The Bill and Phil Show

BILL AND PHIL’S GADGET OF THE MONTH CLUB
GREEN GADGETS

                As all of you know, April 22, 2008, is Earth Day.  At our monthly NBA Journal Editorial Committee Meeting in March, I whined and moaned to the Committee that I did not have any “Green Gadgets” to put in this month’s column.  Phillip Hampton and the NBA Journal Committee quickly proved me wrong.  I was quickly flooded with emails from Stephanie Reevers, Marjorie Haines, and others, including my “techie-partner,” Phillip Hampton, with any number of websites and articles containing copious listings of green gadgets.  A simple Google search for the term “Green Gadgets” will return page after page of listings of green gadgets and articles about them.  For example, there is www.greatgreengadgets.com, www.coolgreengadgets.com, www.greenguide.com, and, of course, www.greengadgets.com that redirects you to www.store.greengadgets.ca.  All of these sites have interesting green gadgets.  Here are just a few of them:

 1.  There is the Fujitsu Life Book Laptop that is made from materials that are derived from corn.  However, it is presently for sale only in Japan. The manufacturing process results in great energy savings, and the shell of the computer can be completely recycled.  www.fujitsu.com.

 2.  There is the Eco Pod.  The Eco Pod represents a revolutionary design in coffins that are made from naturally hardened 100% recycled paper.  It is the ideal product for a non-toxic burial.  You can find it at www.nigelsecostore.com.

 3.  There are any number of items that use solar power to recharge the batteries on cell phones or small phones or other handheld devices.  For example, there is the solar cell strap from StrapYa, featuring a tiny solar cell that is about the size of a key chain. You can use it to recharge your telephone battery on your handset.  This item is available at www.strapya-world.com.  There is also a dock made by NRG that uses a photovoltaic panel to capture solar energy for charging personal and handheld devices at home.  There are many such devices made by this company, and they can be found at www.nrgdock.com.

 4.  Then there is the Aion.  The Aion is a multi-functional appliance which utilizes plants for their filtering and cleaning properties to provide a renewable source of cleaning water.  When cooking, the plant acts as a filtering hood.  When it’s time to clean up, place the dirty dishes in the sink, shut the hood and a natural cleaning cycle will begin.  This gadget is not yet fully commercially available but will be available very soon.  You can read more about it at www.antoinelebrun.fr.  Antoine Lebrun is the designer of this futuristic Jetson-like gadget.

 5.  Finally, there is Sony’s new XEL-1 television which uses an organic light-omitting diode (OLED technology).  It uses very little electricity and the picture on the television is incredible (much better than any HD television you have seen).  The television only comes in an 11 inch model that is amazingly thin (only 3 mm.).  The price is amazing as well.  It costs $2,500.  You can see it at www.sonystyle.com.  This is the television of the future, though.

 So, as usual, I was wrong (just as I was wrong when I said in last month’s issue that Ed Yarbrough is “repelling” instead of “rappelling”).  There are plenty of green gadgets out there.  Try some of them out.  See you next month. 

 See you next month,         

Bill, on behalf of Bill & Phil - www.thebillandphilshow.com

www.Jott.com:  You Can Leave Home With It

There is a very cool and useful website/Internet service called Jott, www.Jott.com, and it is free!

Jott is a cell phone/voice recognition/reminder service that works as follows.  First, you log on to www.Jott.com and set up an account.  Next, set up your contacts with each contact’s email address and/or phone number.  After you have completed the initial setup,  call 1-866-Jott-123.  A voice comes on the telephone and asks the question “Who do you want to Jott?” (Ignore the grammar error.) You then dictate the message (from your phone –cell or wired) to your contact, your calendar, to folders you have set up (to do list, etc.), to a Blog or to yourself. 

For example, you will be asked as follows:  “Who do you want to Jott?”  You will answer “Phil.”  The voice will then say “Phillip Hampton,  is this correct?”  You will answer “Yes.”  You will then hear a prompt to start dictating.  You can dictate a message up to thirty seconds.  Then the cool part begins.

