Affinity Law Office Technology Blog

Palm Centro Finally Reaches Verizon Wireless Customers

For a company that touts the best wireless network, Verizon Wireless sure has a slow product-release cycle.  Many months after other wireless carriers began offering the Palm Centro smart phone, Verizon has finally caught up.  Although Palm's aging operating system is hardly state-of-the-art, it is intuitive, stable, and (most importantly) compatible with leading practice management software.  My new Windows Mobile 6 smart phone will do some things that are impossible on a Palm OS-based smart phone, but it is more complicated to use.  Lawyers looking for simplicity, yet sync-ability with Amicus Attorney and other law office software, in a small and inexpensive package, should look at the Centro.  At $99.99 with a two-year contract, the Centro is the cheapest truly useful smart phone offered to Verizon Wireless customers.

   

Windows Mobile extras from Microsoft

As a recent convert from a Palm OS-based Treo to a Windows Mobile 6-based smart phone, I am slowly exploring this strange operating system.  WM6 seems to do more, but not as simply or intuitively as the more basic Palm OS. 

Microsoft has recently updated its Windows Mobile web site, now calling it Total Access.  Once you create a free account, there are many no-cost add-ons available there from themes to wallpaper and software.  I found several color/graphic themes that are pleasing to the eye and enhance the readability of the on-screen text on the "Today" screen, which is the WM6 home page.  I also downloaded an installed Viigo, which is a neat RSS reader for Windows Mobile that automatically updates content for a wide variety of channels you are able to select.  It is a great (and free) way to keep up to date with news, politics, technology, or almost anything else.      

Is that a projector in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?

Projectors have been common-place for training and trial presentations.  They have also been used with notebook PC's for smaller-scale mediation and arbitration proceedings.  But even the smallest projector requires bringing a separate carrying case or finding room for it in a larger wheeled case.

Texas Instruments is now showing pre-production models of its sub-$400 Pico Projector.  A recent preview by Laptop Magazine shows how tiny this device is (about the size of a smart phone).  Although you wouldn't use it in a large room for dozens of people, you could use it in a conference room to display a presentation for an ADR hearing or to train small groups.  It will connect and display images from an iPod and many smart phones. 

This could help many lawyers take their show on the road without carrying anything more than a smart phone and a similarly sized projector.  In the next few years we may see the Pico projector actually built-into smart phones and digital media players.   

The new mini-notebook champ?

The ground-breaking Asus Eee gets the most press (I have one myself and love it), but there are other mini-notebooks, also known as Ultra Mobile PC's or UMPC's, on the market that may be a better choice.  Laptop Magazine, usually the best source for information about mobile computing. 

Laptop Magazine's UMPC Editor's Choice is MSI Wind running Windows XP Home.  At $499, it is $100 more than my Linux-based Asus Eee 701 (or the XP variant of the same machine), but it features a noticeably larger 10 inch screen and roomier keyboard for touch typing.  It is also very fast and has plenty of storage for a UMPC.  It features the new Intel Atom processor and an 80 GB 5400 rpm hard drive.  Battery life is excellent at just over 4 hours with Wi-Fi and 5 1/2 hours with the radio turned off.   

This is the UMPC of choice (until the next "best thing" comes along). 

Bargain-priced GPS unit

Most lawyers have schedules packed wall-to-wall.  We can't afford get lost while finding our way to a meeting, deposition, or court appearance.  A portable GPS (Global Positioning System) unit is helpful in getting us to our destination on time.  But many GPS units from leading manufacturers are pricey.  The new MIO Moov 200 isn't.  At a list price of only $179.95 and a street price of only $150 at your local Radio Shack store and many on-line retailers, it is a bargain that doesn't omit important features such as spoken turn-by-turn directions.  The Moov 200 has received good reviews by Navigadget and PC Magazine.  If you need a GPS unit but don't want to spend much, the Mio Moov 200 should do everything you need it to do. 

Sirius Radio on a Cell Phone?

Practicing law can be stressful.  We all find different ways to relax and cope with the stress.  For many of us, music helps reduce stress.  But with media consolidation, the choices on commercial FM radio can be limited, unless you are lucky enough to have a public or community radio station within range.  But if you have a Windows Mobile cell phone with a broadband data plan, you can listen to Sirius satellite radio's Internet streaming service.  All it takes is a Sirius subscription and a free player from Geeks Toolbox.  You have to register on the site to download the application, called SiriusWM5, and donations are accepted via Pay Pal. 

I tried this software on my phone and it worked very well.  So far, no lagging or loss of the audio stream.  And Sirius provides more than just commercial-free music.  There are also many comedy, talk, and news channels.   

Staying Connected and In Sync with a Windows Mobile Smart Phone

As a recent convert from a comparatively ancient Palm OS-based Treo 650 to a Windows Mobile 6-based Samsung i760 phone from Verizon Wireless, I have been exploring software and services that work with my new device.  As a solo appellate practitioner, my practice management needs may differ from larger firms or those with trial court practices, so these suggestions may not apply to your practice.  I have begun using several free applications and services to keep my practice (and life) organized.

