SoundHound v5.1.2 Apk

Whats that song? Identify it FAST with SoundHound.

Unlimited music recognition! Featuring the worlds fastest, most accurate music identification, exclusive singing search, and now: free unlimited LiveLyrics for over 1 million of your favorite songs

Reviews and Honors for SoundHound
Your top 10 Android Apps I love this app unique in its class.
-Jessica Dolcourt, CNET, July 2011
The Best Android Apps Theres no limit.
-John Herrman, Gizmodo, April 2010
Top 10 Must-Have Android Apps
-Bob Tedeschi, NY Times, November 2010
Best Music Engagement App
- BILLBOARD Music App Awards, October 2010
Genius, isnt it? B.B.C. World Radio
This is amazing insane, right?
-David Pogue of the NY Times

SoundHound includes:
The worlds fastest music recognition: name tunes playing from a speaker in as little as four seconds. Now with unlimited usage!
The worlds only viable singing and humming recognition
LiveLyrics: see Lyrics in time with the music for music recognition
Home screen widget allows you to identify music without launching the app
No banner advertisements

NEW: Real-time Facebook and Twitter Updates from Artists: tap a bands name to instantly see its latest social news!

And theres more: Listen on startup shortcuts and geotagging options, Facebook and Twitter sharing and optional auto-sharing, previews, buy links, and full length YouTube videos.

Note: Location is used to store where songs were discovered. It can be disabled from the Options menu.

Explanation of requested permissions:
RECORD AUDIO
Used to record audio for both music and voice search.

CHANGE YOUR AUDIO SETTINGS
Used to ensure optimal audio recording settings.

FINE (GPS) LOCATION
COARSE (NETWORK-BASED) LOCATION
Used to enhance search results and remember where a search took place, which is displayed through History. This can be disabled in app settings.

FULL INTERNET ACCESS
Used to communicate with servers for search results and other content.

READ PHONE STATE AND IDENTITY
Used to mute SoundHound audio when receiving phone calls.

MODIFY/DELETE USB STORAGE CONTENTS MODIFY/DELETE SD CARD CONTENTS
Used to cache data.

CONTROL VIBRATOR
Used to notify when search results are ready.

VIEW WI-FI STATE
Used to allow usage through WI-FI.

VIEW NETWORK STATE
Used to detect when internet access is available.

More info and Screenshots from Google Play

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Angry Birds Space Premium v1.2.2 Apk

Current Version: 1.2.2
Requires Android: 1.6 and up
Category: Arcade & Action
V1.2.2 update:

Overview:
The #1 mobile game of all time blasts off into space!

ALL NEW ANGRY BIRDS GAME FROM ROVIO the #1 mobile game of all time blasts off into space!

Angry Birds Space Premium is totally ad-free!

After a giant claw kidnaps their eggs, the Angry Birds chase it into a wormhole and find themselves floating in a strange new galaxy surrounded by space pigs! Luckily the Angry Birds have super powers of their own

Angry Birds Space features 60 interstellar levels on planets and in zero gravity, resulting in spectacular gameplay ranging from slow-motion puzzles to lightspeed destruction. With regular free updates, brand new birds, brand new superpowers, and a whole galaxy to explore, the sky is no longer the limit!

FEATURES

60 interstellar levels!
Regular free updates!
Brand new birds!
Brand new superpowers!
Zero-gravity space adventures!
Trick shots using planets gravity!
Hidden bonus levels!
Beautifully detailed backgrounds!

Join the global phenomenon as it goes galactic!

NOTE: If you upgrade from Angry Birds Space to Angry Birds Space Premium, your progress will not be transferred.

Become a fan of Angry Birds on Facebook:

http://facebook.angrybirds.com

Follow us on Twitter:

http://twitter.angrybirds.com

Terms of Use: http://www.rovio.com/eula
Privacy Policy: http://www.rovio.com/privacy

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PicShop Photo Editor v2.4.0 Apk

Beautiful design combined with tons of editing options and dozens of filters

Beautiful design combined with tons of editing options and dozens of filters make this the premier mobile editing suite on the market. You will love this app!

With support for HD images up to 8MP, PicShop is great for serious photographers as well as casual. Weve integrated social sharing right into the app, so you can to post to Facebook, Twitter or Email with a single click!

FEATURES
* Full Editing Suite
* Filters and Effects
* Frames and Overlays

* Sketch Mode w/ 8 different brushes
* Meme Maker (YES RLY)
* Speech Bubbles
* Text w/ Adjustable Font
* Add images as extra layers (collage)
* Fun Stickers (Hats, Moustaches, Love etc)
* Social Integration (Facebook, Twitter, Email)
* Customize app with your own personal theme color

EDITING SUITE

* Color / Saturation
* Brightness / Contrast
* Sharpen / Blur

* Tilt Shift
* Focal Point
* Blemish Remover
* RedEye Remover
* Auto-Correction

* Crop
* Rotate
* Flip

The UI Layer for PicShop is fully GPU accelerated, which translates into extremely low battery consumption for you, and a beautifully smooth 60hz interface that is a joy to use.

More info and Screenshots from Google Play

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Facebook for Android 1.9.9 Apk

Keep up with friends, wherever you are with the Facebook for Android app.

Keeping up with friends is faster than ever.

See what friends are up to
Share updates, photos and videos
Get notified when friends like and comment on your posts
Text, chat and have group conversations
Play games and use your favorite apps

Facebook is only available for users age 13 and over.
Terms of Service: http://m.facebook.com/terms.php.

More info and Screenshots from Google Play

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Facebook Messenger for Android v2.0.2 Apk

Facebook Messenger a faster way to message.

