Why You Need a Backup Strategy for Your Smartphone
Backing up smartphone data may not be your immediate thought, given the smartphone’s traditional status as a consumer device.
This week I learned that, as a computing device that holds critical data, it is important to always have a current copy of all my mobile data available.
Honestly, how diligent are you with your backups? You know those weekly backups that may duplicate hundreds of gigabytes of data.
Until a few years ago, I did not pay too much attention to those backups. I simply moved all that data to a new hard drive every three years or so, well within the suggested life expectancy of a hard drive (about five years). One day, disaster struck, and my only hard drive at the time, a 320 GB model which held virtually all the data of my digital life, simply refused to let the OS boot up. Thanks to the guys at a local data recovery service, I was able to get about 98 percent of the data back, but it was scary enough to make a compelling case for diligent backups on my private PC. This week, I learned that I need to backup my smartphone data as well.
Some time ago, I replaced my previous Android phone with the LG Optimus 2x (or G2x at T-Mobile). I have had issues from the very beginning. The phone kept crashing despite a full charge and no additional apps installed. I never really got around to calling T-Mobile customer support and just accepted the fact that the phone was, for no apparent reason, rebooting four to six times daily. Most recently, the restarts increased to about eight to 12, and the GPS chip stopped working. Since I value Google maps, this was reason enough for me to call T-Mobile for advice and possibly get a replacement phone.
For the first half hour of the call, there was nothing unusual: database checks, app checks, battery checks, and memory checks with someone whose English you can hardly understand. When I arrived at second level support, the language changed and the search for a solution for the crashes and the GPS problem were more systematic. I was told there was a reported problem with the battery of my phone, but the battery was, unfortunately, out of warranty after 90 days. There was apparently also a reported GPS problem. However, the technician wanted to focus on the crashes first.
"Please navigate to your call log, press menu and delete all logs." Delete the call log? I could not quite figure out where this was going. Losing my call log is not what I would consider convenient and is certainly not what I would have expected. I did it anyway. Then I was told, "Please do the same for all text messages." Huh? I knew that my divorce lawyer would have killed me for doing something silly like that, so I denied that request and was told, "I will make a note that you refused deleting your messages." That did not sound too good, but nevertheless, I was hopeful that there was a solution to the problem in sight.
Subsequently, I was asked to delete every application on my phone. At this point, I asked for some details on the actual strategy for solving my problem. I was told that after the app deletion, I would have to delete all images, videos and music files. I also would have to delete my contacts. When the phone was wiped clean, I would be told how to reset the phone to factory settings. T-Mobile would monitor the phone for 72 hours for anomalies and then determine if there is something wrong with the hardware or with some unidentified app. I cannot say that I was very receptive to deleting all that data on the spot and said that might be a problem. The response: "Sir, we are stepping in for LG to provide customer support for your phone. If you do not follow the instructions, I cannot help you."
So, the choices here were to drop the call and accept the malfunctioning phone, or delete all my data as asked and T-Mobile would know after three days if there's something wrong with the hardware in my phone. From T-Mobile's perspective, that makes sense. In the end, they cannot know if there's some app that causes the crashes or not. From the consumer's viewpoint, this strategy does not make sense. I think there are a few hundred pictures on my phone, a few hundred contacts, videos and plenty of music. Killing that data on the spot is like cutting my digital (mobile) lifeline. I'd be nuts had I followed the instructions. I asked the tech support if "I [was] screwed anyway?" to which she agreed (and apologized).
I went off the call after I was told that the GPS problem would need the same tech support strategy, so here I am with my essentially useless G2x. What was interesting is that the obvious and much more useful solution was not suggested – a data backup. There are data backup tools in Android Market available – some powerful tools need root access, which does not make sense for the average user. There are also backup/restore tools for different purposes including messages, call logs, and apps, among others. I am still in the evaluation process regarding which tools make the most sense for me before I call T-Mobile support back. However, I am wondering why T-Mobile itself is not suggesting a complete data backup, why it isn't offering a complete data backup tool and instructing users to back up their phones to a cloud service, and then simply initiating a factory reset?
The more common smartphones become and the more data they will store, it is a reasonable assumption that a backup service may be an additional revenue opportunity for wireless carriers.
The bottom line is that a smartphone can fail he same as any other computing device that stores your valuable data. And like any other computing device, a data backup or a centralized data storage service will become more important, especially as data storage capabilities and media capabilities of smartphones and superphones will increase. We simply need to learn that.
[Editor's note: Apple's iOS 5 launches today with its iCloud backup system. This is a big leap for iPhone and iPad users looking to secure their data in some place more stable than just wherever they last synced their device. As for Android devices, while they benefit from all of Google's cloud services, still do not have an officially supported and sanction backup service. Once Google offers something like this, then Wolfgang can do T-Mobile support's bidding.]
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Since we are in a Post PC/MAC era, isn't that what the icloud is for?
ubuntuOne and dropbox are on android devices...
