code: function(newData) {
            // we use a one-directional loop to avoid feedback with 3-way bindings
            // since set() is applied locally anyway, this is still performant
            var def = $wilddogUtils.defer();
            this.$ref().set($wilddogUtils.toJSON(newData), $wilddogUtils.makeNodeResolver(def));
            return def.promise;
          }
docs: Called internally by $bindTo when data is changed in $scope.
  Should apply updates to this record but should not call
  notify().