Futurelawyer

Scan Me, Scotty!

Star Trek's Tricorder Becomes Reality With Scanadu's Scout. O.K. This is cool. This little device is like the Star Trek Tricorder, in its medical use. You hold it to your head for ten seconds and it measures and shows vital signs, ECG, heart rate, oximetry and stress. The results go to your smartphone and can be seen with an app designed to receive the data. Of course, this thing will never replace a Doctor or even Doctor McCoy. But, if you are obsessive about your vital signs, and you are a hypochondriac, the normal fluctuations of your body signs will give you plenty of ammunition to convince SWMBO that you need to stay home from work. 

What Flavor Of Android Do You Want?

Google announces Galaxy S 4 with Nexus user experience | Android and Me. Mobile phone manufacturers are always messing with a good thing. They have to show some differentiation from the competition, so they put front ends on Android to set them apart. Unfortunately, the front ends often are pretty lame; HTC Sense is a perfect example. A great majority of HTC buyers root their phones just to get rid of Sense. So, if you are an AT&T or TMobile customer, (and hopefully Verizon in a month), you may want to get the new Galaxy S4 Nexus, which will be stock Android all the way. No lame front end, just pure Google. The S4 is the most powerful smartphone ever, and, if you are in the market, you really need to try it out before you buy anything. The smart play, however, is to wait a month, and see if the rumors that Verizon is getting the phone are true. Or, you could do what I did, and get the Galaxy Note 2, which is the best phone I have ever owned. 

No Delete Key? No Problem

The lack of a delete key makes the Chromebook a disappointment | Techi.com. As computer buyers are finding out, a Chromebook can be a very useful tool for the computing lawyer or professional. While the author berates the Chrome Pixel for the lack of a delete key (please), I am typing this post on a $199 Chromebook by Acer that has a 320 Gigabyte hard drive, and on which I have installed, and am using Chrubuntu, which is all I need when traveling. If I want to run Windows software, which I need to do often for document creation and processing, I just power up TeamViewer, and I am running my notebook machine from the web. I thought about installing WINE, and running Windows natively; but, then I asked myself, WHY? If I am carrying the little 3 pound netbook around, I just leave my notebook connected at home or the office. Click, click, and I am looking at a miniature version of my Windows desktop. And, the Acer Chromebook has a Delete key. 

HTC One - Coming To Verizon?

Verizon HTC One: 5 Things to Know. The HTC One is a beautiful phone. It has two front facing speakers and Beats audio, and it has a one piece thin, light, all aluminum body. And, it is coming to Verizon later this month. The screen is smaller than the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, at 4.7 inches; but, it is a brighter, ultra pixel screen that will compete with the new Samsung Galaxy S4. I am still staying with the Note 2, however, because HTC has the worst upgrade record of any phone manufacturer, and, when combined with Verizon, which has the worst upgrade record of any carrier, you have the perfect storm of unhappy user experience over the next couple of years. These days, a new and better phone experience comes around every couple of years, so you will be living with the device you choose for a while. The HTC Thunderbolt was groundbreaking when it came out, being one of the first 4G LTE phones; but, it didn't get upgraded until two years after most users had moved on to other phones. I never forgot, HTC, and I will never trust you again. I hope HTC has changed its ways. They now have a super phone. Let's see what they do with it.

You Won't Carry This In Your Briefcase.

This new Lenovo tablet is 27 inches and costs $1700. Ouch. Gives new meaning to mobile computing.

Big Computers In Remote Locations

BillyJim47: My Life With Technology - Chapter 2.0. Bill Holmes' book has moved to Chapter 2. In this Chapter, Bill moves to start up data processing centers, which, in the old days of computing, were populated by huge computers in remote locations. Nowadays these centers have been replaced by huge server farms, and the processing is done inside a computer. The IBM 360, pictured here, was the smallest computer then available, and had a whopping 8K of memory. This is a fascinating look at how computing and data processing has developed from a human being intensive activity to something that happens inside a modern processor. Thanks, Bill, for the education. I, for one, can't wait for the next Chapter.

Apple Says Galaxy S4 Is An Infringing Device

Apple looks to add Samsung Galaxy S4 to patent infringement suit | Android Central. Just when you thought it was safe to buy another phone, Apple has "examined the Galaxy S4 and decided it was infringing". Well, if Apple says it, it must be true. Apple has asked to add the Galaxy S4 to its list of "infringing" phones in the California Federal litigation over its patents. Hey, Apple. Every time I am out and about and I see someone squinting to see the text on a tiny iPhone, I compare my Note 2 to it. Are you kidding me? Do you really believe that any consumer can't see the difference between the devices? Most of the iPhone users I encounter tell me they would never carry such a "big" device. I "like" the tiny screen size, they say. What I don't like is having to write about patent litigation between companies that should be focused on making better smart phones for consumers, in as many competing flavors as possible.

What Does Your Pen Say About You?

Cool Tools %u2013 Parker Jotter Pen. When I was young and stupid, I wanted a fancy pen. It cost almost $100, and it made me feel important as I held its heavy girth in my hand. But those salad days, when I was green in judgment, have dissolved in the mists of time, and I am now older and wiser. This post, by a teacher who marvels at the style and look of the Parker Jotter, which sells for only $11, made me realize that I haven't purchased an expensive pen in a long time. The fact that I never could keep one without losing it, or having it lifted, probably has something to do with it. I now buy boxes of the Pilot G-2 07, and leave them all around my office and home. I always seem to have one in my hand. The best thing about the Pilots. They cost $16. For a dozen. That's about $1 each. And, they last forever. And, you can buy cheap refills. 

My Toilets Are Safe

Sony announces the waterproof Xperia ZR smartphone- The Inquirer. I have dropped more than one cell phone into the toilet while bending over to flush. If that is TMI you may now leave the computer. Still with me? Yes, I am a serial destroyer of cell phones. They have gone to their death while being carried in my shirt pocket. But, it appears that Sony has a solution. Now, you may not only keep your phone safe around household water; but, you can take it to the pool with you, and make scintillation videos of your children swimming. You may then post them to Facebook for all to enjoy. My definition of a friend is the person who clicks like on my home movies and photos. Greater love than this hath no man. In all seriousness, there is no reason that camera manufacturers can't coat their parts with thin waterproof nano coating anymore. This is a no brainer.

 

No More Cheap Phones For You!

Phone subsidies could end soon - May. 9, 2013. And you thought TMobile's new "no contract, ever" billing policy was designed to help consumers. If you believe that, I have some Florida swampland to sell you. All TMobile did was eliminate the phone subsidy that allows you to buy a $700 phone for $200 to $300. You are, in effect, buying the phone over a two year period, at $20 a month. If you leave the service, you still have to pay for the phone. And, it appears Verizon and Sprint are considering joining the party. There is no free lunch, and no cheap smartphones. Get over it.