Technology News Update (7/30/2013)
Here’s today’s Technology News Update, a look at a few of the news reports, previews, reviews and tech gossip that are making waves today, including news from Bloomberg Law, Amazon, Apple and Google: Bloomberg Law, an alternative to LexisNexis and Westlaw for the uninitiated, is changing its name to Bloomberg BNA, according to a report from the Law Technology News. Some industry analysts believe that the re-branding is a tacit acknowledgment that Bloomberg’s strategy to compete in the field of legal research lacked the name recognition of BNA, hence the switch. The company will remain headquartered in Arlington, VA, and it is believed that employees located in New York will be encouraged to relocate to Virginia. Amazon announced the specs for its new lineup of Kindle devices today, including the surprise announcement that all three of the new Kindle models will come equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon chip set. What does this mean? Basically, it means that all the work that was put into advertising the new Nexus 7, particularly its processor, is about to go to waste, because the cheaper Kindle Fire will run circles around it. To see available reviews of Google’s Nexus 7, click here. The latest beta version of Apple’s iOS 7 appears to include an option for unlocking the phone with your fingerprint, rather than a passcode. An investigation by Extreme Tech revealed code that demonstrates support for fingerprint scanning through the home button, but it is unclear whether, if such functionality exists, the functionality would be available to other applications. And finally, Google Chromecast is getting more impressive by the day. Vimeo and... read moreDoes Google’s Nexus 7 beat the iPad Mini?
That’s the question a recent review of Google’s latest tablet offering seeks to answer. The Nexus 7 boasts many features that put it at the very least on par with Apple’s feature mini-tablet. However, the Nexus 7 has several key features that the iPad Mini cannot match… First, and most significantly to me, the Nexus 7 offers wireless recharging. In order for an iPad to recharge, it has to be plugged in either to a computer or a wall socket via specialized USB converter. The Nexus 7 is capable of recharging via a wireless induction recharging pad which, although it requires an additional investment, provides an option that Apple doesn’t have. Additionally, the Nexus 7 has Google’s best screen to date, slightly sharper than the iPad Mini, and is set up for viewing on a 16:9 ratio, ideal for movies, unlike the iPad Mini’s 4:3 screen. The Nexus 7 also has a processor that should exceed the capabilities of the iPad Mini, particularly when using apps that utilize the new capabilities of Android OS 4.3. The final factor that cannot be overlooked is the price. The Nexus 7 16GB model sells for $229, compared to $339 for the 16GB iPad Mini. Jump up to 32 GB, and the price advantage of the Nexus 7 ($269 vs. $429 for the iPad Mini) is even greater.[poll id=”3″] The review acknowledges that the tablets are otherwise dead even, and that the advantages of the Nexus 7 are no so significant that tablet buyers who are loyal to Apple will switch. However, anyone not tied down to the iOS or otherwise concerned about... read moreBetter for Lawyers: iPhone vs. Android
Well, I had to get to a product review sooner or later (in order to finally make my blog useful to someone other than myself), so here is my first: which mobile OS is better for lawyers, Apple’s iOS or Google’s Android OS? Disclosure: I’m an Apple guy; I have the iPhone 5 (and two prior models), I have an iPad 2, and a Macbook. I acknowledge my loyalty to Apple, so in order to provide a more unbiased review, I give you the opinions of others! An analysis in Law Technology News compared iOS and Android based on the following criteria: 1) available apps, 2) screen size, 3) interface (connection to other device), 4) text and data entry, 5) file attachments, 6) security, and 7) copying files. The outcome was a landslide for Android. The iOS was only superior to Android for security, and the systems were rated as “even” in terms of available apps. However, I was unable to find any other reviewer that was willing to give either system a clear win. Most reviews fell back on that all-too-familiar adage within the legal profession: “It depends.” My research did turn up a few surprises, though. The biggest surprise was that the iOS’s advantage in security is likely worth more than the weight it was given by LTN. In fact, some experts suggest that Security should actually be the most important factpr for lawyers… Andrea Linares, in her ihearttech legal technology blog, recommended users purchase an iPhone based on some frightening statistics on security vulnerabilities in the Android OS, including a study showing that 79% of new... read moreWelcome to The Cyber Advocate!
“We have arranged a civilization in which most crucial elements profoundly depend on science and technology.” – Carl Sagan
The legal profession has been turned upside down by new tools and technology, and lawyers are now being introduced to a concept foreign to them: those who do not adapt will not survive.
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