Law Technology News - Sample Issue

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ANDROID OR iOS PHONE?
An argument for why Google’s operating system is the better choice for lawyers.

Attorneys often find themselves in separate camps, such as plain-tiff/defendant, civil/criminal, prose-cution/device, and, perhaps most contentiously, Android/iOS smartphone. While Apple Inc.’s and Google Inc.’s smartphones keep attorneys connected, each takes a sometimes idiosyncratic approach to features and capabilities, building strong user loyalties.

Both phones have changed over the past year, prompting some to switch camps to take advantage of improvements, such as a larger display or stronger security app. But never change phones on a whim, because it requires learning how to use a new device and building a fresh app collection. What choice is better for lawyers? Let’s examine the evidence.

» Apps are what make a smartphone intelligent. Apple traditionally held a substantial lead, but today Apple’s App Store and Google Play are essentially tied. Apple offers about 800,000 apps, while Google lays claim to some 700,000 titles, but is growing at a faster rate. Round 1: Tie.

» Screen size is a matter of mathematics: the bigger the screen, the larger the images. The iPhone 5 features a four-inch display, a significant improvement over the 4S’ 3.5-inch screen. But the Samsung Galaxy S III ( 4.8-inch) and Droid Razr M’s ( 4.3-inch) are larger. Round 2: Winner: Android

» Interfaces: Androids use industry-standard micro-USB ports for charging, image synchronization, etc. The iPhone 5 uses the proprietary Lightning connector. Round 3: Winner: Android.

» Text and data entry are a lawyer’s toolbox. Apple limits users to a single, stock keyboard. On Android, install a third-party keyboard such as Swype or

Swift Key. Round 4: Winner: Android.

» File attachments: Lawyers want to attach documents directly to their outgoing emails. IPhone users can send a file from within an application or via a third-party app, Android users can attach a file to an email and press send. Round 5: Winner: Android.

» Security: Both devices are vulnerable to external attacks, but in differ-

MYCASE APP

Manufacturer: AppFolio Inc.

Description: MyCase is a software-as-a-service practice management software for lawyers that includes calendaring, document management and assembly, time management, legal billing and reporting, and social media tools. The new mobile app helps subscribers use the system on the go. The app is compatible with Apple Inc.’s iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. It requires IOS 5.1 or later, and is optimized for the latest version, iPhone 5. Target: Solo practitioners, small, mid-sized firms. Price: The app is free with MyCase subscription (which costs $39 per user per month). Download: http://at.law.com/LTN136j —S.D.

ent ways. The easiest way for Android devices to become infected is through app repackaging. For iPhones, OS flaws can give attackers an exploitable pathway to both system and user data. Android users must be careful about clicking on links and installing apps. Apple users can protect their phone by downloadingoperating system updates as soon as they are available. Round 6: Winner: iPhone.

» Copying files to/from an Android phone is a snap: Plug the unit into a PC or Mac, mount it as a storage device, and drag and drop files. Moving files to/ from an iPhone is cumbersome. While many can be transferred through i Tunes or via iCloud, neither is flexible or pain-free. File transfer enhancement apps, such as iTransfer or SyncPod, can ease the hassle, but still don’t make file management simple and straightforward. Round 7: Winner: Android.

Overall winner: Android.

What’s Next? The rumor mill speculates that the next iPhone might include Near-Field Communication support for mobile payments (already an Android feature); a note-writing screen (ditto); and a fingerprint security scanner. Some also predict that Apple may introduce a line of larger and smaller iPhones.

Because many different manufacturers produce Android phones, speculation mostly focuses on OS updates. According to various reports, the next major Android release, code name “Key Lime Pie” (aka Android 5), may include enhanced social networking support, improved performance, better video-chat options, and Google Babble unified messaging support.