Various synchronization and content acquisition tasks able to be performed by a portable device are governed by reference to a budget. In operation, the budget may be adjusted as a function of a state of a battery associated with the portable device, as a function of one more file sizes associated with content to be acquired, as a function of a data transfer rate, and/or as a function of a temperature associated with the portable device. A filter may also be provided for use in determining which content the portable device will acquire.