Futurelawyer

Just Don't Give It A Weapon

Do you want a pet that won't pee on the baseboards or make a mess on the carpet? Do you want a pet that doesn't eat anything except batteries? Well, I have one for you. How about a flying drone that follows you around like a puppy? Actually, in the future, these autonomous flying drones have some promise as butlers, security devices, athlete tracking and measuring devices, and, if you give them weapons, police functions. If that scares you, good. All the bad scifi movies you have seen,  in which autonomous robots have run amuck, are about to become a part of your reality. Oh joy. Oh happy day.

 

Best Android Phone In 2013? No Such Thing

The best Android phone you can buy, as of June 2013 | Android Central. Android Central thinks the best 2013 Android phone is the HTC One. I beg to differ. While my Note 2 may not be a phone per se: It's a Phablet...I don't think there is such a thing as the "best" phone anymore. There is an Android phone for every taste and budget, and that is what it's all about, IMHO. Android Central likes the thin metal construction of the HTC One. There are many of us who like the light, plastic case of the Samsung phones. Android Central doesn't say anything about HTC's checkered history with phones and upgrades to software. Sure, HTC sells innovative, slick phones; then, they ignore them and the users. So, look at all of the Android phones. Figure out what you like and don't like. Then, buy what you like, not what somebody tells you to buy. That choice is what the Android ecosystem is all about. 

Chrome OS To Replace Android On Your Phone?

Google Likely to Replace Android With Chrome | SiliconANGLE. It will not come as a shock to many that Google plans to replace all of the Android OS devices with devices running the Chrome OS. Is that a good thing? Of course, those of us who have waited forever for updates to Chrome because of recalcitrant phone manufacturers will be cheering the adoption of the Chrome OS. It updates all the time, as you use it. No more fragmentation. No more differing versions of Android on different devices. It will take another year; but, look for new devices to come out with the Chrome OS baked in. If you want to know what that feels like, buy a Chrome Book. 

Samsung Note 3 - 13 Megapixels And A 3X Optical ZooM?

Samsung official reportedly confirms Note III in the works, muses on potential camera upgrades. The scuttlebutt on the new Note III says that the camera will have a 13 megapixel camera and a 3X optical zoom. Digital camera makers will have a tough time competing with a phone camera that has those kind of specs. I shoot 95% of my photos with the Note II already. My digital SLR sits lonely in its bag. Give me an optical zoom (for you non photographers, that is far superior to a digital zoom), and I might never take out the SLR again. In fact, the only thing I don't like about most phone cams is the lack of an optical zoom to get close. 

Google Voice Actions - Command Short List

I have been using Google Voice Actions more to talk to my devices. However, I am always wondering what to say. Much of the system will respond to natural language queries: just ask a question and Google will do its best to answer. However, by doing research, I found a list of standard commands that will let Google know what you want to do:

1. Send Text To (say name of contact) (speak message)

2. Listen To (say an artist, song or album name)

3. Call (say name of person or business)

4. Send Email To (say name) (say message)

5. Go To (say website name)

6. Note To Self (speak any reminder or note)

7. Navigate To (say destination)

8. Directions To (say destination)

9. May Of (say location)

Once you learn these, it will become second nature to ask Google to help you through the day. The accuracy is so improved in Android 4+ that you will be amazed. 

Air Display: Poor Man's External Monitor

Air Display: iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac or Windows PC as an external monitor. You are at work or at home, and you would love to extend your desktop to an external monitor, or, better yet, mirror your display to an external monitor in another room. You have a tablet in your briefcase, don't you? Well, this cool little utility will allow you to use your tablet as a second monitor anywhere on your network, with a WiFi connection. This is a photo of my Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet mirroring my home monitor which is connected to my ultrabook. Now, I can roam about the house, tablet in hand, running my Windows programs from any room. However, I will not create a pleading in the bathroom. That would be creepy even for the FutureLawyer. This will work at the office as well. The company provides support for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows and Android. Free and very cool.

Memorial Day - Now More Than Ever

Memorial Day %u2014 History.com Articles, Video, Pictures and Facts. As our Government is caught in the middle of scandals that cast doubt on its competence and good faith; as we enter another year in which young men and women are dying in conflicts about which many of us don't seem to care; I am compelled to do another post about a day that honors those who have given the ultimate sacrifice (their life) in the armed services. In my day, questions were asked about whether the young men and women dying in VietNam were sacrificing their lives for a cause not worth fighting for. The same questions are being asked today. However, these young men and women do the job out of a sense of duty and love of country and they are to be admired and supported, and not just on Memorial Day. I realize that my readers are probably very well educated and are interested in, and keep up with, current events. I am certain that each of you has a good knowledge of history. However, we have a duty to insist that our Government respect the rights these veterans died for, and we have a duty to educate our countrymen; not the least of which those who seem more interested in their own lives and interests than in the survival of democracy. Make Monday a day of remembrance and not just a holiday. Make it a clarion call to arms of the non lethal kind. Cry for dead heroes. Worry for your country. On this Memorial Day, we are all veterans. Every day should be our Memorial Day.

Looxcie - Poor Man's Google Glass

Looxcie - Share life as you live it ... it's more fun that way.
In case you didn't think that surreptitious video recording wasn't here already, I give you my last year's birthday present from SWMBO. I don't use it much, primarily because it looks geeky, and my Jabra Stone earset is much less so. However, for on the go video, combined with a competent bluetooth feature, it can be used for both of the smartphone and video functions that are so controversial now with Google Glass. You can't search Google with it by voice; but, for that, it is pretty simple to pull out your smartphone. If you see somebody wearing a Looxcie, will you ask them to take it off? Just what are the rules going to be for wearable computers? This little camera is a great way to film your kids' recitals, and to document your trips. Like any gadget, it can be misused by bad people. I really don't think my life is so interesting, however, that I am going to stream it for your enjoyment or derision. I don't think you want to live my life with me. If you do, you are way too creepy.

What Do You Really See When You Wear Google Glass?

This is a great little demo of Google Glass. It is not professionally created; but, the Phandroid guys actually put a camera inside the Glass to show you what is happening when you talk to Google Glass. It connects to an Android phone via Bluetooth, and the best way to describe it is a BlueTooth headset on steroids. Above your right eye you see a large screen that looks like a smart phone screen. It sends sound through the frame using bone induction, and responds to voice commands, as well as through physical taps on the frames. Say "OK Google" and the screen wakes up just like Google Now. Ask a question, send an email, open a Hangout, and just about anything you can do with a smartphone. If Google can figure out a way to protect other people from the taking picture or video ability, I could really love this thing. Of course, the argument is that everybody now already has a smartphone that can photograph you anytime anywhere. And, you do give up your privacy rights when you walk around in public. However, that doesn't solve the problem of surreptitious use in private situations, like restrooms and in courtrooms or Federal installations. In fact, Glass may run afoul of statutes in Florida and other states that require consent of both parties to the recording of conversations or interactions between two people. Many questions, many problems, no answers yet. But, at least now you know what we are talking about.

 

Google GMail Android App Redesign Coming

Google gives sneak peek at probable future Gmail app design | Android Central. If you haven't zoned out on all the Google app improvements at Google I/O, take a look at the probable new GMail for Android, which promises a redesign. It will compact, display many views, and have lower level screens. Since it is Google, it will still sync and keep current on all devices. Google is always moving on.