Posted on February 16, 2010 by J. Benjamin Stevens
The apps listed below were included on a recent list of the ten of the best apps for busy lawyers. You can read much more about each of these apps in the full article, but a short summary of each is listed below :
AppBoxPro is a multi-function currency converter, date calculator, translator (text), tip calculator, international holiday calendar, unit converter, battery life meter, and more.
Bento is a powerful but easy to use database for the Mac.
Bump is a new way to exchange contact information instead of using business cards.
Documents to Go Premium allows you to edit, create, and view Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files.
In an attempt to compete with Verizon’s new unlimited plans and perhaps to make it less enticing for users to jump to Verizon when the anticipated move to Verizon is announced, AT&T has lowered the cost of their unlimited voice and data plan to $99.99 (old price was $129.999) effective Monday, January 18. This is great news for lawyers and law firms paying for unlimited voice and data Nationwide plans.
However, as is always the case with AT&T, there is a catch. The change must be made manually either at their website at att.com/wireless or by visiting a store. There is no cost for changing your plan nor does it require a resigning of a contract. Please note however, they will NOT make this change for you automatically, so if you have the unlimited plan like I do and don’t ask to have the price changed AT&T will gladly keep charging you the extra $30.
So I have written before many of the ways that the iPhone can make your life easier. TUAW has published a list of 33 things that you will no longer need if you have an iPhone. Consider all of the following things that the iPhone can do:
Posted on November 20, 2009 by J. Benjamin Stevens
As you may recall, FutureLawyer (Rick Georges) and The Mac Lawyer (Ben Stevens) went head-to-head in the March 2008 ABA Journal (Mac v. PC). By all accounts, the fight had to be stopped early – with Mac being declared the unanimous victor. Hip hip hooray!
Now, FutureLawyer seems to be itching for another fight, as he blogged earlier this month "iPhones Are For Sissies". He actually wrote, "This thing feels like a man's phone, and makes the iPhone experience feel more suited to a latte drinking, girly man, fashion conscious wimp." Ouch – big talk from the PC guy.
However, he then quickly loses credibility by stating, "Trust me, there are, and are going to be, more open source Android apps than you will ever be able to read about." Trust me? Really? I guess FutureLawyer hasn't seen "Broken Promises", the latest Apple commercial which (correctly) mocks PC's plea to "trust me" that Windows 7 won't have any of the problems that the prior Windows OS had.
I didn't know that anyone legitimately doubted that the iPhone changed the cell phone forever. I realize that some people like it more than others, but to say it's akin to a "latte drinking, girly man, fashion conscious wimp" – give me a break! The iPhone put a computer in its users' pockets and the App Store introduced countless new ways to increase users' productivity. Trust you? No way, my bespectacled friend.
iPhone owners have been looking forward to the day when they will be able to use their phone as a modem, known as "tethering." In fact, this feature is an integral feature of the iPhone 3.0 firmware, and it is already available for some overseas carriers. However, AT&T has not yet allowed its American users to do so, though there has been hope that this feature would become available later this year.
Unfortunately AT&T does not appear to be ready to do so anytime soon. AT&T's spokesman said "For tethering, we need to do some additional fine tuning to our systems and networks so that we do deliver a great experience." However, some believe that AT&T is actually concerned that tethering could be too demanding on its bandwidth. Stay tuned to see when AT&T will finally make tethering available to its iPhone customers here in the U.S.
Posted on September 29, 2009 by J. Benjamin Stevens
Last Friday, AT&Tfinally enabled Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) support for the iPhone 3G and 3G-S here in the U.S. Now, users can send pictures, location data, contact information, voice memos, and video quickly and easily.
The MMS service is very easy to use. From the Messages app, you simply tap the camera icon on the bottom left, and the iPhone will prompt you to either take a photo or choose an existing image from your camera roll. You can also enter some text to accompany your picture or video, although the text and image will appear in separate balloons when they’re sent.
You can also send other helpful content via MMS, such as location data (via Maps), contact info (via Address Book), and voice memos (via Voice Memos). For instance, to send contact information, you simply open the desired contact, select "Share Contact", and then you will have an option to do so via either email or MMS.
Posted on September 14, 2009 by J. Benjamin Stevens
"The words iPhone and security do not belong in the same sentence..." So begins the article from John Simek, one of the premier computer forensic experts in the country. It gets worse, as he says, "The iPhone encryption is a non-starter and accessing the device is child’s play even if it is password protected." He concludes by saying "I love the iPhone. Not because of its technical superiority, but because its design gives us access to more electronic evidence than any other phone we’ve ever seen."
I know John and we have actually given presenations together at CLE seminars in the past. He and I have discussed these alleged iPhone security flaws in the past, and I will be the first to say that I am far from an expert on these issues and I must defer to John's expertise. Of course, as my readers now, I have an iPhone 3G-S and I love it. However, I do not store any confidential or client data on it out of an abundance of caution.
John offered to print any responses from any IT / security folks and/or from Apple, and I will be glad to do the same here at The Mac Lawyer.
DataViz's DocumentsToGo allows you to edit and change documents, as well as email them over Exchange to other team members. While not a replacement for desktop word processors, this app makes document editing at least moderately feasible.
TimeWerks is a billing app that will track your projects and time spent in a way that, while not strictly built for lawyers, is user-friendly and versatile, and lets you export a .CSV file that may streamline getting the data to your main billing program.
Court Days enables you to easily calculate days before or after any particular deadline, and it claims to recognize which days are court holidays for your particular jurisdiction.
The Law Pod is a suite of six apps that offers full-text and searchable versions of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Federal Rules of Evidence, and the U.S. Constitution.
Rumor has it that AT&T will officially allow "tethering" later this year, which will enable using an iPhone as a modem to connect laptops to the internet. If you do not want to wait, you can follow the following steps to begin tethering your Mac right now:
PC World recently published an article which bemoaned the fact that ten features were still missing from the iPhone. It seems to me that at least a few of these, such as copy/paste, horizontal keyboard and voice controls. have been remedied by virtue of the v. 3.0 software and/or the iPhone 3G-S. Nonetheless, here is their list:
Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
Stereo Bluetooth / A2DP support
Selecting, copying, and pasting text
Horizontal keyboard for e-mail and notes
Improved predictive text (or the ability to turn it off)
After all my recent posts about the benefits of the iPhone 3G-S, I thought it might be prudent to address the security concerns involved with disposing of your old iPhone after you decide to upgrade. Attorneys should always be concerned about protecting their client's information. Amid reports that it is possible to recover data off old iPhones, everyone should utilize the following steps to minimize the chances of your information being compromised:
If you are considering making the move to the iPhone 3G-S, this article tells you basically everything that you could ever need or want to know. Thanks to Jeff for providing such a great resource.
Several weeks ago, I posted an article which described how to create custom iPhone ringtones for free. Yes, that method works, but there is a better way – a much better way. RingtoneStudio for iPhone from PocketMac allows you to create your own ringtones in seconds. Now, I mean that literally – as in you can create your own rington faster than you can read this sentence! No joking.
You simply (1) select the media file (from iTunes or anywhere on your Mac), (2) drag it into RingtoneStudio, (3) use the slider to select the portion you want on your ringtone, and (4) click create. RingtoneStudio then creates the ringtone and automatically places it in the "Ringtones" section of your iTunes Library.