Reach friends wherever they are with Facebook Messenger.
-Message a friend or start a group conversation
-Reach friends on mobile or web
-Get push notifications
-Know whos seen your messages
-Include your location and share photos

Whats in this version:
- Swipe left anywhere in the app to quickly see whos available and send a message
- Add friends you message most to the top of your Favorites
- Try texting with Messenger (currently only available on some phones)
- New design for conversations
- Improved speed and reliability
- Bug fixes

More info and Screenshots from Google Play

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Defense Zone HD v1.4.9 Apk

Current Version: 1.4.9
Requires Android: 2.2 and up
Category: Arcade & Action

Overview:
- Stunning detail of levels, in-depth gameplay, finely tuned balance of all levels and turrets.
- During the game you will hold your defence with your turrets against the massive hordes of enemies.
- With every level you will have the use of new weapons at your command.It is up to you, commander, how to spend the resources: restore and upgrade your veteran units or to purchase some new ones.
- Different types of weaponry and landscape provide you with a variety of choices of defence tactics.
- Choosing the right weapons and the correct placement is key to any successful defense.
- The weapons have different firepower, rate of fire, firing range, blast radius and price.

OpenFeint support allows posting all level results in a consolidated database. You can compare your skills with other players and show off your best score.

More info and Screenshots from Google Play

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Only The Droid Lawyer Does

According to this post by well-known techist, Robert Ambrogi, thedroidlawyer.com is your only source for Android related tips, techniques and information for lawyers. I hope you're subscribed to the RSS feed.

Thanks to Robert for the plug!

Wondershare Panorama v1.4.0.120815 Apk

The simplest and most creative panorama app ever!

Photographers used to need expensive, very wide-angle lenses, special shooting skills and tedious manual work to fully bring out the impact of breathtaking landscapes, city scenes and nature in one panoramic image.

Now, with Wondershare Panorama, seamless panoramas can be easily created in seconds with a single tap. Just tap the Capture button and move your phone slowly and steadily from left to right. Once done capturing, the frames will be stitched into one awesome panorama automatically.

Whats described above doesnt rock you? Check this out. Amazing effects are also provided for taking a panoramic image. Select the effect you like before capturing, Four Seasons, Crossprocess, Old Photo, Sketch, and dozens of magic effects; and your panorama becomes a masterpiece immediately after taking.

Cant wait to share your creativity with family and friends? No problem! Panorama supports one-tap upload to the most famous social networks in the world: Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and sending email.

More info and Screenshots from Google Play

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Americas Most Reliable Network Just Got A Little Less Reliable

I started noticing the data outage across Verizons 4G LTE network about 2:00 today. Fortunately, I was at the office, where I have WiFi, and the system outages didnt effect me.

I really didnt have problems until we tried to navigate to a subdivision this afternoon and received a spotty connection to 3G and 4G LTE.

Its currently 7:30 pm CST, and Im still affected by the outage.

QR Codes

You've probably seen QR codes all over the internet, stores, and sometimes on television. In recent months, QR codes are becoming more popular as ways to convey information or expressions of one's style. In fact, a French tattoo artist named K.A.R.L., has created the world's first animated tattoo (the tattoo connects to an online animation via a QR code). 

QR codes are great ways to diversify yourself from other traditional marketing methods. In order to properly use a QR code, you'll need a barcode scanner for your phone or tablet. All barcode scanners pretty much function the same way, so you'll need to look for specific features you think will set them apart. My favorite scanner is Barcode Scanner by Zxing Team, however, I'm also liking QR Droid, which are each top rated Market apps.

Once you have your scanner, it's time to find and scan the QR codes. You may want to check out this post on using QR codes in your business. Get started by scanning my codes below:

      

Dont Let Your Law Firm Face a Hindenburg Disaster

Erik Mazzone offered this great advice for planning and preparing for a law firm disaster. Of course, Im always interested in posts and ideas about disasters.

One of the things Im interested in, but dont necessarily agree with, is Mazzones assertion that you need to prefer laptops over desktops. Mazzone suggests that laptops have the mobility factor that trumps cost. While this is a necessarily general assumption, the cost for on-site and off-site backups can save and minimize some of the costs of laptops. Some companies offer off-site backup solutions for as little as $50 per year, and you can find an external 2 terabyte hard drive for less than $100. I think the essential premise Mazzone makes in his mobility argument is that despite a disaster, you can continue your business operations. This can be an important element to your law practice. Similarly, as Android tablets become more powerful, lawyers will rely on these devices much like laptops and desktops.

Ultimately, now is the time to plan for any disaster. One thing Mazzone misses though, probably because his post is tech-related, is the importance of insurance. Make sure you have sufficient coverage for any disaster.

Battle of the Remote Desktop Connections

   vs. 

I recently took a little vacation to visit some family, and I wanted to experiment with remote access to my office. One of the previous hassles has always been the need to take my laptop to connect using VPN or the web through sites such as logmein.com.

This trip, since I own my gTablet, I decided to try remote computing without the laptop (although it still served as a backup, just in case). The idea was to test the usefulness of my two favorite remote connection applications, LogMeIn Ingnition and Wyse Pocketcloud.

I've used the browser-based LogMeIn program for several years. So, when they announced their Android app, LogMeIn Ignition, it was a no-brainer switch, almost. At $29.99, this app is expensive. It's even more "overly priced" when you consider that the other contender, Wyse Pocketcloud, is free. So, that made me wonder what the difference is, and whether there were advantages of one over the other.

For starters, and this is huge, the free version of Wyse Pocketcloud does not offer encryption. Only after an upgrade to their Pro version (still a bargain at $14.99) will you be able to add 256-bit NLA/TLS encryption on RDP access or 128-bit encryption for VNC connections. If you're accessing your office files from an unencrypted wireless connection (such as a county library and why would you when there's encrypted WiFi hotspots and tethering) this could be disasterous.

So, with that big issue out of the way, it was time to decide which is the better my preferred remote access app. And the answer: Pocketcloud Pro. However, the apps were comparable with minor flaws in each that annoyed me enough to not really prefer one over the other.

For instance, Pocketcloud performed much better in the dual monitor environment and the "touch-based" interface (I LOVE the ability to touch the desired desktop icon or function versus LogMeIn's traditional pointer-based interface). But, I could never figure out how to get RDP to work (it still isn't) on Pocketcloud, which is my preferred method of connecting remotely, and quite often the VNC connection would never log me in to my desktop until I force closed the application and restarted.

