What’s New in Apple’s new MobileMe Backup (v 3.2) application?

Last week Apple released an update to their Backup application which is available to all MobileMe subscribers. This new version, Backup version 3.2, is recommended for everybody but adds some new features. Apple describes the new features in this technical article.

The most important, and in my opinion, a useful enhancement is that backup data stored on one’s iDisk gets recycled automatically, but there are some important details that one needs to understand. Recycling means that old copies of backup data will be removed automatically from one’s iDisk. I think this is a positive development since in the past Backup would simply fill up one’s iDisk storage space and then fail to be able to do successive backups but would hardly notify you. This was a big problem in my book. Therefore, I’m pleased that data recycling will occur. However, it’s important to know the following details.

Data recycling can not be turned off. Data recycling occurs only for backup data stored on an iDisk, not for data stored on a local hard drive or CD/DVD. Data recycling apparently does NOT occur if one’s backup schedule is for monthly or quarterly backups to iDisk. Data recycling occurs after 30 days for daily iDisk backups and after 12 weeks for weekly iDisk backups. It’s unknown if Backup notifies you when data recycling occurs. If you store your backup data on your own external hard drive then you can choose from the following recycle schedules: every 4 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, 2 years or only when the drive is full.