This program sells for $29.95, and it comes with a 90 day money back guarantee. In the time it took you to read this post, you could have created several ringtones without breaking a sweat. I use this program myself, and I absolutely love it. You can learn more or purchase your own copy by clicking HERE.
Now that the iPhone 3G-S has been out for a little while, most people (including me) seem to agree that the 3G-S is much better and worth the upgrade. At least one person, however, has concluded that the additional features and improvements included with the 3G-S are "just not that big of a deal" and not "anything to lose sleep over." Read that article for yourself and see what you think. As for me, I'll happily stick with my 3G-S.
Macworld published an article today reviewing some of the top Twitter apps for the iPhone. I have listed each of the reviewed ones below. If you're a Twitterer or want to be, check these out:
I picked up my new iPhone 3G-S yesterday, and I love it. Of course, I really like its faster speed and its improved camera and video recording capabilities. I have also been playing around with the Voice Control feature, and it seems to work pretty well thus far.
Ernie The Attorney published his thoughts on the iPhone 3G-S yesterday, and he paid particular attention to the Voice Control functions, which he calls "the killer upgrade feature." Some of the things you can do with this new feature are:
"Call [name of person]"
"Dial [phone number that you say, slowly]
"Play music"
"Play songs by [name of artist, spoken clearly and carefully]
"What is this song?"
Ernie also praises the Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic. If you already have the 3G-S or are considering getting one, you should read his article, as I agree with his thoughts on the Voice Control functionality.
There are many good iPhone Apps out there – maybe so many that you're overwhelmed and unsure where to start looking at them. If that applies to you, consider the following list of "Top 20 iPhone Apps for Busy Attorneys" as a starting point and see if any of these will be helpful to you:
CardLasso:: This program lets you take a photo of any business card with the iPhone camera, scan the info on the card, and automatically convert it into pertinent data, such as contact information. For lawyers on the go, this can be the ultimate time-saver.
DocScanner :: If you need to scan on the go, this legal-friendly app is for you. It lets you take a photo of any document with your iPhone camera and automatically convert it to a PDF document.
SmartTime Schedule Organizer :: This app is an organizer with the edge you need. Using advanced logic, this program schedules times for meetings and tasks, combines your various task and appointments into a single view, and re-organizes everything on the fly, as needed.
Conference Call :: This app lets you schedule your legal conference calls with the click of a button. Your iPhone, in turn, will automatically call your contacts and connect them to the conference call.
Take Me Back to the Office! :: This simple program lets you program in a location (such as your law office), and this program will give you directions back there, no matter where your work has taken you.
Documents Free (Mobile Office Suite) :: This easy-to-use mobile office suite lets you keep track of spreadsheets and text files, as well as sync up to Google Docs to take the law wherever you go.
Remote Desktop Lite :: The only problem of being on the go is, of course, not having access to your Desktop PC. This app lets you access your XP professional PC, meaning all of your important documents are just a click away.
PDF Reader Pro :: This short and simple program lets you read your PDF documents on the go. With easy document management, wi-fi synchronization and a cool landscape view, this has all your PDF needs.
This month's MacNotes column in the ABAGP|Solo's Technology eReport webzine describes what it means to be an "Appophile," and it takes a look at how to find and manage the appropriate Apps for your iPhone. I recommend that you check it out HERE.
As expected, the WWDC was full of exciting news about the iPhone and its 3.0 software. The new iPhone 3G-S boasts many new features, including:
A faster processor that will launch most apps and load web pages much faster than the previously 3G model. It also features more storage capacity, up to 32GB.
Shoot, edit, and share video right on the iPhone, including the ability to email the video and/or post it to the internet.
A new 3-megapixel camera (up from 2 megapixels) that has built-in autofocus, which allows you to focus on anything by simply tapping on it.
Built-in voice control now allows you to start calls, find songs, and locate other information on the iPhone using only your voice.
InfoWorld's executive editor, Galen Gruman, recently spent a month with an iPhone 3G and a BlackBerry 9000 Bold to "compare the two devices in depth: mail to mail, phone to phone, browser to browser, and thumb stroke to touch-tap."
He concluded that "it's time to bury the BlackBerry", saying that it is "way past its prime." In fact, he called the BlackBerry "a Pinto in an era of Priuses." Ouch, that had to hurt RIM. You can read the entire detailed review HERE.
Above the Law (ATL) is a website that accurately describes itself as a "legal tabloid." A large number of the posts relate to law firm gossip, but the site tackles just about anything of interest to lawyers at large law firms. It was voted the top news website on the 2008 ABA Journal Blawg 100.
Yesterday, ATL Associate Editor Kashmir Hill asked me to name the top ten iPhone apps for lawyers, a topic that has been covered before on this website. My response led to this post on the ATL website. The ABA Journal picked up on the story here, adding a note that the number of iPhone-using attorneys has soared in the latest ABA Technology Survey.
Here are some additional thoughts on the ten great third party apps that I mentioned in the ATL post:
QuickOffice.My full thoughts on QuickOffice are in these posts: 1, 2 and 3. I don't have much more to add except to note that the app works very well, and I especially like the new ability to have the app show up as a virtual hard drive on my Mac or PC so I can drag and drop documents. Of course, I am still very curious to see what DataViz's Documents To Go will look like, which DataViz says is due "early to mid May" and which I presume means very soon.
Cliff Maierreference apps. I've posted about these apps here: 1, 2, 3 and 4. I continue to use these great apps all of the time.
DaysFrom. I also like DateCalcPro, but most of the time I find myself using DaysFrom to calculate days, for the reasons I previously posted here.
Various weather apps. I like The Weather Channel and AccuWeather apps, but I really love the version of the Weather Underground website that is formatted for the iPhone web browser. Just go to i.wund.com using Safari on your iPhone. Even better, once you are there, enter your zip code to see your local weather and then hit the + sign in Safari to "Add to Home Screen." That will give you an icon that you can easily tap to get your latest local weather. One nice new feature is an iPhone version of the "Interactive Wundermap" which I can only describe as sort of a cross between a weather radar and the Google Maps app. (Clickhere to see the Interactive Wundermap on a computer.) You can double-tap to zoom in and easily pan and scan on an iPhone to see the weather conditions. Very impressive stuff.
Twitterific. My first Twitter client on the iPhone was the 1.0 version of Twitterific. But that app had limitations, and the free TwitterFon app (which I mentioned here) soon became my favorite Twitter client. Earlier this month, TheIconfactory released Twitterific 2.0, and wow, what a difference a 2.0 makes. This app includes tons of advanced features, has a great interface, and is really a joy to use. I'm currently using the free version, and it is now my favorite iPhone Twitter app. It has ads, but the ads are unobtrusive, and for only $3.99 you can get a version without ads. If you use Twitter, I strongly encourage you to check it out. Click here to get Twitterific (free).
Facebook. I haven't posted a review of this app (although I mentioned it here) but this is a really useful app. If you use Facebook, you have no excuse not to get this free app.
