Why should you attend ABA TECHSHOW 2011?

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 00:40:15 GMT

The countdown to ABA TECHSHOW 2011 is on! If you are unsure if ABA TECHSHOW is for you, download the conference brochure to see everything that is taking place or watch a video explaining why you can't afford to miss...

The countdown to ABA TECHSHOW 2011 is on!

If you are unsure if ABA TECHSHOW is for you, download the conference brochure to see everything that is taking place or watch a video explaining why you can't afford to miss ABA TECHSHOW. It has something for attorneys in all practice settings and all level of technical skills. Most of all, it is presented by attorneys for attorneys (and their staff) to become more effective, efficient, and profitable.

ABA TECHSHOW is excited to welcome keynote speaker: Professor Larry Lessig. Professor Lessig is the Director of the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, and a Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. Don't miss his highly-anticipated presentation titled, Code Is Law.

IMPORTANT DEADLINES:

• Registration — the early bird deadline is February 25, 2011 and is the best deal going. Click here to see the rates and register!

• Housing — the hotel reservation deadline is March 10, 2011. Make your reservation before all the rooms at the landmark Chicago Hilton are gone!

• Airfare — Book early for best pricing. I like Kayak.com to find and track the best prices. Don't forget Southwest Airlines for low prices. SWA doesn't participate on airfare aggragation sites, but often has great on-line deals.

Technology changes fast — it's important for attorneys to know the best technology applications and trends that will help them practice better — and that's why ABA TECHSHOW exists!

Is 4G Really 4G? Just the Facts, Ma'am!

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 13:54:00 GMT

I keep seeing wireless companies advertising they have 4G speed or the largest 4G network, but I started to wonder about the claims and what they really meant. The tiny print in the TV ads provided some guidance that there are limits to the claims. However, it was not until I read this interesting article from Engadget that provided clarity to the ad claims. Bottom line? 4G might really be 3.5G or other fraction above 3 but below 4. An interesting read . . .

Making Your Tax Return through Mobile Phone

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 08:18:03 GMT

Making your Tax Return through Mobile Phone

Nowadays, more and more tasks are being done through your handy mobile phone. Shopping, browsing websites, emailing, online chatting, playing games, watching movies, downloading music and banking are just some of the everyday tasks we can now do through our mobile phones. Now a tax software company is introducing income tax submission through your mobile phone.

Intuit, the company that produces the TurboTax software, has developed a mobile phone application called SnapTax app that allows you to fill up Form 1040EZ, which is the most basic of the personal tax forms to fill. All you need to do is take a photo of your W-2 and the app will do the work. Answer a few questions and then review your return to make sure you have entered everything correctly before sending it electronically by tapping a ‘file now’ button.

The SnapTax app is available for the iPhones and Android phones and uses modern image recognition technology to read the information such as salary and withholding amounts from your W-2 form. This same technology is also used in other areas like price recording at checkout counters, online language translation software and so on. According to Intuit, it takes only about 15 minutes to fill up your tax return. To make your filing using the SnapTax app, you pay a charge of $15.

Since this is a new technology, some people might take time to get used to filing their tax returns this way instead of the old method of pen, paper and calculator or even through your personal computer at home. Although SnapTax allows greater flexibility in filing tax returns just about anywhere, it is still improbable to have people using it at places like crowded subway trains.

Nevertheless, there are some caveats when using SnapTax. The app cannot be used by people who should be maximizing their savings by itemizing deductions. Itemized deductions are not allowed on the 1040EZ. Furthermore, individuals filing using SnapTax must earn less than $80,000 and couples must not earn more than $100,000. The $80,000 limit with SnapTax is less than the $100,000 set by the IRS for individual filers who file their returns the conventional way. In addition, SnapTax filers must not have any dependents or be older than 65 years old.

Other forms of tax preparation mobile phone apps are also available. H&R Block’s app allows users to talk to a customer representative. Shoeboxed helps users organize their spending by photographing receipts.

More on Making Your Tax Return through Mobile Phone

Making Your Tax Return through Mobile Phone is a post from: IRS Tax Problem Solver Blog - IRS Help

Making your Tax Return through Mobile Phone

Making Your Tax Return through Mobile Phone is a post from: IRS Tax Problem Solver Blog - IRS Help

Could Apple Lose Right to Sell U.S. iPhones?

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 21:57:01 GMT

It seems that nearly everyone has or has seen one of those newfangled smartphones. They seem to do everything and be everywhere. But you might not know that a legal war is brewing over the touch screen technology on smartphones

Written By: FindLaw
A FindLaw Blog post

Apple and Nokia are embroiled in a massive patent lawsuit over smartphone technology. The International Trade Commission is set to hear the issues in a case that will have major repercussions on the smartphone market. The conflict first landed in court in 2009 after Nokia filed a patent suit against Apple. Nokia alleged that Apple infringed on 10 Nokia patents when it created the iPhone. The iPhone has been a huge hit, with over 73 million units sold.

After Nokia filed suit, Apple countersued, contending that it was in fact Nokia that has violated the iPhones patents. Apple asserted that Nokia infringed upon 13 Apple patents, Reuters reports.

So what does all this mean? If Nokia wins the case, Apple could be stripped of the right to sell the iPhone in the U.S. Likewise, if Apple wins, Nokia could find itself locked out of the U.S. smartphone market.

Either of those scenarios would be devastating for the technology companies. Alternatively, another likely scenario would be the winning party selling licensing rights to the losing party, allowing them to continue making their phones but paying a licensing fee.

In light of the dispute, Apple has been calling for some legal reinforcements. The company recently added some major players to its legal team.

So your smartphone is safe for now, but as for the future — it rests largely upon the result of this case.

Related Resources:

Apple and Nokia to meet in court this week (rethink-wireless.com)
Patent Infringement and Litigation (FindLaw)
Proving Up Valuation In Patent Infringement Litigation (FindLaw’s Technologist)

This post originally appeared on FindLaw – Law and Life blog
Go to original Blog Entry

Recent Articles tagged iphones from LexMonitor

Why should you attend ABA TECHSHOW 2011?

Is 4G Really 4G? Just the Facts, Ma'am!

Making Your Tax Return through Mobile Phone

Could Apple Lose Right to Sell U.S. iPhones?