Protect your data with this unique backup tool
Backing up data is something of a chore, but it is an essential part of owning a computer to helps protect against losing valuable files as a result of hard drive failure, virus infection or accidental deletion. In addition to being something that is easily forgotten, many people do not bother with backup software as it can be expensive and difficult to use.
Genie Timeline is different as it is incredibly simple to use and there is a free version available that offers complete protection for your files. A wizard guides you through the process of selecting a backup destination, such as a removal hard drive, and then presents you with a list of what should be backed up.
You can backup entire folders but you can also use the tick box system to quickly choose to backup all of your images files, office documents, emails and many other types of file. Once the intial backup has been created, Genie Timeline uses Intelli Continuous Data Protection to update the backup file so that it is always up to date.
The backup process is greatly sped up thanks to the fact that only new and changed files need to be added to a backup rather than started from scratch each time. You can analyse any of the backups you create to get a visual breakdown of the different types of file you have on your hard drive.
Backups are created quickly, but you have the option of switching between Smart mode in which backups are run at a lower priority if the process is needed for other tasks, and Turbo mode in which backups are always created as fast as possible. Should a backup be interrupted for any reason, it can be resumed from where you left off without the need to start again.
Genie Timeline integrates with Windows Explorer and a timeline is display at the top of the backup window. This provides a graphical representation of when backups have been created so you can easily jump to a particular backup with a view to restoring it. The timeline can also be used to home in on particular files so you can quickly restore a previous version.
The Home edition of Genie Timeline adds a number of extra features including access to technical support and the ability to compress backups to save space. Genie Timeline Home can be used in commercial environments and includes the option to automatically purge older backups to free up space.
Opt to buy the Professional version of the program and your backups can be protected with added security options. To eliminate the risk of forgetting to create new backups, the backup process can be automated by creating a schedule. You also have access to your backup history and the file types included in Smart Selection mode can be adjusted to suit your needs.
Whichever version of Genie Timeline you choose, you are equipping your computer with a fully featured backup utility that's incredibly simple to use and provide peace of mind by protecting your all-important documents.
Review by Mike Williams.