Black's Law Dictionary. My review is here. There have been some minor tweaks and bug fixes since I posted my review. One large change (that I noted in my review was going to happen soon) is that if you now try to go to Westlaw on your iPhone by going to www.westlaw.com, you are redirected to wireless.westlaw.com. I understand the thinking here; wireless.westlaw.com is certainly much faster. Even so, I prefer the full Westlaw on my iPhone, and if you do too, you now need to go to web2.westlaw.com to get the "real" Westlaw on your iPhone.
NetNewsWire. I don't believe that I've mentioned this app before, but it is a great, free RSS reader on the iPhone. Click here to get NetNewsWire (free).
Thanks to ATL and the ABA Journal for these two posts and for recognizing the growing number of attorneys using iPhones.
It isn't surprising to hear that the iPhone is increasingly becoming the "smartphone" of choice for savvy attorneys, even in larger firms. The ABA Journal recently published an article which analyzed some of the advantages offered by each device.
enables syncing subfolders and setting priority when sending messages
greater e-mail capabilities
runs on LotusNotes
described as an e-mail device with a phone added on
If you are interested in the ongoing iPhone vs. BlackBerry debate, I have previously published several articles on my blog about this subject, which you can access here, here, here, here, and here.
What happens when four lawyers from diverse practices and backgrounds get together to discuss how each uses their iPhone to improve their productivity and reduce a few of life's frustrations? You get a great list of iPhone apps that are sure to help you too! Apple reports over 25,000 apps are now available via the iTunes store, making it a daunting task to sift through to find the best.
So here are some of the favorite picks from David Sparks of the MacSparky website, Ben Stevens of The Mac Lawyer website and Reid Trautz of Reid My Blog! (who are presenting on this topic at this year's TECHSHOW, which is taking place right now in Chicago) and Jeff Richardson who runs iPhone J.D., a site dedicated to attorneys using iPhones.
Productivity
People (free): This app is essentially an iPhone gateway into an online White Pages that is very powerful and very comprehensive. Reid notes that he has located contact information for individuals by using this app that he didn't think could be easily found.
Note2Self ($2.99): This is David's favorite voice recorder on the iPhone. It automatically starts recording when you hold it up to your ear and as soon as you are done, it gives you an easy menu that allows you to email the voice file to yourself (or your secretary). This is perfect for capturing ideas and tasks for later action.
reQall (Free): This voice-to-email reminder system is the poor man's replacement for Jott, and works quite well. Just download the app, open a free account with reQall, and go! Just dial reQall and speak for up to 30 seconds; within minutes reQall transcribes the message and e-mails it to your pre-designated account. Messages can be sent to others email addresses too.
Evernote (Free): Evernote is a cloud based information manager. You can drop notes, pictures, snippets, and other bits of information in it. Evernote then synchronizes the data between multiple devices including PC and Mac computers. While the information is up in the cloud, the Evernote servers do their best to apply optical character recognition to all of your files (including pictures) making it even easier to search your data. The iPhone application does a great job of capturing new bits of information and giving you access to all of your other Evernote data.
OmniFocus ($19.99): A Seattle based Mac-only developer, OmniGroup, last year quietly released what David considers the best task list management application he's ever used. Based loosely on David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” system, this application allows you to sort tasks and projects on a variety of criteria including project, priority, context, and time. Their OmniFocus iPhone application puts all of the power of this application in your pocket. You can use this application for everything in your practice from managing the most complex litigation to remembering when to order new stationary. It also is location aware. That means that if you are in the supermarket, the application reminds you to buy spicy carrots for taco night.
Things ($9.99): Currently the best-selling task management app at the iTunes store, Things is also based on the "GTD" system. Many users, including Reid, like the simpler, cleaner interface and easier learning curve than OmniFocus. Tasks are easily added and monitored, and related items like web pages and documents are easily associated with each one. Things also has a Mac application--named Best of Macworld 2009--that syncs with the iPhone via any wireless network.
Calc-12E ($15.99): David loves the HP 12-C financial calculator. This application faithfully recreates the device on your iPhone. It has the same buttons, functions, and the same RPN calculations. It also has some added bonuses. For instance, with the touch of a button you can email yourself TVM reports.
Email
EasyWriter ($2.99): Why hasn't the iPhone's built-in Mail app supported landscape mode from the beginning? Apple's upcoming 3.0 revision of the iPhone OS software (due this summer) will finally add this feature, but in the meantime David has been using this app which allows you to compose email in landscape. With built in text snippets for frequently typed words and phrases and spell check, David considers this is a no brainer for anyone who writes a lot of email.
Sideways ($1.99): The app Reid uses to type emails in the landscape mode, similar to Easy Writer above.
iSignature ($0.99): The iPhone lets you use a single signature for all of your e-mails. This app allows you to select from up to six signatures to use in your e-mail. Jeff's review on iPhone J.D. is here.
gMail (free): Ben has his firm's email hosted in gMail (using Google Apps), and this free web app gives him instant access to his email account, including the ability to archive. Jeff uses gMail as his back-up e-mail account, and he also loves this web app. Note that there is nothing to download from iTunes; just go to mail.google.com using Safari on your iPhone and you will see an iPhone-formatted webpage. Jeff suggests using the + button in Safari to add a link to gMail on your home screen, which you can tap to launch just like you would any other app.
Legal Research
Cliff Maier Attorney Reference Apps ($0.99 to $8.99): Attorney and part time iPhone application developer Cliff Maier has released a variety of reference applications for the iPhone covering various federal and state rules and statutes. Being a California attorney, David particularly like having the California Evidence Code and Code of Civil Procedure on his iPhone. Jeff loves the Fed. R. Civ. Pro. and Fed. R. App. Pro. apps. The applications range in price from $0.99 to $8.99 and cover a variety of federal and state jurisdictions. Jeff posted an interview with Cliff Maier on iPhone J.D., along with severalreviews of many of these apps. They were great when they were first released, and with the recent addition of features such as bookmarks, a jump button, improved search, and multiple ways of viewing the rules (by sections are "flattened" all at once), Cliff Maier has set the standard for what a good iPhone legal reference app can be.
The Law Pod reference apps ($0.99): Most attorneys will prefer Cliff Maier's apps because they have more features, but it is nice to have an alternative, especially one that is inexpensive. The Law Pod has done a nice job creating apps with the federal rules. Click here for the review on iPhone J.D.
Manual of the United States of America ($0.99): With this app from Clint Bagwell Consulting, you get several reference materials including the Constitution, selected Supreme Court cases, the Federalist Papers. While not useful on a daily basis, it makes David smile knowing he's got Publius on his iPhone. Jeff's review on iPhone J.D. is here.
Wikipanion (free): There are lots of Wikipedia apps for the iPhone, but Jeff likes this one the best. The price is right (free) and it is very powerful, allowing your iPhone to quickly link to a virtually unlimited source of knowledge.
Time & Billing
Time tracking apps (free to $59.99): Jeff has described almost two dozen apps on iPhone J.D. that allow you to track your time using your iPhone, which can be especially useful when you are away from the office.
DateCalcPro ($2.99): This application answers the often asked question, “What is 45 days from today?”. If you need to calculate dates (most attorneys do), this full-featured application does it quickly and easily.