If you have dictated clearly enough (and this service is very forgiving), the Jott voice will say “Got it.”  The service will then automatically send an email or a text message to the designated recipient.  If the message is to yourself, it will send you a reminder email, or will place a reminder on a calendar, or will place the item in a “to do” list. 

The service apparently uses a very sophisticated voice recognition system, because it very clearly and accurately converts your voice to text.  I have had very few errors since I have been using Jott.  For example, just to check out the service, I dictated an entry in the Bill Ramsey and Phillip Hampton Blog (www.theBillandPhilShow.com) using Jott.  All I had to do was tell Jott that I wanted to Jott “Blog.”  Jott then created an entry for our Blog and it accurately converted my voice to text as follows:

 I am dictating this Blog through a new service called Jott, www.Jott.com.  I am posting a Blog using my cell phone and the service Jott is posting it to the web.

When your recipient receives the Jott message, the recipient also receives a recording of your message in case there is a misunderstanding.

I enjoy the service.  It works great and it is free.  Give it a try.

See you next month,
Bill and Phil

Bill and Phil Gadget Article

June 2008

This month’s column features some technology gadgets that we are not necessarily endorsing, but we are seeing more and more as factors in litigation.  Specifically we turn our attention to spy technology.  The reason we are highlighting these eavesdropping gadgets is because whether in domestic law or in corporate investigations, increasingly computer forensic examinations are uncovering the existence of some of these technologies in homes and in the workplace.  Attorneys should be aware of the existence of this technology and its potential impact upon discovery and litigation.

Spectorsoft Corporation (www.spectorsoft.com) sells several software applications that can be classified as “monitoring” tools.  Spector Pro, eBlaster, Spector 360, and Spector CNE are their signature products which are all designed to capture a computer user’s keystrokes, intercept e-mail, and monitor internet usage, all without the user’s knowledge.  When one’s computer has been loaded with this software, every web page visit, every internet search, every password entered, every document authored, even every e-mail received can be forwarded surreptitiously to a remote user.  The existence of these programs is very difficult to detect on the victim’s computer; and often the Spectorsoft programs are only detected via a computer forensic examination on the hard drive.  Imagine a wife’s surprise when an investigation on her ex-husband’s hard drive uncovers the existence of every “private” e-mail that she has sent to or received from her attorney. 

Another spy software application found at www.e-stealth.com is MobileSpy, which can be used to exploit Bluetooth connectivity on mobile phones to eavesdrop.  According to the product website, this software can be used to view contact lists, read text messages, view photos, and access phone call records from a remote mobile phone.  The software maker further states that “nothing is logged, you leave absolutely no trace of your spying activities”.  Pretty scary!

The Super TrackStick Personal GPS Tracking Device (www.spygadgets.com) is a very compact GPS unit that can be slipped into a backpack, purse, or vehicle to record movement virtually anywhere in the world.  Once the trip has been recorded, one can plug the GPS device into a computer via the USB interface and download a record of the entire trip.

Keyloggers, which capture and record user keystrokes on a computer, are widely available on the internet and come both in hardware and software varieties.  There is a good review of many common keyloggers at keylogger.com.  Interestingly, a disclaimer on the site states, “…breaking into other people’s computer without their permission can be considered illegal by the courts of many countries.”  The existence of keyloggers is a very good reason for never conducting any type of confidential business or communication on a public access computer, such as in a hotel business center or an internet kiosk at an airport.

Webcams can be a nuisance when your kids are sending silly video instant messages to their friends.  Sophisticated, stealth webcams can be a dangerous spy tool used for nefarious purposes.  Stealthcams come in many varieties, disguised as clocks, mirrors, common AV equipment, and even air purifiers.  Many of these examples can be seen and purchased at www.theprotectionpros.com.

BILL AND PHIL’S GADGET OF THE MONTH -

“Ready or Not, Here They Come:  The Next Generation of Mobile Phones”

             With the roll-out of its new iPhone 3G, Apple introduced a whole new generation of mobile phones.  As you probably know, Apple has sold a whole bunch of these phones.  Consequently, other phone makers have started selling imitators and competitors.  In our usual helpful way, we will identify the major phone competitors and the pros and cons of each.

