My iOS 11 wish
I’d like iOS backup capability to an AirPort unit on my network. Oh, we’d love that too! We’ve had our devices configured to backup to iCloud for years, rather than having to connect them to iTunes to perform a local backup. With more of our information being stored on iOS devices all the time, we would still want a remote backup in iCloud as well – but a faster way to restore would be very welcome.
Sadly, if rumors about discontinuation of further AirPort development turn out to be true, the chances of this happening seem slim. Right now, the closest you can get is to use macOS Server to cache personal data from iCloud, which will speed up the restoration of that data to your current device (if you need to start over) or to a new one.
There’s a guide to doing this in this issue’s Create, on page 106. Though the process itself is pretty simple, it’s not for everyone – ideally, you’ll need a spare Mac for it, which you can permanently leave on.