DaysFrom ($0.99): Another app that allows you to quickly calculate dates in the future or past. This one lacks some advanced features, but is simple and fast, which makes it Jeff's favorite.
File Sharing
Air Sharing ($4.99): One of the more popular apps for the iPhone allows you to access your computer files (documents, spreadsheets, slideshows, etc.) from your iPhone, provided you have set up access to those files via the Air Sharing service. Takes about 10 minutes to set up, then works like a charm. Was free in beta, now $4.99.
FileMagnet ($4.99): This application allows you to store documents and PDF files on your iPhone for later reference. There are several applications in this category, but David has found that FileMagnet has got the job done for him on trips and in trial.
MobileFiles 2.0 ($3.99) and MobileFiles Pro ($9.99): Jeff used to use DataCase, but has recently changed to MobileFiles Pro because the app makes it so easy to get documents to and from the iPhone. The Pro version even allows you to use and edit Excel Spreadsheets, so (for example) you can keep a legal interest spreadsheet on the iPhone and actually use it, unlike other apps which just let you view a static image of a spreadsheet. The app will soon add the ability to edit Word files.
Travel
Google Maps (included): The purpose of this article is to cover apps that you can add to your iPhone, but this built-in app is so good that we couldn't resist mentioning it. The interactive features of Google Maps via the iPhone is worth the price of the phone service alone. David often use the Google Locator feature to find himself on the map, and then search for nearby restaurants; with a couple quick taps on the screen, you are talking to the restaurant to check table availability. Works for myriad businesses.
Google Mobile App (free): Jeff loves that he can quickly start this app, hold up the iPhone to his face, and then say what he is looking for and have a Google search run based on what he says. This is often a lot faster and more convenient than typing out search terms.
Say Where (free): A voice recognition add-on to Google Maps that allows you to speak your destination rather than enter the text into Maps. Amazingly accurate!
Where To? ($2.99): This application does no more than streamline the Google maps search process but it does it with panaché. Several of us like that it also lets you save favorite searches. Using it on an iPhone 3g, it can locate all the courthouses relative to your current location in seconds.
Google Earth (Free): David recalls when getting aerial photographs of a property was an expensive and time consuming process. Now you can do it right on your iPhone using Google Earth.
Various weather apps: It is always nice to know the weather when you are traveling. Jeff likes the free apps AccuWeather, WeatherBug and The Weather Channel apps, but perhaps Jeff's favorite is not an app at all -- Weather Underground has a fabulous iPhone-formatted version of its website at i.wund.com.
Social Networking
Twitterific (free): Reid likes this free for using Twitter from your iPhone, but is considering a switch based on Jeff's opinion below.
Facebook for iPhone (free): Popular and useful for accessing Facebook when you are away from your computer. Works well, as it allows updates of your status, monitoring of others' status, and chatting with online friends. Ben uses this far more often than he should, and Jeff is also quickly finding it addictive.
News
NYTimes (free): Nice app for reading the latest New York Times articles.
USA Today (free): While the articles are less in depth than the New York Times, this iPhone app is very nicely done.
Relax ($2.99): When you are upset, angry, or stressed out many experts say to relax and visualize something peaceful. Well, this app is that visualization: It contains looping videos of soothing scenes--such as a crackling fire, seashore, and mountain streams--that will tame the beast in all of us. Ahhhhhh.
Wurdle ($1.99): This is Jeff's favorite timewaster on the iPhone. Similar to the Boggle game you played as a kid.
2Accross ($5.99): This is currently Jeff's favorite crossword app for the iPhone. You can access tons of free crosswords, plus if you are a New York Times subscriber, you can download all of the current and archived Times crosswords.
Remote (free): If you have an AppleTV, Apple's free Remote app is a must have. The iPhone makes a great remote control for the AppleTV.
Shazam (Free): How often have you heard a song on the radio but can't remember or didn't catch the name of it? Enter Shazam. Merely hold your iPhone near the music source and press the "Tag Now" button, and in less than 20 seconds you have the name and artist of the song--accurate about 95% of the time in our experience. Of course, you can immediately buy it via iTunes. Cha-ching!
Movies (free): This great app from Flixster allows you to find movie listings for local theaters along with descriptions and movie trailers. You can even buy tickets online via this app.
i.TV (free): Jeff loves this app which gives you not only your local TV listings, but also movie theater listings, access to your Netflix account, the ability to buy tickets, etc.
Of course, with more apps coming on the market everyday and the new iPhone 3.0 just around the corner, we'll probably be back soon with more ideas for you, your iPhone, and your law practice.
The following Guest Post is from Dale Strauss, and it is written in response to my recent post about the iPhone vs. Blackberry debate. Let it never be said that I'm not willing to air both sides of a debate, even if one of them is not pro-Apple (LOL). I hope that you find it helpful and informative, and I'd like to thank Dale for allowing me to publish his great article:
Reading Ben’s references to the great articles by Jeff Richardson and Lee Rosen gave rise to one of my long-winded comments, which Ben graciously suggested we turn it into this Guest Post. I would like to make a plug for a different alternative to the iPhone, the Blackberry Bold. No doubt the Storm is RIM's direct analog for the iPhone, however I believe the Bold is a more compelling alternative, particularly for lawyers.
I've tried the iPhone 3g twice (and my son has my original iPhone) so I believe I've given it a fair shake. It is undoubtedly one of the best electronic gadgets ever invented. It has no equal as a media device, whether music, videos, gaming, or even the internet. I hesitated a bit on that last one, because Safari on the iPhone is the best internet experience on a phone size device, but it is still too small. No matter how good the interface and translation of a full page may be, it is still an annoying WINDOW on the real thing. Even netbooks at 8" stretch the true usability of the internet. No device with a 3" +/- window on the internet world delivers the goods.
Most attorneys are closely tied to their cell phones of choice, and everyone has his own opinion of which type of phone is the "best." Two lawyers that I know (and highly respect), Jeff Richardson and Lee Rosen, recently weighed in with articles published in the January 2009Law Practice Today webzine with their thoughts of how the iPhone compares with the Blackberry. You can read their articles at the links below, and I invite your comments with your own thoughts as to which phone is superior.
Posted on November 25, 2008 by J. Benjamin Stevens
Attorneys who use iPhones now have another reason to rejoice. Last week, Jeff Richardson launched iPhone J.D., a blog dedicated to the use of iPhones by lawyers. As I've previously posted, Jeff co-presented a session with me at this year's TechShow, and I believe that he is extremely smart and tech-savvy.
I have read the first several posts at Jeff's new blog, and they are excellent. His initial post, "Why I Use an iPhone", is well worth a read, whether you are considering getting an iPhone or if currently use one. I am thrilled to welcome Jeff to the blawgosphere, and I hope that you will join me in adding iPhone J.D. to your newsreader today.
Posted on November 22, 2008 by J. Benjamin Stevens
Yesterday, Apple released an update to its iPhone operating system (now v. 2.2). This update includes the following new and improved features:
Google Street View :: Street View takes you on a virtual walking tour: Navigate street-level photographs of places you've located in Maps.
Public Transit and Walking Directions :: Get walking directions, find public transit schedules, check fares, and estimate your travel time.
Podcasts :: Get access to millions of free podcasts on the iTunes Store via Wi-Fi or your cellular network.
