[Klathmon]

isn't itunes still needed in some "recovery" situations? Like fixing a bad update, backing up/restoring a phone, and (not quite along the same lines, but important to me) allowing install of in-dev applications.

I guess some of those could be handled by going into an apple store, but I'd still be a bit peeved if they removed the lifeline to my phone as a cost cutting measure.

[TorKlingberg]

I have been using TestFairy to try in-dev applications. It has been fine without iTunes, but I don't develop on iOS myself.

[mgkimsal]

a dedicated "update/restore" client makes more sense, in that case. Not saying it can't also be bundled in itunes, but something with, say, a bit more diagnostic view when run separately would be nice/useful, and not stop the general purpose use cases in iTunes.