I've never had to deal with this in the entire time I've had a smartphone. First it was the Microsoft MyPhone service and now with Windows Phone, it just backs up all of my important data automatically. I didn't have to set anything up. I didn't have to install any apps. When I get my next phone, I just plug in my LiveID and everything I need is restored.
With Android, if you have a gmail account, you can have the phone sync everything automatically there. I lost an android phone, got a new one, and had everything back in about a minute after giving it the account data.
I've never had to deal with this in the entire time I've had a smartphone. First it was the Microsoft MyPhone service and now with Windows Phone, it just backs up all of my important data automatically. I didn't have to set anything up. I didn't have to install any apps. When I get my next phone, I just plug in my LiveID and everything I need is restored.
he mentioned multiple times that he is an android user, i do not think a liveid would help him much regarding that particular situation.
although as an android user, most of my data is on sync with my computer through htc's software, not as handy as a cloud back-up although it helps with this situation.
T-Mobile support sounds horrible.
he mentioned multiple times that he is an android user, i do not think a liveid would help him much regarding that particular situation.
He was pointing out that his own phones have never had a problem with cloud backup (including pictures and stuff, not just SMS/MMS and Contacts). Android devices are a bit messier on that front, especially for someone who has never needed a backup before in their life and has a "Yeah yeah" attitude towards backup.
BlackBerry Protect all the way... backs up everything securely , not just your contacts, once a week and I don't even think twice about it.
I must be doing smart phones wrong. besides contacts which are saved with sync. i don't have anything id care about if my phone gets wiped.
in fact every time i update my phone i just wipe it anyway.
I had a HTC Desire and had all sorts of problems with apps crashing, Flash card wiping data by itself and more. I'm back With S.E. now (Xperia Mini Pro) and I must say it's stable as a rock. When I have a stable phone, I usually don't even consider backing anything up. Besides all my E-mails, calendar notes and contacts are stored in the cloud with my Gmail and I really don't care about my text messages.
My WinMo 6.1 phone crashed a while ago with the details of someone who I'd had an automobile accident with, MS MyPhone really saved the day as I'd taken a photo of his license which had been backed up. Having said that it wasn't preinstalled, I had to go to the Marketplace (read: app store) and download it, then use my old (and out of use) Windows Live login. Small price to pay though.
The issue with service that don't take a complete snapshot is that there's always some app you've installed that keeps files somewhere that Google/MS don't know about, and you lose that info if you rely on the cloud sync, I guess that's one advantage Apple has with their 'regime' of micromanaging iOS. I think there's already half a dozen apps I have on Android that either put or allow you to put files everywhere. Unless you start backing up files based on typre rather than where they are (the traditional method as far as I know at least in the WIndows world) then you have issues missing files and don't have a complete backup of your media. Does anyone know if dropbox/ubuntu one gets around this on droid?
I had the same experience...on my birthday this year! The phone suddenly was stuck in a reboot cycle, and I HAD BACKUP SOFTWARE. I called Verizon (LG Ally) and was told I needed to do a factory reset. I did not understand (this is my first smartphone) that I would lose all data...and I too was ANGRY afterwards that I wasn't warned, so that I could backup my data BEFORE the reset, since I had an app installed already!!!
So, this is where it goes south...it turns out my app, much to my surprise and chagrin, only backed up my TEXTS. I lost my browser bookmarks, call logs, all of it. The bookmarks loss hurt the worst!
Since then, I have been much more careful and found an app that backs up everything, and I do them regularly. I also have an antivirus app since I've found that's important too. Smartphones are a lot like a small computer, really.
The thing that makes me the most upset is that the techs with the providers say NOTHING about losing all data....are they unaware? Reading from a script and not allowed to deviate from it? I don't know...don't really care. When they walk you through fixes, you should be informed as to what's happening. Period.
Lesson: Backup your data, often and regularly. I backup mine into 2 diff locations, for security. Get an antivirus app...do your homework before deciding which apps to use for these functions. MOST OF ALL...when you are on the phone with tech support for your phone, ASK QUESTIONS. I held my tongue, and ohhh how I wish I had asked more questions. Things WILL happen...my error was simply a data loop outta control. WHY that took a factory reset I'm uncertain. BACKUP BEFORE CALLING TECH SUPPORT. This way everyone's time is saved, and there's no egg on your face. =)
Since when is this news? everyone has had a defective phone even before smartphones came out. Its also quite clear to everyone, that to be a LITTLE BIT on the safe side, you need backups (i have 4 times the critical data, 2 times the interesting data, once the replaceable data.
Not to sound negative, but everyone who goes to a store, and buys a new phone before reviewing internet forums about its functionality is basicly trusting the seller or a friend on "how good something is".
What is even more disturbing is the fact that people seem to Pray to Cloud like its the holy Grail.
Sony network got hacked, and after that many others. You think your stuff will be safe on the cloud, think again. Once its popular enought to become a target, it will be a Target.
Most people will never care about this since they will face the "my phone died!" situations once in 4 years, they will get over it, and they wont care enought to make a backup anyway.