Safari Improvements :: A new search-friendly user interface, better performance, and more stability make Safari even easier to use.
Home Screen Shortcut :: Take a shortcut from any Home screen back to your first Home screen by pressing the Home button.
Other :: Decrease in call setup failures and dropped calls. Preference to turn on/off auto-correction in Keyboard Settings. Improved sound quality of Visual Voicemail messages.
Posted on November 19, 2008 by J. Benjamin Stevens
There has been a flurry of Apple rumors over the last week or so, and I thought that I'd list a few of the more interesting ones here for my readers:
iPhone OS 2.2 :: Gizmodo reports that the iPhone operating system will be updated to v. 2.2 on November 21st. While no one is sure exactly what this update will include, some of the "hoped for" features include copy and paste, walking directions, public transit route information, and direct downloading of podcasts.
New MacBook Air Casing :: AppleInsider reports that Apple may update the MacBook Air's casing, to replace some of the aluminum components with carbon fiber, in an effort to make the MB Air even lighter. Specifically, the prediction is that in the not too distant future, the bottom case will be made of carbon fiber.
Snow Leopard :: MacRumors reports that Apple may begin shipping its updated operating system, OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard), in the first quarter of 2009. However, it should be noted that Snow Leopard is expected to be a "smaller" update than OS X 10.5 (Leopard) was, with fewer new features.
The President / CEO of AT&T Mobility said yesterday that his company has been working with Apple to enable "tethering" on the iPhone. This process would allow the iPhone to be used as a wireless modem for laptop and/or desktop computers. The best news is that he said that this option will be available "soon." This would be quite a change, because there is no authorized method for tethering an iPhone at this time.
My good friend, David Swanner, recently published the following list of the top five freeiPhone applications for lawyers:
Jott for iPhone :: Use this application to turn you iPhone into a powerful voice recorder that turns whatever you say into written notes. Perfect for on-the-go note taking, or transcribing conversations. Simply touch anywhere on the record screen, then tap again to stop recording. Use Jott for iPhone to create to-do lists that can be crossed out with the swipe of a finger and back up your notes on the Jott server for free. Jott is constantly being revised and via your Jott account you can now send hands-free texts and emails as well.
Air Sharing for iPhone :: This application allows you to take any of your documents with you on the go. View Word, Excel, jpegs, and much more at the touch of a button. Air Sharing for iPhone makes flash drives a thing of the past--and you get to view to the document on demand. The application is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux, and uses included software to transfer files straight to your phone without having to connect your iPhone to your computer at all, hence the Air Sharing name. Upload files quickly and easily to your iPhone for fast and easy access.
Remote Desktop Lite :: Especially convenient for users of Microsoft XP Professional, Remote Desktop Lite allows you to access your work computer from your iPhone. The application runs off of wiFi, or the phone's network, and is fully secure. With this and other applications, the need to lug your laptop around is virtually eliminated. Set up your iPhone to use your remote desktop and see everything on your computer, just on a smaller screen. The setup and use of the program is simple and quick, and keeps you in touch with everything you need from your home or office computer.
Evernote :: Now you can take your note taking to a new level with Evernote for iPhone. Type in text, take a snapshot, or record your voice to add to your notes. This excellent tool ensures that you get the most amount of information recorded as possible, so you have everything you need when you return to the application. The best thing about this application is that once you set up your free Evernote account, you can access the pictures, text, and sound recordings from any computer or web-enabled mobile device, in addition to your iPhone. Since it is web-based, you never have to worry about losing your notes again--they'll always be backed up.
iProcrastinate :: Don't let the name fool you. This software is an excellent task management tool for people who are constantly moving. Let the application keep you on track and manage your time more wisely with iProcrastinate. Rather than having a whole lot of fluffed-up features, iProcrastinate is intuitively written and is extremely easy to use. You can use it for the simplest to the most daunting of scheduling tasks with the greatest of ease. Color-code your schedule for ease of locating what you need, when you need it. This is an amazing tool that will help keep your mind at ease when you need to know what's coming next.
Of course, you can find out more about these applications at the links above or by visiting the Apple App Store. My readers are also invited to submit comments with their own favorite iPhone apps.
Posted on September 29, 2008 by J. Benjamin Stevens
Jeff Richardson, my friend and co-presenter at this year's ABA TechShow, wrote the following excellent and insightful article addressing this very question:
Apple
released a software update for all iPhones, version 2.1. With this
latest update, a strong case can be made that the iPhone is the best
smartphone for lawyers.
When the original iPhone was
released in 2007, it was a breakthrough product because it was both one
of the most advanced smartphones ever created and also the easiest to
use. But it had some limitations that were critical for many lawyers.
Most importantly, it lacked integration with Microsoft Exchange, a
feature that lawyers with Blackberries, Windows Mobile and Treos
running Goodlink have depended upon for years. When a lawyer doesn't
have full access to his or her law firm e-mail, a smartphone just isn't
that smart. The original iPhone also lacked 3G, which made web browsing
slow when you were away from WiFi, and lacked the ability to add third
party software (unless you hacked it). The original iPhone was still a
marvel of design and amazingly stable for a 1.0 release, but the
missing features caused many lawyers -- like me -- to wait on the
sidelines.
On July 11, 2008, Apple released the new 3G iPhone and updated the
software to version 2.0. This hardware and software update added what
lawyers need: excellent integration with Microsoft Exchange, the speedy
3G AT&T network, and the ability to easily download third party
software using Apple's App Store. But unfortunately, there were some
shortcomings with the 2.0 software that took away from the iPhone
experience. Battery life was limited (a problem that, to be fair,
exists on all 3G phones), syncing to a computer was sometimes painfully
slow, callers in some areas of the country had problems with dropped
calls, etc. And unlike the very solid first generation iPhone, the 3G
iPhone with the 2.0 software had many bugs and would often crash. The
crashes were very graceful -- there were no "blue screens of death;"
you simply return to the home screen -- but bugs are always annoying,
no matter how small or well handled. So as a result, the iPhone 3G gave
lawyers the features that they wanted, but the bugs, battery life
issues and other problems detracted from the experience.
Posted on September 1, 2008 by J. Benjamin Stevens
Late last week, I finally got the 3G iPhone -- 16 GB black version. I have wanted one since they were released, but I had simply been too busy to go pick one up. I had several opportunities to get one, as out local AT&T Store has gotten a good supply of them, but between working for my clients, coaching little league fall baseball, and trying to be a father/husband, my time has been very limited. Fortunately, AppleInsider reports that that Apple is now supplying enough units to meet its demand.
My impressions over these first several days has been quite favorable. The main difference is that I have found the 3G network to be noticeably faster than the EDGE network. Other than that (and having much more storage space for my music, etc.), it works just like my first generation iPhone -- that is to say that it works great. Due to the increased speed, I have found myself using it more often to look things up on the 'net and to access my client information via my web-based case management program, Rocket Matter. If you're considering making the jump to the 3G iPhone, now is the time!
Seriously... Can the iPhone or the iPod Touch replace your laptop for your mobile computing needs? What about just some of them? Two respected technology gurus (whom I greatly respect) have posted articles on this very subject.
