Tag Archives: iPad

The Best of TECHSHOW – Tablet and Smartphone Apps

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This is another post from my ”best of” ABA TECHSHOW series.  Today  – supercool apps for tablets and smartphones.

Build a Visual Timeline

BeeDocs  – This app turns a dull timeline into an engaging 3D/multimedia presentation.  Chart dates, times, amounts, distances, prices, quantities – just about anything – in a visually appealing format to help clients (or jurors) better understand historical events.  Publish to the Web, create presentations, or add a visual timeline to a PDF.

Settlement Apps

Picture It Settled - Helps parties evaluate cases with probabilistic scenarios.  Draws on historically successful negotiating rounds to help users plot successful negotiation moves.  Uses the Settlement Prophet™ application to project when the parties are likely to settle and the amount of the settlement.

Scanning on the Go

Genius Scan, Scanner Pro, Text Grabber - Scan, crop, straighten, organize, and share images or documents quickly and easily by e-mail or through cloud services like Dropbox and Evernote.

158_iPhone_img3World Card - Capture business cards and sort them automatically by name, company, position, address, phone number, e-mail address and other fields.  Exports to address book – no more entering information manually.

Office Suite Productivity

OfficeSuite Pro 7 (Android only) and QuickOfficePro (Android and iOS) – Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF for mobile users.

CloudOn - The full power of applications like Microsoft Office®, the convenience of cloud storage and more—all in your very own workspace in the cloud. Best mobile app for redlining/tracked changes.

iPadObjectTimekeeping

iTimeKeep - Enter time from anywhere, securely access matters back at the office, apply billing codes to time entries, run spell check.  Free trial version available from the App store.

Presentation Apps

Haiku Deck and SlideShark - Solid choices for presentation apps. Haiku Deck impresses with amazing images.  SlideShark is ideal for conversion of PowerPoint slides created on your desktop.

PDF and File Management Appsgr-icon-96

PDF Expert - Simple PDF conversion and markup. Integrates with Dropbox.  Easy to use signature feature, compatible with fillable forms.  Goodreader - The “Swiss Army Knife” of PDF readers with the ability to replicate desktop file management and structures.

Notetaking on the Fly

OneNote Mobile (free for up to 500 notes), Notability (syncs with Dropbox), Penultimate (syncs with Evernote), and Noteshelf (file notes into different books, download templates and themes including planners, grid paper, stationery, and more.)

Security Apps

1PasswordPro - 1Password will securely store your important information and automatically log you in to Web sites with a single tap.  No need to remember your username, password, or even the Web site address.

Lookout - Virus protection, backup, and location of your missing device.

Thanks to

Tom Mighell, James Province, Jeffrey Taylor, Ben Schorr, Dan Pinnington, and
Mark I. Unger for all the great apps!

All Rights Reserved – Beverly Michaelis – 2013

How to Use Acrobat XI on Your iPad

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Adobe TV Is a great way to learn Acrobat and its features. Here’s an episode about using Acrobat XI on touch devices like the iPad. Learn about the new Touch mode that provides smoother scrolling, the ability to swipe to scroll a page, accelerated swiping to allow to you to scroll quickly through large documents, and pinching to zoom.

Quick Tip: How to Bold, Italicize, or Underline on Your iPad or iPhone

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Have you ever wanted to apply rich text formatting to an e-mail message on your iPad?  I did and went on a quest to learn how.  Here is what I learned after perusing several blog posts on the subject:

Step One: Change Your Default Settings

Begin by changing the default settings on your iPhone or iPad.

  • Tap Settings
  • Tap General>
  • Scroll down to Keyboard>
  • Locate Keyboards 1 >

  • Tap Keyboards 1 >
  • Tap Add New Keyboard… >
  • Scroll down to Emoji and tap once
  • Exit by pressing the Home button (or return to the parent level of Settings by tapping Keyboard, then General, then Settings)
  • If you are successful in adding Emoji, you should see Keyboards 2 > under settings:

Step Two:  Start Bolding!

To apply rich text formatting, begin composing an e-mail message.  Tap a word and choose Select.  Cut Copy Paste Suggestions > will appear.  Tap the right arrow >, then BIU, and select Bold, italicize, or underline.

For complete step-by-step directions, including screenshots, see this post by shairchair. (Caveat:  this only works in your Mail app.  If you are using Web mail through Safari RTF is not available.)

Step Three: Jazz Up Your Signature!

