Trying to remember where I’ve left stuff on my digital devices — my desktop computer, tablet, phone, etc. — used to be an exercise in angst.
I’m talking about apps, documents I’ve created, photos, music, video —the works. With two desktop computers, two phones and six tablets running on all different formats, it’s a necessity. When I’ve lost something because of my ineptitude, I’m no fun to be around. Ask my wife. (Um, better not.)
Out of necessity, and to keep my sanity, I’ve developed a system to keep track of my digital things that I’d like to share with you.
My rule No. 1: Don’t just dump everything on your digital desktop that you’ve saved or downloaded, thinking you’ll clean it up later. You won’t.
Get in the habit of saving your stuff immediately to a go-to place that you know you’ll always check first. You’ll be glad you did it a month from now when you’re trying to remember where you stashed that damn file and no one will come and rescue you.
Recommendation: Use a dependable cloud service to directly save everything you want to keep: stories, spreadsheets, business plans, photos, songs, drawing, everything. Scary? Sure, but good secure cloud systems are everywhere these days and backed by some powerful names: Apple iCloud, Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, Amazon Cloud Drive and Dropbox, to name a few.
I use OneDrive for all my stuff on all my devices. As I’m writing this column, OneDrive is saving it to my personal cloud — not to a file on my computer.
As for organizing the 250 to 300 apps I carry on all my devices, knowing where I’ve stashed them is really essential. Here’s my desktop plan, no matter which operating system I’m using: audio, games, news, reading, productivity, social, utilities and video.
“Audio” covers anything I use for listening: music players, radio stations, music, podcasts, audio books, etc. “Video” relates to any app from Netflix to Vevo, and even IMDb.
“Reading” covers my Kindle app, magazines or other sites dedicated to good reading.
I use “social” as a catch-all for Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, my email accounts, voicemail, calendar and contacts.
Productivity is “Word” and any other app I use for business or the arts. (“Games,” “news” and “utilities”are more obvious.)
Finally, I suggest you get comfortable with the system backups your gadget’s operating system provides. Google, for example, has a terrific service that automatically restores everything — apps and files — if your current device crashes or you buy a new one.
You can find it under the “backup and restore” setting and it’s called “automatic restore.” Similarly, Apple’s iOS backup include nearly all data and settings stored on your iPhone or iPad.
Organize your gadget any way you want. Use my system or set up your own. But for heaven’s sake, do organize. It’s worth the effort.
Skip Ferderber is a technology writer and editor. A former Los Angeles Times staff writer, he has written locally for Alaska Airlines Magazine, GeekWire.com, Seattle Business Journal, Puget Sound Business Journal and Crosscut.com. Contact him at sferderber@gmail.com.
