Sprite Releases Beta Version of Smartphone Backup - Finally

[Mike Temporale]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.spritesoftware.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2354' target='_blank'>http://www.spritesoftware.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2354</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Sprite Software is delighted to announce a BETA release of Sprite Backup V5.1 for Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system. This BETA release is an important step in preparing for the full commercial release of Sprite Backup and we are very keen to hear feedback and improve the backup experience if possible. This Beta is a 15 day trial. It will expire after 15 days are up and you will not be able to use it any more."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20060602-SpriteSoftware.gif" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />It looks like Sprite Software has finally managed to deliver a Windows Mobile Smartphone Beta of their backup software. If you've been waiting for a backup solution, Sprite is about all there is for the Smartphone. I would suggest you download the beta and test it out on your phone because once the product is released, there is no trial version. Just be careful, this is a beta, and some of the initial feedback in the forums indicates that it's not working 100% yet. As for me, I've lived without back since upgrading to my SP5m back in November. At this point, I think I might as well go on without it. Considering the amount of times I've actually had to rebuild my phone, I don't think it's worth supporting Sprite. But that's just me. Anyone that is willing to give this the biggest test of all - backup and hard reset, be sure to share your experience with us here. I'm sure others will be interested to hear how it goes. ;)

[Jerry Raia]

Well I've done half of it. I installed it and performed a backup. I don't have the time at the moment to rebuild the whole phone if the restore fails so I can't test that out yet. The first half of my experiment went ok though.

I am glad they are "delighted" with themselves as this is so late in the day. Are we to assume the after the beta expires there will be a release version out there?

[craigrens]

I am glad they are "delighted" with themselves as this is so late in the day. Are we to assume the after the beta expires there will be a release version out there?

Aww, come on guys, you sound like your girlfriend just got herself a new boyfriend and now wants to tell you how happy she is with him. :wink:

Yeah, I agree, they are behind the curve, but I assume (by reading the various smartphone forums) that the influx of WM5 phones will continue to build as people learn more about them and what they can do. Likewise, as well as the new models continue to hit the market more folks will join the 'flock'.

BTW, as I posted on the Sprite forums, when I did my restore, all went perfect; networking, settings, registry tweaks, sound files, applications are all fully functional. The only thing I had to do manually was to set my homescreen back to my Facade homescreen. As of now, only one other person actually attempted the restore (at least who posted on the forum). His did not go perfectly as mine did.

I say, live a little and to the cold boot! On the flip side, I would have been pretty P.O.ed if I had to rebuild the phone. :evil:

[Mike Temporale]

Aww, come on guys, you sound like your girlfriend just got herself a new boyfriend and now wants to tell you how happy she is with him. :wink:

What really gets me, is that Windows Mobile 5 has been available to developers and manufacturers since it was announced at MEDC 2005 - around March of 2005. So it's taken them over a year to get a Smartphone version released. I can understand not having it ready the minute WinMo5 devices started hitting the streets, but it's been almost 8 months since that happened. Combine that with the lack of a trial version and the number of people I see complaining in their forums about overdue refunds and what not; Just makes me question their commitment to the customer. I've bought their application in the past. It's a great app, or was when I used it anyway.

Glad to hear it's worked well for you. Did it get all your email settings and product registrations details? Oh, and how big is the size of the backup?

[Jerry Raia]

how big is the size of the backup?

Mine is 12mb. It's a self restoring executable and I didn't compress it.

[zilla31]

if i don't have a storage card (yet) anyone know if i can backup to my desktop??

[Jerry Raia]

if i don't have a storage card (yet) anyone know if i can backup to my desktop??

Yes. :)

[craigrens]

Glad to hear it's worked well for you. Did it get all your email settings and product registrations details? Oh, and how big is the size of the backup?

Yes. All e-mail/server and MMS settings (not that I use MMS anyway but if someone was wondering). I have tried the majority of my apps and all have registration still in place. My backup is compressed and is around 8mb.

To your 'irks' with Sprite, I guess who knows what's going on behind the scenes at the company...turnover, new product development, company focus on another product. Perhaps they didn't envision the market to grow for WM5 Smartphone vs. the PPC. Who knows unless someone from Sprite cares to comment. I guess I'm not to bugged, but as you were one of the first folks in the world to use the phones, I can understand the frustration.

On the other hand, no competitors have stepped up to the plate, either. I guess it's hard for me to be annoyed with Sprite when anyone with some ingenuity could have stepped in and grabbed market share...but they didn't.

[edgar]

FYI

On the previous post regarding hte Sprite support team and responsiveness.

I got a PM from them reaching out to talk to me regarding my support (or lack there of) in the past. He explained in the message that they have reorganized how they do support and have changed drastically their methods.

While I didn't take him up on his offer to discuss my experience (new job, too swamped) I am interested if they are more responsive on the support team.

I'll take a slower development if the product comes out solid with good QA and features.

-Edgar

[Rocco Augusto]

would it be appropriate for me to yawn at this? ;)

[edgar]

Rocco Augusto
Contributing Editor-in-Training-Pants


8O Does this mean I have to be nice to you? *coughyersuckinuparentyoucough* :)

Well you can yawn, but if it works and has an upgrade feature like 3.4.1 then it would be a welcome package to those that upgrade and play with their devices all the time. For Joe Schmoe on the street probably not.

[Rocco Augusto]

yes, you must fear me and be nice to me as well :twisted: (j/k)

i never could get the update feature to work. everytime i tried it on my mpx220 when i was hopping between rom versions it always messed something up. if it worked falwlessly, i would love it. hopefully they will fix that feature.