Futurelawyer

File Sync & Backup With GoodSync

File Sync & Backup Software | GoodSync. What would happen if all of your essential files disappeared? You can't see them. You just assume they will appear when you click an Icon or a file name on your computer. But, these digital files are invisible to the human eye, and all you see is a visual representation of them on a screen. Every document you have ever created for a client. Every financial transaction. Every personal photo. Of course, much of what we do these days is saved in the cloud, on a website proprietor's server; but, what would happen if you couldn't get online? What if a hurricane knocked out your computers and your access? What if. It's a big question. I have a file set that I call Essential Files. It includes every photo, document, poem, or other data that I have created over the past 30 years. In digital form it takes up over 30 Gigabytes of space. But, I sync and copy it to a USB Drive, and a Micro SD card alternatively, in about 15 minutes. Small price to pay for the security of my life. Have you backed up your files lately?

#PoetryFriday - Ball Game

Ball Game

When he asked her to go to the baseball game
She grimaced and said no thank you honey
I have other things I would rather do.

But, dear,
The crack of the bat
The smell of the hot dogs and beer
The eternal quest for an elusive goal.

These are things to savor.
They are forever.

She relented
and
always fashion conscious
wore the team’s colors and
got into the spirit of the game.
She gamely sat next to him
smiling when he cheered
and putting her head on his shoulder
in the seventh inning.

She read a book
Talked on the phone
Checked her email
Posted to Facebook
and drank her white wine.

She never cared what the score was
But she knew what things to savor
and what things are forever.

Samsung Versus Apple Ends...Not With A Bang, But A Whimper

Samsung and Apple settle ongoing patent dispute from 2011 | Android Central. I stopped writing about the Samsung Apple patent litigation sometime back in 2014, when it became apparent that the two companies were arguing over stuff that consumers really didn't care about. Patent litigation can be expensive, complicated, and, when you throw software and design patents in the mix, they can become completely mired in incomprehensible arguments. Apple technically won the case, in that it paid millions to Apple; but, in the long run, nobody won. In fact, it could be argued that Samsung won, because it now owns 85% of the smartphone market, largely because Apple stopped innovating, and didn't give consumers the wide swath of choice that Android offers. It is ironic that the company started by the man who was proud of stealing ideas, Steve Jobs, spent so much money and time fighting against a company that stole some of its ideas. But, I digress. The war is over. It ended, not with a bang, but a whimper. 

Oculus Go TV Hub And More. VR Goes Mainstream.

Oculus%u2019 VR television hub launches today on Oculus Go - The Verge. When I first wrote about Oculus Go, the affordable VR headset, I was blown away by the fact that it was completely self-contained. No phone required. It connects to WiFi, and the number and variety of apps is amazing. It even has self contained speakers and microphone. I wondered why it needed a mike until today. Oculus has added voice control to the headset, which permits searching and launching with your voice. The new TV app is also pretty cool, as you can launch Premium TV , like Netflix and Hulu, and other streaming apps, along with alternative TV like Pluto, and YouTube, plus much more. The screen hangs in front of you while you sit in a VR room that changes. The screen is the equivalent of a 180 inch wall sized screen, and it is easy to become immersed in the effect. I recommend getting the 65 GB version for $249, so you will have room for all the channels and video you will be downloading. If  you have been waiting for VR to go mainstream, this is the time. In fact, this light little headset will make a great traveling companion. In a pinch, use your own phone on WiFi mode, or, in my case, a TMobile WiFi puck, and carry your TV with you anywhere. Old guys like me, who spend a lot of time in Doctor and Hospital waiting rooms, now can make that time enjoyable. No more old magazines for me. Make your own coffee for a couple of weeks, and give Starbucks a break. You'll be glad you did.

Echo Show | 7 inch screen Now $119

Echo Show | Alexa-enabled Bluetooth Speaker with 7" Screen - Black. Great sound and a seven inch screen, with voice controls; what's not to like? At $119, this is a bargain, and you have some options for an awake word. I use Echo, because that is what it is. But, you can also wake it up with "Alexa" or "Computer". The video screen adds a lot; and, you can actually watch movies and TV on it. If you use Echo devices in your house, this deserves a place in your home or office. 

Supreme Court Overturns Abood - Are Mandatory Bar Associations History?

Supreme Court deals blow to unions, rules against forced fees for government workers | Fox News. In an historic decision the United States Supreme Court has struck down the Abood decision, ruling that state government workers cannot be forced to pay "fair share" fees to unions to support union activities. In ruling that workers have a constitutional right not to be forced to support "speech" they disagree with in order to keep their jobs, the Court has opened a door to challenge many mandatory dues paying organizations, including mandatory Bar Associations. In order to practice law in Florida, for example, I must pay annual dues and fees. The Bar Association engages in commercial speech on a myriad of topics, most of which I agree with. But, when I disagree, should I be forced to pay the dues anyway? The Janus decision will have many repercussions, and you haven't heard the last of it. 

DeX - Your Phone Is Your Computer

Some days, FedEx brings a surprise in the morning; and, all productive work must stop. This morning, the new DeX pad arrived, and this photo shows it connected to my light, portable, Roku TV. The DeX makes the phone into a touch pad, so all you need is right here. Set the screen up in a hotel room or other temporary space, and you have a full Android computer ready to go. You can add a USB or Bluetooth keyboard and mouse if you wish; but, the touchpad will get the job done. Compute on.

Google AI - StarTrek Is Here

Google AI Blog: Google Duplex: An AI System for Accomplishing Real-World Tasks Over the Phone. Need your mind blown today? Check out these real phone calls from a Google AI computer to a hair salon and a restaurant. The clueless human on the other end of these calls has no idea they are talking to a computer. This seductive technology is like a flame. Don't get too close. You might get burned. 

Like HouseGuests, SmartTVs Aren't Welcome After A While

The best smart TV is a dumb display and a streaming stick | Android Central. Smart this. Smart that. Smart TVs are monitors that have streaming capabilities baked in; and, which can connect to the Internet for all the WiFi goodness that implies. However, streaming technology is always improving; and, after a year or so, that Smart TV doesn't look so smart anymore. Get a $40 dongle from Amazon or Google, and plug it in to one of the HDMI ports on the back of a plain old TV display. Then, when you get an updated dongle, just plug it in, and your old TV is new again. Duh.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 - Just Like The Note 8

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 release date, price, news and leaks | TechRadar. Sometime next month or early August, Samsung will release the Note 9, which will look just like the Note 8. It will likely have a marginally better processor, more memory, and a stylus that can connect via Bluetooth, all worthy incremental changes; but, if you spent a thousand dollars on the Note 8 last year, as I did, it won't be worth another thousand. At some point, most users, even power users like the Futurelawyer, reach a critical mass of usability. If the phone is quick, powerful, and gets the job done, game over. Like cars, there are many variations on the same theme. They all get you where you want to go. So, save your money. Buy a Note 8 when the price comes down to around $600 after launch of the Note 9.