Futurelawyer

Faster Is Always Better

What if you could increase the boot up speed of your computer by a factor of ten? What if your computer was so fast that you performed tasks in a flash? Well, I have been wanting to try out the new higher capacity Solid State Drives for a while now, and the prices have been coming way down. So, when I saw a Samsung 840 drive with 256 Gigs of SSD goodness on sale for $209.95 at Tiger Direct yesterday, I couldn't pass up the opportunity. SSD drives have been around for a while now; but, they have been very expensive and have been too small for most business applications. When I got home and started the Samsung software, I realized that my mechanical 750 Gig drive was loaded with over 300 Gigs of programs and data. What to do? Well, all computers get loaded up with stuff we don't need, so I spent an hour off loading stuff I didn't need to carry around, deleting old programs that I didn't use, and got my program and data down under 200 Gigs. You need to leave 25% of the drive open for new stuff and for the conversion process. I figure I will save at least 10 minutes a day that I used to spend watching the computer boot and do stuff. This thing is now a screamer. And, as a bonus, I have a new USB drive with 750 gigs of storage space with my old drive. If you buy one of these, make sure you get the kit version, which has cables and mounting hardware for both desktop and laptop installation, and the software to make it all happen. This little Samsung ad will give you an idea how easy it is.

ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity - Best In The World?

ASUS formally introduces Tegra 4-powered Transformer Pad Infinity. In a little while, ASUS will be coming to the market with a quad-core Android Jelly Bean tablet that will rival any netbook in power, and will detach to become the best tablet on the planet. This will be on my Christmas wish list, in case any of you want to buy it for me. 

Life Imitates Art

Scanadu Builds a $149 Personal Tricorder for Non-Trekkies | Wired Design | Wired.com. It was only a matter of time before someone realized that modern smartphone and computer technology, and the advancement in sensor tech in today's smartphones, made a StarTrek Tricorder possible. Like the Dick Tracy WristPhone, I grew up with StarTrek, and the marvelous little devices that Spock and the Doctor pointed at people and terrain, which gave back data about things unseen, was one of the things that got me interested in gadgets and tech. Now, a startup has created a modern day tricorder that will create data streams that Doctors can use to diagnose patients, and should shorten the need for hospital stays and testing. Additionally, savvy consumers will be able to provide their health care providers with current stats that will assist diagnosis and treatment. Now, unlike the fitness trackers that can be used by the self-involved to keep track of their fitness goals, I can get behind a diagnostic tool that measures medical stats. I just wish they made the thing look more like a real tricorder.

You Can't Put Lipstick On This Pig

Microsoft to add Outlook to Windows RT | PCWorld. I still am having trouble with Microsoft trying to sell Windows RT tablets. The tablets are brain dead from the start, since they can only run a few Microsoft software applications; and, adding Outlook to the mix won't help. Why would any buyer who already owns an Android or Apple tablet throw away the investment to buy a Microsoft Windows 8 tablet that won't run legacy Windows applications? Get a grip, Microsoft. Putting lipstick on this pig won't change it into a princess.

Is Google Glass Hospital Ready?

Is Google Glass hospital ready? Advice from a physician to developers - The Washington Post. This article is written from the viewpoint of a Doctor asking whether Google Glass could enhance medical practice for doctors. It might as well have read "Is Google Glass Courtroom Ready?" because many of the same issues apply to the use of the devices in law practice. While it would be less problematic for lawyers to touch the Glass to help with navigation and commands, the security and confidentiality issues are just as important in the courtroom environment. Before lawyers will be able to wear these in a courtroom, the security of confidential client and court information will have to be locked down, and the courts will have to be convinced that they can't be used to pass information out of the courtroom that is not permitted by other means. If a legal version can be created that is limited to giving the lawyer information about case law, pertinent statutes, documents and transcriptions connected to the case at hand, and otherwise become a useful tool for the practicing lawyer, then I predict a healthy market for the devices in the vertical legal field. However, unless the price comes down, and confidentiality and security issues are addressed, I predict that Google Glass will remain a novelty rich geek toy that is banned from hospital operating theaters and courtrooms.

Samsung's Gets ITC Patent Ruling Against Apple

Samsung's surprise patent win could block Apple iPhone 4 sales in US | Technology | guardian.co.uk. Just when I thought I was out, I get dragged back in. This time Samsung has won a patent infringement battle against Apple for 3G phone technology. Samsung's patents are for the guts of the phone, and, while it is unlikely that Apple iPhone 4 phones will be banned for sale in the U.S., this battle is Exhibit A for the dysfunctional patent system that stifles innovation and draws resources away from providing the best products for consumers. Apple has used and abused the patent system itself, so it is ironic that it is now having to appeal an adverse patent verdict. I really, really hate writing about this stuff. I would much rather be writing about new products and cool toys. Sigh.

Mobius SmartWatch Coming In Late 2013

E Ink and Sonostar pair up for Mobius flexible-display smartwatch, we go hands-on at Computex. If the resolution of the current crop of SmartWatches isn't enough for you, EInk has announced that it will power a SmartWatch from Sonostar later this year. Fans of EInk swear by the grayscale display in use on EReaders, and its ability to be seen clearly in bright sunlight. Grayscale displays also last a long time, perhaps a week between charges. The only question is whether the buying public will warm to smartwatches on their wrists, or whether that time has past. Most young people these days tell time on their phones. Those of us who grew up reading Dick Tracy are intrigued by the devices. I wear my Sony SmartWatch every day, and it is a truly useful way to know what is happening on my phone while it is safely stowed away in its case. It is especially useful while moving about during the day. Will you be buying a SmartWatch in the future?

ASUS FonePad Note Announced

ASUS FonePad Note hands-on at Computex 2013 (video). And, in the category of huge, honking, phones, ASUS has announced its entry, which looks a lot like the Samsung Galaxy Note; except, at 6 inches, it is bigger. I declare the competition for biggest, baddest phone over. If these phones get any bigger, you will have to have hands like LeBron Free. The distinction between tablets and phones just disappeared.

ASUS Zenbook Infinity - Thinnest Ultrabook On The Planet

ASUS Zenbook Infinity official with a Gorilla Glass 3 lid, touchscreen and backlit keyboard (eyes-on video). In the 4th Quarter this year, ASUS will be selling a new Zenbook,and it will be only 15.5 mm thick. It will have an indestructible Gorilla Glass 3 cover, and a Haswell processor. Check the article for the other specs. If ASUS can keep the price down, this may be my new computer. You can't be too thin, or have too many computers and tablets. 

ASUS Transformer Book Trio - All Things To All Geeks

ASUS Transformer Book Trio announced, runs Android and Windows 8 | Android Central. ASUS has announced its new Trio today at Computex in Taipei, and it is going to be wonderful. How about a Transformer style tablet rocking Android Jelly Bean that is light and slim, and connects to a keyboard dock similar to its successful predecessor line of Transformers? But, the really cool part is that it has two processors. The Atom processor runs Android and has a 64 Gig flash drive for all your Android apps. The second processor is a Core i7 U4500 that comes with a 1 Terabyte hard drive, and runs Windows 8. The user can switch back and forth between an Android machine and a Windows 8 machine, at will. It is going to be called the Trio, for obvious reasons. It is the ultimate ultrabook/tablet, and I want one. However, I probably can't afford it; so, I will drool from afar.