Apple is reportedly testing a new local iOS device backup system at Apple Store Genius Bars. The system would allow customers to quickly backup any iOS device requiring exchange or replacement, as well as allowing users to quickly restore their devices after replacement.
9to5Mac reports:
Currently being prototyped inside of Apple’s top-secret “future” Apple Store labs near the company’s headquarters, a place where peaks into Apple’s retail future have leaked from in the past, is a wireless server system for Genius Bars that will automatically, securely, and temporarily store user content.
The idea is clearly an extremely useful one, helping customers to avoid data loss if something goes wrong with their iPhone or iPad. Also, to keep everything secure and privacy friendly, the backup data would be wiped from Apple’s system once the exchange is complete.
This sort of backup system would also be extremely preferable to an iCloud backup. iCloud backups can take as long as 20 minutes, and restoring from an iCloud backup can hours, or even an entire day!
The system is reportedly in early testing, and could begin making it to Apple Stores by the middle of next year. I, for one, hope that Apple puts this in place sooner rather than later.
