Futurelawyer

T-Mobile And Starlink - The Future Of Communication.

T-Mobile Starlink Emergency Alert Test. What if there were no longer any cell phone dead spots? What if you could use your cell phone literally anywhere on the planet? Well, T-Mobile and Starlink are about to make that future come true. Last week, Starlink used one of its satellites to send an emergency broadcast message to T-Mobile phones, proving that you could be anywhere on earth and get a message. While backpackers and wilderness travelers might use this more, it will be a boon to those of us who have critical communication needs. I am both a T-Mobile and Starlink customer who became a customer because of the innovative spirit of the two companies. My Starlink subscription, at $150 a month, is pricey; but it has enabled me to have high speed Internet service just about anywhere my RV can see the North sky. And, I have backed it up with my T-Mobile wireless modem, which gives me 100 GB a month for $50, discounted to $40 because of auto billing. While my Starlink subscription is going up to $165 a month in October because of the ability to use it in motion, I still am getting value for my almost $200 a month, and I don't mind supporting innovation. My 2d generation dish has been mounted to the RV roof for almost two years, and is still working fine. I may not live long enough to see Mr. Musk put a person on Mars; but I have lived long enough to see him create a company that can put broadband Internet into the hands of every human. 

Signal - It Is The Surveillance State's Worst Nightmare.

Signal. Every time I read, in the news, about another famous person, or political party, or other prominent entity, whose private inter company or personal messages are hacked, and made public, I think about Signal. This non-profit, encrypted message application is used my millions of people to keep confidential communications private. It doesn't surveil you, no one else can see your data, and it is free, since the entity is non profit. While such an application can certainly be used for evil purposes, in a free society, it is an essential tool for groups who have a legal interest in privacy. It is ideal for lawyers who much keep their clients' communications secure and private. The recent arrest of Telegram's CEO in France has highlighted the battle between governments who want to know everything, and those who don't want government intrusion into their privacy. As Generative AI becomes more entwined in the system, this battle will become more important. While we don't want governments to control our every action, it will be much tougher to fight against AI computers that can anticipate and block our every move. It is thus important to elect governments who are required, by law, to preserve our freedom of speech. Do you know what your candidate feels about this issue? Does the political party your support really believe in freedom of speech? Without freedom of speech, there is no real freedom. If the State can control speech, it can control everything.

 

The FutureLawyer Didn't Invent The Internet...But I Ran Around Florida Telling Lawyers About It.

Several years ago, Diane accidentally gave me the idea for this post when she came out to my man cave that used to be a garage and cast her eye on the graphic sitting on top of a bookcase behind my desk, asking what it was, and why was it crooked. It was ironic that she asked about it, while I was using the Internet and scanning the news of the world and checking social media, and checking email and making connections all over the globe, all while sitting in my garage on a Sunday morning. The graphic, I explained to her, was the graphic used by the Florida Bar at the 1994 Bar Convention, at which I was educating Bar members about this new thing called the World Wide Web, and telling them how it would change their lives. At that time, only a few people believed me. What a difference 30 years makes. I don't ascribe magical powers in possessions, and the only ones I value are computer or gadget related; but, this graphic panel holds a special place in the FutureLawyer's memory. Now, get out there and "Surf The Net!"

Google Chrome Gets Better With Embedded AI.

chrome://whats-new/ Chrome has been update again, and the updates bring AI to the desktop. Google Gemini, even though it might not be the best AI bot, will be on every desktop with a click. You can type the @ symbol, and select Chat with Gemini to chat with a very smart AI engine. Additionally, you can now click the Chrome menu button, and choose search with Google Lens to seek information about any image on the desktop. If you have used Google Lens on your phone, you will understand how addictive it can be. Sometimes, I am glad that I am an old man, and won't have to see the consequences of our future. Other times, I really want to be around when computers are making our lives better and better.

#TBT - Sometimes I Feel Like A Voice Crying In The Wilderness.

New Laptop? Here's How To Keep Your Data Safe. I realize that my computer security posts for the rest of us is like preaching to the choir. Most of you already do these things. But, now that Windows 11 will force you to take a look at new hardware to take advantage of Windows 11s hardware security, you should also know how to set up that new laptop so that you are protected, and your data is protected. First, install Malwarebytes or another rock solid Anti-malware and anti-ransomware software solution. Then, setup two factor authentication wherever you can. Then, become knowledgeable about phishing scams and how to avoid them. Then, be proactive about installing updates as they become available. Then, only use messaging or chat software that is encrypted end to end. For me, Signal is the best choice. Then, do not use public WiFi in hotels, waiting rooms, stores, restaurants, or anywhere else without a front end VPN application. I use PureVPN, but there are many competent programs out there. Be careful out there.

SpaceX And TMobile And StarLink - Oh My!

TMobile Customers Have A Reason To Be Happy This Fourth Of July. I am a happy TMobile customer, and, in addition to cell service for all our phones, I have a TMobile cellular modem that travels with us, and acts as a second Internet access device when we travel. I also have a StarLink dish on top of the RV that works great; except under tree cover, and it still works okay then. So, the news that, by the end of the year, my phones will have direct to satellite access to the StarLink satellites confirms my belief that SpaceX and TMobile are the path to a future of ubiquitous access to the Internet 24-7. Power to the people.

Voice Search Comes To Gen AI - SoundHound And Perplexity.

My new favorite Gen AI search engine, Perplexity, now can communicate by voice with the user. It is like having a conversation with the world's smartest computer assistant, and has replaced Google Search as my first legal research stopping point. In addition, it serves as a complete voice assistant no matter what I am doing. Want to hear about the nearest gas station, restaurant, or sight seeing opportunity when traveling? Just ask Perplexity. It feels like the future; and, not just legal research.

 

Perplexity Generative AI - What Can You Do With It?

Starlink Mini Is Coming And It Is Cheaper and Portable.

SpaceX Reveals Coming Starlink Mini. How about a Satellite dish that is about the size of a tablet computer, with a flip out stand that can be carried in a backpack? Elon Musk continues to innovate, and showed off photos of the new dish while using it to send his post. It will be half the cost of the current dishes, at a $200 to $300 price point, and will get around 100 MBPS down, which is plenty for movies and other broadband tasks. The monthly charge isn't available yet; but, easy portability will, in the words of Mr. Musk, "change the world". We truly live in amazing times.

Phone By Google Now Has Reverse Phone Search.

Google Phone New Lookup Tool. The new beta of the Phone for Google app has a new lookup feature. I am always checking suspicious missed calls in my Search software, which has a reverse phone search option. However, it is a pain to load the software, and input the suspicious number. It is useful to determine which calls deserve to be returned; although, anyone who doesn't leave a message is suspect. Google, whatever you think of the Googleverse, is always improving their products, and adding a reverse phone search to Google phone is a welcome addition to the arsenal. Thanks, Google.