            First, let’s talk about the iPhone 3G.  It has a great interface and is very easy to use. E-mails and their attachments are easy to read, and there are a variety of useful applications available for the 3G.  However, it is not a “Blackberry Killer.”  First of all, there have been numerous complaints about its telephone function (which you think would be essential for a smart “phone.”) Users report many “drop outs” and lost connections.  Second, there are still concerns about the security of e-mail on iPhones.  Also, functions such as voice dialing, attachment saving, and the ability to open RTF files are not included.

            Speaking of Blackberrys, Blackberry will soon release its own “iPhone killer,” the Blackberry Storm.  The Storm is clearly intended for business users, given the strength of Blackberry’s e-mail applications and security.  It appears that the Storm is at least in the same league as the iPhone.  It has what appears to be a “slick” user interface and web page capabilities similar to the iPhone.  It has a better telephone and better e-mail capabilities.  It is just not quite as “cool.” We doubt there will be problems with the phone service. It will have the ability to operate on almost any telephone network.

            The next potential iPhone killer is the Google Android OS-based phone, the G1, which is available through T-Mobile.  (It will be on the market by the time this article is published.) The G1 really looks great and uses open standards that should simplify the development of additional applications.  It also contains nifty features like context menus, cut and paste, and the ability to multitask — unlike the iPhone.  It also contains a nifty application using Google Maps.  By using the device’s GPS, the T-Mobile G1 becomes sort of a “view finder.” It will display a street scene that is exactly what is in front of you, with various landmarks identified.  Neat! (But maybe not so useful.)  However, the G1 appears to be more of a consumer oriented phone rather than a business oriented phone.  It presently does not integrate with Microsoft Exchange and other large-scale e-mail systems.

Finally, there is a large group of Windows Mobile and Palm OS based phones that attempt to compete with the iPhone.  However, while theoretically competitors to the iPhone, the present versions of these phones are not really “2nd generation” smart phones.  Palm and Microsoft are working on new versions of their operating systems in an attempt to catch up.  We should see new iPhone competitors using these updated and upgraded operating systems in the very near future.  We will have to wait and see if either can develop a real “iPhone killer.”  Presently, however, the iPhone 3G is still at the top of the heap (with the Storm and G1 hot on its heels).  iPhone users will still have to suffer with a smart phone that consistently and regularly drops calls, but is still the “coolest.”

See you next month,
Bill and Phil

Bill and I are here as doing our roadshow at Johnson City and I am entering a Blog on the Phil and Bill Show.

Listen to Bill’s Message

We take our show on the road to Johnson City, TN this Friday, April 18.  We are presenting at the Tennessee Association of Justice 2008 Legal Technology Forum.  The program starts at 9 a.m. at the Doubletree Hotel on Mockingbird Lane.  Visit the website,  www.tnaj.org/TN/ , for program details and schedule.

Phillip and I are here at Knoxville at the Tech Expo. We are giving away free t-shirts. The password is DS5000.

Listen to Bill’s Message

Bill and Phil’s Christmas 2008 Stocking Stuffers

Yes, it’s that time again – time for Bill and Phil to unveil their recommendations for Christmas stocking stuffers for the geek (even a non-lawyer geek) in your life.  We have chosen stuffers that are less expensive (even free, in some cases this year) so you can save your extra money to help bailout GM, Ford and Chrysler. 

1.       Flip video camera — Pure Digital Technologies. http://www.puredigitalinc.com  $100.  This video camera is very small, about the size of an average smartphone.  It records an hour of video (in HD if you need it).  It is very simple to use – just point and shoot.  To download the video, just flip out the USB connector and plug into a PC or a Mac.  You can carry it in your suit coat pocket, so you can easily stuff it into your favorite geek’s stocking.

2.       Ipod Touch (1st or 2nd generation)   http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch  starting at $229– Still on our list for this year, this ipod continues to set the standard for cool electronic gadgets.  There is an upgraded version (Generation 2), but you can still buy a Generation 1 Touch at a discount.  But why?  Generation 2 is even sleeker and better, with  volume buttons and a built in speaker.  You can get e-mail, surf the web, play games, and, of course, play music.