Now that you’re hip to rich text formatting on your iDevice, why not jazz up your e-mail signature?  Rob tells you how. Enjoy!

All Rights Reserved 2012 Beverly Michaelis

20 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your iPhone and iPad

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From time to time I like to compile the terrific posts that whiz by on Twitter.  And let me tell you, there are plenty to choose from.  Today’s blog focuses on tips and tricks for iPhone and iPad users.  Could this technology be any more popular?  Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing further posts in the areas of marketing, social media, eDiscovery, financial management, time management, ethics, and more.  Stay tuned!

20 iPhone and iPad Tips and Tricks

Apps and Reviews

Security and Protection

Even More Tips and Tricks

25 Law Practice Tips from Twitter

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If you follow this blog, then you know I’m a fan of Twitter – in part because it is a great source for law practice and technology tips.  Consider these 25 recent tweets in the areas of organization, financial management, marketing, security, and iPhone/iPad tips:

Organization

  • Are you an e-hoarder? Here’s how to tell. http://t.co/4FmX6ZH8 (So true!) (RT @NetworkWorld)
  • Protect yourself from e-mail overload: http://t.co/codvw2Ad #smallbiz #organization #business (RT @bettybudget)
  • Organizing your workspace based on function zones http://t.co/RYBW3duG #organization (Good tips from The Unclutterer) (RT @rocketmatter)
  • 17 Best Tools and Apps for Building New Habits and Goals. http://t.co/pjViXVgA #SPU Do you use any? (RT @SoloPracticeU)

Financial Management

  • What lawyers need to know about 1099s and other tax compliance issues: Wash St Bar News, p. 32: http://t.co/i08xDml (from @OreLawPracMgmt)
  • “The sky still hasn’t fallen on the hourly rate model” | Daily Report http://t.co/m0yRUSuE (RT @AdvertisingLaw)
  • Can I Double My Fee if the Client Doesn’t Pay? http://t.co/WFr124BK(from @OreLawPracMgmt)
  • Don’t Leave Receivables in Limbo http://t.co/7Ek7A8zQ (unless you want to go out of business) (RT @Law_Practice)
  • In some sense, all lawyers are sole practitioners. Why *you* should build a portable book of business, http://t.co/gf7h36Kp (from @OreLawPracMgmt)
  • Check Scams Continue to Plague Oregon Lawyers, http://t.co/PPvlZDJV(from @OreLawPracMgmt)

Marketing

  • Cross-Selling, Up-Selling, and Communication Increase Revenue http://t.co/kcSsrIUJ (RT @lawyerist)
  • How to promote your law blog – RLHB http://t.co/k3XrbGLi (RT @jaredcorreia RT @rodneydowell RT @kevinokeefe)
  • Myrland Marketing Moment: Not happy others aren’t commenting on your Social Media? How often do you comment? (RT @NancyMyrland)
  • Online Marketing Strategies for Small Budgets – @attnyatwork http://t.co/8Zct2GL6 (RT @rocketmatter)

Security

  • Are Passwords the Weak Link in Your Firm’s Security Chain? http://t.co/yJt690rl (RT @ltrc RT @jaredcorreia RT @erikmazzone)
  • The State of Mobile App Security [TCTV] | @scoopit http://t.co/DUcrZtZf… (RT @deboraplehn)
  • Please Rob Me! Posting Location Data on Facebook http://t.co/Qsmc9U25 (from @OreLawPracMgmt)
  • Are You Safe & Secure On The Web? http://t.co/NjZTYJ1Y (RT @rocketmatter RT @nikiblack: via @advocatesstudio)
  • What Lawyers Should Know About Cloud Computing Security http://t.co/oqzSar5z (RT @PhilNugent RT @sfinnovation)

iPad and iPhone Tips

Social media offers a virtual means to share, exchange, engage, and learn.  Consider getting involved today!

My Experience with Square

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A number of lawyers have asked me recently about using Square to process credit card transactions.  Admittedly, the ads are appealing.  If you are an iPhone, iPad, or Android user and want simple, straightforward credit card processing, I understand the temptation.  Square advertises:

  • Fast set up
  • A free credit card reader and free apps
  • Next-day payout
  • 2.75% merchant fee

If you occasionally accept credit cards for earned fees only and own an iPhone, iPad, or Android, then Square may be a good choice for you.  It is not a good choice if you:

The lesson here is simple: always know the Terms of Service for any vendor with whom you do business.  It only takes a few minutes to review the content at Square’s Help Center.  I found it to be direct, to-the-point, and easy to navigate.

