For many years, I have extolled the virtues of making backups.
Using a computer without making regular backups is courting
disaster. You don't really have to back up your applications since
you most likely have the original installation disks on which they
came. What's important is the data you create using them such as the
documents you've written on your word processor, emails you've
composed and sent, emails you've received, browser bookmarks, the
list is endless.
Now just try and imagine turning on your computer one morning
only to find that everything you've done is gone forever. How would
that make you feel?
If you find yourself feeling queasy just thinking about it, then
why set yourself up for a fall when you can so easily make a backup
of your hard drive? Because it's not IF the hard drive will fail,
it's WHEN it will fail.
So please, please, please take the time to backup your cell
phone. Cell phone?
Why not? Look, I've been hammering at you for years about backing
up your computer and if you're still not doing it, I'm sorry but I
have no sympathy for you when you lose it all. You all know that you
should be doing it, period. But what about so many of the other
electronic devices we use? Take your cell phone for example. I find
that I've really not written much about backing up devices other
than your computer so at least I won't feel like I'm nagging you
today. Cell phones can literally store hundreds of records that
contain names, phone numbers and other related information. The way
much of that information gets entered is usually over a period of
time as we start making and receiving calls. Oh sure we usually
first enter in our own numbers like home, office, family members and
the office. But I'd guess that the rest of your cell phone's data
was probably entered in over the course of some time as you used it
on a daily basis. And I'd also be willing to bet that you haven't
bothered to notate all that important information somewhere just in
case your cell phone decides to go bye-bye.
While we usually don't hear much about cell phones crashing, they
can and they do. Now while it may not be as tragic as losing all of
your computer's information, it sure would be nice if there was an
easy way to back all of your cell phones' phone book data just in
case it does, and there is. It's called CellStik.
CellStik is billed as the cell phone backup tool. Looking much
like one of those tiny USB flash drives that you insert into any USB
port, the CellStik actually has an interface plug at each end. One
end sports the USB plug while the other end is the male plug that
fits into your cell phone. On the CellStik body are two indicator
arrow lights each with its own triangular-shaped button directly
beneath it. The arrow and button pair that point to the USB end of
the CellStik says "SAVE TO CELLSTIK" while the other pair that point
to the phone jack end says "UPDATE TO PHONE."
Making the backup is pretty straight forward. You take off the
clear colored cap and plug the cell phone to be backed up into the
CellStik. The arrows flash until they recognize the phone. The you
press and hold down the Save To CellStik button until it lights up.
When it goes out, the cell's phonebook has been copied into the
CellStik's memory. Then plug the USB end into your computer. Using
the included software, you can edit the cell phone's phonebook data
if you wish and then save it to your computer's hard drive for safe
keeping (assuming that your hard drive doesn't crash some day). If
the time comes where you need to transfer the phonebook back to the
phone, just plug it back into the cell and press the Update to Phone
button. That's pretty much it.
You can also use the CellStik to copy the phone book from one
cell phone into another. This is ideal for synchronizing more than
one cell phone with the same phonebook data.
The main down side to the CellStik so far is that it only works
with a limited number of make and model cell phones. According to
Spark Technology, that list is constantly being expanded. The best
way to check and see if there is a CellStik for your particular make
and model phone is to visit their website. The CellStik is
upgradeable to support new cell phone models as they become
available. If you don't see yours there, Spark gives you an
opportunity to register your brand of phone. My guess is that they
will continue to make new CellStik versions for the phones that
prove to be the most popular.
Currently the CellStik only works with Windows based computers
and sells for $39.99. And while I'm at it, don't forget to backup
your computer too.
www.sparktech.com