Aside from its annoying pointer, LogMeIn impressed me with its easy-to-access settings and keyboard, something that frustrated me about Pocketcloud. Not having to remember to press my menu button to access the keyboard or other settings saved me time and a headache.

The two key distinguishing factors (aside from price) though were Pocketcloud's "slide" feature for viewing dual monitors, and it's synchronization with my Google Apps account (you know how I love Google).

Unfortunately, to view another monitor, LogMeIn requires that you make the switch in the settings menu. This only takes a few seconds, but is just enough of a hassle to annoy me.

If you're looking for a way to take yourself away from the office with your Android tablet or smartphone, Wyse Pocketcloud or LogMeIn Ignition, are my choices for remote computing in the Android Market.

Wyse Pocketcloud Pro RDP/VNC ($14.99)

Wyse Pocketcloud (Free)

LogMeIn Ignition ($29.99)

5 Things To Do To Your Android Device Immediately

Mashable offers 5 important things to do immediately do to your Android device. Heres the basic rundown, I suggest you read the entire article for the full scoop:

1. Dont skip the Google account setup
2. Get a car kit
3. Turn on WiFi
4. Set your apps to update less-often
5. Log-in to Google Talk

Im not so sure about number 5, but the first four are absolute musts.

You Ask, I Answer More on Android Tablets

In a follow-up to this post, another reader requested information and recommendations on Android tablets for a new solo-practice attorney. Heres the questions posed:

I recently left my firm to strike out on my own and one of the reasons for the shift is to move my practice into the 21st century.  I am a tech geek by nature and am going to have a paperless office, utilize the cloud for practice management and client interaction, etc.  One of the purchases I am making is a tablet.  I am not an Apple fan, which leaves an Android tablet.  Ive scoured the net and cannot find a good guide for the tablet to get for a lawyer.  Your sites guide had good insights, but I had considered the factors, just not sure which model to get.  Most lawyers I know that use tablets use iPads, but I think that is because those tablets are the most ubiquitous and easy to use.  Id love your input if you have the time to shoot me a reply.

I see two current contenders:

The former has a more robust processor and the docking bay is nicer.  The latter has the stylus pen and the attache case with the keyboard is not bad either.  Being a techno-phile I realize there is never the perfect device and always something better around the corner, but my ultimate question for one in the know is Which of these you recommend, or should I wait 2-3 months to see what 2012 brings (Ive read the Google is gunning for the tablet market itself).

Unfortunately, my response was rather ubiquitous and evasive, mostly because this reader had somewhat determined what two tablets would best suit the readers needs. As Ive stated before (here and here), choosing a tablet is as much about the tablet about your needs. If its not a good fit to start (be it Android or iOS), its never going to be a good fit.

Ultimately, I got to a final conclusion: if you put a gun to my head and told me to chose one tomorrow based on the current models, Id probably choose the Samsung Galaxy 10.1 Tab, but the Lenovo would be a close 2nd. Price would be the sole factor accessories cost money: $848 for the Lenovo & accessories versus $649 for the Samsung and accessories.

The general question and response on what is the Android tablet for lawyers will always depend on what needs the attorney has for the tablet. If your only desire is to read e-books, then the Amazon Kindle Fire will certainly suit your needs. However, as Ive stated, for any productive amount of legal work, the Kindle Fire wont cut it.

If you want a robust tool, as my reader seeks, then youll need to go with one of the bigger-screened tablets. Im interested in purchasing the Transformer Prime, but some of the delays in shipping have me concerned about its overall performance. Have no fear though, the release is set for sometime in early 2012.

The ubiquitous and easy-to-use features are the reason many attorneys opt for iPads over Android tablets. However, there are a significant amount of lawyer-specific apps that benefit attorneys. If Android had some of these apps, I think wed have a significant flock of lawyers coming to Android.

Googles rumored tablet is expected to release within 6 months, although I would expect a sooner release if the iPad 3 comes on board. This collaboration between Google and Motorola could present a game changer.

Ultimately, when youre looking to select an Android tablet for your law practice, you need to examine the following:

1. Storage Space
2. RAM
3. Operating System (current system is Android 4.0, though most new tablets have Android 3.0)
4. External Accessories keyboard, case, stylus
5. Primary Use
6. Cost
7. Important Apps to Run
8. Are you willing to create tweaks for non-performing functions or applications
9. How much do you want to be like this:

Why Your Android May Be Dead

Google is embattled in a number of patent infringement disputes. Well, not exactly Google, although it has a few, but some of the manufacturers who produce Android-based mobile devices.

On July 15, 2011, the ITC, which is the governing review body for patents, ruled that device maker HTC had infringed on patents held by Apple. The problem is that the patents are core components to the overall usefulness of the smartphone. I think Apple handled this litigation in a brilliant manner: attack the makers of the phones, not the maker of the operating system. This ruling is going to force Google to consider how it wants to handle future development.

I think the biggest problem is going to be the issue of royalties paid to Apple because of the functions. I also think that Microsoft is suddenly smiling because it isnt seeing its device plummeting to obscurity (MS guarantees no licensing problems). How much this ruling hurts Google and its contingent of manufacturers, is still to be determined.

Moreover, this is just an initial ruling, which is going to find an appeal to the federal courts. We have years of litigation ahead (how about that for Google and HTCs big shot law firms cha-ching). I am confident that all parties will find a certain compromise that will compensate Apple for its technology, while hedging a profit for Android device makers.

Finally, recent news reports that Google is stepping into the fight. This is going to be big for everyone.

Easy Tethering

One of the things I love about my Android phone is the ability to root the device, and optimize my phones capacity. One way I enhance my capabilities is to tether my phone with my tablet.

Recently I took an extended drive with my family across several states. As we drove, we paired my phone with the tablet to enable my wife to browse the internet. My tethering app of choice is Barancle WiFi Tether.

I love the app because of the ability to tether via a secured (always use) or unsecured WiFi connection.

If you havent found this app by now, youre missing out.

