Spb Software, famous for many Pocket PC applications such as Spb Pocket Plus and Spb Weather, have released Spb Backup. Spb Backup is a single application designed both for WM2003 and WM5.0 devices.  As such, Mike and I will be reviewing this software on both devices.

Spb Backup on WM5.0

When I was offered the opportunity to take Spb Backup for a test drive on my XDA Atom, how could I resist?  I have completed a review on Sprite Backup - my backup software of choice - and I am keen to see how Spb Backup compares!  Although WM5.0 devices have non-volatile storage for all data on the device, backing up your device has these benefits:

• Incompatible Software - When incompatible software is installed, performing a hard reset may be the only way to rectify the problem installation.
• Device Upgrades - With many ROM upgrades coming out with new devices, having a backup file handy makes the upgrade procedure that much faster.

Installation

Software installation is straight forward, with the option to install either a 5 backup trial or full registered version from the PC. The Pocket PC did not require any soft resets to complete the installation, and a nice Today Screen plug-in appears, keeping track of backup schedules and providing quick access to the main program.

Features

Spb Backup presents the user with three options when starting the program:

• Full Backup - Backs up all data on the device.
• Custom Backup - Allows the user to choose what files and folders to backup.
• Scheduled Backup - Allows the user to schedule backups at any convenient time, with added options to reset and power down the device after backup has completed.  Also there is a very good option to only allow the backup to run when connected to mains power.

The Test Drive

I decided to try out the first option for a full backup for this test drive.  Once the program started, and I accepted the default backup location and file name, I set it going.  The first big feature I noticed was the file name - it had an .exe extension.  This is one thing that Sprite Backup lacked in their WM5.0 version just released.

After several minutes, Spb Backup completed its job and the device was reset.  Although Spb Backup took two to three times longer than Sprite Backup, it still completed in under 10 minutes which is more than acceptable in my books.

The restore process was no longer a nerve racking experience, as I had the tried and tested Sprite Backup ready in case the worst should happen.  After performing a hard reset and allowing the XDA Atom to do its thing, I opened up file explorer and navigated to the Spb Backup file.  Since it was an executable file, clicking on it is all that is needed to initiate the restore.  On WM5.0 devices, executable files without digital certificates open up a warning dialogue. Considering we know what the executable file is, accepting the warning continues with the restore.  During the restore, there are more options that users can configure.  These include being able to restore all data, or select what data they want restored.  This is a very handy feature that I will definitely use in the future.

The restore took several minutes to complete, with the XDA Atom resetting at the completion.  I carefully inspected all my files to see if everything was there, and when satisfied, connected to my computer.  It was while re-synchronising with my laptop that I noticed no problems with ActiveSync.  I had experienced a few hassles when testing Sprite Backup, but suspect it was because I had to re-install Sprite Backup to complete my previous restore.

With Spb Backup, everything went smoothly and there were absolutely no problems to report.

Conclusions

Spb Backup is an excellent backup and restore utility for any WM5.0 device, and is on the top of my recommended software list.  In my opinion, Spb Backup deserves a higher score than Sprite Backup because of the added Today Screen plug-in, self extracting backup file, options to restore all or part of the data and no noticeable issues with the backup / restore process or with ActiveSync.

This is Spb Software's first release of a backup utility, and I must say to Spb Software - Job well done!

Spb Backup can be trialed and purchased from the Spb Software website.  Please see their site for more details.

 

Spb Software's Spb Backup Deserves A Solid 9/10

Spb Backup on WM2003/SE

Almost two years ago, I wrote a comparative review of backup options for the Pocket PC. At that time there weren’t too many options available and only one really stood out above the rest - Sprite backup. Things have pretty much stayed the same since then... at least, until now, that is!

On the 15th of February, those clever people at Spb Software House finally released their own backup utility and it’s as good as the rest of their software.

My criteria for the ideal backup utility is as follows:

• The ability to select what is backed up and to where.
• Self extracting backups have proven themselves absolutely essential on the Pocket PC.
• Scheduling of automatic backups is almost as important as the self extracting backups.
• Compression and encryption should be available.
• Selective restore ability.
• Incremental backups.

So how does Spb Backup match up to my expectations?

As Dan has already mentioned, there are a number of reasons for having automatic backup software on a Pocket PC - for me, on a 2K3 device, the most important ones are device loss/damage and battery failure. I consider that backup software is in the “must have” category for anyone who relies on their device.

