Futurelawyer

Documents To Go Version 3.0 Does Google!

Documents To Go for Android Smartphones: Word and Excel on your Android Smartphone. Dataviz, which was recently acquired by RIM, has upgraded the Android version of its product for smart phones to version 3.0. The big news is that it now supports viewing and editing of Microsoft Office 2007 documents, and Google Docs. While I am a WordPerfect person, I use this great little program to view the Word documents others send me via email when I am on the go; now, I can also view the documents stored in my Google Docs account. The unlocked version of Docs To Go allows the creation of Word, Excel and Powerpoint files, syncs with a Windows PC, allows cut and paste functions, and much more. While editing documents on a small screen is not the best way to do it, it works in a pinch. I can see more and more documents being stored and edited in the cloud in the future, and I certainly will be doing more of it now that I can view and edit them on the go. 

The Onion - Mad Magazine Now That You're A Grownup

New Titanic Film Told From Iceberg's Point Of View | The Onion - America's Finest News Source. Okay, you used to read Mad Magazine even though, and perhaps because, your parents hated it. But, now you are a grown up, and you have cast aside childish things. But, you still are a little smart aleck, and you see irony and humor everywhere you look. Lawyers especially see the foibles and evils of the public at large. Read the Onion. It will make you laugh til you cry.

Jabra's BT8040 headset - Tiny And Useful

Jabra's BT8040 headset does double duty with A2DP | CES 2008 - CNET Blogs. I have owned the tiny Jabra BT8040 earset for a couple of years; and, while I have tried others, it the most useful gadget I own. It pairs effortlessly with all of my smart phones, and has become a permanent fixture in my ear. One of the abilities of this great device is that it can pair with two bluetooth devices simultaneously. I haven't been using it with my Acer Aspire Notebook for a while, as I installed an internal bluetooth adapter that I bought on Ebay, and thought it didn't work. Then, while I was reading an online manual for the Acer, I came across a setting that gave a function key command for turning on internal bluetooth adapters. It always pays to read the manual. I hated using a USB bluetooth dongle, and the simple step of turning the internal adapter on did the trick. Now, I can do my Skype calls wirelessly, and without using the computer speakers and microphone. So, read your computer manuals, and stick it in your ear, dear reader.

Tell Facebook To Stay In Its Own Sandbox

Block Sites from Using Your Facebook Login with Adblock Plus. I keep finding ways that Facebook insinuates itself into my life, without my knowledge. If you are getting Facebook choices in your other programs, you probably have Instant Personalization settings turned on in Facebook. You can go into Facebook Privacy, Applications settings to block Facebook from interacting with your other applications while you are online. In addition, using AdBlock Plus, you can block Facebook's use of your personal data on other sites with which Facebook has agreements. Tell Facebook that, when you are using Facebook, it is okay to send information to your friends that you tell it to; but, you don't want your other applications to know it. Stay in your own sandbox, Facebook, and I will stay in mine.

Not For The Frugal Lawyer - Verizon defends Galaxy Tab pricing at $600

Verizon defends Galaxy Tab pricing at $600 - Computerworld. Drum roll, please. Something momentous is going to happen. Wait for it. The Futurelawyer is in agreement with Steve Jobs of Apple about something! OMG. His Steveness said a lot of dumb things the other day about Android not being open, and Apple being better because it was "not fragmented", whatever that means. However, he said something very smart also; that is, 7 inch tablets aren't going anywhere. Smartphones, like the Droid X, are 4.3 inches of screen goodness, and Apple's iPad is just right for the lap at 10 inches; and you can see stuff on it. 7 inches just won't cut it, and I am holding out for a Win 7 or Android tablet that has a 10 inch screen. I won't be getting an iPad, however, since it doesn't do Flash, doesn't have a USB port, and doesn't have a removable battery. Also, I don't want to rebuy all my apps. Oh, yes, what is with the $600 price tag, Verizon? I understand that no contract is required; but, please, I want something reasonably priced for the frugal lawyer. Until that happens, I am fine with my Droid X and its 4.3 inch screen, thank you very much.

Google Voice For Android Updated To Search Messages - Huh?

Google updates Google Voice for Android app, adds search for voicemail & text messages. I love Google Voice. Google Voice is a friend of mine. I use it to see transcripts of my voice messages so that I don't have to listen to my long winded clients and colleagues talk and talk. It also permits me to avoid sales persons and political ads. A quick glance at a transcribed voice message usually gives me all the information I need to know. However, as any user of message transcription services knows, the transcriptions are not always accurate. So, a message from my Mom comes out: "This is Richard. This is Mazda. This is about it." And, the message goes on, in the same vein. Mom is old, but she is not senile. If I were to use the search feature, looking for "Mother", I doubt Google would find "Mazda". Actually, what she usually says is "This is your mother". Now, transcription errors usually aren't a problem, since the message contains the name of the caller. So, I knew it was Mom calling, and not some prescient automobile. And, she always calls for the same reason; to find out what I am doing, so I don't need to wonder what "it" is. Message to Google. Before you tout the search feature, work on the accuracy algorithm. 

Will Cloud Computing Make Remote Access Software Obsolete?

LogMeIn - Remote Access and Desktop Control Software for Your Computer. I used to be a daily user of remote access software. I kept my office calendar and billing data on a server in my office, and was always looking for ways to access it while away from the office. I have used GoToMyPc, LogMeIn, and I even have LogMeIn Ignition on my Android phone. It is really cool to manipulate a remote server on a smart phone. The other day, however, I realized that I hadn't logged in to LogMeIn for some time; I just don't need it any more. Of course, I am a solo, so I don't have a lot of lawyers and assistants creating remote databases. However, it is increasingly a cloud based world, and we are letting third parties maintain our Servers now. What is your firm doing? Is the cloud a good thing or a bad thing? 

Make Your IPod Touch An IPhone!

How to Turn Your iPod touch into an iPhone: 4G Edition. Okay, I get it. Some of you don't want an Android phone. But, you don't want to tie yourself to AT&T with an iPhone either. You will probably buy an IPhone next year when a Verizon model comes out; but, what to do in the meantime? Well, there are a lot of options, and using your iPod Touch as a WiFi phone is now feasible. Most of us have WiFi networks at home and at the office, so using Skype or Fring or another VOIP solution works fine. Now that the new iPod Touches have front facing cameras, you can even make video calls using Fring. And, with an Android phone that has the mobile hotspot feature, or with a Verizon MiFi device, you can have WiFi access for phone calls wherever you are. So, Apple lovers, what are you waiting for? Get that iPod Touch or iPad, and get calling. AT&T, we hardly knew ye.

What's A Vacuum Cleaner?

Much Ado About Nothing? Verizon Wireless Goes To Tiered Data

Verizon's tiered data plans hitting October 28, smartphones still getting unlimited option? -- Engadget. Well, in about a week, Verizon will roll out its new tiered data plans. In effect, you can buy whatever amount of access you want. The reality is, however, that, for most of us, nothing will change. Most of my mobile access is via smartphone, for which I already pay $29.99 a month for unlimited use. Why anyone would pay $15 a month for a measly 250 megabytes is beyond me. I use 250 megabytes in a few days. Most months I get by on less than 2 gigabytes. Where Verizon is getting pricey is in the area of USB sticks and built in 3G access chips. Those plans, while tiered, ramp up to $60 a month for 5 Gigabytes. And, if you want to have a mobile hotspot, it will cost you. All told, most of us won't see any difference, and some of us will actually be able to downgrade access and save some money.