Appeals court: Fifth Amendment protections can apply to encrypted hard drives

Appeals court: Fifth Amendment protections can apply to encrypted hard drives

Ars Technica article discussing several recent cases involving encrypted hard drives, and when the government can compel production of the password, and when it cannot.

Brief quote:

Two rulings this week helped to clarify the circumstances under which a defendant can be compelled to reveal the contents of an encrypted hard drive. On Wednesday, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals let stand a judge's ruling in a Colorado case that the defendant in a mortgage fraud case could be compelled to produce the contents of her encrypted laptop. But on Thursday, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a Florida contempt of court charge against a suspect in a child pornography case who refused to decrypt the encrypted contents of several hard drives. (cont)

Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, dies

Steve Jobs, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, died at the age of 56. His innovation, vision, and passion for products that were useful, elegant, and easy to use will be difficult to duplicate.

Story at CNN.

New Kindle Lineup from Amazon

Guest post from Riva Laughlin from HALL:

Amazon held a press conference this morning to announce the newest versions of their popular Kindle. Here's a run-down of all the members of the Kindle family.

Kindle (newest generation, e-ink screen) - $79 w/on device ads, $109 no ads. This version is ready to ship, and is most like the current product. It's available in wi-fi only, has button navigation, and has ditched the keyboard.

Kindle Touch (e-ink screen) - $99, wi-fi only w/on device ads, $139 no ads. This version is ready for preorder to ship 11/21. Touch screen technology, no buttons or keyboard.

Kindle Touch 3G (e-ink screen) - $149, free 3G w/on device ads, $189 no ads. Same as the device above, but includes 3G access. Except for the additional original cost, there is no charge for 3G access. This version is also ready for preorder to ship 11/21.

Kindle Keyboard (e-ink screen) - $99, wi-fi only w/on device ads, $139 no ads. This is the current device with a new name, and is for those folks who think they'd prefer having a keyboard for access (maybe they take lots of notes in their books). In stock now.

Kindle Keyboard (e-ink screen) - $139, free 3G w/on device ads, $189 no ads. Same as the device above with free 3G access. In stock now.

Kindle Fire (LCD screen) - $199, wi-fi only (no 3G version available). Amazon's entry into the tablet market - with some interesting twists. 8GB on board storage, but Amazon provides free cloud storage for all Amazon content (no limits). Whispersync enabled which means that you can start watching or listening on the Fire, then move to your laptop, TV, or other Internet enabled device and pick up right where you left off. Ready to preorder, this version ships 11/15.

Source: Amazon.com Kindle store

Reflecting on Chrome as browser hits third birthday

Reflecting on Chrome as browser hits third birthday Ars Technica article on Google's Chrome browser.

Snippet:

According to statistics from StatCounter, the browser's marketshare hit 10 percent last year and continued growing to 23 percent, as of this month.

iPad adoption in major law firm

Seen in InfoWorld.com

July 01, 2011

How a big law firm replaced laptops with iPads
A prestigious law firm outfits its attorneys with Apple iPads and finds it's worth the significant effort

Earlier this year, New York-based law firm Proskauer completed a massive technology redesign that would make Silicon Valley tech companies gush with envy. At the heart of the redesign was the Apple iPad 2. "I'm pretty sure we were the first, if not only major law firm, to do it," says COO Arthur Gurwitz. "I think it was important to be first with the iPad. I call it brand enhancement." (cont)

Data formatting tips

Greg Lambert offers some step by step instructions on converting data (like addresses) from Word to Excel. I recommend reading this if you have to do much data conversion or copy/paste to/from Word/Excel.

hat tip: 3 Geeks and a Law Blog

Let them use laptops

Let Them Use Laptops: Debunking the Assumptions Underlying the Debate Over Laptops in the Classroom

by Kristen E. Murray
Temple University - James E. Beasley School of Law
Oklahoma City University Law Review, Forthcoming

Interesting article looking at several studies of whether or not it is a good idea to let law students have laptops in classes. I found it intriguing, since I usually take notes on my laptop at conferences, and find it a slightly different notetaking mindset than taking notes with pen and paper.

iPad possibilities

These are aimed at a Canadian law audience, but I found them interesting just the same. Both posts are from the Slaw blog.

iPad toting librarians
Law on iTunes

Tech Fun

I have been traveling quite a bit lately and found that I was in need of a small inexpensive laptop that would run PowerPoint presentations. After looking at my options I finally settled on a netbook. When I started looking at them, I thought that they were too small and probably could not do what I needed. I was wrong. I found that most of them are running Windows 7 Starter, but you can put the home edition on it without upgrading the memory. Additionally, I was able to load Office 2010 without any issues. The small size of the net book makes it very portable and it picks up wireless networks wherever I go. It also has an 8 hour battery. I can work and surf the net whoever I go, even if I only go to the living room. The netbook boots up faster than my desktop computer and is a great device to quickly check my e-mail. Netbooks vary widely in price and I was able to get one for 200.00. I am truly addicted to this new tool that travels well and performs well.

Technology trend

I noticed an interesting technology trend while at AALL in DC. More people were using some type of laptop to take notes than ever before. What I noticed the most often:

• Netbooks (usually Acer brand)
• Macbooks
• Mid-sized Toshibas
• iPhones
  

I saw some other types when people were sitting at tables (Sony, Dell, H-P), which leads me to believe think that people who had larger laptops were using them to connect back to the office, but those with lighter laptops were taking notes. I was intrigued seeing people using iPhones to take notes. I love my iPhone, but can't type fast enough on it to take notes.

Some tentative conclusions:

• Battery life for smaller laptops and netbooks is getting better, so you can use for multiple sessions.
• Netbooks are small enough and light enough to toss in a bag, and to balance on your lap.
• People were bringing their personal laptops/netbooks, not their work machines.
  
• Any type of laptop helps keep the lap warm during long sessions in cold convention center rooms.

I had my MacBook Pro with me, and when I had the light turned down and the wireless off, I could usually get at least four hours before it started getting into the danger zone. (Hearing Kenny Loggins in my head.) People using the netbooks could go all day without recharging.

Anyone else have any experience in taking notes directly on a laptop during conferences? I found it was much faster than longhand, and I could read it afterward.

Discuss amongst yourselves now.