Ernest Svenson a/k/a Ernie the Attorney recently traveled to Panama, and he decided not to take his laptop with him and to rely on his iPhone instead. His article discusses the email, phone, and applications aspects in detail. Ernie concludes that while he would not forego his laptop, it was reassuring to know how much could be done on the iPhone.
Dennis Kennedy has also written a series of articles analyzing whether the iPod Touch can serve as his secondary laptop. Dennis walks through his thought process in analyzing his needs and wants on this issue, and it is a very interesting read.
Like many of Ben's readers, I have been a gadget geek for years. I have tried most every line of smartphones that has been available on Sprint or AT&T, including the Treo 300/600/750, Samsung i500/Blackjack/Blackjack II, Cingular 3125, AT&T Tilt, and RIM Pearl/Curve. What I have been searching for is a jack of all trades that has to master four areas: (1) good phone quality, (2) email, (3) PIM function, and (4) web browsing. The iPhone 3g is the first to solidly hit three out of four.
Phone Quality: The iPhone 3g is as good as any smartphone in call quality and signal acquisition. The 2g tended to have muffled audio and low volume speakerphone quality. The 3g delivers clear audio and loud speakerphone volume even in EDGE network areas. Email: Exchange Activesync says it all. The 3g delivers email from our Exchange Server even before it hits my desktop. The delivery and updating of email, calendar, and contact information is every bit as fast as Blackberry Exchange Services on my Curve. Add to this the alternative push email capability of MobileMe (whoever chose that name should be fired) for those without an Exchange Server, and RIM should be very worried. Together these extend push email to small and medium businesses with far less pain than BES administration (and server downtime). The Achilles heel (see more in next section) is lack of notes and tasks syncing. This, however, is a problem for all Mac users whether using the built in programs or Entourage.
PIM: This is the weak area for the iPhone 3g, and a significant advantage for RIM. Notes and tasks do not sync with your Outlook information on Exchange Server. This is particularly a problem for Mac users, as even the vaunted Blackberry cannot sync these with Entourage or the built in applications. However, the quality of the new App Store and vendors who are writing for it will fill this gap shortly. WebIS plans to bring PocketInformant to the iPhone, which is the leading PIM for Windows Mobile. Likewise, Datavis is porting Documents to Go, and will deliver a rich Microsoft Office environment to the iPhone.
Web: Nothing compares to Safari on the iPhone 3g; nothing. Palm, Microsoft, Opera, and others have all tried to translate the Web to the small screen, and all have failed to varying degrees. Even Opera Mini, a fair improvement, will wear your thumbs out trying to scroll its viewing window over a representation of a web page. The Safari experience, with the touch/pinch interface, duplicates the desktop Internet experience out of the box. The 3g network is truly less than 10-20% slower than a WiFi connection.
Upgrader Thoughts: As I switch from iPhone 2g to 3g, there are a few important observations
I thought I would hate the plastic back, and in fact I like it better than the aluminum as it fits in the hand better than the old form.
Durability looks to be even better than the 2g; check out PC World's torture test where they wash the 3g with soap and water under a running faucet; also repeats the baggie and keys scratch test from the 2g with flying colors.
App Store -- The iPhone is truly a new computing platform. I can't wait for PocketInformant and Docs to Go. The games are every bit as good as any handheld game player my kids have had, so my guess there are no limits to what we'll be doing with this thing in six months. Given this wealth of application development, 16gb is a requirement, not a luxury.
GPS is as accurate as my Curve, and TomTom is still promising the crown jewel of turn by turn navigation.
In the "What Were They Thinking Category": No cut and paste (which appears to be the big hold up with both PocketInformant and Docs to Go), no MMS, and no replaceable battery. This last one may be Achilles heel number two. The 3g network and all that web surfing just kills a battery, and although it has longer battery life than any other 3g smartphone (again, thanks to PC World for testing that) it will still require a midday charge on busy days.
What Apple has now delivered is a new computing platform. As developers (and Apple) continue to fill in the gaps, the iPhone 3g will become the communication tool of choice because it balances all areas better than any current device. It is not perfect, nor could it be, but it is the closest approximation I have seen since starting my computer career with a 1986 Toshiba 1100 Plus notebook.
Just over a year ago, Apple introduced the world to the iPhone. Since then, it has become one of the fastest selling smartphones for both business and personal use. In fact, many experts claim that it has transformed the way that people view and use their cellular phones.
This morning, Apple has released the new 3G version of the iPhone, which includes many new features. It has also upgraded the iPhone firmware for all users, including the original iPhone, launched its App Store on iTunes v. 7.7, and released its new MobileMe service.
You can read more about these developments at the following:
As you have probably heard by now, the new 3G iPhone arrives this Friday, July 11, 2008, at 8:00 a.m. You can pick yours up at the closest Apple Store or AT&T Store. I plan to pick mine up on Friday morning, and I expect that thousands of others will as well.
To help with preparation, Apple has posted a guided tour, which covers all of the new hardware and software features in a ten minute movie. Also, AT&T has posted a series of short movies which help explain how to get ready for the new iPhone for both new and existing customers.
A detailed listing of all of the iPhone rate plans is available HERE.
The following article was posted last week at the Res Ipsa Blog:
The new iPhone is set to be unveiled in less than two weeks. Here are the top new features of the second generation iPhone:
1. Browse Westlaw and Lexis Faster: 3G Connectivity
The new iPhone will run on a "3G" or third-generation network. While that translates to speeds of up to 42 Mbps,
(think ten times faster than DSL or Cable), here in the United States,
we likely see only a fraction of that. Initially, we will see speeds approaching the speed of your home DSL or cable connection. By the end of the year, speeds should increase five-fold.
Even at the lower speeds though, the improvement over the current
offering will be dramatic, and you will finally be able to access
Westlaw or Lexis on your iPhone without waiting five minutes for a page
to load. It will also mean you will be able to upload large documents
and multimedia files quickly. Fortune reports that only 73% of the 3G network is currently in place, but AT&T is quickly rolling about the remainder of the network.
2. When You Can't Be There in Person: Video-conferencing
The increase in speeds will allow the new iPhones to run
full-fledged video conferences, something that the current model is not
natively capable of. There are also rumors that the new iPhone may have
a front-facing camera to support video-conferencing.
3. Getting Where You Need to Go: GPS
The new iPhone will have turn-by-turn GPS directions. The current model triangulates you position
by using cell phone towers, but it can't really pinpoint your position,
it only gives you a rough idea of where you are. This new feature will
allow you to get rid of yet another gadget: your GPS device, adding to
list of things your iPhone replaces: your GPS device, you phone, and of
course, your mp3 player.
Unfortunately, the iPhone is still only available for AT&T. (Sprint users should check out the upcoming Sprint Instinct,
which offers many similar features.) The new iPhone is an exciting
addition to the Apple family and Apple expects over ten million units
to be sold.
SuperDuper! v. 2.5 :: One of the best Mac backup programs is now OS X Leopard compatible. I use this program myself, and it is fantastic. SuperDuper! allows you to make a fully bootable clone backup of your hard drive. If you've ever experienced a hard drive failure, you know how important and invaluable this can be.