3.       Solio 1000 Universal ‘Hybrid’ Charger http://store.solio.com  $79.95 — This stuffer is for the green geek. This device has an internal battery that can be charged by the sun, or, in a pinch, from a USB port on a computer, or, for a last resort, a wall socket.  You can then use it to power almost any electronic device, especially cellphones, MP3 players and GPS units because it has adaptor “tips” to fit almost all of them.  It stores power for up to a year on a  charge using 1 hour of sunshine for 15 minutes of cell phone talk time.

4.       Pandora Radio  http://www.pandora.com  FREE!   This is just a web site, so you really can’t stuff it into a stocking, but, at a minimum, it is very handy for Christmas. When we first found out about this service, we thought it would not make it.  After all it is free!  But sponsors like Best Buy and Absolut Vodka apparently keep it on the air.  In any event, you can create your own custom radio stations that will play the music you like continuously for free.  At Christmas, just create a Christmas “radio station,” and it will play Christmas music 24/7.  It will immediately put even Scrooge in the Christmas Spirit.

5.       Polaroid Pogo   http://www.polaroid.com/pogo/us  $99.99  Capture those magic Christmas moments with this printer that will fit into a stocking.  It is about the size of a deck of cards. The Pogo solves the biggest problem with taking pictures with a cellphone –  the fact that you can’t look at them anywhere besides your phone. It connects to phones via Bluetooth so you don’t have to worry about cords. In fact, it will print instantly from PictBridge cameras, as well as any device that can print via Bluetooth.  It prints using  ZINK  (zero ink) technology using embedded  clear dye crystals in photo paper, and then uses heat to activate color in the crystals.

6.       Slingbox – Are you spending long hours at the office on the weekend and missing the historic Vanderbilt, Titans, (and Volunteers) football seasons?  Get yourself the incredible Slingbox device from Sling Media (www.slingmedia.com).  The Slingbox Solo retails for just $179.99. You just plug this box in to your home computer network (you do have one by now, don’t you), plug in to your cable or satellite TV receiver and a go through a few short setup screens.  You then can watch TV on your laptop or office PC, well anywhere that you have a decently fast internet connection.  You receive the signal from the Slingbox via streaming technology over the web.   There is no monthly access fee just the initial purchase of the Slingbox device.  You can purchase online or at most major electronics retail outlets.

7.       Portable GPS Device – If you’ve been shopping at all this season, you cannot miss this year’s gift de jour, a portable GPS unit.   The world’s gone crazy for GPS (stands for Global Positioning System).  There are many different models and manufacturers that are worthy of consideration, including the Garmin Nuvi, the TomTom One, and the Magellan RoadMate.  The good news is that prices have dropped quite a bit for these devices recently, making them the perfect stocking stuffer.   Features to look for are touch screen display easily viewed in sunlight, voice navigation, updatable maps,  no service fees, and other add-on functions such as an MP3 player.

8.       MP3 and iPod Sound Hat – Tired of wearing those pesky earbuds for your MP3 player while jogging, skiing, or some other winter outdoor activity?  Get the Sound Hat for $27 on www.iwantoneofthose.com.  This stylish beanie hat has built-in speakers that can attach to an MP3 player or phone.  No more worrying with earbuds or headphones as you fly down the slopes to your favorite tunes.

9.       Optical USB Mini Keypad Mouse – In honor of the 40th birthday of the computer mouse this year, why not celebrate by getting a little extra pizzazz on this most important and overshadowed computer accessory.  The KM-1411 Tenkey Mouse ( $20 www.ezkey.com) combines the essential optical mouse functionality with a standard 10-key keypad.  The unique design features a removable transparent cover over the keypad.  This device is perfect for mobile laptop users who must sacrifice their 10-key keypad in exchange for a smaller laptop footprint.

10.   Microsoft OneNote 2007 – This hidden jewel of the Microsoft Office applications is basically a digital notebook which allows the unorganized to become organized.  There is a free 60-day trial you can download at Microsoft.com.  The retail price is $99. (It is included with some flavors of the Microsoft Office 2007 suite).   OneNote 2007 allows you to gather and organize text, documents, e-mail messages, photographs, audio and video files, all in one electronic notebook on your computer.  You have to try it out to really appreciate how you can use it to organize your digital world. 

