I recently came across a forum discussion of a backup app for iPad and iPhone users. I’ve done some testing of the app and written a review for that forum. A copy of the review follows:
Parachute Backup Mobile
This is an iOS/iPadOS app to backup iCloud Photos and iCloud Files. See the iOS App Store for more details or the Parachute home page at https://www.parachuteapps.com/parachute-mobile/
My iOS/iPadOS environment
I have an iPad Air M2 13", an iPad Min 7 and an iPhone 15 Plus. I do not have a “desktop” computer (although I did have a Mac Mini M1 for a few years). I use my iPad Air as my “desktop” computer. All my files/data is stored in iCloud Files including a large collection of family photos and videos. I do not use iCloud Photos for photo and video storage.
There is a major issue with this approach for me; I rely on iCloud as my only “backup” for my files. I understand how iCloud works but for me, it is my backup. When I used a Mac I had three sources of backup: iCloud, TimeMachine and an app called Get Backup Pro (GBP) - a really good automated incemental backup tool.
I need a TimeMachine or GBP alternative for my iPads.
Recently I stumbled across a forum discussion on Parachute ( forums.whirlpool.net.au/thread/9xv6kkn8. It looked like the app I needed. I believe the app was version 1.2 and it cost AUD5.99 - I purchased a copy and began testing it.
I initially used one of the SSDs that I previously used with GBP on my Mac (details below).
My SSD:
ORICO M.2 NVMe & SATA SSD Enclosure Adapter Tool-Free, USB C 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps NVME, 5Gbps NGFF SATA PCIe M-Key(B+M Key) 2230/2242/2260/2280, Aluminum External M2 Reader Support UASP Trim- PWDM2
Kingston - NV2 M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe 1TB, Solid State Drive
The original setup of Parachute was fiddly and not that clear - not difficult. I set up Parachute to backup the following folders from iCloud:
Documents
Downloads
My Pictures
My Videos
Ringtones
The backup consisted of 27,907 files with a total size of 49.79 GB.
Parachute places a very heavy load on the iPad’s battery. It took me several trial backups to determine this. I then used an Anker Hub connected to my iPad Air with power and the SSD connected to the hub. The backup ran as expected until it was about 30% complete. It then began to slow down considerably and eventually “paused”. It was not clear how to get the backup to resume. I discovered by accident that looking at the SSD via the Files app seemed to resume the backup. In the Parachute settings it showd the SSD as being “off line”. I was not able to get a backup to complete.
I tried the backup using a USB thumb drive and an SD card but the “pausing” continued and I could not complete a full backup.
The following day Parachute Version 1.2.1 was released. I repeated the previous testing.
There was no “pausing” during the backup and I was able to complete a full backup to my SSD. The only problem was that it took over SIX HOURS to complete.
I repeated the test again using a SanDisk Extreme 150MB/sec 128GB SD card mounted in the Ankar hub. Again there was no “pausing” and the full backup completed in 67 minutes - not fast but acceptable. (My Internet connection is an NBN FttP 100/20 service.)
I have not yet undertaken a subsequent incremental backup but I expect it will be very much quicker.
In conclusion
I was not aware of any iOS/iPadOS app that could backup iCloud Photos AND Files. Now there is one. Parachute works and more importantly provides an extra level of security/confidence for iPad users who do not have access to a “desktop” computer to backup their iCloud stored files. At AUD5.99 it’s a bargain as well.
I should add that I had several email exchanges with the developer during my testing and found his really easy to deal with.
Parachute is recommended for all those who use an iOS/iPadOS device as their sole computer.
