BackupBuddyVFS 4 Public Beta!
We've been hard at work on our new BackupBuddyVFS (version 4) and have posted a public beta; the download URL is below. The documentation hasn't (yet) been updated, but here's a summary of the new features:

• Standard Zip compression and encryption: this allows you to access your backup files directly on your desktop computer, for example. Note that Zip encryption isn't very strong, so we still support our legacy compression and encryption format (based on Zip, and TEA, respectively). Zip file creation requires a device running Palm OS 5 or later.

• Third-party application locking (Advanced mode): newer Palm devices, such as the Treo 650/700p, work with a new type of memory (i.e. Non-Volatile File System, or NVFS). Unfortunately some older background applications don't interact well with this type of memory, and can cause the device to become unstable especially when doing large amounts of file read/writes. You now have the option to lock those applications in memory during our backup operations to make backups more reliable.

• Continuous backup (Advanced mode): allows you to keep your important files continously backed up as you use your device. So for example, if you add an entry to your Address Book and switch away or power off your device, the file will be backed up immediately.

• Multiple backup sets (Advanced mode): allows you to tailor your backups more precisely. e.g. have one profile for scheduled backups, and another when backing up when your device powers off.

• Backup on low battery

• Automatic checkpoint creation (Advanced mode): BackupBuddyVFS can now automatically create checkpoints every X days, and every X backups. You can also limit how much space to allocate to checkpoints.

• Tree-View (Advanced mode): the older versions of BackupBuddyVFS presented your backup files in a flat list; version 4 replaces this with a tree view making it easier for you to identify which files you'd like to backup and restore.

Please feel free to download and try it out:

http://www.bluenomad.com/bbvfs/bbvfs4beta.prc

This version will expire on 8.15; we will post a new version prior to that date. Please note that although we have extensively tested it internally for quite some time, some bugs may still remain, so you may want to consider an alternate backup application such as BackupBuddy for Windows / Mac OS X. Or simply use your existing version of BackupBuddyVFS to create a checkpoint prior to running the beta version.

BackupBuddyVFS 4 will be a paid upgrade (the first in over 18 months) and upgrade pricing has yet to be determined, but it will be generously discounted for existing customers (of any of our products), and all customers who have purchased within the last 3 months will receive a complimentary upgrade.

Finally, you can also discuss your experience with the beta on our new BBVFS discussion forum:

http://www.bluenomad.com/fogbugz/default.php?bbvfs

Thank you for your continued support, help, and interested in our products!

Alexis
Blue Nomad, LLC
- posted by Blue Nomad, LLC @ 9:32 AM