How do you save your downloaded apps on iTunes?

Question

After I returned my 8GB for a 16GB, of course I had to re-download all of my apps, which was a bummer.
Is there any way I can put a backup on iTunes so that if I ever have to return my iPhone (defective, damaged under warranty) I can plug it into iTunes and it will put all my apps back automatically?

Answer 1

Allan, my first post was responding to you, and your assertion that there was a prompt to defeat app transfer.
I realize that, and although I recalled such a prompt the first time I transferred an app to my iTunes library that was acquired with my iPhone, you provided there is no such prompt - so case closed in that regard.
The fact that the OP didn't even mention that he had synched the phone suggested a good possibility he hadn't - no psychic powers needed.
There is a possibility he did not sync his iPhone after acquiring apps with his iPhone, but just because he didn't mention that he had not synced his iPhone after doing so does not mean he didn't, which is why I asked the question. And until I know the answer *+for certain+*, without assuming he had not, there was no point in bringing up I have seen it reported here a number of times that apps acquired with the iPhone are not transferred to the iTunes library when syncing. You corrected me providing there is no prompt for not transferring apps, and you are also assuming the OP must not have synced his iPhone with iTunes after acquiring apps with his iPhone since the apps are not in his iTunes library. I responded to you in this regard because I have seen this reported here a number of times recently. You seem to be insinuating that I must be making this up for some reason because you don't specifically recall any of these threads.
Some more info re the circumstance, firmware/iTunes version, troubleshooting steps, etc., might be pertinent to this discussion. I'm asking this because you brought up that there were previous posts about this without revealing any useful info (as if merely mentioning them was supposed to have some relevance).
Until the OP answers the question knowing if he didn't sync his iPhone with iTunes for certain, *+there is no point in doing so.+* I mentioned this to you being relevant to your assertion that all apps acquired with the iPhone are transferred to the iPhone when syncing 100% of the time for all users who have installed firmware version 2.1 or later, which is not the case.
I'm far from perfect. I make mistakes from time to time the same as you and as everyone else does. I made a mistake providing some info that is incorrect, but until you become a top user in any category here, I suggest you avoid critiquing my posts with "oddly", "no relevance", and what I'm "inferring" regarding what I include with my posts.