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[Q] Non-root options for a thorough backup.

So I'm regretting not rooting my phone sooner. HTC Evo, about 5 weeks old.
When I got it it came w/ 2.2 and was in the period when there was no root for 2.2.
I played around and got dependent on my phone but now I see that without root I don't have any real reliable [thorough] backup of my phone.
Or do I?
What options are there that will backup AND restore most if not all of my data to my phone if/when the sh!t hits the fan (or I decide to root one of these days).
I'd like a 1 step type solution - for those of you familiar w/ the Palm think Resco Backup. Full backup (w/ incrementals!) to SD card based on my defined schedule. I'm shocked and amazed (not to mention disgusted) that this doesn't exist on Android. I've searched the market ad-naseum (and here and Google) so either I've overlooked it or it's absent. If you know the way please share the wealth.
If I have to piecemeal solutions together then these are my specific concerns:
Calendar and Contacts - I think I'm OK here - using HTC Sync to Outlook on desktop. I should be ok with that right? else, what do you suggest?
SMS - I REALLY have to be able to restore this. I'm using Handcent if that helps any (dont' think so but..). This is a must.
Call Logs - Like SMS, absolutely must be able to backup and restore this.
Pictures, etc. taken with the phone
K9 mail and setings - I'm using IMAP so the mail is safe but I'd rather not reconfig 7 email accounts again. Actually cant something backup the prefs/settings for all my apps at once?
Apps - when I put my gmail user into [e.g] a new phone, does it just go to the market and redownload whatever apps I had? Not sure how this works so maybe it's not necessary to backup my apps themselves.
Any other personal/important data I'm not thinking about?
In the end I'd really like an absolute restore function that gets me back to how I was the moment the backup was taken. If I can't have that, what the closest I can get?
Thanks much for reading and any input you have.
It's much appreciated.
J.

Thread Bump
Please, any help or direction would be appreciated.
Thanks much all.

Mybackup pro on the market handles most of that without root. Sms, mms, bookmarks, system settings. After root it will back up apps and the market link too.
Swyped with my Evo 4g running Fresh Evo 3.3.0.1

[Q] Way to trick an app into thinking it is on a different ROM or OS version???

Not the most crucial question, but I still would like to know if this is possible.
Anyone play World War? Well have you ever run into the issue where you install the latest rom (CM 6.1 RC5 in this case) and all of a sudden World War thinks you are starting all over even though you restored from a good backup - like with Titanium Backup? I know I have a few times now and it is annoying. I have to wait for the app to be updated which isn't very quickly when it comes to World War.
So my question... Is there a way to fool a particular app into thinking it is running on a different version of Android or a known working ROM? Maybe a script or a app? If there isn't one, it would be a nice ability to have. Sort of like the backwards compatibility options in Windows 7/Vista.
I would like to be able to do this on a per app basis and not have to change any major setting/variable for my entire phone. Any other workarounds for this situation?

[Q] Mod ROM Newbie

The last time I rooted a phone and installed a custom ROM was on a HTC with Windows 6.5, so to say I'm rusty is an understatement.
And honestly, I liked HTC Sense so I never had the urge. But now, I have been waiting for the ICS Android for so long that I think it's time to Mod Again! And it will be nice to get rid of that pink T-Mobile crapware! So I have a few newbie questions, I'll hope you'll forgive me.
1. Will I be able to keep all my app store bought apps? How?
2. Can I go back to the "official" ROM if I have to send in my device for repair?
3. What are considered the best HTC Sense/ICS Roms for the sensation?
4. Will I be able to migrate my contacts? How? (and will I be able to get rid of the awful duplication of records that seems to have occurred somehow)
5. Is there a reason to actually not go for HTC Sense? I personally really like the smart linking features of contact related information and the way contacts work with all the social networks info in one contact record. I think the contacts are where the phone shines. I hate the bugs in the music app and I don't really like the photo app either.
6. Where can I find a good step by step guide? (I can find it myself, but while I'm asking the pro's anyways)
7. Are there any limitations such as things that won't work as well because of driver support etc?
Cheers,
Marc

[Q] Questions about Rooting Galaxy S4 for a Scared Noob

Hello,
I've had my S4 for a little over a year and have been pretty happy with it. I came from using an iPhone for a few years before. With the upgrade in Kit Kat and not being able to easily access folders has been very frustrating and I wanted more control on my phone (turn on/off GPS for example and other things Tasker is blocked from doing). My understanding is that rooting would fix those issues. However I'm a little scared as how to proceed.
Here are some of my questions/concerns:
Will I get better performance from my phone (assuming I have all the same sort of settings)?
Are there apps that will not work on a rooted phone?
Which is an appropriate ROM to choose? (Stock Android, CyanogenMod, etc.)
Is there a way to backup an entire image (data and everything) of what I have now on my Samsung so I can restore it if I really mess up. I am thinking this would be similar in Windows, where I can make a disk image to be able to restore the entire OS and all the data.
What is the best way to reload apps I currently use (and have paid for) back onto the rooted device? Do I just make a list on paper and then go one-by-one and re-install them?
Will rooting effect my access to the Google Play Store?
How badly can I brick my phone? Can I get it to a point that it is completely restoreable? That is assuming I didn't do anything outside of following instructions and didn't connect it to my car battery
Will I be able to access my S4 like a drive or is that a hardware issue?
Is TouchWiz really that lousy?
Fortunately there is a lot of information out there, but it is overwhelming. Besides this site, are there other ones you recommend reading?
Thank you for the help.

Moving Play Store Apps to Custom ROM / Lineage

Hi all. I have bought FPse, currently on my new XZ2 (which I'm loving so far). I had a Play Store voucher so have some remaining credit, which I'll use to source some apps. My question is before I get involved in unlocking the bootloader, rooting etc., can I back up the apps so that I can then transfer them to my device once I have installed LineageOS or the Sony supported AOSP? I like the idea of Android, not so much Google. I don't have an SD card yet to use in this, but will be getting one in the near future (most likely around 200GB) but think I have a spare one laying around I could use in the short term for this.
The device is new and apart from a few apps and contacts, I have no data on the phone really yet so would like to get this done fairly soon before I get a lot of stuff on there.
Thanks in advance for any help with this.

Most backup apps should work. Titanium backup is one of (not the) best. There are plenty of tutorials for it

I have read about Titanium backup but my understanding is it needs root to worry properly. While the aim of this is ultimately a new room and root, I'll probably end up using Xperifix to get there, so I won't be able to backup the apps properly. I'll read some more about TB though first. Thanks for your response.
Also I'd like to apologise for putting this question in here, I only realise afterwards that Android General isn't meant for questions.
Edit: having now read more about TB, it looks like they have added this functionality which is great news. I'll give that a try in the near future, thanks again.