An AppleInsider report discusses a recently published patent application from Apple describing a method offering a simplified transfer of data between devices. In the application, Apple says that current sync methods are needlessly complex, and explains that, "Though a user may have access to two similarly capable electronic devices, sharing data between the two devices may involve a number of steps, each of which may vary in difficulty."

The application reveals that, "The process of transferring data between the devices may include many user decisions, such as which data to save, where the data is saved, which formats each device may be capable of processing, how to interconnect the devices for a most effective data transfer, etc. Such complexity may increase the difficulty or time spent transferring data between two electronic devices."

Also described in Apple’s new patent application is the aspect of user-definable categories that could enable one to automatically download only certain types of data from another device. The system, credited to a total of seven inventors, including former Apple executive and "Father of the iPod" Tony Fadell, would also permit users to define preferred methods of connection between devices, as well as the security settings and options to automatically convert downloaded files, should the target device not be able to read the original format.

"[...] A user may be sitting at their desk at work with an important spreadsheet open on their computer 58 when the user is called into an unexpected meeting. The user may have a number of other personal applications running. The preferences described above may allow the user to 'grab' only files related to work from the user's work computer, such as only user data associated with productivity applications. In this way, the user may transfer only the important spreadsheet in the simplified data transfer 114, showing up to the meeting with only those files pertinent to work."