Realtime Tech Gadgets Anthony D. Frisolone FAPR, RDR, CRR, CCP, CBC, CRI

Information Sources Sources for this presentation include: PCmag.com. TheJCR.com. CNET.com Thewirecutter.com. NCRA Tech Committee list serve s. Stenograph E-news, SGCITA trainers’ newsletter. Various court-reporter-related Facebook pages.

What’s In My Bag…10 years ago

What’s In My Bag Today

Staying Cool! Use a USB-powered cooler pad to keep your laptop cool. Prices range between $10 and $60. Either made of plastic or aluminum. The majority are plastic.

Staying Cool! USB-powered Fans. –Just what you need for when the temperatures rises. –USB-powered. Arctic Breeze –$7.99 –Found at Newegg.com –Small – 92mm across.

USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 What does USB A & USB B mean?

A Word About USB Ports USB 2.0 AND USB 3.0 USB 2.0 looks like this:

USB 2.0 AND USB 3.0 USB 3.0 looks like this.

USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 The difference is that the USB 3.0 connector is taller and will not fit the port on the back of the Diamante. The technical difference between 2.0 and 3.0 is they are different interfaces for the connection of external devices. USB 3.0 is newer, better and faster. USB B connector is taller Also backwards compatible with both USB 2.0 and 1.0.

USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 The transfer and reading / writing of data will take place at lower speeds Not a difference you can actually feel, unless you are transferring huge files from or to the USB 3.0 hard drive. A USB 3.0 A to B cable is NOT compatible with the Diamante. But a USB 2.0 A to B cable is compatible.

USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 USB 3.0 allows for faster data transfer. For example, a 3.0 device will work on a 2.0 port but the data transfers at 2.0 speed.

Power Strips versus Surge Protectors

More Surge Protectors

Power Strips Power strips are cheap, multi-outlet products that are merely an expansion of a wall outlet. Usually have a circuit breaker of some sort, but don't offer real "protection" from electrical issues. Some might have the barest level of protection, but they're all pretty much just like plugging into the wall direct. Surge protectors offer some level of protection against power spikes. How much and how well varies considerably.

Some Things to Keep in Mind It's all about the joules. Surge protectors offer protection in amounts called joules. Some surge protectors offer a warranty up to a certain amount. You'll probably never need it. Doesn't hurt to have it.

Power Strips v. Surge Protectors A power "conditioner." There are a number of products on the market that claim to "condition" the power from the wall, promising improved performance. Secret: your equipment already does this. All electronics have a power supply that takes the incoming wall current (110v in the US), filters it for noise, and converts it into whatever the device needs. Always get more outlets than you need. You're always going to need more outlets. You'll undoubtedly add more gear, without necessarily getting rid of your current gear. I'm not saying that if you think you need 4 outlets get a 12, but a 6 is probably a good investment.

Power Strips… Power spikes can come over any wire. If you want total protection, consider that phone and cable lines can carry power spikes too. –Some surge protectors have connectors for these as well. Surge protectors come with USB connections, to charge mobile devices. Generally, 1 or 2 amps (often labeled 1A or 2A). Mobile phone, 1 amp; tablet, 2 amps for quicker charging. Get a portable power strip. Not much protection, but you’ll make friends. Hotels have few accessible outlets; everyone has multiple devices.

Power Strips… Bottom line: They don't last forever. Over time, a surge protector is going to wear out. Some will give you a warning when they do. Many won't. If you've had a serious electrical event, it's probably worth replacing your surge protector just in case. Bottom Line There really is no reason not to get a surge protector. How much you need it will vary.

Label Makers Dymo 450 and 450 Turbo Great for making custom exhibit stickers. Templates are available. Just about anything else that needs a label. Doesn’t need ink.

Portable Scanners Portable scanners are more than just for scanning exhibits. –Scanning and managing receipts. –Business cards. –Scraps of paper. Many have advanced features such as: –Allows for duplexing (scanning both sides of a page). –Automatic document feeder (ADF). –Scanning speeds can vary depending on color or black-and-white scan. Some recommendations: –Canon ImageFormula P-150 Scan-tini. –Gets power from USB cable. –2.1 pounds and 1.6 x 11 x 3.7 inches (HWD). –$295. Has an ADF and can scan both sides of a page. –Allows for duplexing (scanning both sides of a page). –20-page automatic document feeder (ADF). –15 pages a minute (ppm) for black-and-white and grayscale scans; 10 ppm for color.

Portable Scanners Fujitsu Scan Snap S300. –$295. –USB powered. Takes twice as long to scan. –Has an 10-page ADF and duplexes. –Largest of the three – 3.1 lbs and 3 x 11.2 x 3.8 (HWD). –Comes with very little software. Scan utility, and a card organizer and a document organizer. NeatReceipts –The desktop version is called the NeatDesk. –$199. –1.3 x (HWD) and 10.6 ounces. –600 ppi. –Handles one page at a time. Scans only on one side. –Manual duplexing.

Wireless Routers Features to look for in a wireless router. A router is really no different than the router you have at home. –Can share a single broadband Internet connection with a number of devices. –Can create a secure network. Be aware –If you’re connecting to an unsecured hotspot, data traveling outside your private network to and from the Internet remains vulnerable to eavesdropping.

Wireless Routers Some routers are more capable than others, and some have more features than others. –Here are brief explanations of the specifications you’ll encounter when you go shopping for one standard –Don’t buy any router that doesn’t support the n standard at a minimum.

Wireless Routers Battery power –Your laptop runs on batteries, so why shouldn’t your router? Every travel router requires electrical power, but some can operate on either AC or battery power. Ethernet ports Most travel routers will have at least one Ethernet port, so that you can plug into a hard-wired Ethernet connection and create a wireless network. –Routers with two ports enable you to create a secure wireless network with the WAN (wide-area network) port, and an even more secure wired network with the other.

Wireless Routers USB charging port –Some routers allow you to charge mobile devices from a USB port. Bonus points if they provide a separate port for this purpose, so you don’t need to interrupt file sharing. Wi-Fi guest zone –A router that supports this feature will enable you to share a broadband Internet connection with other people without granting them access to other devices on your network. WPS support Travel routers that support Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) make it easy to connect a wireless client—there’s no need to type in user IDs and passwords to gain access to the network. –Look for routers that have a physical button for this purpose—that’s easier than logging into the router’s user interface.

Tablets Light and portable. Less weight to carry around. More attorneys are bringing their own. Lots of options. –Just be careful which apps/programs are compatible with which tablets.

Tablets iPad or iPad mini. –Works with the iCaseViewNet app. –As well as the iOS version of Bridge Mobile. –Also runs Trial Book (StenoCAT). –No need to get the most recent iPad. All you need it for is to run the iCVN or Bridge Mobile app. Newegg.com and Tiger Direct both sell refurbished iPads (1 st generation) for under $200.

Tablets Android tablets. Light and portable just like iPads. –Runs the browser based version of Bridge Mobile. –Also runs Trial Book (StenoCAT).

Multi-Tablet Chargers Compatible with Android, Apple, and other devices by enabling charging speeds of up to 12 amps among 10 ports or 2.4 amps per port. Rapid Charger. Perfect for International Travel. –AC V input voltage

Multi-Tablet Chargers Charge 10 Devices simultaneously. Overcharge protection. - Charge up to 4 tablets and 6 smartphones simultaneously. - Charge almost any USB device. You can charge more than just your smartphone or tablet. Will also power up your e-reader, Bluetooth headphones, nearly any other device that charges with a USB cord. $35.00 on Amazon.com. Can also be found at other stores’ websites.

Tablet Stands

Realtime Browser Comparisons

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