My Experience with Square

As a customer, I used Square for the first time recently.  I really liked it!  The store owner swiped my card, entered the amount and description, and I used my finger to sign on her iPad.  It was easy/breezy.  (I chose to have the receipt e-mailed to me.)

Tips for Using Square

A couple of tips that I learned from this retailer and a lawyer I know who uses Square:

  • Customer support is friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable.  Once you jump through the support hoops on their Web site, I’m told they are very easy to work with.
  • Haggle!  Terms with Square can be negotiated – just ask!  One lawyer I know got Square to change his terms for processing payments manually – see above.  I’m sure it didn’t hurt that he had a track record with them.
  • Using Square on the iPad is substantially easier than using it on the iPhone or Android (Clients will have a difficult time signing on the small screen of your smartphone.)
  • Remind ladies with long fingernails to sign with the pads of their finger, not with their nails – the signature technology is heat-sensitive.  Nails won’t work and may scratch the surface of your iPhone, iPad, or Android.

Other Alternatives for Lawyers Who Want to Take Credit Cards

LawPay/Affinipay is my favorite choice by far.

How does LawPay work?

  • Lawyers using LawPay save up to 25% on credit card processing fees compared to typical bank charges for the same service.
  • Fees are deducted exclusively from the operating account (no client money is ever taken).
  • Funds are never commingled between the operating and trust account.
  • You are in control of your deposits.  If you take a credit card for a retainer, simply direct LawPay to deposit the funds in your trust account.  If you accept a credit card for fees you have already earned, direct LawPay to deposit the proceeds into your operating account.  Your ability to “direct traffic” ensures that funds are always properly separated.
  • Transactions can be processed traditionally or via virtual terminal (i.e., over the Internet).

For a refresher about accepting credit cards (and the ethical constraints), see this blog post.

Copyright 2012 Beverly Michaelis

Less Paper, More Cloud, and iPads – Oh Yeah!

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What do cloud computing, the paperless office, and iPads have in common?  Easy!  Think CLE and you’ll have the answer.

On June 1, 2011 the Professional Liability Fund is proud to present Practice Management for Lawyers Using iPads, Less Paper, and the “Cloud.”  The live program is sold-out, but you can still register for the Webcast.  At $10 for 4.5 hours of CLE credit, this is a steal!

Our program begins with Josh Barrett of TabletLegal who will demonstrate how he uses the iPad in his law practice for text editing, drafting legal agreements, calendaring, e-mail, legal research, trial prep, and much more.

Dee Crocker, friend and PLF Practice Management Advisor extraordinaire, will provide tips and advice on how to transition to a more sustainable, “less paper” law practice.

Jack Newton, co-founder of Clio, will discuss practicing in the cloud:  An overview of what “the cloud” is, the ethics of cloud computing, and using the cloud for managing your practice from intake to invoicing.  Jack’s session will include a hands-on demonstration of how Clio can be used for matter and client management, calendaring, conflict screening, task management, time tracking, document management, billing, and trust accounting.  (For those of you attending live, Clio is hosting lunch.)

We hope to see you there – in person or “virtually.”  The program will be recorded for later viewing on DVD if June 1 does not work for your schedule.  Visit Programs on CD/DVD on the PLF Web site in mid-June to place your free order.

If you are a RocketMatter fan, or just curious about the other big player in online practice management, don’t despair.  Larry Port, Founding Partner and Chief Software Architect for RocketMatter, will be at the Oregon State Bar Center on July 21.  In addition to a hands-on demo of RocketMatter, Larry will reprise two of his most popular presentations:  Seven Ways to Make Your Law Firm More Efficient and Responsible Connectivity – How Not to be Consumed by Technology.  Details to follow in the next few weeks on the PLF Web site > Upcoming Seminars.

The Best of ABA TECHSHOW 2011

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Whew!  ABA TECHSHOW is in the record books for another year.  I enjoyed the Keynote and EXPO – always good to see product demonstrations and meet new vendors. And the weather was a welcome break for those of us who have yet to experience spring.  As always, there is much to enjoy in Chicago by way of art, architecture, and museums. All In all, it was a perfect Silver Jubilee. 