Why Apple Continues to Beat Android, At Least For Now

Until all Android developers get on board with releasing a unified product, I believe iOS will continue to outpace Android OS in overall consumer use and loyalty. Despite Androids claims of dominance, the true reason iOS continues to outshine Android is because iOS maintains one unified operating system. Quite simply, you know when you purchase an iPhone or iPad, youre going to be on the latest operating system. When you purchase an Android device, the answer is, who knows. Some Android devices are still operating on 1.5, an obsolete and extinct system.

Well, as this post shows, theres no incentive for developers to upgrade your device. Its too costly, and they arent receiving any benefits from your upgrade. Thus, in the name of customer no-service there isnt a single manufacturer or wireless carrier who cares whether you have Android 1.x or Android 4.0. And you thought you were getting a 4.0 update sometime in 2012.

Therein lies Androids biggest problem. With its open system, there is no cohesive OS to force manufacturers or wireless carriers to behave equally. They already have your money, and therefore youre forced to continue using your outdated device while your iPhone-carrying-yuppy-friends have Siri.

(Caution Language)

Wishing You a Merry Christmas

Hope your Christmas Day is filled with love, admiration, and pleasant joy.

Lower Price On gTablet

Just to let you know, TigerDirect.com has a great, lower price on the Viewsonic gTablet. It will take some manipulating to make it functional, but once that's done, you have a great device.

Daily Dilbert Makes Me Laugh

Today's Dilbert had me chuckling. Since this comic really only applies to non-iPhone phones (or does it, considering the "antenna problem"), it might explain many people's adept thinking:

I especially like the end comment, "It has apps."

You Ask, I Answer About Using Tablets

I love receiving questions from my readers. Heres a copy of an email I received:

 I am an attorney located in [some big city], and I found your website while researching ways to use a Tablet to help make our office more paper-less.  I have been using a Tablet in court now for about 2 weeks as part of a test to show that this can be done efficiently and effectively (mainly Docs to Go to pull up docs and PDFs and to take notes of discussions with prosecutors).

In my office, I am in the Traffic/Criminal department, so I am in court a lot defending small criminal matters and traffic citations. So far I like the ease in which I have been able to use it, but I know I am only scratching the surface of what can be done. You had mentioned in a previous post about how you use your Tablet to run dispositions, and use it effectively in court. I am curious what apps you do use on a daily basis that you find most helpful, both in and out of court.

Also, what have you found to be the negatives about using technology like this? Have you had any worries regarding lost data from a crash, etc?

I look forward to hearing from you.

And here is my response:

Dear Big City Android Attorney:

Thanks for reading this blog. Im glad youre using your tablet. I think as you use it more, youre going to find a simple love for the quick access to information.

Its hard to pin-point some absolute must have in or out of court apps. You might check out my favorite apps of 2011 for some ideas. Id say my two most important apps are Dropbox and RepliGo Reader. I suppose, if I claimed any app as my dual-purpose favorites, these two qualify. I dont enter court without moving all of the documents Ill need into my Dropbox folder.

I also depend heavily on my navigation app (I prefer the native app, but Waze is slowly winning me over).

For note taking, I like Evernote, which is popular with a lot of attorneys, and PenSupremacy for Tablets. One caveat with PenSupremacy is the fact that it requires a verification from Google that youve purchased the app. Very stupid, and certainly makes the app useless if you dont have an internet connection for the verification process.

Many attorneys love Evernote, and try to use it much like Dropbox. I dont understand this I never got into using Evernote for more than a note-taking (I love it for trial, depo, or hearing preparation), but Ive heard of attorneys dumping large amounts of data and information for storage and use. One of my colleagues here in Oklahoma, Shawn Roberts, wrote a great post on his blog about how he uses Evernote. Very must read. One thing he mentions, that I havent done, is to use Evernote to take pictures of medical records and prescriptions. I think an extension is to take pictures of your stuff for insurance.

When it comes to documents, I use Documents to Go (dont forget to purchase the full app). However, I store most of the documents I create on my tablet in Google Docs, since it syncs across platforms. Unfortunately, both apps suck have their drawbacks when youre talking document creation on an Android tablet or smartphone. Dont worry though, either app will be okay in a pinch.

While Im on the topic of Google Docs, a lot of people are concerned about cloud computing, especially in terms of security.  One of the biggest questions I get is, Is my stuff safe? This is certainly a valid and worthwhile concern, especially considering a lawyers ethical obligations. In my opinion (you should check with your bar association) any company that offers the following, meets the ethical obligation standard: 128 or higher encryption, https access, multiple-site storage, redundant data backup, and 24/7 technical support (even if its in India). Heck, their security and backup measures are probably 20 times greater than your own. The thing Im most leery about is putting everything to the cloud, then having the company go belly-up. Though, I think for now, its a pretty safe bet Google isnt going anywhere anytime soon.

As for my concerns with data crashes or the like, theyre minimal. Since Im fairly well-prepared when I go to a court hearing or other matter, I can often act on the fly if I cant access my data. The biggest problem for me, because I sync everything into my Dropbox account, has been being able to quickly retrieve the documents when I get to court. One advantage Documents to Go has over Dropbox, is that the application syncs all documents directly to your mobile device. This can be a storage nightmare, but with 32 gb microSD cards, Id be surprised if you tapped out. DTG is the must-do method if you wont have WiFi or tethering access.

I will mention that one of the biggest hassles of any document method is getting stuff back into your main file folder on your server or online when youre done. I havent found an efficient or easy method for doing this, other than to physically transfer the file back. If you do, Id love to hear about it.

By the way, heres a reminder about transferring files: never cut and paste your original folder onto your tablet. You must always move your files using copy and paste. Your tablet is an extension of your paperless file folder system, not the system. I once heard of an attorney who would store files on multiple microSD cards, for security. The attorney didnt have copies of the original files anywhere but the multiple microSD cards. Not only is this the most inefficient way of storing files, its (in my opinion) a violation of Rule 1.15.

After all that, I hope Ive at least touched on some of your broadest concerns, and given you somewhat sensible solutions. I recommend that you check out my site, explore the posts, and if you want more input, feel free to send me an email [jeff at thedroidlawyer.com]. I also appreciate your input on Android and ways youre using Android devices in your law firm.