I’m not going to repeat the same details of basic functionality that Dan has addressed in his review, but instead shall cover those areas where the functionality appears different as a result of the different versions of Windows Mobile, or those items that Dan might simply have overlooked. I shall also look at those areas where Spb Backup is ahead or behind the competition. While this is not a formal comparative review against Sprite Backup, certain comparisons are inevitable due to the high profile position Sprite have enjoyed for over two years and the fact that it has been my backup software of choice all that time.

One of the more important “features” I noticed was when I was installing the software - just the one installer for both platforms. This has got to be a good thing since it suggests that both the older and the newer platforms will continue to benefit from any future developments and the older ones shouldn’t be left behind.

Another very nice feature that I noticed, only by chance (it may be documented but I’m a software developer - I don't read manuals), was the backup snooze feature. Fifteen seconds before a scheduled backup is due to start a notification popup message appears, warning of the pending event and offering the options of:

• Snoozing the backup for five minutes (may be repeated each time, indefinitely)
• Cancelling the backup (but not the schedule)
• Running the backup immediately

This is very nice touch, in my opinion, since it would not be the first time for me that an automated backup has started at an inopportune moment, forcing me to abort it and then manually restart it later (if I remember).

The scheduling options are very good, offering the ability to select the specific days of the week on which the backup will run, rather than just once, daily or weekly. It isn’t possible to schedule a once only event, but then, who would want to?

Of course, as is the way of most Spb products those days, Backup also has a Pocket Plus compatible Today plug-in. The plug-in is naturally quite simple - it just shows the time (in hours) since the previous backup and the time until the next scheduled one, tapping it launches Backup - simple... what more could you need from a backup plug-in?

One final little nicety which I've learnt to appreciate is that Spb Backup copes with missed scheduled backups much better. If your device misses starting a backup on time, perhaps due to a lockup, the notification message appears at the next available opportunity (soft reset) and starts the backup as above. Sprite, on the other hand, simply displays a message saying that the backup time has been missed and skips the event, leaving it to the user to run the missed backup.

The wizard-like interface is simple and intuitive, making configuring and using Spb Backup as easy as Dan has described and the build quality is up to Spb’s typical high standard, an excellent effort for a first version. Restoring gave no problems with the SMS and mail folders, which has been an issue with some other software.

So where does Backup fall short? Well, there are a number of areas where I feel the functionality is a bit lacking, both when compared to the competition and viewed in its own right.

Closing processes before backup - I should like the option to either not do this at all or to provide an exclusion list. Apart from the fact that this forces the user to either manually restart all closed processes or to reset the device once the backup completes, I should prefer to leave my overclocking software running during the backup to help it complete faster.

Related to this would be my one true complaint about Backup - it is a processor hog! Once it is running it is simply not possible to use the device for anything other than receiving phone calls - the device simply refuses to respond to to screen taps or button presses, even the phone ring is st-ut-tery. Perhaps this is by design to reduce file locks rather than just processor load based but, since a well loaded device like mine can take over five minutes to backup, this is a risk I’m willing to take to be able to use the unit at will.

Further to the issue of closed or unavailable processes, when the backup has completed it displays a slightly annoying message stating that it has finished and suggests the device should be reset. This is annoying because there is only a Reset button available and I have not been able to exit from Backup any other way other than by resetting, so the option is not optional at all. Sure, I could just leave it running in the background but I prefer not to, given Windows Mobile’s process limit.

As mentioned, WM2003 devices do not have the benefit of preserving their data in the event of power failure so it would also be nice to see a battery level based backup option included.

Perhaps it is because it is hard to implement with the self extracting scenario, but no one seems to want to perform Incremental backups these days, which seems a shame since they reduce storage and time requirements. I’m not saying this is a failure on Spb’s part but I do think there is still a place for them.

So there you have it, all in all I consider Spb Backup to be a very good product and an excellent first version. Sure, there are a few aspects of the interface and functionality which I believe could do with a rethink and there are also a few functions which need adding but I still like this product very much.

Pricing is quite reasonable and fits in with Spb’s other products, making the product an attractive and competitive proposition, particularly for those still on 2K3 who intend to upgrade to 2K5 later, no upgrade costs for a new version (are you listening Sprite?). Besides, it’s nice to see some decent competition in the market place to keep Sprite on their toes.