Futurelawyer

Galaxy Note 9 And Galaxy Watch Launch Today

The Galaxy Note 9 and Galaxy Watch officially launch today. Well, I have successfully moved on from the obscenely priced flagship phone brigade, and have passed on the $1,100 Galaxy Note 9 phone being launched today. However, the LTE variant of the new Galaxy Watch is worth a stop at the TMobile store sometime today, and I suspect that I will somehow force myself to pay the $400 price of admission. Even after several years of Smartwatch collecting, I have still spent less money than those of you wearing a luxury watch that only tells time. Yes, gadgets could be called toys; but, they also have many productive features. I will be happy to list them for you, if you really are interested. 

Google Pay Gets Better

Google Pay supports 30 new banks and credit unions in the U.S. | Android and Me. I was late to embrace the concept of using my phone to pay for things. I thought it would be too easy to use, and that I would overspend. Then, after payment systems matured, it occurred to me that it was just as easy to pull a plastic card out of my wallet. Having cards in a phone is just the tip of the iceberg. It is actually more secure than carrying around plastic. I can choose to use PayPal or my bank debit cards, and can have my loyalty cards and concert tickets and boarding passes in digital form. I have gotten used to using my phone to gain entry to the movie theater and ball games, and, using two factor Google authentication, I am just as secure, if not more so, than having my life in a wallet in my pocket. Now, if Google can just figure out how to load everything on to a temporal implant, accessible with my eyeball, I will be a happy camper. 

#PoetryFriday - Travel Agent

This is an old one, written for SWMBO in 1997. Yes, Virginia, there used to be a profession called "travel agent". 

TRAVEL AGENT

He wanted to be her travel agent
he wanted to show her the world
he had the ticket

He wanted to meander through the highways
of her silky skin
over the bumpy terrain that led to her womanhood
He wanted to stay awhile.

When he crossed oceans
he wanted her near him
standing by
while he brought down the sun for her
Looking on while he made the moon rise
in her honor.

She couldn’t decide whether he could
deliver her passport
to the places she wanted to go.

When she held his heart in her hands
Did she know that it bled for her?

#WhyIAmASolo - I Get To Make All The Decisions

The longer I live and practice law, the more I realize how constrained our modern lives have become. Lawyers fight with laws, regulations, clients and opponents, and decisions of ultimate facts are made by others. So, in the business of law, in the day to day operation of a law practice, who is making your decisions? I chafed at having to go to partners, or others in my first firm, just to get approval for a computer purchase. Finally, I decided that, if I had to live with decisions, I wanted to live with my own; at least, those that controlled my day to day life. Who makes your decisions?

Unlimited Pasta For A Year And I Can't Have Any

Olive Garden Is Selling an Annual Unlimited Pasta Pass Tomorrow for $300�. My favorite food has been spaghetti and meatballs since I was a young boy. My Italian-American mom made genuine sauce that simmered all day long and made the house smell like tomato sauce heaven. I have never been able to duplicate her sauce, and have never tasted better in any restaurant. So, in a normal year, I would be eating spaghetti and meatballs at Olive Garden several times a week with one of these unlimited Pasta Passes. Alas, for the past year, I have been dieting, and pasta is definitely not on the menu. Oh well. Would I take back the 50 pounds I have lost in order to have this pass? No. But, I will be thinking about spaghetti and meat balls a lot today.

LG's 'wearable robot' Makes Lifting Fun

LG's 'wearable robot' will transform the proletariat into unstoppable machines - CNET. While I get the industrial uses for an exoskeleton that amplifies leg and back strength in humans, I think the medical uses are far more interesting. Spine injuries, back injuries, and all sorts of medical problems can be helped by this technology. How great would it be for someone who can't walk to be able to put one of these on, and instantly become mobile again? In addition, they really look cool. 

Yes, Alexa Will Get Coffee

The One Alexa Skill Everyone Should Know. By now, you have an Echo or Echo Dot in every room in the house. If not, maybe you should reconsider. Unless you are paranoid, these are not evil devices that want to know everything you do all the time. They can learn routines, and you can now give them a series of If-Then commands that can automate your day. I am not that anal; but, it is nice to ask Alexa the time when I am half asleep, and to get all my news with a simple "Alexa, news" command. I may just get a smart plug installed on the coffee maker, however. How cool would it be to say "Alexa, good morning", and have Alexa start the coffee maker. And, like all good little computers, you can always turn her off if you wish. 

Google Play Music Has Phone Tech Support - Who Knew?

A one-time fix for Google Play Music's device-deauthorization limit - CNET. Okay, I am a gadget freak. I use and try many devices, from phones to Smartwatches to whatever. Hey, I am a legal tech blogger. I love this stuff. I also subscribe to the Google Play Music Family plan, and, like Rick Broida 3 years ago, I ran up against the inexplicable deauthorization device limit from Google. Say what? Okay, I get that they limit the number of devices that can access music per account. Ten seems reasonable; until you need to test a lot of devices. So, when my new Essential phone came in yesterday, and I tried to connect it to my car bluetooth, I got the "you have too many devices authorized" message. So, I dutifully tried to deauthorize several devices that hadn't been used since last year. Oops. Turns out Google only lets you deauthorize up to 4 devices a year. But, happily, like Mr. Broida, I called tech support. Yes, I actually talked to a human being. A very nice lady who, when informed that I wasn't some criminal stealing Google access, zeroed out my account so I could start over. Thanks, Google. I think. Can I have the last hour back?

Galaxy Watch With LTE - Yes, I Have A Smartwatch Addiction

Galaxy Watch With LTE Starts at $379, Launches Early September %u2013 Droid Life. I don't know why I am addicted to Smartwatches. Perhaps it is because the technology is in its infancy; and, there are new and fun innovations in the space every day. Perhaps I enjoy having a watch that is far superior to fancy luxury watches that cost thousands of dollars. In any event, I will probably upgrade to the new Galaxy Watch LTE next month. Hey, it only costs $379. I could buy two with the money I saved on my new Smartphone by buying the Essential phone on sale. And, hey, how many people do you know who own 25 Smartwatches? Hey?

Essential Phone - Best Phone Ever For Little Money

Get the Essential Phone PH-1 for $224 - CNET. I got the Essential phone yesterday. Total cost, with tax - $239. You can't get it at that price; but, even at $344, this is the best, fastest, smoothest phone I ever used. It upgraded to Android 9 PIE immediately, and it is like the Palm Pre Web OS card based system all grown up. You merely flick apps up, out, or up, and move from app to app with a gesture. It is so fast I can't believe it, and it is comfortable to hold and use in one hand. This phone is actually better than the flagships that cost almost $1,000. The battery life, after some hiccups in the beginning, now approaches two days. The only thing I am missing is the headphone jack; but, it comes with a dongle if you need it. If you don't grab this phone, at this price, don't come crying to me when you miss that extra $700.