If you were following along, I live-tweeted these sessions:

Just click the links above to access my “Live Tweet Review” from each of these presentations – sans the hash tags, Twitter feed clutter, and occasional typo.

Hey – I sent well over 100 tweets using my iPhone with 3GS, not bad for a butterfingers – and you got to stalk (I mean follow) my whereabouts on Foursquare.

But what I really want to do now is share my favorite tips from 60 x 2, otherwise known as “60 Sites in 60 Minutes” and “60 Tips in 60 Minutes.”  So without further ado:

All Things iPad

  • Take notes on your iPad using a handwriting app. Try PenUltimate ($1.99) – choose from three different pens, writes in color, uses photorealistic paper, saves notes to PDF.
  • Looking for a killer iPad case and keyboard?  I know I want this leather iPad case from Brookstone with Bluetooth keyboard.
  • Want to view, edit, and sign PDFs on your iPad?  Try the ultra-cool SignMyPad for $3.99.  Visiting a client outside the office?  Capture signatures on fee agreements with SignMyPad, and then e-mail the signed contract to yourself and the client.
  • Just bought the new iPad2 and still learning how to use it?  Subscribe by e-mail or RSS to Josh Barrett’s Tablet Legal blog and learn all there is to know.  (Another favorite of mine: iPhone J.D.)

Automate Certified Mailings

Can the Spam

  • Everybody hates spam (junk e-mail that is, not the food).  One way to nip it in the bud is to use a free, disposable e-mail address.  Give it to vendors or use it for sites that require an e-mail registration when you don’t wish to provide your “real” e-mail address.  Spamgourmet was recommended at TECHSHOW.  Alternatively, if you want to keep your “real” e-mail address, but mask it from spammers try scr.im.  This free tool keeps your e-mail address invisible and stops spam bots dead in their tracks.

Collaboration

  • Looking for a way to better collaborate with in-house counsel?  It’s Legal OnRamp to the rescue.
  • Start using Web conferencing services like GoToMeeting (or my favorite: WebEx which supports audio over VoIP, toll, or toll-free numbers, video conferencing, desktop sharing, recording and collaboration over a secure connection.)  For what purpose you ask?  There are many, but one suggested at TECHSHOW - use Web conferencing to meet with your experts before they put pen to paper and write reports.

Download Online Videos

  • Download online videos to store locally on your computer with Zamzar or KeepVid. (Without these services, you can’t pull content down from You Tube.)

eFax Services

  • Want fax capability without the hassle and expense of maintaining a separate machine?  Use an eFax service like EasyLink or Fax2Mail. Send and receive faxes as PDFs, view faxes as e-mail attachments, accessible anywhere, keep your personal fax number if desired. (My suggestion:  Compare eFax services here.)

eSignatures

File Sharing and Sending

  • Dropbox was all over TECHSHOW.  It was mentioned at almost every session I attended.  If you’ve been living in an undisclosed location recently and don’t know what all the hub-bub is, here’s the scoop: Dropbox is a simple, easy, FAST way to store, sync, and share files online.  Initial storage of 2GB is free.  Get more by referring others or buy storage to suit your needs.  I’m a huge fan.  I have Dropbox on three desktops, my iPhone, and my husband’s iPad. In fact, I just used it to transfer and share my TECHSHOW photos taken with my iPhone.  A great way to collaborate, work on documents remotely or share documents with clients and others.  Want another file sharing option?  Try Ge.tt or SkyDrive.
  • If you don’t want to use Dropbox and wish to send a large file directly to a client, then you’ll need a file sharing service.  Consider the tried-and-true YouSendIt.  (I recommend you also take a look at the newer kid on the block: SendNow from Adobe.)
  • Use FileGenius to offer clients file transfer capability on your Web site without setting up an Extranet.  Sign up for the service, set up a link on your Web site, then send the link to your clients.  All they have to do is click and enter a username and password.  Once clients are on your site, they can view and transfer documents.  Starts at $159/month for 20GB of file space.  Free trial available.

Humor

Keeping Up with Technology

Legal Research, Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, Articles and More

Marketing and Web Sites

  • Ever wish there was You Tube for the legal profession?  There is.  It’s called Legal Tube.
  • Analyze your Web site at no charge with Webmastercoffee and fix what doesn’t work.

