Engaging Your Mobile Experience...

Data is perhaps the most important asset on your PDA. However, almost always, it is also the most neglected part also. One realizes its importance only after it is lost and then you find yourself pretty much handicapped to perform even the most basic of the tasks that you probably took for granted. For instance you probably do not remember the coming week’s appointments as they are readily available in your PDA. Therefore, it is important to continuously back up data on your PDA so that in case of accidental loss, you have an alternate data source available to fall back to!

A number of options are available to you for backing up your data. Backing up data to your PC would be an easy option. However, it may not always be possible for you to exercise this option especially if the computer is not your own and has been provided to you by your company with certain restrictions. In such a case it would be an ideal option for you to use backup software to backup your data. To bring out the features of backup software, we use Treo 650 and HP iPaq rx1950 as examples. However, the features explained are generic in nature and are applicable to almost several other software. The features are applicable for Palm and Windows Mobile 5.0-based PDAs that have a SD (Secure Digital) memory card slot.

Resco Backup Software

You can get a backup software for less than $25. Small change to pay for the security of keeping your data safe! Most of them are available on the internet as well. You can visit www.handango.com to explore various mobile software including software for handling backup issues.  Resco Backup for Palm OS is a good option and it can be obtained from www.handango.com or www.Resco.net for approximately $15. You can also try out the trial version to evaluate the software on your own personal parameters. This program provides fully automated backup solutions to any expansion card. It provides a number of powerful features, such as scheduled backups and backups triggered by HotSync, Backup Compression and Encryption, Incremental Backup, Partial Backup, and Partial Restore. You can also customize specific data that should or should not be backed up. It also provides an archive of deleted databases with the option of undelete facility.

Setup

You can download the software from the internet and install it. Installation is a fairly simple process. You must ensure that the program is installed in the internal memory of the device. Click Setup to obtain Project Setup dialog box. Your PDA’s SD card should appear in the Card drop-down menu with the name Default appearing in the Name field. In the next step you can specify the number of backups you want to retain. It is advisable to keep at least two. You can further decide whether you would like to encrypt your backup data. It also provides you with the option to specify compression speed. Option of archiving deleted files can be utilized if memory space is not an issue for you. However, you can neglect this option if you are sure that you will not require the files in future if they are lost by chance.

Scheduling Backups

It is advisable to schedule your backups depending on the frequency or rate of backup that is desired, which will vary from one individual to another. The good part is that you can customize backup options as per your requirements and convenience. To schedule a backup, click Schedule to bring up the Schedule dialog box. You have the option of using automatic backup by selecting the Use Auto-Backup checkbox. This provides you a weekly calendar where you can specify the days and times when you want to back up your data to your memory card. You can also schedule to backup your data before or after HotSyncing your PDA with your PC or you can even select Turn Off After Backup or Do Not Backup More Than Once.

Although it is convenient to automate the process of taking backups, often there will be requirements of taking them on an adhoc basis. You can manually initiate backups whenever required by clicking New Backup to run a complete backup of your PDA data. You can analyze backup results which are available after backup is complete. The program then gives you the option to close the results and export them to a memo on your PDA thereby creating reports of your backup activities which will come handy in case of data recovery.

To be really sure that all the required backup operations have been completed, you can verify them by clicking Verify to run a comparison. The report thus generated can be verified against the intended operations of backing up various data and applications.  Click Update to update the comparison report with the latest backup data. You can click Delete to remove contents of the backup files from report.

Restoring data is also a very simple process. Bring up the application’s menu from the Resco Backup main screen and tap Backup to. By choosing Action and selecting Restore you can restore the backup data to your PDA.

Online Sync through Yahoo

If you use Yahoo! frequently, then there is good news for you! You can avail the facilities of online synchronization of your handheld’s contact and calendar information with Yahoo address book and Yahoo Calendar using customized version of Intellisync software. All that you need is a Yahoo login ID, which is simple to get and more importantly, free. Just logon to www.Yahoo.com and apply for a new ID. You will have to click on the link that asks you if you are interested in signing up for a yahoo account. Follow the instructions that are given. You will have to provide relevant and necessary information for opening a Yahoo account. Once your account is activated, you can easily get access to large number of facilities provided by Yahoo! The whole process does not take more than a couple of minutes.

After getting the ID, sign in and open calendar.yahoo.com. To get Intellisync For Yahoo!, click Sync and the Install Now button. The software works with Palm OS 4.0/5.0 running HotSync Manager 3.x or higher and with Pocket PC 2002/2003. With regards to your computer, Intellisync For Yahoo!  Is available for Windows 98SE/NT/2000/Me/XP, Outlook 98/2000/2002/2003, Lotus Organizer 5.0/6.0, and ACT! 2000/6.0.

Backup Software

If you are looking for backup software for your Windows Mobile 5.0 PDA, then the solution lies with Handango which will prove to be a good source for the same. One such software is the Spb Backup which supports a wide range of backup functionalities. It is available for a cost of $19.95. The features available with the Spb Backup include Backup File Compression, Self-Extracting Executable Backup Files, Scheduled Backup and Full and Custom Backup. The procedure for installing the Spb Backup on your device is very simple. You have to download the Spb Backup on your computer and then you have to just click on the executable file and follow the instructions that are given. The next time you synchronize your PDA with your computer, Spb Backup will automatically be installed on your PDA as well. You can exercise the option of installing Spb Backup to your PDA’s internal memory. This is an option that is not readily available in most of the Palm OS software.

Full, Scheduled and Custom Back Up

The option of Full Backup will take the full back up of all the data on your device along with all the applications that are loaded on the device; whereas Custom Backup will give you the facility of laying down your own settings for taking the back up. The Scheduled Back up is a very useful feature as it allows you to set the schedule for a routine back up of your data without you having to manually initiate it. The default name for the back up files is backup_yearmonthday.exe. The default location for all your back up files is the memory card. You will also be provided with an estimated size of the back up files. You will receive a warning that all running applications will be stopped when the back up is being taken. Once done with this, you can resume using your PDA normally after the back up files are stored in the memory card of your device.

The default time for scheduled back ups in the Spb Backup is set at 4.48 pm. If you feel that it is unnecessary to run back ups daily especially if there are no major changes to the stored data on your PDA, then you may set the Spb Backup for not running the back up daily. You are free to set a time that is convenient for you to take a back up. For instance, you are one of those people who work till late in the night and so you may want a back up of your data to be taken when you are finished with your work for the day and your PDA data is fully updated. In such a case you may change the timings at which the scheduled back ups are taken by Spb Backup.  You may even set the option for Automatically Reset After Backup and Backup Only On AC Power. If you are not keen on keeping your back up files in the memory card, then you can choose to change the location where the backup files are stored. You may even set a limit on the number of files that can be kept. You can set a password to protect your back up files.

Use all these features to remain tension free, and keep that heart attack at bay when you see all your precious data missing!