Sincerely,

Jeff Taylor, The Droid Lawyer

If youre wondering about something Android-related, or youd like to guest post, please let me know.

 

Apps for Android

I love articles that discuss the "essentials" of Android, and I especially love articles, such as this one, which discuss applications. since the benefit of smartphones is only limited by their applications, I love when I can discover a cool app that improves my life.

While I've tried just about every one of the apps mentioned by PC World, I wanted to highlight some of my favorites from their article.

My first favorite is Dropbox (although with their recent security snafu, I'm not so sure). This is a great app for sharing files/folders in the cloud.

Next is Pandora. I LOVE being able to select a station based on some genre, and listen to your hearts content. Currently, I'm loving the "Glee Cast Station."

Lookout Mobile Security provides me with some comfort when I download new applications. While Netflix (available on my gTablet & Motorola Droid) and Google Music round out my top choices.

Finally, here are some of their apps I'm not too impressed with: 

PicSayPro kind of a childish application with very little use.

WatchESPN the limited number of available carriers (Bright House Networks Verizon FIOS TV, Time Warner or Verizon High Speed Internet), makes the app completely worthless unless you subscribe to one of these service providers. None of them are available where I live.

Imo I think instant messaging is dead, in favor of texting. I can't remember the last time I sent an IM to someone that wasn't a text. Great concept for 2005. Maybe I'm just too old though?

Dragon & Siri Together on Your Android DeviceSort of

Dragon Naturally Speaking, and Siri on my Android phone? I guess Christmas came early this year. Well, sort of.

Probably the two best things about iOS, Nuances Dragon Natural Speaking and Siri, may soon be available on your Android phone. A lot of attorneys love DNS (me being one of them), and of course everyone is smitten by Siri her sexy voice and witty comments (caution: contains vulgarity).

Well, fret no longer Android lovers, because you can get DNS with a download of the Swype app. I havent really loved Swype, my carnie fingers find it much too cumbersome, heck, I can barely type on the on-screen keyboard, but this may be an opinion-changeralmost.

Almost, because theres a catch: the beta version will not work if you have Swype pre-installed on your phone (my Droid Bionic does). Sigh. Who knows when Motorola will update that.

That also leads to the second hopeful rumor. Nuance also acquired Vlingo, the popular (and pre-dating) Siri alternative. Vlingo is a great Android alternative to Siri, and hopefully this acquisition will further improve Vlingos usefulness.

Google Wishes You Happy Holidays

Were t-minus Christmas, and Google released this years Happy Holidays video, which I think is pretty fantastic.

Did you notice a couple things about the video?

• Santas number is 855-347-2682 (I guarantee your kids will chuckle) dont forget about this site either
• The little boy was using a Google+ hangout that now supports video chat
• Theres a doughnut next to the Android robot at the start, but it is missing in the end snapshot (its there when Santas taking the picture) whats that about?
• Santa brings a white Android snowman, which is something I want to add to my bobble head collection

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from The Droid Lawyer family.

DIY Applications

Wow! Thats all I can say about this new website, buzztouch. This is a website that allows you to create an iPhone or Android application without any coding skills. The best part is that its free. If youre interested in reading a full how-to on the site/application, check out information about the site or this site.

The control panel features over 20 different, customizable (albeit limited) menus. You can add anything from your contact information to documents and complex HTML code. This is an especially good application for lawyers or law firms wishing to design their own application, without paying a premium fee for coding.

Once youre finished, you download the source code, and compile it using XCode (iOS) or Eclipse (Android). Very cool! Check it out.

Sneak Peek The Droid Lawyer Redesigned

The new website design is up, and almost ready to go live permanently. Im interested in your opinions regarding the design, style, and appearance.

The Google-powered Law Office

 

Here's an interesting concept: what if you used Google to manage everything in your law office? What would that look like?

So, here's what I think:

First, you'd use Google Apps to manage email, calendaring, tasks, contacts, and documents. I wrote about this sometime ago. Don't forget too, Google Apps also extends your capabilities for time tracking, accounting, and CRM services, through third-party "connector" applications.

Second, you'd purchase Google-integrated devices such as a smartphone and tablet. With all three of the major cell phone providers carrying ample Android devices to fit your style. You'll also splurge for an Android tablet, such as the Viewsonic gTablet, Asus Transformer, or Motorola Xoom.

Third, you'd purchase a Google Chromebook. The Chromebook is built for a web-like experience, based on Google's popular Chrome browser. The devices are listed for sale through Amazon or BestBuy for about $500.

Fourth, you'd manage your research using Google search or Google Scholar.

Finally, you'd manage information with Google Alerts, Google Reader and Google News.

So, now what are your thoughts?

So You Want an Android Tablet

Right now, the rage for attorneys is the iPad. It's sleek, efficient, and frankly, packed with easy-to-install options that "make it run out of the box." I wouldn't blame you for being even slightly envious.

However, manufacturers are starting to build sleek, useful, and similarly situated Android OS tablets, that will compete with, and exceed the capabilities of the iPad (whether the apps match is still a debate).

If you're looking to purchase an Android tablet, there are a few things to be aware of:

1. Screen size. The standard (to match the iPad) is a 10.1" viewable screen. All of the new tablets have this.
2. Memory. 16 gb of storage is a must. I purchased an additional 16 gb microSD card for my gTablet to expand it to 32 gb. This enables you to save and move all of your files, programs and documents, to your heart's content.
3. HD. All of the new tablets have at least 720p for high definition viewing, and most of them (can't think of one that doesn't) have 1080p.
4. Operating System (ROM). Unfortunately, not all Android devices are equally (something Apple does well). New tablets, like the Motorola Xoom and Asus eee Transformer, have Android 3.0, also known as Honeycomb. Android 3.0 is customized for tablets. Older models, like my gTablet, come stocked with Android 2.1 or 2.2. While the trend will be for tablets to move and adopt the Honeycomb OS, you still need to know which OS you're working with.
5. Price. While prices are dropping on Android tablets, you're still going to need to commit some serious cash. Most will cost you between $399 and $799.
6. WiFi v. 3G. You need to consider where/when you're going to use the device, and whether you're okay with a WiFi connection or whether you need a 3g connection. I think most people, unless you're highly mobile, can get away with a WiFi device and tether it to your smartphone.

