Aren't You Stylus!

I have actually done a bit of research into the tablet computer.  Depending on which myth you believe, Bill Gates could have been the first, biggest proponent of the platform.  Then again Steve Jobs, and Apple, got the revolution rolling with the iPad.  As for Mr. Jobs, his vision of the tablet was clearly one where finger replaced pen.  Fingermanship is certainly a viable option with touch sensitive tablet screens.  I usually resort to the primary digit to navigate through my iPad screens and to type on the built in keyboard.  For heavy duty work though, and particularly for writing on the screen, I find that a stylus is better than the finger.

Like everything else, there are plenty of stylus options to choose from.  Today I want to share my two favorites with you.  First on my list is the Bamboo stylus.  There are three versions, the Solo (closest thing to a full size pen), the Duo (a combination stylus and ink pen), and the Pocket (with a telescoping body)

Bamboo Solo

Bamboo Duo

Bamboo Pocket

I prefer the Bamboo because of the circumference of the body, and the sensitivity of the writing tip (called the "nub") when it is on the screen.  Having used Bamboos for more than a year, I have also found them to be well made and sturdy.  My particular favorite is the Duo because of the ink pen feature.  Ink is still necessary in the lawyer world.  With the Duo I am not scrambling for an ink pen when I need one.  Price range on the Bamboo is $29.95 to $39.95.

My second favorite stylus is the Jot.

Jot

The Jot's innovation is in the flat plastic disc (Jot calls it a "ballpoint") that makes contact with the tablet screen.  By this ballpoint the Jot delivers the most precise writing experience.  It is the mechanical pencil of the stylus world.  Jotaholics love their Jots like few other accessories.  It is second on my list because I find it too precise, and because I am not fully invested in the sturdiness or finger feel of the disc.  Like the Bamboo, the Jot also has multiple models including the original, smaller with mobile clip, rubber grip and magnetic cling, precision stylus and ink pen combo, and bluetooth pressure sensitive stylus.  Price range on the Jot is $19.99 to $99.99.

Please visit hardinglaw.com for more information about Harding & Associates Family Law

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A New Take On Newspapers

As I have mentioned in the past, I am a huge newspaper fan.  That may not have a lot to do with family law, but I have come across an iPad app (also available for android, Windows 8. . .) that is helping me to rethink my love for turning the paper pages of my beloved newspaper.

My local newspaper has been gobbled up by a national media company.  Our local news is now part of a regional newspaper.  Rather than in depth community reporting, we get small news bites tucked in amongst a plethora of stories that have nothing to do with where I work and live.  On top of that we have a new delivery person who tends to run a bit late.  The paper is now hitting my driveway after I leave for work.  As such, my beloved morning papers is now an evening paper because I don't get to read it until I get home from work.

Ray Wang from PressReader sent me an email offering me a test drive of the PressReader app for tablets and smartphones.  I accepted his offer, and man was I impressed!  I have used other newspaper apps and have always been disappointed.  Not with PressReader.

PressReader lets you download, disconnect and read the world's most popular full-content newspapers on your favorite Android operated device, BlackBerry, iPad, iPhone or Smartphone. Not only can you search, share and discuss articles from thousands of titles, the publications you access via PressReader are enhanced with interactive features such as clickable URLs, telephone numbers, email addresses and "continued on page…" links.

Powered by NewspaperDirect’s PressDisplay.com technology, PressReader provides access to over 2,200 full-content newspapers and magazines from 97 countries in 54 languages.  100 magazines are also available.

With every article, advertisement, crossword puzzle and cartoon presented in its original context, PressReader offers many of the same rich user interface and intuitive interactive features PressDisplay.com users have come to love.

And with the added convenience of being able to hold your favorite publication directly in your hands and read it from cover to cover just the way you would in-print, PressReader makes reading full-content digital replicas an absolute delight with features such as:

• Auto-delivery of your favorite publications
• Attention-grabbing SmartFlow stream (iOS & Android)
• Printing full pages or articles
• Sharing stories by email or on Facebook or Twitter
• Saving articles to Evernote or Instapaper
• Listening to articles using on-demand audio
• Copying & pasting entire articles into note taking applications
• Sharing your opinion by supporting or opposing a story
• Adjusting font size and type
• Automatically aligning with the beginning of an article using the option SmartZoom feature
• Cross title search
• Authorization of PressReader with a PressDisplay.com subscription

Watch this video for a demo:

To begin using PressReader, simply download the appropriate, free version of the app on the supported platform you’d like to use.  

Now the bad news.  The app is free.  A PressReader subscription so that you can download the newspapers to the app is expensive. $29.95 per month.  That is what I pay for a whole year of my superficial, tardy, hometown newspaper. For my area I would end up reading the San Francisco Chronicle on PressReader.  I can buy it off the rack for fifty cents per day.  That is 50% cheaper than a PressReader subscription.  Home delivery of the Chronicle would cost me $99 per year.  For that price I would also get the Chronicle's own iPad subscription as well.  My favorite newspaper in the world is The New York Times.  It is not available on PressReader.  The Wall Street Journal is also a no go.

True, for thirty buck I will have access to 2,200 newspapers and 100 magazines.  Realistically though, I don't need that many.  At most I could see getting through 2 or 3 papers per day on a consistent basis.

Please visit hardinglaw.com for more information about Harding & Associates Family Law #Harding&AssociatesFamilyLaw

#newspapers #pressreader #californiafamilylaw #divorce #family law #superlawyers #americanacademyofmatrimoniallawyers #Pleasantondivorce #AlamedaCountyDivorce #ContraCostaCountyDivorce #lawyers

Origami iPad Keyboard Case

I was in Chicago (I love that town!) last week for the annual meeting of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.  I was stunned by how many of my colleagues are now carrying iPads.  I would go so far as to say upwards of 50-60% of the crowd.  This is a huge uptick from a couple of years ago.  It gave me a great opportunity to learn about new gadgets and apps for my beloved iPad.

The first gadget I want to mention is the Origami iPad Keyboard Case from incase.  Saw dozens in Chicago, and everyone who had one was in love!  Inspired by the Japanese art of paper-folding, the Origami Workstation provides complete protection for your Apple Wireless Keyboard. It also folds quickly and easily into a stand that offers both horizontal and vertical iPad positions for flexible viewing options. Even better, it works with most iPad cases, so you can keep your iPad in its own case while you type.  At $29.95 the price isn't even that bad for an Apple accessory.

Click here to check it out.  Please visit hardinglaw.com for more information about Harding & Associates

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