The Acronis True Image (ATI) 2017 is the latest version of the consumer backup tool by renowned backup and recovery software company Acronis.
Among the highlights are having your smartphone backed up directly to your local computer as well as the cloud (the previous version backs up only to cloud), searching your backup for specific files to recover, and backing up your Facebook account.
First and foremost, backing up your main working computer is the top priority. And ATI 2017 makes it really easy with its intuitive interface. There is a small left sidebar giving you access to options, such as Backup, Archive and Tools.
After installing the software, click on Backup, choose the backup path - cloud or local storage - and you are on your way to backing up the entire computer.
I tested the software by backing up my MacBook Air to the Acronis Cloud.
I love that ATI 2017 will automatically stop the backup process when I put the laptop to sleep, and resume the backup when I turn it back on.
This process is really seamless. Plus, you can search for the specific files you want to recover, instead of recovering the entire disk drive for just one file.
With the smartphone so important these days, having a backup of your smartphone in both your computer and the cloud is a major boon.
To create a local backup of your Android or iOS devices, download the Acronis True Image app to your smartphone. Make sure the smartphone and the computer are in the same Wi-Fi network and start the backup by scanning a QR code using the device's camera.
You can choose the data you want to back up, like photos and videos, on the mobile app before starting the backup process.
Like its predecessor, you can move data between Android and iOS devices using the Online Dashboard feature. The Online Dashboard provides a great overview and management of devices in which ATI has been installed. And it shows the backup progress in a Web browser.
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TECH SPECS
PRICE: $69.99 for one-time purchase (no cloud storage); or $59.99 per year subscription, which includes feature updates and free one-year 500GB Acronis Cloud storage
COMPATIBILITY: Windows, Mac, iOS and Android
RATING
FEATURES: 5/5
PERFORMANCE: 4/5
VALUE: 4/5
OVERALL: 4/5
The Online Dashboard also allows you to back up your Facebook account. It is pretty neat, as it incrementally archives your Facebook account content, such as photos, videos, comments and likes. On the downside, you can back up your Facebook account only if you sign up for the cloud subscription.
Having tried the software on both Mac and Windows machines, I found that the Mac version has much fewer functionalities. For example, it lacks the local mobile device backup feature, as well as tools like clone disk, rescue media builder and system cleanup.
The ATI 2017 is available on a free 30-day trial. So you can try it before deciding which plan suits you best.
The one-time purchase does not include cloud storage, but you can opt for the Acronis Cloud storage option later. However, it is cheaper to opt for the subscription first instead.
•Verdict: The Acronis True Image 2017 is an easy all-in-one backup solution, especially if you are using a Windows machine.