Ho, Ho, Ho, Happy Holidays, and a Merry Christmas to all

Bill and Phil

I just returned from the 27th annual Legal Technology conference in New York City (www.legaltechshow.com). This technology conference has become the premier legal technology showcase of the year for attorneys, IT administrators, consultants, and vendors alike. To be sure most vendors in the legal technology space are certain to have the very latest versions of their products ready for this event every year.

A few of my observations from this year’s show:

1. Electronic discovery continues to dominate the legal technology space. Many of the programs at the show revolved around some aspect of electronic discovery. One could hardly walk more than a couple of steps in the crowded exhibit hall without tripping over another e-discovery vendor hawking some revolutionary (and expensive) approach to handling e-discovery. It is clear that e-discovery continues to be a huge issue for litigators and it is also clear that it has become a big business opportunity. I see this trend continuing well into the future

2. In discussions with colleagues at the conference there seemed to be a consensus that there is no magic bullet for preserving, searching, and producing electronically stored information. While tools certainly proliferate to help with the process, there are still bottlenecks and difficulties that can complicate e-discovery. I heard one litigation support manager moan about being handed 10GB of electronic data at 2 p.m. and the attorney inquiring if they could have documents to review by 4 p.m. The complexities of e-discovery are compounded by unreal expectations such as this from attorneys who are dipping their toe into the e-discovery waters. While the e-discovery industry is still growing, the sizes of data stores subject to potential discovery are growing even faster. Love it or loathe it, electronic discovery is not going away as an issue that litigators must deal with.

3. Microsoft’s twin release of Vista and Office 2007, now one year old, has yet to have a huge impact on the legal industry. Many firms have yet to upgrade as was evident from the massive crowds at the Office 2007 migration planning session. In the large audience, a request was made for a show of hands from those whose firms have already upgraded. Not one hand was raised. Pretty amazing.

4. LegalTech is a great conference, however, I find that the programs and even some of the vendors seem to be skewed toward large law firms and corporate legal departments. Some of the advice dispensed and solutions proposed are simply not practical for the small to medium-size law firm. I have personally seen smaller organizations who have been sold massively oversized information systems because a consultant who came from a large corporate environment assumed that what was good for the corporate giant was also good for a much smaller firm. This type of miscalculation is very expensive and completely avoidable. Remember, in technology, “one size fits all” is not an accurate axiom.

5. Lexis-Nexis and Thompson-Elite continue to gobble up companies at an alarming rate. Their respective spaces on the exhibit floor were massive. I wouldn’t be surprised at future LegalTechs to be given a choice to visit either the Lexis or Thompson wings of the exhibit floor. From legal research to practice management, litigation support tools and electronic discovery solutions, these two behemoths are seeking to become the one-stop shop destination for legal technology software and services. You could liken it to the Wal-martization of the legal tech industry, although these two vendors don’t necessarily represent discounted pricing. (Disclaimer: I am a Certified Independent Consultant for Lexis-Nexis products, Time Matters, Billing Matters, and Practice Advantage. My association with Time Matters preceded its acquisition by Lexis).

6. Being in New York during the Super Bowl and Super Tuesday was quite an experience. I was there last year when Bill Gates came to town to introduce Vista to the world. Mr. Gates couldn’t hold a candle to Eli and Hillary this year, however.

I am reviewing a number of products that I saw at the show. Some will no doubt find their way into the column. Stay tuned.

–Phil

Here’s a neat device (http://www.gearthstore.com/products/gps/trackstick/trackstick2/details.html) from The Earth Store that allows you to track your precise travel route using GPS satellite technology.  The Trackstick(TM) II Personal GPS Tracker ($179.00) is a small device that you can slip in your pocket before embarking on a trip, bicycle ride, or hike.  The Trackstick II gets its location from GPS satellites and creates a detailed record of your travel. The travel log can be integrated with Google(TM) Earth and your precise route can be replayed on the map.  Very cool!