Miscellaneous Good Stuff

Money

Online Annotation and Bookmarking

Outlook

  • Are you an Outlook user?  Do you ever wish you could streamline saving attachments to your hard drive?  Try EZDetach from Techhit. This Outlook addin allows you to save attachments from one or more messages (or folders) with a single mouse click.  $39.95 with 30 day risk-free trial.  While you’re at the Techhit site, be sure to take a look at their entire suite of Outlook utilities.  I couldn’t live without SimplyFile, the intelligent filing assistant.  And unlike other Outlook addins, I haven’t experienced major program conflicts requiring me to abandon or uninstall the product.
  • Wish you could bypass the Recycle Bin and permanently delete Outlook e-mail?  Use <Shift> <Delete.> 

PDF

Presentations: Beyond PowerPoint

  • Need to create a presentation?  No one wants to “read” your slides.  Ditch the text and get creative with tips and video blog posts from Presentation Zen.
  • Maybe you’ve got the “Zen” of it down, but you’re looking for a cloud-based presentation tool?  If so, try 280 Slides or Prezi.

Scheduling

Security

Social Networking

  • Social networking eating up too much of your time?  Turn it off for a while with Anti-Social (Mac users only) or Freedom (supports Windows and Mac.)
  • What are they saying about you in the cloud?  What did you post?  Find out using social search engine greplin.  (Register for free, premium accounts available.)

Smart Tricks

Summarize and Examine Text

  • Condense, examine, combine, and summarize text quickly with Topicmarks.  Sort of a “crib notes” for readers.  Receive your summary by e-mail.  Easily set parameters to control summary length.  Accounts are free.

Travel

  • Tired of Expedia or Orbitz? Get hip with Hipmunk.  Rated as “fantastic and surprisingly usable” by Lifehacker. Hipmunk has a helpful blog with travel tips, news, and insights as well as a “Pedestrian’s Guide to the USA.”  If you’re an iPhone user, check out the app.
  • If you are a frequent traveler, then you also may want to know about MedjetAssist – medical evacuation from (almost) anywhere in the world.  Recommended this year and previously at TECHSHOW, it can literally be a lifesaver.

 Voice to E-Mail and Call Recording

Windows 7

  • Help! Windows 7 no longer shows me the full path of the current folder and file in the address bar! No worries, the solution is just a mouse click away!  Right click any part of the address bar and choose Edit Address.  Copy and paste the path as desired.
  • Still trying to wrap your head around the many features of Windows 7?  PC World offers Windows 7: A Complete Survival Guide.

Final Thoughts

If you haven’t been to the ABA TECHSHOW before, I hope you come sometime.  Save the date for next year: March 29-31, 2012.  Register early and take advantage of the Professional Liability Fund program promoter code to save money.  (Details will be posted on the News page of our Web site at the end of 2011/beginning of 2012.)  Meanwhile, enjoy this glimpse of Chicago.  Hope to see you there in 2012!

Copyright 2011 Beverly Michaelis

Rx for a Sick iPad

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My husband and I “share” custody of an iPad.  He purchased it; I get visitation rights.  This division works well, since my mobile communication needs are met by my iPhone and laptop.

Even so, the iPad is near and dear to my heart, and like many users I considered it virus-free (or as close to virus-free as any device with Internet access can get).  Recent problems with our Mail program have changed my mind.

Every time we tried to launch the Mail app, it would abruptly close.  All the other apps were functioning.  Just before this symptom appeared, my husband reported that he was unable to delete a spam message we had received.

If you suspect your iPad has a virus, the published recommendation is to re-sync with iTunes.  We tried re-syncing.  Twice.  We also tried a hard reset (powering the iPad off, then back on.)   No go.

A little more background:  We download mail to two desktops, my iPhone, and my husband’s iPad.  My iPhone was working fine, so were our desktops.  We ran anti virus/anti malware scans just to be safe – our desktops passed with flying colors.

Now what?  We tried searching the forums, but decided to cut to the chase.  So it was Apple Care to the rescue!  If your mail isn’t functioning and you suspect a virus:

  1. Delete the spam message from your Web mail server.
  2. Try syncing with iTunes.  It didn’t work for us, but it may work for you.
  3. If syncing doesn’t solve the problem, backup your iPad using iTunes.
  4. Do a full restore.

Step one is important, otherwise once your device is restored you’ll download the spam again and repeat the problem.  Don’t be afraid – the backup and full restore really do work.

Apple also cautions against downloading anything other than bonafide apps from the iTunes store.  Not our issue, but worth mentioning.

Copyright 2010 Beverly Michaelis