price-quote (which I do not regard very transparent, nor consumer-friendly)

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tip : quickly cut-out part of a picture in OSX

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Question :

I have a nice picture I want to use in a presentation, but I don’t want the entire picture, just part of it.

Is there an easy way to cut the desired piece out ?

…even if I don’t have Photoshop ?

Answer :

Even if you don’t have Photoshop, cutting out part of a picture for (re)use in PowerPoint, Keynote, Word, Pages, your website, LinkedIn, FaceBook, etc. is very easy on your Mac :

1- open the picture in Preview app (usually that would only require you to double-click on the picture’s icon)

2- click on the Image-button (Edit button)

3- in the Editing-toolbar that appears, click on the Image-button (Selection button)

4- now the + (Plus sign) appears, so : click on one corner of the part of the picture you want to select and drag to the opposite corner [ you can do this rather ‘roughly’ ]

5- then the selection area appears [ normally a rectangle with dots in the corners and on the middle of the side ] ; drag the dots so, that the selection area exactly fits the part of the picture that you want to take out

6- then press the ‘Copy key-combo’ (CMD + C)

7- now choose “New From Clipboard” from the “File”-menu, or press the ‘New key-combo’ (CMD + N), and you will get a new window with only your ‘cut-out part’ in it

8- if that looks as you envisioned it, choose “Save” from the “File”-menu, or press the ‘Save key-combo’ (CMD + S), and save the cut-out picture as a JPEG or PNG (or TIFF)

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tip : Photoshop Elements 12 ‘today only’ discount

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This might be interesting for anyone who’s looking for a cheaper way to get started with Photoshop :

Adobe Photoshop Elements 12 on Amazon.com

Adobe Photoshop Elements 12 (PC/Mac) on Amazon.co.uk

Adobe Photoshop Elements 12 on Amazon.de

This is a ‘one day only’ promotion  !

Note : “Elements” means it’s the ‘home-use’ or rather ‘basic / stripped down’ version of Photoshop

version 12 is the latest (2013) version of Photoshop Elements

tip : most basic car stereo with good iPhone & iPod compatibility

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Question :

The car stereo in my (rather old) car has broken down, so now I need a new one…

What is the (most) basic one that has good compatibility with a recent iPhone for playing music ?

Answer :

Considering that the relevance of any suggestion regarding buying electronics is always a temporary advise, as technology keeps progressing rather quickly and always depends on the way and intensity of your use…

…the best value-for-money deal you can get is :

Pioneer MVH-160UI car stereo (2014 model)                     find it in the UK or Germany

or it’s predecessor which is technically similar, for which you might get a better discount deal :

Pioneer MVH-150UI car stereo (2013 model)                     find it in the UK or Germany

The main advantages of these are :

  • certified iPod & iPhone compatibility, including “Direct Control” of your iOS7-device from the car stereo’s interface
  • front-accessible USB (for use with iOS-device, Android-device or USB-stick) that will also charge your iPhone or iPod during driving
  • AUX-in (for any other music player)
  • no CD (or cassette) player
  • quality radio tuner (with RDS, Traffic Announcement & Radiostation-presets)
  • quality sound output (with 5-band graphic equalizer and 4x 50W RCA pre-amp output)

Of note is that there is also a Sony car stereo with similar pricing and similar capabilities, but unconfirmed rumors say it’s not compatible with the latest iOS7-devices…

Sony DSX A30 car stereo (model 2013)                         find it in the US, UK or Germany

If you are in need of a telephone carkit also, your will be even more happy with a car stereo  that adds Bluetooth connectivity to your iPhone also :

JVC KD-X250BT car stereo                                          find it in the US, UK or Germany

or the Bluetooth car-kit versions of the Pioneer car stereos mentioned above :

Pioneer MVH-X360BT car stereo (model 2014)             find it in the US, UK or Germany

or it’s predecessor :

Pioneer MVH-350BT car stereo (model 2013)               find it in the UK or Germany

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tip : discounted and refurbished Macs, iPads & iPods on Dutch online Apple Store

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I don’t have any idea how long this has been around, but I had not yet come across this info :

Apple is now selling refurbished (*) Apple-hardware like Macs, iPads, iPods and accessories though the Dutch online Apple Store.

Go here to see if what you’re looking for is available at more-interesting-than-usual “Special Deal” prices.

(*) “refurbished” would mean that these hardware products have been produced from hardware that was either taken out of the primary production process or returned to Apple, of which all malfunctioning parts have been replaced by (as-good-as-)new parts ; due to the fact that this refurbished hardware has been thoroughly tested, this hardware comes with 1 year of limited Apple-warranty and the option to buy additional AppleCare.

Enjoy !

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news : Grand Opening of the Apple Store in Haarlem (The Netherlands)

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This morning, on Saturday December 7th 2013, Apple is opening it’s second Dutch Apple Store location in Haarlem.

The store is located in Haarlem’s renowned “Most Attractive shopping street in The Netherlands” at Grote Houtstraat 99.

(that’s in the southern part of the street, opposite the “Polare” bookstore, which is better know by it’s previous name “DeSlegte”)

The “Grand Opening” will start at 9.00h local time, and from then on this Apple Store will be open 7 days a week.

The direct links to the info on the Dutch Apple Stores :

Dutch online Apple Store

Amsterdam Apple Store

Haarlem Apple Store

Note : the third Dutch Apple Store location is said to be following within months in The Hague, and according to the available info this is going to be the largest Dutch Apple Store to date, located in the majestic “Passage”.