I dumped MS Outlook on my primary desktop PC for Mozilla Thunderbird and its Lightning calendar add-on.  I also use Gmail as my primary email program and the free on-line Google Calendar to check my schedule and add/revise appointment when I am away from my home/office.  The free Provider for Google Calendar automatically syncs my Lightning calendar with my Google Calendar.  Changes make in either calendar appear in the other within minutes.  Then I use Zindus (also free) to sync my Thunderbird contacts with my Gmail contacts. 

The final piece of the puzzle is not free, but essential.  I use GooSync to synchronize my Google Calendar and Gmail contacts with my phone.  I now have three ways to access my information (phone, desktop PC, and web from any PC or device).  So far, so good.    

New respect for iPod Touch

I've lived most of my adult life in the Windows world.  My kids, who just graduated from high school last night, were issued Mac notebooks at school for 3 of their 4 high school years.  So I had some exposure to OS X, but never really warmed to it. 

We took my daughter to her freshman orientation last week at a large state university.  Their on-campus computer store had a variety of notebooks including Windows offerings from Dell and Sony as well as the MacBook and MacBook Pro.  My daughter opted for a MacBook, causing me some consternation knowing that I would be of minimal help to her if she needed assistance (which of course will happen the night before a major paper or project is due).  As a promotion, Apple is offering a free iPod Touch (8 GB) when you buy a Mac computer for college.  Yes, you have to pay the $299 up front, but it is sent back to you (they promise in about a month) via a rebate. 

My daughter had an iPod Nano for a short time a couple of years ago.  But she made the mistake of taking it to school and leaving it exposed in her open backpack.  It was stolen.   Since then she's enjoyed her Sansa e260 very much.  So it was in comparison to the Nano and Sansa that I was prepared to evaluate the Touch. 

With that frame of reference going in, I must admit that I was blown away by the Touch, and especially with the way it integrates with the the iCal and Mail on the MacBook.  The calendar and email sync automatically (along with iTunes music) when she connects the Touch to her MacBook via a USB cable.  The Touch has Wi-Fi as well, so my daughter can send and receive email using her Gmail account any time she can find a Wi-Fi hotspot.  Once the Gmail program was setup on the MacBook (a totally automatic process once you enter an email address and password), it is also configured on the Touch during the initial sync.  Very slick!

The Touch works very well as an Internet tablet using its own version of Safari (Apple's Web browser).  There is also a button to go directly to YouTube videos, which play very well on the Touch's screen. So the Touch is a digital audio player, but it is also a PDA with calender and email sync (I have not tried the contact sync), and an Internet tablet.  It is basically an iPhone without the phone.  For free, it is hard to beat.  But I suspect it may be well worth its regular $299 price based on the days we've had it in our household.  And notice I didn't once mention its touch screen.  It is a gee-whiz interface, but functionality is where it really shines.    

I was also relieved to discover that LogMeIn and Skype work just fine on the MacBook.  So if my daughter calls for help from college, she can get ahold of me using Skype and I can remote in using LogMeIn and (at least try) to assist her with any computer issues she may be having.  So far so good with this initial exploration into alien (Mac) territory. 

Must have applications for Windows Mobile Phones

As a very recent convert from the Palm-OS based Treo smartphone, I have been learning how to use my Samsung SCH-i760 from Verizon Wireless.  It runs on the Windows Mobile 6 Professional (touch screen) operating system.  Windows Mobile 6 is much improved over earlier versions, but it remains a more complex and (to a newcomer) less intuitive operating system than Palm.

I discovered a few applications that are essential for my enjoyable and productive use of a Windows Mobile 6 device.  First, make sure you download and install Live Search for Windows Mobile.  From your phone's browser go to  http://wls.live.com/ to get the download.  Once installed, Live Search works much like Tryda (formerly Directory Assistant) for the Palm OS.  It connects to the Internet to find business, phone numbers, maps, and driving directions.  On my phone, it works with the voice command feature to allow me to speak "pizza" and almost instantly get a list of all pizza restaurants in my area, with phone numbers, driving directions, and maps just a screen tap away.  Live Search is free, but invaluable.

Next is The Core Pocket Media Player (TCPMP).  It is discontinued, but still available for download here.  Don't delay getting your copy, as its availability could end at any time.  This free application will play many more file formats (audio and video) that the Windows Media Player application that comes with Windows Mobile 6. 

Finally, the Internet Explorer web browser that comes with Windows Mobile 6 is showing its age.  It is slow and doesn't handle Flash, limiting its usefulness on some web pages.  For that capability, download a 30 day free trial from the Opera Mobile web browser along with the Macromedia Flash Player.  If you decided it works for you, pay $24 to register your copy.            

Tiny Bluetooth USB adapter for your notebook PC

If you want to use your cell phone as a wireless modem for your notebook PC, but your notebook doesn't have a built-in Bluetooth radio, here is the next best thing.  Circuit City has the Kensington USB Micro Bluetooth Adapter on sale for $19.99 after a $10 mail-in rebate.  It is so small you could leave it in your notebook's USB port all the time.