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TECH SUPPORT IPHONE N o product could live up to the hype surrounding Apple's iPhone 3G, an everything-in-the-palm-of-your-hand device. But the iPhone comes damn close. It does everything: takes pictures, plays music and movies, and connects to Rogers' high-speed mobile network (or a Wi-Fi wireless network) to make calls, surf the web, down- load e-mail, and get maps and directions. One of the few negatives is that it's not a Black- Berry. And that's only a negative if you work for a fi rm that uses the Research in Motion BlackBerry mobile e-mail platform and doesn't want its lawyers using anything else. Anybody else willing to pay the $60 to $115 a month for a three-year voice-and- data combo plan, and $199 or $299 for the 8GB and 16GB phones, respectively, (after redeeming the $50 rebate to which those who opt for a combo plan are entitled) could do a lot worse than to buy an iPhone. The basic stuff and the fun stuff — screen, phone, web surfi ng, camera, music, and video — are, predictably, no problem. They're great, in fact. For the rest, it's mostly nitpicks. I was less impressed with the GPS , for example — it tended to make assumptions, based on my input, about what I really wanted to fi nd, and often guessed wrong. And then there is the "revolutionary" touch-screen interface, source of much of the hype. You navigate by touching icon buttons, menu items, and links on the screen, and with gestures. Stroking up, down, or across scrolls or fl ips between album covers, for example, or opens web pages. There are also lots of free and/or cheap applications to download, and who doesn't need the full text of Shakespeare's works on their iPhone? This is all very cool, but you also have to enter text by tapping on the screen. The virtual keys are about a quarter-inch square. I found it too easy to hit the wrong key, but it may just be a question of practice. E-mail? On the whole, a good story. It's not as slick or full-featured as a BlackBerry, but it is push e-mail. It was easy to set up and worked fi ne for me. That said, I did see some grumbling from users in web forums about push e-mail not being reliable. Bottom line: way cool! But don't despair, BlackBerryites, Bold is — GB coming. British Columbia Legal Telephone Directory 2009 This is the most comprehensive and affordable legal directory you can get. I When it comes to legal technology, don't choose the road less travelled. Industry leader in legal software for real estate, corporate and estates for over a decade The choice of 2500 law firms, The Conveyancer generates required documents (including lender forms), tracks undertakings, exchanges data with Teraview® (ON) and SPIN (AB) and integrates with four title insurers. Comprehensive corporate records software tracks changes and generates prescribed forms, registers, ledgers, share certificates, resolutions, minutes, correspondence, etc. Integrated e-filing and extracts. The Estate Administration module automates Rule 74/75 forms plus scores of letters and documents. The Estate Accounting module simplifies recording of financial transactions, and generates reports in "passing of accounts" format. n one handy volume you'll have a single means of access to every lawyer and law firm in B.C. Included is a cumulative alphabetical listing of all lawyers, law firms, notaries B.C. Land Surveyors, shorthand reporters, para-legals and judges. This directory has: • Durable Spiral Bound Format • E-Mail Addresses (where available) • Federal Court Listings • Federal Government Departments • Up-to-date Addresses, Telephone Numbers and Fax Numbers (with firm listings) Published annually, the current edition includes: • B.C. Notaries • B.C. Land Surveyors • Shorthand Reporters' Association • Canadian Association of Para-Legals • Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon Listings MULTIPLE COPY DISCOUNTS 1-5 Copies . $31 ea.* 6-49 Copies $30 ea.* 50+ Copies . $29 ea.* * B.C. residents please add 12% tax Spiralbound • October 2008 • Standing order • P/C 0500140999 Current edition only • P/C 0500010999 • ISBN 0521-0585 For a 30-day, no-risk evaluation call: 1 800 263 2037 or 1 800 263 3269 www.canadalawbook.ca Tel: 416.322.6111 Toll-free: 1.866.367.7648 www.doprocess.com 26 OC T OBER 2008 www. C ANADIAN Law ye rmag.com C-Dir_LT_Sep25_08.indd 1 9/15/08 3:30:02 PM Canada Law Book is A Division of The Cartwright Group Ltd. • Free Shipping on pre-paid orders. Prices subject to change without notice, and to applicable taxes. HA0708 Gadget Watch PHOTO: COURTESY OF APPLE