iCloud like backup for Android

Man of Honour
Joined
20 Sep 2006
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Is there such a thing? A full backup of my Nexus that happens seamlessly and is stored securely. Then if I have to replace the phone, everything gets put back like it was rather than just the apps?
 
You can upload pictures automatically to google picasa, or whatever it is called these days, I think.
 
By default any new Android phone will provide an option of backing up photos/videos to G+ when you first sign in, contacts have 'always' been stored as part of your gmail account (assuming you wanted them to be), installed apps are stored.

The main things lacking are:
SMS, but there are several options to backup either locally or in your gmail account.
Application settings, depends on the app though, some offer some form of cloud sync options.
 
I know about app backup and Google cloud.

But with an iPhone, if you lose it and get a replacement, everything will be put back how it was. Home screen, messages, call history. It becomes a clone effectively.
 
Don't think it's possible considering how different each manufacturer tinkers with Android.

I suppose if you use Nova, then you can back your homescreen up, but that backs it up locally.

Messages, I believe there are a few that can back them up to the cloud.

Call history I'm not sure if it's possible.
 
If you're willing to root then there's online nandroid backup. Just takes an image of the device and backs it up. Although it's useless if you get a different phone.
 
I don't like the Google Picasa thing because there's no option to delete all my pics. Took me ages deleting thousands of them.

I just use Dropbox. All of my pictures (camera pics, downloads, screenshots, etc.) are automatically uploaded to my account and synced with my laptop. As for apps and other things, Titanium Backup which also uploads to Dropbox.
 
It's been one thing lacking from Android. The backup/restore features are far superior on the iPhone. I recall reading a while back there are some new strings found in Android L to suggest the backup features being revamped.
 
iPhones are more western orientated - it's expected the user will have a PC so it's always offered a full backup system. Android took a more asia/africa approach - ownership of the PC should never be expected and the device needs to work completely without external interaction.

If you get a new Android and login you'll be offered the apps you have installed on other devices by default but the rest of it (lets say, user level files) is really your own responsibility. This is in the form of dropbox/gDrive/gPhotos etc... for most users. SMS is a fairly large hole in the backup systems though I agree, something could be done here.
 
I personally use G Cloud backup with the apps backup
Works on multiple phones, and allows access from the web
Come christmas, they seem to offer a decent amount of storage for silly money, although you can get a permanent 10GB quite easily

To restore other app data, you need to install the relevant app - but gcloud walks you through it
 
Google do this, it's all built in

Think you get the option when first setting up your phone, but you can switch it on later from the settings menu.

also, when you first launch google+ / photos it asks you about auto backing up photos and videos
 
iPhones are more western orientated - it's expected the user will have a PC so it's always offered a full backup system. Android took a more asia/africa approach - ownership of the PC should never be expected and the device needs to work completely without external interaction.

Nonsense - iCloud does not require a PC or any other device - lose your phone and you can simply login to iCloud on the replacement and download an identical back up seamlessly.

Android doesn't offer a full back up simply because of the horrific fragmentation and associated cost and complexity.
 
Though I love my s5 and it's miles better than my cruddy 5c, you really can't beat the iCloud backup.
 
Nonsense - iCloud does not require a PC or any other device - lose your phone and you can simply login to iCloud on the replacement and download an identical back up seamlessly.

Android doesn't offer a full back up simply because of the horrific fragmentation and associated cost and complexity.
This is only a recent (ish) change, for a really long time it didn't offer it without pc. This was a massive bugbear for networks too due to device activation not being seamless from the shop at launch. Samsung and co offer backup software for essential parts already but it is indeed, awful:)
 
I'd love to see built-in full device backup to Google Drive or similar in a future version of Android.
 
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