[Diomedes]

"In the corporate world, that usually means an Exchange server coupled with Microsoft’s ActiveSync synchronization service"
Where did this comment come from?? Check your numbers - RIM's Blackberry Enterprise Server is the standard in the corporate world for push email. Exchange is, as usual, just trying to play catch-up. ActiveSync isn't as secure or field-proven as RIM's offering.

[TheYodaMac]

So what happens if someone grabs my iPhone and starts deleting contacts, emails, etc.? I lose that information on ALL my computers at once within seconds?!!!

[bynkii]

TheYodaMac said:

So what happens if someone grabs my iPhone and starts deleting contacts, emails, etc.? I lose that information on ALL my computers at once within seconds?!!!

That is part of automatic synchronization. The solutions to this are obvious

[solipsism]

bynkii said:

That is part of automatic synchronization. The solutions to this are obvious

But what if you don't have a manual backup or use TIme Machine. I think he is looking for an answer that Apple will maintain its own restore function that will allow you to create your contacts, calenders and bookmarks from an earlier date via Mobile Me.

[bynkii]

[quote name='solipsism']
>

bynkii said:

> That is part of automatic synchronization. The solutions to this are obvious

But what if you don't have a manual backup or use TIme Machine. I think he is looking for an answer that Apple will maintain its own restore function that will allow you to create your contacts, calenders and bookmarks from an earlier date via Mobile Me.

Why would you NOT have a backup? Can you really afford to lose all your data with no hope whatsoever of getting it back? At some point, every computer user has to take SOME responsibility for their own data.

[ChrisLJ]

My wife and I will both miss iCards. We have been sending them to each other everyday since it's demise was announced. They were a sweet and easy way to tell your family and friends that you were thinking of them. Oh well, maybe Apple will develop something to replace it. Or maybe a third party will carry on.

[solipsism]

bynkii said:

Why would you NOT have a backup? Can you really afford to lose all your data with no hope whatsoever of getting it back? At some point, every computer user has to take SOME responsibility for their own data.

That is like saying that cars shouldn't have seatbelts, but rather the driver should be more careful. People SHOULD backup, but Apple SHOULD also have a system in place to allow for accidental deletion recovery from within Mobile Me. I can think of many examples as to where Time Machine save a user from an accidental or malicious deletion.

1) Addition and deletion all takes place in-between Time Machine backup schedule
2) You do not have access to your home machine with the backed up data.

(those are two general directions you can go with it, but you can create many examples from them)

[bynkii]

[quote name='solipsism']
>

bynkii said:

> Why would you NOT have a backup? Can you really afford to lose all your data with no hope whatsoever of getting it back? At some point, every computer user has to take SOME responsibility for their own data.

That is like saying that cars shouldn't have seatbelts, but rather the driver should be more careful. People SHOULD backup, but Apple SHOULD also have a system in place to allow for accidental deletion recovery from within Mobile Me. I can think of many examples as to where Time Machine save a user from an accidental or malicious deletion.

1) Addition and deletion all takes place in-between Time Machine backup schedule

That's assuming you only have Time Machine as your only backup. There are more/other options you know. As well, at some point, EVERY failsafe fails. How much work do you expect Apple to do to protect data that you manually deleted without charging more to manage your data for you?

Quote

2) You do not have access to your home machine with the backed up data.

What happens if you're offline and unable to connect to Mobileme when you realize you shouldn't have deleted that? Maybe mobileme should cache a local copy of everything you've deleted for the last year or so. Just in case.

This is not some new problem. Anyone who's deleted something in a sync services setup has had to deal with this. Heck, anyone who's ever deleted ANYTHING has had to deal with this.

Quote

(those are two general directions you can go with it, but you can create many examples from them)

Maybe Apple should require you to confirm every deletion once per machine you have hooked up to mobileme, with a secondary dialog per machine that says "THIS WILL DELETE STUFF".

[solipsism]

bynkii said:

That's assuming you only have Time Machine as your only backup. There are more/other options you know. As well, at some point, EVERY failsafe fails. How much work do you expect Apple to do to protect data that you manually deleted without charging more to manage your data for you?

What happens if you're offline and unable to connect to Mobileme when you realize you shouldn't have deleted that? Maybe mobileme should cache a local copy of everything you've deleted for the last year or so. Just in case.

