acronis

True Image 2013 adds sync support, but with mixed results

Acronis has long been a popular destination for backup solutions. True Image 2013 adds mobile device support for its cloud storage to attract more users.

For people who are new to backing up their computers, True Image 2013 brings an approachable interface with short, helpful descriptions that acquaint users with the primary functions. The cartoon sketches might seem childish at first glance, but regardless, the friendly attitude offers assurance that the partitioning and backup process isn't as intimidating as one might think.

The new version retains all the standard and advanced features from 2012 -- you can still create … Read more

Acronis True Image Home backup gets file sync

Acronis, the maker of the arguably most effective True Image backup software solution, announced today the latest version of its True Image Home 2012. Among other features and improvements, the software now offers file synchronization. This is the first time this feature is included in the company's line of disk-imaging products, which are generally designed to store backups in a proprietary "image" format, which requires backup software for the recovery process.

File synchronization, on the other hand, means that the exact copies of the data are kept in real time at different locations. This allows people to … Read more

Keep tab of hard disks with Acronis Drive Monitor

Most of the time, a hard drive goes bad without any warning. By the time you know that it's dead, it's already too late.

However, most modern hard drives have an early warning mechanism called self-monitoring, analysis, and reporting technology, or SMART, which gives you an early warning for when you need to replace the hard drive before it actually fails. The problem is that most of the time, you only get this warning when the computer boots up, so for computers that are kept on for a long period of time, such as servers, you'll need … Read more

New Acronis backup app supports Win 7 migration

Excited about Windows 7 but not sure if your current XP computer can handle it? Maybe it's a good idea to make sure you can go back to the operating system you used prior to the upgrade. This is where system backup software such as that made by Acronis comes into play.

The company announced Tuesday the latest version of its backup software for home users, the Acronis True Image Home 2010, which supports Windows 7 as well as previous versions of the OS.

Like previous iterations, the True Image Home 2010 features Acronis' patented disk-imaging technology. It creates a full image of the whole system, which, once restored, brings the system back to the state when the image was created.

I personally have lots of experience with Acronis backup software and find it among the best for backing up the whole system. The software allows for creating full, incremental, or differential backups. … Read more

Acronis miscalculates data on users' bad backup habits

Acronis, a major vendor of backup software, released a report earlier this week stating that about 87 percent of computer users back up their data once every two or three months--way less frequently than recommended. This suggests that most of us live dangerously when it comes to backing up.

The survey was widely reported in the press, but it turns out the numbers didn't seem to go well with Acronis' report.

The percentages released to the media were taken from the question "How often do you back up your hard drive or files?" Results include: 48 percent for "once a week (or more)"; 55 percent for "2-3 times a month"; 81.5 percent for "once a month"; 86.8 percent for "every 2-3 months", 91.4 percent for "2-3 times a year", 94.6 percent for "once a year or less"; and 25.5 percent for "never."

It may be that I'm Asian and extra good with math, but I couldn't help but notice that when added up, the numbers total around 500 percent. Other ways to interpret the chart didn't justify the reported 87 percent, either. So maybe you're not as bad at backing up as some media reports told you you were. … Read more

Inside CNET Labs 9: Pimpin' ain't easy, but fishing apparently is

I was not prepared for this episode, but Dong forced me to do it (ahem!) today...So, if we seem off, blame Dong and Vietnam of course. Today we get some "awesome" details on Eric's trip to Minneapolis and Dong's new exciting hard drives! Also, why the Olympics depress Dong (he's sensitive) and some other random craps.

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