With all of the basics sorted out, it's time to pick a device. I predict that by the end of 2011, prices on Android tablets will drop, while selection will increase. Already, Samsung, Dell, Amazon, and Vizio, are preparing for the release of their Android 3.0 devices.

So, how would I rank the tablets currently on the market? The champion ribbon goes to the Asus Transformer ($435 from Amazon). This baby is awesome in power and features. It has an expandable/attachable keyboard and all the bells of other devices.

My runner up is the Viewsonic gTablet. I own this device (although I covet the Transformer, anyone want to sponsor my purchase?) and LOVE IT. There's a number of options available, and it works with pretty much with every scenario I've given it. There are a number of ROMs available (needs rooting for sure see my posts here and here), which make it an effective device. Plus, you can watch Netflix. This is a great, cheap (find it for around $270) option.

Finally, my third option (and trailing far behind the others) is the Motorola Xoom. This is the original Honeycomb tablet, but with a price point of $599-plus, there's other better options. Quite simply, it's a good device. The bonus of the device is that it's 3g-enabled, with a number of other bells. However, if you're considering this device, you should take a long, thoughtful look at the new Samsung Galaxy 10.1.

Hope this helps your decision a little. I'd love to hear what your top pick is.

What Android Navigation App is Number 1?

Lifehacker has an interesting review of some of the Android GPS navigation apps available. Their top choice for turn-by-turn navigation ended up being the very lovely, Waze app. While I agree with a lot of the authors comments on the pros and cons, I would add that Waze feels a bit too childish, geared toward my non-existent driving social connections, more than just telling me how to get around.

However, my favorite navigation app has always been the native Android GPS app, although CoPilot Live USA comes in a close 2nd. Fortunately, I was able to pick up CoPilot for a steal at $0.99 when they offered it about one and a half years ago. One of the benefits of CoPilot is the downloadable (albeit huge) maps for offline navigation.

I think the real-time navigation options for Android is awesome. I purchased a car dock for my Droid Bionic, and I love it.

Expand Your Computers Desktop

Do you need a second monitor, but youre not willing to fork out $100+ for a new one? Well, this post shows you how to use your Android tablet as a second monitor.

This is an interesting concept, since many attorneys will benefit from using 2 monitors. I have two 21 inch monitors at my desk, and I love em. Not too sure though that I want to start using my tablet at my desk. Although, theres a good way to watch Netflix without having to waste screen space. Oh wait, I already do that with the Netflix app on my tablet.

Grab either of the recommended apps here or here (grab the Windows connection app here).

Hacking the gTablet to Get Netflix

I know, iPad and iPhone users will gloat (significantly) about the fact that they can view Netflix movies right on their device, without any substantial effort. In fact, one of my biggest criticisms about the Android system is that it's openness potentially closes it relevant applications because of its "hackability."

Well, gloat no further iOS users, because with relative ease Android OS can run Netflix (albeit without a truly clean interface). I'm not talking about the open devices either, which allow you to download Netflix from the market. I'm talking "closed" devices, such as my gTablet. Here's the easy approach:

1. Root your device.

2. Install Cyanogenmod 7 ROM. 

3. Install Netflix .apk (you can find this easily by search Google or some of the Android OS forums). Use your SD Card to transfer this to your device.

4. Enjoy Netflix streaming anywhere with a WiFi/tethered connection.

It's quite easy, and quite lovely to relax and watch your Netflix cue from your gTablet.

Image courtesy of this site.

Look for Changes to your Android UI

Unfortunately for HTC, and subsequently Google, the US International Trade Commission ruled that HTCs Android smartphones infringe on key Apple patents (heres how for a detailed review). The ruling, affects key portions of the HTC user interface, or UI, one of which is the feature that allows you to click a phone number in an email, webpage, or other spot, and have the phone dial. So, unless HTC redesigns its UI, any devices that infringe on Apples patent will not be imported into the United States after April.

Although in the grand scheme of things, this isnt a huge part of the devices user experience, this ruling is a blow to HTC, and hence, Android. So, obviously, unless HTC and Google want to remove that portion of the device experience from their Android OS and devices, which it probably will, Apple appears set to receive significant royalties from these devices, similar to Microsoft.

My biggest problem with these patent lawsuits is the vagueness of the patents. Now, Im not an intellectual property lawyer, but the patents seem awfully vague. In fact, since I dont know any better, the patent sounds like Apple owns the rights to a hyperlink.

However, as the saying goes, what goes around comes around, and Apple had better watch out especially since Google owns the lockscreen patent, which allows the mobile device to play music, silence the device, display tasks and information, and place calls from the lockscreen.

 

 

Google AdWords Coupons

If you're a new Google AdWords user (meaning you haven't taken advantage of an AdWords coupon elsewhere), and you'd like to try it, I have a $100 gift card available for you.

Since I'm part of the Google Engage team, I have "special" training in using AdWords to improve your business.

This is purely selfish, since one of the perks/incentives for signing up new users is a Nexus S phone (ahhHomer Simpson drool).

Interested? Shoot me an email at jeff [at] thedroidlawyer [dot] com.

App Review: Mobile Transcript

I dont know where I first bumped into the Mobile Transcript (free) application by Mobile Transcript, LLC, but I recently downloaded the app to play around with.

At first, it seemed like a novel idea, an app to read and annotate deposition transcripts, blah. However, as I delved more deeply into the application, I became enamored with its useful possibilities for attorneys. iPhoneJD did a review of the application for the iOS, and my fundamental review doesnt differ significantly from his analysis. In fact, it seems all of the positives (time tracking, ease of use, etc.) and all of the negatives (small screen, accessibility, etc.) are my chief complaints. So, rather than rehash Jeffs comments, Ill add some short ones I feel are most important.

First, and most significantly, I love that the app lets you create a deposition summary quickly and easily from inside the app, and enables you to deliver your notes/highlights to an assistant or other lawyer. One wasteful thing about the depo summary is that usually its created by someone else, with little or no experience in analyzing a case.

