Stellar Phoenix Macintosh

Editor's Review

Mac software has a number of unpredictable issues that can cause loss of data - drive formatting, accidental trash emptying, failed partitioning or the much maligned (and little understood) unmountable volume error. The Stellar Phoenix Macintosh Data Recovery v4.0 software was designed with the quirks of Macs directly in mind, aiming to alleviate the concerns and misunderstandings of data loss by providing the means to instant, accurate recovery.

Effectively, what the Stellar Phoenix Macintosh Data Recovery v4.0 software does is scan your internal and external hard drives (SATA, USB, iPod, Memory cards etc.) for lost and deleted files or information (whether it is your own fault or a Mac malfunction), locates them, groups them, lets you decide which ones you want to restore and brings them back to life. What sets it apart, and it lives up to these claims, is that:

a) It is Mac specific, which means that the often fatal causes of data loss due to Mac-related issues are particularly catered for; and

b) As with most Mac software, it is extremely interactive, customizable and intuitive.

At Software.com Labs, we found that it achieved these claims through a number of innovations that set the software apart from its predecessors and its competition. The logic of Stellar Phoenix Macintosh Data Recovery v4.0 is a standout, and it permeates from the interface right throughout the recovery process. On the interface screen you are given a selection of options that optimize data recovery in a variety of situations.

If, say, you delete a document from the trash by mistake, Deleted File Recovery is geared specifically towards such errors and scans your your Mac for all deleted files, shows them to you in well organized lists, and from there you select your desired files and Macintosh Data Recovery restores them onto whichever hard drive you designate for recovery.

This visualization process is consistent throughout all the recovery processes and with typical Mac efficiency locates like files (music, video, documents, email etc.), groups them, gives you preview options to aid your selection and provides extensive feedback on the document origins, usage and other information to help you work out where the file comes from.

You are given a multitude of options for specific scans - if the shorter, focused scans such as Raw Data Recovery (which lets you pre-set file types to narrow the scan for lost or damaged files) don't reap the desired results, the Stellar Phoenix Macintosh Data Recovery v4.0 software gives you the option to take your scan to the next level and go deeper than we've seen any previous version go. These full system location scans take a long time, but they are effective.

Ever thinking of the glaring usability issues that escape many other publishers, the Stellar Phoenix Macintosh Data Recovery v4.0 software now includes a super handy Boot DVD for if your Mac cannot boot due to a system crash, so that you can recover data even while the machine is down. It also now supports FAT file systems for you data sharing enthusiasts.

There will definitely be complaints about the scanning time of Stellar Phoenix Macintosh Data Recovery v4.0 as, particularly with the deep customized scans, they take a while to go through the entire hard drive. However, the results are highly visual, highly logical and for the most part very thorough, so a recommendation for all those who struggle with Mac's little quirks and have lost data because of it is easy to give.

Stellar Phoenix Macintosh Data Recovery: What We Liked

Addresses the confusing Mac-specific malfunctions that cause data loss.

Multiple, pre-designed scan types to find specific file types for recovery.

Logical arrangement of files into groups that allow previews so you select the correct files for recovery.

Recovers lost data from both internal and external hard drives (including USB and memory cards).

Stellar Phoenix Macintosh Data Recovery: What We Didn't Like

Some of the deep, unspecified system scans are a lengthy process.

Stellar Support

Stellar offer direct phone, email and online chat contact through their home website, as well as providing an online FAQs database, knowledge base, question submission and case studies database.

About Stellar

Stellar Information Systems have a distinct focus on data recovery, having grown its technology since 1993 to now assist over 1,000,000 customers in 137 countries. In this time they have also taken out numerous top gongs including 'Best Software', awarded at Compass - IT exhibition, PC World 'Editor's Choice' Award and the Techies Award for 'Best Data Recovery Software Vendor'.

They are currently headquartered in Delhi, India.