Yup, as of today we have the first backup application for the iPhone available – TimeCapsule. Talk about your most wanted, and needed, applications!
It’s a very early release, but in my initial testing tonight most of it works well. Timecapsule also offers specific, limited backup options right now – not a full system backup. It does a short laundry list of some important items, and you need to select each individually right now – you can’t say ‘Backup’ and just let it go off and get everything it can.
Right now, it offers to backup: the Address Book, Installer sources, Maps bookmarks, Maps cache, Phone call history (Recents), Notes, Safari bookmarks and history, SMS database.
I’ve done some very quick testing on the first version released that works with the iPhone’s latest 1.1.4 firmware, and got these results:
Notes: Works so far. Created 2 notes – backed them up, deleted and restored successfully – deleted notes, rebooted, restored successfully
SMS: – Works so far. Backed up, cleared AT&T conversation, restored and got it back
Installer: Fails so far. Deleted 2 sources from Installer – tried restoring – did not work
Maps Bookmarks – works so far. Backed up Maps bookmarks – then deleted two, restored OK
Call History – works so far. Backed up Phone Recents call history – deleted it all – restored OK
Safari Bookmarks / History – works so far. Backed up Safari bookmarks and history – went to setings and cleared history – launched Safari, confirmed all gone – restored successfully
Contacts – Fails so far. Backed up, deleted 3 contacts – restored, but the 3 deleted did not come back.
So two main items are *not* working as yet – Contacts and Installer sources. I’m talking to the developer about this, and he is working on it and producing updates very quickly so far.
TimeCapsule is easy and intuitive to work with. To restore for instance, 
you just browse to the category you’re interested in – the SMS database for example – and if you’ve ever done a backup it will be listed there. Tap on the backup entry and you’ll be prompted to confirm you want to restore it.
There are lots of obvious ways in which this program could improve – offering a full system backup option, being able to multiple select or select all when choosing what to backup, automatic backup of all or certain items on a schedule, and lots more. But … it is very good to see *any* backup app right now, so kudos to peeInMyPantz for his work on this. Yes, that is the developer’s rather memorable handle 🙂
TimeCapsule is available on Installer now. To get it, you’ll need to add this source:
I’ll try to update this post, or a new one, as the app is further tested and developed.
Warning: Once again, please note – this is a very early release, is not fully tested, and should not be relied on for any critical data at the moment of course.
UPDATE: My bad – Contacts restore does work, but it requires a respring to see the restored contacts, unlike all the other apps I tried restores with. Good stuff though – only one problem child (Installer sources) left in my testing.
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