Second, I love the time capture. Although I can easily time myself while Im reading, sometimes I forget and its difficult to remember whether I started at 6:30 or 7:30.

Third, offline mode sucks. Depositions are available for reviewing only when you have an internet connection. Seems kind of pointless to me, especially if I plan on reviewing a depo while Im in the air or on a drive somewhere.

Finally, and the biggest turnoff for me, I dislike the small screen. Since 95% of the work I do now is on my Viewsonic gTablet, I rarely use my smartphone device for anything more than a WiFi hotspot, GPS, and cell phone. Not having a tablet mode certainly minimizes the usefulness of the application for me. I thoroughly dislike viewing transcripts on a 4 inch screen, as opposed to my 10 inch capacity.

Overall, the concept is great. However, for me the few (and theyre big) flaws, minimize the usefulness and appeal of this application. I dont say I wouldnt use the application in a pinch, but I would think twice before choosing this mobile app over a traditional PDF file.

Mobile Transcript (free)

The Google-Powered Law Office, Revisited

The December 2011 issue of Law Practice Today, graced my inbox with its presence, filled with tidbits of information that only the ABA can advertise provide.

Theres one article, called The Google-Powered Law Office, that caught my attention. This article, written by Carole Levitt and Mark Rosch, is actually worth a quick read, and is similar to one of my early posts. I love some of the practical explanations of the Google tools, especially their practicalities and implementation in the law office.

I do have a couple small gripes with the article, such as the suggestion that Google Apps is one of the online tools, when in fact its the platform for the implementation of the online tools; and their suggestion you purchase an Outlook sync app, when one is included in your paid subscription (you are paying for the service, arent you?).

 

In re: The Motorola Droid Bionic

I purchased the Motorola Droid Bionic phone before Thanksgiving this year. I love it. I recommend it to any lawyer looking to purchase an Android smartphone.

The Connected Lawyer, Bryan Sims, also has a Droid Bionic. He loves his.

However, Bryan has some complaints, which I want to address, and which are complaints about any smartphone in general.

Complaint #1: It is big. Yes, the Droid Bionic is bigger than most other smartphones. I dont mind the weight, and I have an extended battery too (not sure if The Connected Lawyer bought the extended battery.) I carry my phone on my hip because Im a cowboy because Im a geek. I was a sucker and made the salesman some extra cash purchased the protective case and hip holster. This adds a little weight to the device too.

Complaint #2: Iffy connections. I agree with this complaint. Sometimes my device suffers data loss, but its quick to recover. However, Motorola released a major update (which begs the question why so soon?) that fixes the connectivity problem. To apply the update: Settings > About phone > System updates. After the download, youll be on system version 5.5.893blahblahblah. Its great. I no longer lose connection.

Complaint #3: Contact pictures. Not exactly sure what this is, because all of my contacts have transferred over. I dont use Exchange server though. Using sync for Google Apps, my Outlook and Google Apps accounts talk like theyre two old friends. Unfortunately, my biggest problem in this arena is organizing my contacts into some meaningful categories in Outlook and on Google Apps.

Complaint #4: Battery life. Yes, more power means more battery consumption. I dont have this problem because I purchased the expansion, which basically gives me a gazillion hours (Im not sure how many, thats just a lie) of use. I also have a car charger/dock and charging cables in my office, so that helps too. I also havent experienced much battery drain when using my phone as a hotspot. I suspect that if I had multiple devices connected, that might be a problem.

A couple suggestions to conserve battery life on any device:

1. Turn off Wi-Fi. This is a proven battery killer. Settings > Wireless & networks > Wi-Fi
2. Turn down the brightness of your screen. Settings > Display > Brightness
3. Disable widgets. Widgets, those cute little apps that run in the background and feed you everything from the weather to your social media, feast at the battery buffet.
4. Turn off background updates and notifications. Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Google Voice, Email, and similar apps, always ask for permission to deliver you timely information. Unfortunately, these notification updates also feast at the battery buffet. If youre not interested in knowing what your friends are doing every minute of the day, kill these background updates.
5. Connect to cords when using a hotspot. I usually connect my Droid Bionic to my tablet or netbook via USB if Im going to be hotspotting for awhile. This keeps my device charged, and I can still use Wi-Fi, which is faster than the USB connection.
6. Limit videos. If youre streaming a lot of Netflix movies, YouTube videos, or NFL, youre going to use a lot of battery. Im impressed though. I watched 5 full episodes of Burn Notice, on Netflix, without so much as a hint of battery drain.

Unlike Bryan though, I have one small complaint which Ill add to his list: call volume. Not sure if its my hearing loss, or the Droid Bionic itself, but I notice that when I talk on the phone, the volume is atrocious. Sometimes I can barely hear the other party. Its likely me, because a slight adjustment of the phone on my ear helps correct the issue. I prefer, although the listener may not, to operate from my car dock using my car stereo.

We both love our Motorola Droid Bionic smartphones. I think any attorney looking for an Android device will be happy with the Droid Bionic. In case you didnt know, I debated between the HTC Rezound, the Motorola Droid Razr, and the Motorola Droid Bionic.

Update: 9:52 CST Heres an actual photo from my Droid Bionic:

Music Beta by Google

My invitation to join Music Beta by Google arrived this week. I signed up for the service when Google first announced it. The service is similar to Amazon Cloud Player and the new iCloud from Apple. However, like everything Google, Music Beta is "free for a limited time."

Signing in to the service brings up a list of your most recently-added songs and albums.

From here, you can click an album to begin playing, or continue to browse and search.

The service has it's "Music Manager" program, that enables you to upload music from your computer to the cloud.

There's also the Android app for use and download to your smartphone or other Android device.

Overall, I'm quite happy with the service. However, I have found a couple of flaws and slight annoyances (it's still "beta").

First, the Music Manager program freezes quite often. I'm not sure whether this is my doing (uploading over 5,000 songs), or whether it's a flaw with the program itself.

