Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers a new smartphone (see article below), server-based OCR software, an online scheduling service, an online meeting service, and an iPhone app for accessing Wikipedia. Don't miss the next issue.
Read Me
Lawyers have traditionally embraced mobile technology much faster than office technology. The smartphone as a status symbol (versus the PC as a nerd symbol) has certainly played a role in this early adoption, but lawyers actually need the features of the latest and greatest smartphones more than most people. Apple's iPhone currently leads the pack in terms of mindshare and press. Its slogan, "There's an app for that," has become part of the cultural fabric because it perfectly describes the iPhone's chief selling point — simple, useful applications that require little to no training. What can Apple do for an encore?
iPhone 4 … in One Sentence
Announced this week and shipping on June 24th, iPhone 4 is Apple's fourth-generation smartphone.
The Killer Feature
If you're playing games, a sharper screen can enhance the experience, but gameplay is far more important. That's why classics like Tetris endure. A sharper screen, however, can dramatically improve your reading experience.
iPhone 4 features a new "Retina" display with a 960x640 pixel resolution at 326 ppi. In other words, the screen provides a sharper resolution than a piece of paper printed at 300 dpi.
Also new, Apple has outfitted the iPhone with a more durable "aluminosilicate" glass screen that sits directly on top of the display to further improve sharpness and depth of field. The same glass covers the back of the iPhone as well.
Other Notable Features
iPhone 4 has two cameras — a 5 megapixel camera on the back with a 5x digital zoom that shoots still photos and HD video and has a flash, and a 3 megapixel camera on the front. Using the new FaceTime app, you can video chat with other iPhone 4 users when you're both on a WiFi network. Both cameras work with FaceTime. Using the toggle button, you can either show yourself or what's happening around you.
Also new on iPhone 4 is a noise-canceling microphone designed to help with phone calls in noisy environments.
Many of iPhone 4's features will also become available on older iPhones thanks to the new iOS 4 operating system. For example, iOS 4 supports multitasking (running multiple apps simultaneously), and folders for organizing your apps. Similarly, the iBooks app with its built-in bookstore will become available for iPhone 4 and older models. iBooks will support PDF files.
What Else Should You Know?
In the United States, AT&T remains the sole carrier (for now). You can choose from two models in black or white — 16 GB ($199) or 32 GB ($299). Learn more about iPhone 4.
How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.