16 GB iPhone :: Apple released the larger capacity version this week, priced at $499, which holds twice as much data as the 8 GB version, priced at $399. If you like to store movies, tv shows, or just a bunch of music, this larger version may be for you. I have the 8 GB version, and while it's great, it would be nice to have the extra room.
Posted on December 10, 2007 by J. Benjamin Stevens
Two articles were published last week that discuss how the iPhone is gaining marketshare with businesses. These articles acknowledge that the iPhone is a viable (some would say superior) option to the Blackberry, Palm, etc., which have been popular for many years. If you have not already gotten an iPhone for yourself, you may want to check out these articles:
Posted on November 19, 2007 by J. Benjamin Stevens
If you have been considering purchasing an iPhone, you might find the following article from Kevin Hickey interesting. I too hesitated in purchasing my iPhone, but I now regret not doing it sooner. Here is Mr. Hickey's article:
Well, I took the plunge. I purchased an iPhone. I purchased it within days of its release, so along with the plunge I also received the full soaking on the price. Was it worth it? For this particular solo I can answer emphatically "yes."
The best thing about the iPhone is how easy it is to use. Calendar, phone, email, and internet are all available on the main screen with one touch. This is really efficient for the solo that handles his own calendar and makes his own appointments (like me). You can be on the phone with a client, check your calendar, and schedule an appointment - no matter where you are.
Does the client need to send you something to review asap? No problem. iPhone can receive MS Word and PDF email attachments and download them in seconds. Need to hop on the internet? Touch the safari icon and you are there. With a wi-fi connection you will not notice much speed difference from your regular computer. Also, iPhone downloads the regular webpage instead of a modified mobile webpage. So you will see the same internet images that a person on a regular computer will see.
Out of town and need some directions? Touch the map icon and you are immediately connected to detailed maps of any city you need. Type in anything you want (i.e. "steak restaurants", "hotel") and pushpins appear on the map showing you the closest places that match your search. [Ed. Note: This alone sounds worth the price to lawyers like me who keep getting appointments outside their home counties.] Detailed contact information is included next to the pushpin - touch the phone number and you are calling your selection. A hyperlink will be included with the contact information if your selection has a website. Very fast, very easy.
iPhone is also one of the most advanced iPods on the market. You can have all of your songs, podcasts, even movies right at your fingertips. This is great for those drives out of town to court or depositions. Just put the earphones in and you are ready to go. If you receive a phone call while you are listening to music, iPhone will pause the song and notify you of the call. You can take the call or ignore it. Once you are finished with the call, or if you ignore it, your song immediately starts again from the point it was paused. Very intuitive!
Voicemail is also much easier to manage. iPhone has "visual voicemail" which means you have a list of all of your voicemail messages. You can either listen to the message or delete it. This is very handy if you have already talked with the person and the voicemail he/she left you is no longer necessary. Instead of having to listen to the message and delete, you just delete it from the list. If you listen to a message and decide you need to talk to the person, simply push the "Call Back" button and the person is being dialed immediately. This is also available while you are using the text message feature on iPhone (ie. Text conversation getting tedious? You always have the option on the text screen to "Call person"). No more closing the text message window and searching through your contacts for the phone number.
iPhone also contains a calculator on the main screen as well as a notepad. Very handy for recording that great idea for your appellate brief when you are sans pen and paper. Do you have an idea but it needs to wait until later in the day? Push the clock icon and you can set a reminder alarm for later in the day. I admit that many of these features are available on a lot of the PDAs on the market today. However, the iPhone has taken efficiency and practicality to a whole new level. There is enough stress in our careers without adding to it by fumbling around with our PDAs.
The Impact on Your Life: Too Much Of A Good Thing?
One final thought. You might have the same fear that I did when I considered my purchase. Is this purchase going to make my career a 24-7 endeavor? I hear enough from (insert spouse, significant other, friend here) about how much I work already. This will only make it worse! Not so. iPhone has several settings so that you are not alerted of anything unless you want to be. You can turn on airplane mode to block all calls and you can set it (as I have) to not alert you of incoming emails. Email will then only be received when you want to receive it. I also have mine set to not delete email from my server. That way if I check an email on my iPhone and would rather answer it later at the office, it will still be on my laptop when I get back to the office. I can delete if off the iPhone and then not worry about it until later.
Today, Steve Jobs announced Apple's plans to third-party applications on the iPhone. Contrary to rumors, Apple stated that it does want native third party applications on the
iPhone, and we plan to have an software development kit in developers' hands in February of 2008. The delay is due to the fact that Apple wants to provide an advanced and
open platform to developers while at the same time protect iPhone users
from viruses, malware, privacy attacks, etc. You can read more about Apple's position on this issue HERE.
During a recent appearance on The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson, James Woods took a few minutes to rave about his iPhone. This clip is less than two minutes long, and it typifies the reaction and feelings of most iPhone owners.
Posted on September 24, 2007 by J. Benjamin Stevens
An article published in ComputerWorld late last week compared the iPhone with other new competition in the business phone arena. This article asked "Is the iPhone
as good as its hype?"
An expert, Perceptive
Sciences, was asked
to examine and compare the iPhone with the HTC Touch and
the Nokia N95. The result was that "when it comes to usability, the iPhone does, indeed, live up to its
hype."
The scoring was not even close. The iPhone's overall score in the usability tests was 4.6 out of 5, whereas the HTC Touch scored only 3.4 and the Nokia N95 scored only 3.2. You can read the full text of this article by clicking HERE.
Posted on September 13, 2007 by J. Benjamin Stevens
To follow up on an article I posted two months ago, AppleInsider.com reported yesterday that market researchers anticipate that Apple may release a new iPhone with 3G broadband internet capability before the end of this year. You can click HERE to read the article, which bases its prediction partly upon a recent deal Apple signed with a key parts supplier. I am still trying to wait on the 3G iPhone before buying one for myself, and I hope that this prediction is true because I am certainly ready to get one.
As I have previously noted, it is no secret that I very badly want an iPhone. However, I have resisted the temptation to get one (at least so far), for three main reasons: (1) I have a good bit of time left on my current cell phone plan, (2) I love the ability to use my bluetooth phone as a wireless modem for my MacBook, and (3) I am concerned about the iPhone's slow internet connection speeds. If any one of those three items were to be resolved, I could probably "overlook" the other two, or at least find some workable solution.
AppleInsider reported yesterday that according to analysts for CIBC World Markets, "checks suggest Apple is actually looking to introduce a 3G version of the iPhone for the U.S. market in November, ahead of the holiday season and earlier than currently expected." The article went on to say that "a recent in-house survey of iPhone buyers that suggested the key shortcoming of the current iPhone model is its poor data connectivity through AT&T's yesteryear EDGE network. 'This isn't a surprise, and Apple's CEO Steve Jobs admitted the iPhone's cellular connectivity can use an improvement. We now believe the "improvement" could come soon.'"
If true, this is fantastic news, and I guess I know what I'll be getting myself as an early Christmas present!
Wired.com published an article earlier this week which examined the web applications currently available for the iPhone. As you may be aware, at this time, users cannot download and install applications directly onto their iPhones. However, developers have already been quite busy developing applications which can run on the web.
