Iomega's SuperHero backup and charger for iPhone syncs without a PC

Iomega was at CES last week showing off its upcoming SuperHero Backup and Charger for the iPhone. You may ask why anyone needs a backup system for the iPhone as iTunes backs up your iPhone when you sync. The Iomega rep explained that many iPhone users don't plug their iPhone into a PC or Mac. They simply use a wall charger, downloading apps directly onto the phone, almost never syncing up with iTunes. Sources at Apple retail confirm this is the case. Personally, I plug my iPhone into iTunes every night to update my podcasts and apps as often as possible.

For those who don't sync, however, Iomega is releasing the SuperHero. It's super simple -- you just download an app onto the phone, and then whenever you plug the iPhone into the dock, the app will turn on and backup your contacts and pictures onto an included 4 GB SD card. Lose your iPhone, and you won't lose your important information.

Yes, for family members or friends who don't ever sync through iTunes, this might be helpful. But wouldn't it be worth it to teach them how to do it? Syncing seems simple enough to me. Then again, if you don't own a PC or Mac and use your iPhone like a small computer, this would at least give you some assurance your data will persist. The Iomega SuperHero backup and charger should be available by the end of next month for US$69.99.

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Source: http://iomega.com/superhero-iphone-backup/

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Iomega was at CES last week showing off its upcoming SuperHero Backup and Charger for the iPhone. You may ask why anyone needs a backup...

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gnicholls

Another idea for a device like this would be to wirelessly extend a Mac's USB port to the dock so it could sync to iTunes without having to be near the computer.

Or of course if Apple would finally get around to allowing WiFi syncing with a Mac on a local network...

January 13 2011 at 10:58 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Sandok

Truth be told, I never sync with iTunes... I just hate iTunes so much, it is laggy and slow.

As such, my iPhone downloads mostly without the PC. Yes, I do sync from time to time just to make sure everything is safe, but rarely.

January 13 2011 at 8:55 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Alex

If the product is that good they can have the girl wear a Wonder Woman costume for us. Thanks!

January 12 2011 at 8:12 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Wheat Williams

What a horrible idea. And if you don't sync your iPhone with a PC or Mac, you'll never update to new versions of iOS either, meaning you're walking around with a phone with outdated firmware and operating system.

I have a friend who used an iPhone for two years without syncing it even once, and when it crashed just two weeks ago, he lost everything. He didn't realize that he had no idea how the iPhone was supposed to be used.

January 12 2011 at 7:01 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

my lord, MALES CALM DOWN lol

i agree with the idea that this is pretty neat for travellers. i might just go back to iomega for something like this.

*on a side note* why is it everytime an app or some type of hardware comes out...you get a chorus screaming what about ipad? geez..i need me one of those things to see what the hubbub is about. *hugs mbp tightly*

January 12 2011 at 5:55 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Galley

Mmmm... sweater kittens!

January 12 2011 at 5:55 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

cinnamonaldehyde

This is a great idea for travelers without portable computers. If it would come out for the iPad, it would be great. There are plenty of elderly folks getting iPads without computers to handle backup duty. This would be perfect for the iPad! IOmega, are you listening?

January 12 2011 at 5:41 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

jrflesch

Photography composition 101: "rule of thirds"

The charger is definitely NOT on an intersecting third. However.....

January 12 2011 at 5:15 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

gnicholls

Nice fake/padded boob there ;)

January 12 2011 at 4:36 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

qb2000

4 GB backup storage? This SuperHero probably will do the thinking for us as to which 4 GB out of the typical 16 GB iPhone memory is important to back up. At least when we lose the phone we will be able to restore 4 GB of what SuperHero thought is important to recover. Get it?

January 12 2011 at 4:35 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to qb2000's comment

NutMac

The article is a bit misleading in that it makes it sound like this device is backing up iPhone. It only backs up contacts and camera roll photos. To be fair, the article mentions this but glosses over it quickly while making it sound like it can be used as an alternative to sycing to iTunes.

Anyway, if you take lots of photos and video, you will need more than 4GB, but it should be enough for many. Since it backs up to an SD card, I suppose you can buy and use bigger one.

January 12 2011 at 5:42 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply