Filed under: OS, Rumors, Software, Software Update
Time Machine update will offer battery-saving feature
Time Machine is the backup software built into Mac OS X Leopard that people either love or hate. It already saved my backside on the night before a report was due, so I'm a hands-down fan.For now, the available options are limited. According to AppleInsider, that's going to change with the release of Mac OS 10.5.3. It seems that the latest OS build seeded to developers (9D29) features a version of Time Machine which lets laptop owners suspend backups while running on battery power.
This is good for two reasons. It eliminates a power draw on the battery, and prevents incomplete backups (should your battery die before a backups session finished).
Our only question is ... May we have 10.5.3 now?!?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Andy said 1:06PM on 5-13-2008
I think it's the other way round isn't it? it currently won't let me back up when my laptop isn't plugged in.
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Brian Allen said 1:07PM on 5-13-2008
The first commenter is correct, but you can manually start a battery based backup.
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Aron T said 1:31PM on 5-13-2008
Is that what the icon looks like if you have a time capsule?
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Chad said 1:39PM on 5-13-2008
'features a version of Time Machine which lets laptop owners suspend backups while running on battery power.'
No, that's not what the AI article states. Currently, Time Machine will not automatically backup when you are on battery power. The update will give you the option of making it automatic
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caleb said 1:43PM on 5-13-2008
My only issue with Time Machine is how difficult it is to permanently delete something and all backups of it. Especially from, say, iPhoto.
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Lode said 1:49PM on 5-13-2008
@Caleb: Don't know about iPhoto, but it's *very* easy to delete a specific file/folder and all the backups of it.
Select the file you want, click on the Gears options button in the menu bar (strangely enough you can't right-click), and select "delete All backups of x".
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caleb said 1:51PM on 5-13-2008
I did eventually find that option. I guess it was a photo I wanted to delete permanently that I struggled with.
jmd said 2:39PM on 5-13-2008
Wait . . . you have an option to delete all backups? I'd love that, and I'm running 10.5.2 with my Time Machine drive connected, but my gears button (or I guess what's called the "Action" button in the Customize Toolbar menu) just shows:
New Folder
New Burn Folder
Open
Open With >
-----
Move to Trash
-----
Get Info
Compress "Filename"
Duplicate
Make Alias
Quick Look "Filename"
-----
Copy "Filename"
-----
Label:
x [] [] [] [] [] [] []
caleb said 3:02PM on 5-13-2008
@jmd: If I recall correctly you use the "action" button from within Time Machine.
Robert Mohns said 2:00PM on 5-13-2008
Leopard already works this way, and always has. No backups will start when you're on battery power.
What's new in 10.5.3 is that you can choose to reduce your battery life by turning automatic backups _on_ when on battery power.
Details matter!
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Mark 2000 said 2:01PM on 5-13-2008
The REAL question is whether it will kill backup to airport again as Apple hinted a while back. If so I'd be forced to never update my OS. I depend on Time Machine on Airport too much and it works flawlessly so far.
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akatsuki said 2:09PM on 5-13-2008
It is unsupported right now... So hopefully they will just get it working properly. Far more important than battery stuff for laptop owners I would think.
Steve said 2:34PM on 5-13-2008
"So hopefully they will just get it working properly."
Getting the darn thing to reboot with newly added configuration would be a good fix too.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1517423&tstart=0
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ZeroCorpse said 2:44PM on 5-13-2008
Yeah yeah yeah, whatever.
WHEN will 10.5.3 be available? Us late 2007 MacBook owners are sick of not being able to use Apple DVD Player Application without a kernel panic.
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Rob said 4:00PM on 5-13-2008
Tell me about it!!!
That is my one & ONLY gripe since switching to the Mac OS with my 3 month old black MacBook.
FIX THIS DAMN ISSUE ALREADY APPLE!!! (please). ;-)
Sam said 4:09AM on 5-20-2008
I CANNOT STAND THIS BUG. IMAGINE IF XP DID THIS? OR EVEN WINDOWS 2000?
INEXCUSABLE.
Lode said 3:03PM on 5-13-2008
@jmd: You first need to enter the Time Machine interface (you know, with the rotating stars). From there you can select your file and delete its backups.
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David Chartier said 4:36PM on 5-13-2008
Yea, srsly: is that a Time Capsule icon or a third-party find?
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Designr said 11:24PM on 5-13-2008
Yes, but when will network drives be officially supported?
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steve said 1:42AM on 5-14-2008
I just want that cool floaty Time Machine/Capsule icon!!! I'd upgrade to 10.5.3 just for that!
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