I built an app to backup Live Photos from iPhone to external hard drives • Hacker News Board

Re: I built an app to backup Live Photos from iPhone to external hard drives

#11

Post by slicktux » Wed, Jun 25, 2025, 7:20 PM UTC

rsync wrote: post #8

er0k wrote: post #7

I just use rsync, works great

Would you explain how you are using rsync to backup photos on an iPhone ? I'm not aware of an iOS app named "rsync" and ... presumably you don't have a shell ... ?

You can load the IPhone’s pictures on Linux using the folders namespace and then rsync from the loaded namespace to /local…

Re: I built an app to backup Live Photos from iPhone to external hard drives

#12

Post by gaudat » Wed, Jun 25, 2025, 7:28 PM UTC

>home NAS setups aren't realistic for most users

Citation needed. Get a Synology NAS and use their Photos app which backups Live photos on both iDevices and Androids. Buy it for life.

Re: I built an app to backup Live Photos from iPhone to external hard drives

#13

Post by wood_spirit » Wed, Jun 25, 2025, 7:34 PM UTC

slicktux wrote: post #11

rsync wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would you explain how you are using rsync to backup photos on an iPhone ? I'm not aware of an iOS app named "rsync" and ... presumably you don't have a shell ... ?

You can load the IPhone’s pictures on Linux using the folders namespace and then rsync from the loaded namespace to /local…

I use a usb cable and a Linux laptop to copy to a couple of external hard drives (which I store separately). It’s all manual but not too orrenous although i ought backup more often. The biggest hassle is accessing the new heic format on pretty much everything.

Could it all be made into a sd card image for a pi zero perhaps? Even with a web ui accessible over Wi-Fi? A basic cheap sync-cable-appliance that non-techies can easily use?

Re: I built an app to backup Live Photos from iPhone to external hard drives

#14

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Jun 25, 2025, 7:38 PM UTC

tempodox wrote: post #10

1970-01-01 wrote: post #4

How is this different from iMazing? https://imazing.com/backup-iphone-ipad#:~:text=Choose%20iPho...

I loved the idea until I saw that it's only available as a subscription.

[deleted]

Re: I built an app to backup Live Photos from iPhone to external hard drives

#15

Post by SwamyM » Wed, Jun 25, 2025, 7:38 PM UTC

I would love this if it allowed me to backup all photos taken with the iPhone to an external drive. Currently, Apple dumps all pictures (from the Camera, from iMessage, WhatsApp, etc.) into folder makes it difficult to backup just my pictures.

Re: I built an app to backup Live Photos from iPhone to external hard drives

#16

Post by jlarocco » Wed, Jun 25, 2025, 7:44 PM UTC

I wouldn't use it personally, but I could see it being useful for my parents or family.

ifuse and rsync works fine for me.

Re: I built an app to backup Live Photos from iPhone to external hard drives

#17

Post by mindwork » Wed, Jun 25, 2025, 8:04 PM UTC

Would immich work for this? You can run it locally in docker container

Re: I built an app to backup Live Photos from iPhone to external hard drives

#18

Post by criddell » Wed, Jun 25, 2025, 8:17 PM UTC

gerdemb wrote: post #2

Where is the link? How can iPhone backup directly to an external hard drive?

Plug it in to the USB port on the phone. iPhone Pro can transfer at up to 20 Gbps but the non-pro models are much slower.

The iPhone camera can also shoot directly to an attached SSD.

Re: I built an app to backup Live Photos from iPhone to external hard drives

#19

Post by trinix912 » Wed, Jun 25, 2025, 8:25 PM UTC

slicktux wrote: post #11

rsync wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would you explain how you are using rsync to backup photos on an iPhone ? I'm not aware of an iOS app named "rsync" and ... presumably you don't have a shell ... ?

You can load the IPhone’s pictures on Linux using the folders namespace and then rsync from the loaded namespace to /local…

But does it work for Live Photos which is the main premise of this app?

Re: I built an app to backup Live Photos from iPhone to external hard drives

#20

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Jun 25, 2025, 8:26 PM UTC

[deleted]