14 DAY TRIAL // By default, Apple device owners have to resort to the iTunes media player to transfer files to the computer. Luckily, some developers specialize in applications that let you do this without the help of iTunes, which is considered by many people to be difficult to manage as well as resource-hogging.
One of such tools we've come across during our software expeditions is AnyTrans. Seemingly intuitive and approachable, the app promises to transfer files between iPhones, iPods and PCs without the help of iTunes. However, if you have the media player installed on your computer, you can directly copy media to the library.
The utility supports audio and video files, photos, Safari items, iOS file system, ebooks, apps, podcasts, iTunes U, notes, voice mail, messages, contacts, the calendar, backups, and the iCloud.
License type and installation
The trial edition can be tested for only seven days, and during this time, you can transfer a maximum of 50 items per day. In order to unlock this limitation, you can purchase the full package for $39.99 / €35.21.
The program is rapidly installed. However, there are several steps that you have to take before being able to work with it. Firstly, if you don't have iTunes installed on the PC, you have to set up the Apple Mobile Device Support driver (the same that's used by the media player) in order to establish the PC connection to the device. AnyTrans' setup kit comes bundled with this driver. Afterward, you might have to allow access to the application from the Apple device.
Pleasant and intuitive interface
AnyTrans adopts a clear-cut interface represented by a large window with a pleasant look and neatly organized structure. As soon as the iDevice is plugged into the PC, you can examine its total capacity and used space, along with total space occupied by audio tracks, photos, books, apps, the iOS, and others.
You can select the types of files to export to any folder on the computer when it comes to music, playlists, photos and video, the camera roll, the photo stream, books, apps, and so on. During the transfer job, you can check out the total progress, elapsed time, and currently compressed file.
The software application integrates a feature for copying content between two Apple devices. When it comes to transferring files from the computer to a device, you can import audio and video files, image, books (.epub, .pdf), along with apps (.ipa, .pxl). If iTunes is installed on the PC, you can directly export device content to its library.
Additionally, AnyTrans lets you explore all files and apps from the portable device, including music, movies, photos, notes, messages, contacts, backups, the calendar, iCloud, and so on.
Configure program preferences
When exporting apps to the iTunes library, a PC folder or another device, you can ask AnyTrans to take into account only the App program, or App program and data too. You can also specify the preferred duration for ringtones when importing them, indicate the maximum number of backups to keep, as well as convert incompatible videos to MPEG-4 or H.264 format and incompatible audio to AAC or MP3 format.
Moreover, it's possible to favor either high-quality media files or normal quality to save space, pick the default output format for exporting folders to the computer, and choose preferred file types individually for exporting call history, messages, Safari bookmarks and history, contacts, the calender, and notes (.html, .txt, .csv, .vcf).
The Good
AnyTrans lets you explore file content on the device. It supports many formats when it comes to data export, and it can be set to automatically convert incompatible audio and video files.
Transfer jobs were performed in reasonable time during our evaluation.
The interface is attractive and easy to use even by rookies.
It is compatible with Windows 8/8.1, 7, Vista and XP.
The Bad
CPU and RAM consumption is significant, even when the program's in idle state.