For those on Android I'll recommend SMS Backup + (by Jan Berkel if you market search). Backs up your texts and call log to Gmail manually or on an automated schedule. Of course allows restore as well. The Android Market will remember which apps you had on your phone but if you have unique app data you'll probably want to back that up as well.
I've always believed in having a plan B and even plan C. With Android, plan B is pretty simple:
All your contacts and all your e-mail (and some other things as well) are kept on the Google servers and tied to your Google username/password. On a brand new phone, just setting the Google username/password brings all that across. Files? Plan B is keeping them on the microSD so, even if the phone crashes, they're still there. What if the phone is lost/stolen? Plan C is keeping copies on Google Docs. (You could also use any other cloud storage, though I'd like to see a Carbonite mobile version myself.) That leaves SMS. My procedure is not to rely on SMS to store important information, but to copy it to another document. That may or may not work for you. SMS Backup + is a good option if it doesn't.
The real point is that there are a lot of options out there. All you need to do is scan the Market for backup options. Most Phone Anti-Virus solutions (which are now also a necessity) have backup options too.
There should be a way to dump the entire flash storage of an iPhone or Android device without being jailbroken/rooted. And I mean A COMPLETE DUMP, system and everything. Then when the technician says "delete everything since you can restore it EXACTLY the way it was, sector by sector, and everything will be stored in a .bak file on your computer", the consumer will have absolutely no problem.
One possible issue would be if the consumer thinks they need 64 GB of storage (or more), and would result in a 64 GB file. I know I don't have 64 GB laying around, and would be pretty troublesome making room... 8-16 GB shouldn't be a problem.
Zune makes a backup of my phone every time it updates the OS, and I can make forced backups as well .... and I can do the same in the nokia software for my symbian phone ... I thought backup was a standard feature like image sync ...
here is why you don't: if you use an iPhone or android, all the critical stuff like contacts, calendar and e-mail are set to be synched with the server (gmail has is, exchange has it...) other fluf like pics and music are copied to your PC anyway whnever you plug it in: that's your Backup.
End of story
Hmm data backup for my Android has never been a problem, I dont know why this should be such an issue.
A. Make sure I install an "App Backup" application and have all apps backed up to sd card.
B. Make sure all pictures, contacts, messages, etc.. have been exported to my ssd (fairly easy and should not require any special app to do this).
C. Connect my phone to my server via usb.
D. Open drive for phone and copy entire directory to a backup location on my raided server drives.
This allows me to have just about everything on the phone backed up without buying any extra app or subscribing to any service. After a factory reset I just copy my backed up directory to my phone and Im ready to go!
Looks like the op did not do his homework regarding the phone itself or the multitude of apps that allows one to back-up pretty much anything. What would you expect? A bit of research online would have been invaluable when deciding what phone and what apps to get.
Of course, T-mobile's customer support was not being... supportive, to say the least. At that point, I would have walked in a T-Mob store and asked for someone with a bit of expertise to troubleshoot the device. If they sell it, they have to do that. If you bought it online from a third party, it's your baby. That service person should have offered a back-up solution before wiping the phone and resetting it to a factory-like state.
For Andriod if you have Verizon, your phone can automatically backup your contacts to verizon. And you can sign up for Google+ and set it to automatically sync your pictures/videos for you, your e-mails are through a google account so those are safe. Just your apps and txt messages are not safe then. For txt messages, I don't use them I use an app called Whatsapp. Which lets you send txt messages over 3g/4g/WiFi instead of a standard text to anyone with whatsapp installed. So you don't get charged for txt'ing if you don't have a txt plan. And for apps, there are many different apps which can backup your phone efficiently and quickly, Titanium backup pro is a good example (requires root for full functionality).
Most important things are on the cloud (google services). But for SMS use SMS backup+ which backup SMS;es to gmail.
For photos, just set that every picture taken is uploaded to google+. The limit is 2500*2500, but that is still very good for a phone camera.
But, in reality, if you wanna backup the whole system the only way is to root the phone and then use somthing like nandroid (in recovery mode). That is like doing a norton Ghost for android. Everything on the device is dumped and can be written back if the phone is repaired.
The second best thing is titanium backup, which backup up all apps and all the settings.
Most important things are on the cloud (google services). But for SMS use SMS backup+ which backup SMS;es to gmail.For photos, just set that every picture taken is uploaded to google+. The limit is 2500*2500, but that is still very good for a phone camera.But, in reality, if you wanna backup the whole system the only way is to root the phone and then use somthing like nandroid (in recovery mode). That is like doing a norton Ghost for android. Everything on the device is dumped and can be written back if the phone is repaired.The second best thing is titanium backup, which backup up all apps and all the settings.
I do both regular nandroid backups and have titanium backups, with both of them being copied to my dropbox account (which means they are on the cloud as well as on my desktop and laptop comp) I love dropbox
+1 for nandroid backups
he mentioned multiple times that he is an android user, i do not think a liveid would help him much regarding that particular situation.
Somehow, that gives me an image of a robot using the phone. "Hello (beep). I am an Android user (beep)." But I have a very silly mind.