Some of the web applications featured in this article include:
This week's posts have featured the iPhone. Thus far, I have featured reviews by other lawyers. Today, we will look at software applications already available for the iPhone (less than two weeks after its release). I have found two websites that are worth noting:
iPhone Atlas :: A resource for Apple's iPhone, containing guides to usage, troubleshooting information, pertinent news and more.
Some of the applications that look most helpful (or at least promising) for attorneys are:
gOffice: Word Processor :: Basic word processor for the iPhone that outputs
.doc-formatted documents. Allows you to save templates and bits of text
and to display previews of documents on the iPhone as *.png images.
TinyBuddy Web IM :: Web-based instant messaging application for the iPhone.
Telekinesis :: Remotely access your Mac through a collection of mini web apps on your iPhone.
iPheed :: Notebook, To Do List, and Technorati Tag Tracker.
Mojits: Application Launcher
:: Organizes links to iPhone Web apps and allows you to login for saved sets
of apps and offers keyword, ratings, and comment capabilities.
As you've probably noticed, this week's posts are focused on the iPhone and how it has been received by other attorneys. Today, I am pleased to feature the review that David Sparks published at his MacSparky blog after using the iPhone for about a week. As you may be aware, David is a recent Mac convert, and he was so pleased with his conversion that he stated his own blog.
David originally planned not to get an iPhone. Then, he made the "mistake" of watching Apple's guided tour of all of the iPhone's great features, and he was convinced to join the crowd and purchase one for himself. From reading his review, he appears to be thrilled with the iPhone so far. The following are the highlights of his review:
Setting up the iPhone was a breeze. There was no manual
configuration at all, it was already done. [After synching}, my three email accounts,
photo albums, calendar and video were all set up. As of the time of
this writing I still haven't bothered with the manual.
I know a lot of people have been saying the iPhone is not a
"business" phone but I'm not really sure that is true. I have been
using my new phone to keep in touch with clients and my office via
email like never before.
Email is just easier with the iPhone. I
particularly like the built in word/excel/pdf attachment viewer.
I wish it would support my portable
bluetooth keyboard. I'm actually okay with the on screen type pad but I
have a portable bluetooth keyboard that is really convenient.
I would really like to have a program on the iPhone that
holds secured data. I have some text files with sensitive information
and I can't put them on my iPhone without some sort of security.
There has been a lot of talk about the inferiority of the Edge
network but fortunately I'm nearly always around an accessable WiFi
spot. A few times I've done some browsing with WiFI turned off and it
is doable but not nearly as fast as WiFi. I really don't have many
complaints on that issue.
If you are looking for an in-depth review of the iPhone by an attorney, you should check out Finis Price's review published at his TechnoEsq blog. His article takes a close look at this technological wonder and all its many functions, and he describes what he likes and dislikes about the iPhone.
His review even includes a comparison chart of the iPhone vs. other PDAs and Smartphones. Some of the highlights of his review are listed below, but I urge you to read his entire article for a much fuller view of the iPhone.
Aesthetically, the iPhone begs to be touched, yet fingerprints are not a problem. The screen is so vibrant, any fingerprints are simply not visible.
As for accessories, you may have to buy some new ones. Some of your iPod accessories will work with the iPhone and some won't. You'll just have to experiment. The iPhone will inform you when you plug an accessory in whether it will function or not.
My 7 year-old nephew Hunter figured out on his own how to view photographs, listen to my iPod and view movies in a few seconds (though he is the smartest 7 year-old I know, I don't think he could do the same on a Treo).
Typing on the iPhone is quite a bit different than typing on a Treo or a Blackberry. Instead of having the predictive type guessing what you are typing and attempting to predict it, the iPhone simply waits until you've typed the word and attempts to correct the word taking into account that you may have hit the wrong key when typing. It works very well and if you trust it, you can type faster than on any other Smartphone.
While you can't perform a search for contacts in the address book, they are sorted into sections for each letter, with each letter accessible by the alphabet running down the right of the screen. I have over 2,000 contacts in my phone and can get from A-Z in 3 seconds and to any letter of the alphabet with one push of my finger. No number takes more than 3 seconds to find.
Each voicemail is shown, listing the caller and name (if in your address book) much the same way emails are listed in your email. To listen, you simply press the voicemail you want to listen to and it is played back, with the standard slider to rewind and forward just like a video on your computer. This feature alone is worth the price of the iPhone and is one of the revolutionary aspects of this phone.
The iPhone's mail program ... can check IMAP, POP3 and also supports Push mail from Yahoo! You can do everything in the mail application you can do with other phones and switch between multiple accounts and account types with the press of a button.
Because the iPhone runs Apple's OS X, it contains a full working web browser, Safari. I'm talking about a web page that looks exactly as it does on your desktop. Additionally, you can have more than one window open at a time.
The iPhone is definitively the best iPod ever made.
Renowned blogger Ernest Svensen (better known as Ernie the Attorney) recently published his initial impressions of his new iPhone. The highlights of his review are listed below:
Activation went off without a hitch: all of my contacts and calendar information synchronized like a charm.
The sync process also ported over all of my email settings, my photos and some of my iTunes music and videos.
The phone works absolutely great, and the iPod is the best ever.
So what's so special about it? Well, mostly it's the fact that the interface is both glitzy and yet intricately simple. And, by that, I mean that a lot of time has been spent figuring out how to make things happen naturally.
The strength of the iPhone is how smoothly all of the features work as a whole.
As you certainly know, Apple released its iPhone just over a week ago. Much to my own dismay, I have not purchased one ... yet. I am usually riding the cusp of all technological innovations, but as I grow older, I am becoming more disciplined. Well, that and the fact that I have a good deal of time left on my current wireless "family" plan.
I have followed iPhone mania and read most of the major reviews released so far. The consensus is that it truly is a revolutionary invention, and I haven't seen anything to convince me otherwise. Is it perfect? Of course not, and those who are overly critical should remember that is the first release of this product. How many products were perfect upon their release?
If Steve Jobs or any other other Apple executives happen to read this entry, I will gladly accept an iPhone if you are willing to send me one. I'm not prone to wishing wistfully or for asking for Christmas presents in July, but hey, this is the iPhone we're talking about.
I will feature the iPhone in this week's posts, including reviews written by two attorneys. I hope that this information is useful to you. If any of my readers have already bought an iPhone, please submit a comment to let me know your thoughts so far.
The apps listed below were included on a recent list of the ten of the best apps for busy lawyers. You can read much more about each of these apps in the full article, but a short summary of each is listed below :
In an attempt to compete with 
So I have 
As you may recall, 
iPhone owners have been looking forward to the day when they will be able to use their phone as a modem, known as "tethering." In fact, this feature is an integral feature of the 
Last Friday, 
"The words iPhone and security do not belong in the same sentence..." So begins the 
The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)
Several weeks ago, I 
Macworld
There are many good iPhone Apps out there – maybe so many that you're overwhelmed and unsure where to start looking at them. If that applies to you, consider the following list of "
As expected, the WWDC was full of exciting news about the iPhone and its 3.0 software. The new 
InfoWorld
The following 
It isn't surprising to hear that the iPhone is increasingly becoming the "smartphone" of choice for savvy attorneys, even in larger firms. The 
The following Guest Post is from Dale Strauss, and it is written in response to 
