Martian Technology today released Martian LifeBoat, an application that makes keeping up-to-date backups as simple as plugging in a USB Flash Drive.
Martian LifeBoat allows users to define “LifeBoats”, sets of files and folders that get backed up each time a particular removable media device (USB Flash Drive or External Hard Disk) is connected to their computer. The instant the specified device is plugged into the Mac, Martian LifeBoat automatically begins the backup process.
Users can then disconnect their updated LifeBoats and store them away for safekeeping. Keeping the backups up-to-date just requires plugging the device back into the Mac. Martian LifeBoat takes over from there, quickly updating the external device with a fresh copy of the users’ most important data.
“We developed LifeBoat so we could quickly back up our work in progress at the end of each day. I just plug my USB Key into my Mac, and all my important documents are backed up without my having to press a button. I can leave the office knowing that I’ve got an extra copy of my data right in my backpack,” noted Greg Martin, Martian Technology co-founder, in the press release.
LifeBoat is available as a freely downloadable demo that is limited to updating a single removable media device. Users can purchase a license for $13.99 to remove this restriction. LifeBoat requires Mac OS 10.4 and higher, and is available in a Universal binary.
LifeBoat can be downloaded from http://www.martian.com/LifeBoat.html
MDN Magic Word: “involved”, as in, now we can really get involved in backing up, as we should…
Martians would rather we lose all of our data so I don’t trust this at all.
finally an app that gets it. its simple.
“Damn, I had better backup my stuff. It has been a couple days.”
-plug in usb stick
-lifeboat is renewed
“Boy, that sure is easy. Makes retrospect seem like open heart surgery.”
Won’t this kind of thing be null and void after the Leopard is loose?
I wonder how obsolete any part of time machine will make this? I know Time Machine as such is different but it does have backup functionality so it could work like this as well.
SuperDuper is the best backup solution for me.
It makes bootable backups as well. I don’t think this app does.
As far as I know, SuperDuper does not allow the user to specify a particular set of files for backup (the user’s Home directory, for example). Otherwise, it works very well.
“I wonder how obsolete any part of time machine will make this?
Answer: NONE.
If you use this app with a USB Flash Key, your data is better protected than backing up to a HD (HD’s do crash). Using a Flash Key to store your most important files everyday is a good practice.
No, I am not a rep for the company and do not even plan on purchasing this app. I do it manually. If you want the convenience of auto-backing though, this seems to fill the bill.
A special message from Marvin The Martian