/e/Switch : an app to easily transfer data to /e/OS
Summary
/e/Switch would allow any user to easily move their data from iOS or any Android OS to /e/OS.
Description
Who will use the new feature?
/e/OS aims to be for everyone, and transfer data from a phone to another isn't something the average people know how to do.
The Easy Installer (or pre-installed phones) already answers to the issue of How to be on /e/OS easily, but it would be even better to offer the possibility to transfer data easily in order to migrate properly.
This app would be another step toward the average user.
What is the target of the new feature for this user?
Here is how I see things:
TO BACKUP:
- The user would download /e/Switch from the Play Store or the App Store.
- The app would have two big buttons : "CREATE A BACKUP" and "RESTORE A BACKUP".
- By going in the "CREATE A BACKUP" section, it would invite the user to create (or login to) an /e/ account.
- The app would now let the user select what has to be backed up: files (documents, downloads, movies, pictures), Contacts, SMS/MMS, list of user apps, and more if it's possible to do more.
- It would create a "eSwitch" directory in /e/cloud and start to upload everything.
TO RESTORE:
- The user would download /e/Switch from Apps.
- The app would have two big buttons : "CREATE A BACKUP" and "RESTORE A BACKUP".
- By going in the "RESTORE A BACKUP" section, it would invite the user to login to an /e/ account.
- It would restore Contacts, files and SMS/MMS.
- It would also display the list of apps, and the user would have to download them again (would be nice if Apps could install them automatically though).
- The user would be able to manage backups and delete them.
Notes:
-
I think it's better to keep this feature away from the synchronization system. Data would only be uploaded in the eSwitch directory in eCloud for the switch purpose, and nothing more. To give an example: contacts, once backed up, mustn't be available in the Contacts section of eCloud. Only in a .vcf file in the eSwitch directory. Same thing for the pictures.
-
It's possible to modify or adjust a lot of things, for instance:
- I talked about eCloud but I guess it would also be possible to use /e/Switch offline with an SDcard, on which an "eSwitch" directory would be created. Might actually be easier for some people, and wouldn't require a good internet connection, and the storage size would be unlimited (against 1 free GB on /e/cloud).
- We can also imagine that the restore feature would be built-in the Setup Wizard. Once the user connects to an /e/ account or if it detects an eSwitch directory on the SDcard, it would ask if it has to restore the /e/Switch backup.
Why this user would like to use this feature?
Users don't want to bother with third-party apps, with trackers, to backup their data. And they also don't want to plug their phone to a laptop in order to transfer files. This process is too complicated and the average people don't know how to do this properly.
Examples
## Reflection
Mockups
Diagrams