I was thinking for 30 days, but a year would obviously be better. For $99/year I do expect something from Apple; though they have never offered mac.com with SSL access, so I'm probably asking for too much.

There are many applications for backing up, but people tend not to use them. Time Machine has made it simple, but that still requires a second drive and thus an effort for the user, but it's undoubtedly easier for a tech-tarded person to setup and use.

[bynkii]

[quote name='solipsism']
>

bynkii said:

> That's assuming you only have Time Machine as your only backup. There are more/other options you know. As well, at some point, EVERY failsafe fails. How much work do you expect Apple to do to protect data that you manually deleted without charging more to manage your data for you?
>
> What happens if you're offline and unable to connect to Mobileme when you realize you shouldn't have deleted that? Maybe mobileme should cache a local copy of everything you've deleted for the last year or so. Just in case.

I was thinking for 30 days, but a year would obviously be better. For $99/year I do expect something from Apple; though they have never offered mac.com with SSL access, so I'm probably asking for too much.

There are many applications for backing up, but people tend not to use them. Time Machine has made it simple, but that still requires a second drive and thus an effort for the user, but it's undoubtedly easier for a tech-tarded person to setup and use.

Right, because push email/calendaring/contacts et al is nothing.

What level SLA do you want for this backed up data? how many 9s of reliability is Apple expected to provide for no additional cost?

[solipsism]

bynkii said:

Right, because push email/calendaring/contacts et al is nothing.

What level SLA do you want for this backed up data? how many 9s of reliability is Apple expected to provide for no additional cost?

Just like with RAID, redundancy measures (auto-syncing) should not be relied upon as a back-up system.

SLA doesn't apply here. I'm looking for a simple feature that will allow me to undo accidental deletions.

[TheBum]

davehuston said:

TheBum,

Rules will have to be set in your preferred e-mail client. Unfortunately, the current .Mac web-based client does not offer rules support (that I can find anyway, I don't use it much). The MobileMe client offers a great deal more features, so it's possible that they'll be adding rules support in there.

The only other option is if Apple offers free sub-accounts like my last two ISPs have, but I don't see that happening.

[bynkii]

[quote name='solipsism']
>

bynkii said:

> Right, because push email/calendaring/contacts et al is nothing.
>
> What level SLA do you want for this backed up data? how many 9s of reliability is Apple expected to provide for no additional cost?
Just like with RAID, redundancy measures (auto-syncing) should not be relied upon as a back-up system.

SLA doesn't apply here. I'm looking for a simple feature that will allow me to undo accidental deletions.

So let me get this straight. You want Apple to provide, as part of Mobileme, data retention that you will presumably rely upon, with no guarantee of reliability whatsoever?

Really?

So you just want a promise of data retention with nothing backing it up at all? If that's all you need, give me a hundred a year, I can match that EASY.

[solipsism]

bynkii said:

So let me get this straight. You want Apple to provide, as part of Mobileme, data retention that you will presumably rely upon, with no guarantee of reliability whatsoever?

This really isn't hard stuff to get so I am posting the .Mac terms and conditions that relate to this discussion.

"While Apple makes reasonable efforts to ensure that .Mac is available at all times, Apple does not guarantee, represent or warrant that .Mac services will be uninterrupted or error-free, and Apple does not guarantee that users will be able to access or use all the .Mac features at all times.

"Subject to any specific license agreements for various .Mac software features (including third party software), Apple may change, suspend or discontinue any (or all) aspects of .Mac at any time, including the availability of any .Mac feature. Apple may also impose limits on the use of or access to certain features or portions of .Mac, or restrict your access to any part or all of .Mac, in all cases without notice or liability. You must read and accept any separate software or other license agreement or terms of use for particular products, services or features of .Mac, if you elect to use those products, services or features.

"Apple also does not guarantee or warrant that any Content you may have in your account at .Mac will not be subject to inadvertent damage, corruption or destruction. You are responsible for backing up, on your own computer, any important documents, images or other Content. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the terms of any service or feature offered in .Mac, Apple will not be responsible for any archiving or backup of any such information. If any data, messages, images or other Content in your account and stored on the .Mac system is damaged, lost or corrupted in any way, Apple will have no obligation or liability to you except as otherwise expressly set forth in any applicable individual software license agreement for any particular .Mac feature or service."

THERE IS NO SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT!!!!