Second, deleting an album or other song has been quite tedious. While the search, album/song/artist lists all show that the music is not there, I'm finding several songs/albums that remain. Although this isn't a big deal, sometimes I don't want to hear the bellowing screech of Glenn Beck's voice, or some Christmas lullaby.

If you're interested, grab an invitation, and start streaming your music.

Grays Anatomy is not so Grey

The Grays Anatomy app made it into my list of 2011s Top Apps for Android Lawyers because of the simplicity and detail of the app. At the insanely-low price of $2.99, the Grays Anatomy app features all of the benefits of the book, without the weight or cost. Where much of my law practice is personal injury, this app is very helpful in pinpointing the specifics of the human body, illustrating them, and then explaining what the anatomical part is.

The app features beautiful and fairly high-resolution reproductions of the original anatomy drawings. The apps anatomical database is arranged beginning at the head and neck and working southward on the body.

When we talk about the images, were talking classical and high-quality. I love them.

 

I love that the app also allows you to bookmark specific illustrations, perhaps for later use.

While this app certainly wont replace your desk copy, or even some of the information you can find on the internet, its perfect as a quick reference. I use the app to view specific anatomy discussed in a deposition or medical report. I have considered using the app in a method similar to this, but I havent had the opportunity.

If youre a lawyer looking for an anatomy app, certainly at $2.99, Grays Anatomy app is well worth the small price.

Grays Anatomy

Refer for Review

I'm generally satisfied with my Motorola Droid, but I have wondered about the new Samsung Nexus S phone. Well, legal tech consultant, Ted Brooks, introduced me to his blog, Court Technology and Trial Presentation.

The blog is about, wellcourt technology and trial presentation. Recently though, he reviewed the Nexus S phone.

This is a great review of the phone, and almost gets me to switch (Sprint, no thank you). Check it out.

Supercharge Your Law Practice: Review Edition

Jim Calloway recently put together an awesome legal education event for young and old lawyers, called "Supercharge Your Law Practice." Seriously, I wish it could have been a 3 day event. I had the privilege of attending and presenting at the event.

The morning started with a dismal outlook from Jim on the future of the legal profession basically, because of the economy, outsourcing, extended competition, lawyers need to work smarter and utilize technology.

Tim Green, an Oklahoma oil & gas attorney followed with a presentation on using and creating checklists, and implementing mind-mapping techniques to improve your law firm systems. The money quote from Tim: "You get checklists so you don't have to think, because I hate to think." Spot on correct!

Donna Brown of 35-45 Consulting LLC, joined Jim for a 2-hour review of everything from the paperless office to simple document assembly techniques. By the way, I'm sold on the purchase of the Fujitsu ScanSnap printer for my law office.

I concluded the program with a review of smartphone and social media (grab the PDF of my presentation).

Overall, if you missed this CLE, you missed a great opportunity to gain ideas that will help you build market share as an attorney (or other professional). You really need to check it out on the replay.

Transcripts at Trial

The iPhone J.D., Jeff Richardson, has this great post on how he uses transcripts in trial. Since he just finished a pretty robust trial, Im sure his method is a-plus certified and tested.

Coincidentally, his method is similar to the one I discussed. The Android equivalent for lawyers, as I also discussed, is RepliGo Reader.

One this I love that he mentions, which I forgot, is the fact that tablets have more battery life than laptops, and require little or no cords to operate. Their compact design means you wont have to heft file boxes full of depositions or transcripts to court. Although I dont completely think that full paper copies of depositions are required (after all, you have the certified copy for each of yours), I agree its probably advisable.

Settle It Now with Picture It Settled

Don Philbin alerted me to the brand new Picture It Settled Android app (coincidentally, Don has a vested interest in the app as its developer), that I think many attorneys will love, especially those who deal with plaintiff or defendant-side negotiations. The app has been around for the iPhone, but Don brought it over to Android (lite version for now). Heres the spoiler: this app is pretty cool, and certainly beats my stair approach diagrammed on a yellow notepad.

Picture It Settled provides attorneys with the ability to see their dollar negotiations and try to match them either as a percentage-based calculation, or dollar-for-dollar.

Picture It Settled starts with the home screen where you can enter the names of the parties in the case. You can select your client, plaintiff or defendant, and enter the case style or title.

The Make/Receive Offer screen is where the magic happens. Here you can, obviously, make or receive a settlement offer. For instance, we can input the opening offer with a date and time. The app will then ask whether you want to input a counteroffer (receive an offer):

 If you choose Yes, youll be able to put in what the opposing side has offered. Choosing No takes you to history screen.

You can continue on the send and receive path to settlement, or save the information, or case demographics for use later. The demographics includes information about the case type and forum type.

Honestly, I found the demographics information the least useful, and although I handle plenty of plaintiffs personal injury cases, could rarely see myself worrying about imputing this data in the app. I suspect if there were some sort of report, then that might be helpful.

My favorite part of this app is the graphical display.Here you can see the progress of the negotiations tracked by date and time. As negotiations flow, so does the graph. At the end you can see where you settled. But, the coolest part is that the app actually projects the final settlement.

For instance, in this picture, the app projected our ending date, time, and dollar amounts (thus the separation). This can give you some sort of estimate as to the span of your negotiations and the outcome. I could see this as a very helpful tool in setting some realities for a client during a heated mediation or settlement phase.

 

 

 

 

 

Once you settle, the graph then congratulates you, and further displays the course of your settlement discussions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a well-designed and graphically appealing application. I wished I had this app about 2 weeks ago as I attempted to scratch out settlement negotiations in a couple of cases on my yellow pad.

The app tracks a number of cases (I put in 10 theory cases with no problem), and Im sure is only limited by the space on your phone.

Unfortunately, the app isnt (at least for me) available on tablet. I dont know that it matters too much, but I always like to have the bigger display.

Also, as I mentioned above, I didnt find the demographics too useful. A lot of extra typing to gather a minimal amount of excess information. I suspect though, if I was a mediator and used the information to publish jury verdict reports, that information might be useful.

Click here if you want to see a video.

You can grab the app in the Android Market, its free for now, but certainly well worth the cost (within reason) for the paid version if and when its available.