By Eliza Sarasohn | Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers a task management program (see article below), new practice management software for small firms, two new eDiscovery management applications, and court docketing software. Don't miss the next issue.
The Wizard of Workflow
No matter your preferred working style, you probably rely on some type of task management strategy. From old-fashioned pen-and-paper lists to modern iPhone apps, task management systems remain a perennial imperative for lawyers. Over the years, you've probably sampled several programs and scrutinized this newsletter hoping to find a task management talisman to whip your workflow into shape. Do you believe in magic?
TaskMerlin 3.1 … in One Sentence
Interfathom's TaskMerlin 3.1 is project management application.
The Killer Feature
Do you ever wish your task management software was as flexible as those etherial gymnasts in Cirque du Soleil shows? Unlike some project management tools that lock you into a fixed format, TaskMerlin 3.1 adapts to your organizational style, enabling you to customize the software as you see fit.
You can use it to manage and schedule simple projects that you perform on your own as well as as complex, long-term ongoing projects involving large teams comprised of colleagues and clients. Among the customization options, you can configure columns, create task filters, create task types, and change the look and feel of the home screen.
Other Notable Features
TaskMerlin 3.1 supports David Allen's Getting Things Done (GTD) task management system. Devotees of the organizational guru's workflow method can use the TaskMerlin inbox as a filter to sort tasks in accordance with GTD principals.
Interfathom designed TaskMerlin 3.1 with an eye for efficiency, speed, and ease of use, enabling you to drag-and-drop tasks into project folders, edit multiple tasks at once, create or complete tasks with a single click, and modify tasks without opening additional windows or navigating drop-down menus. Version 3.1 adds an Outlook-style calendar and customizable toolbars.
What Else Should You Know?
TaskMerlin 3.1 runs on most versions of Windows. You can try it for free, and choose from two editions if you buy it — Personal ($49) or Professional ($99). The latter offers multiuser functions. Learn more about TaskMerlin.
How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.
By Sara Skiff | Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Coming today to TechnoFeature: When you walk into a car dealership, the car that catches your fancy may seem like a good deal. But then the salesperson starts talking about all the extras you can add, many of which sound compelling. Before you know it, the price has ballooned. Fortunately, you can customize your shiny new copy of Microsoft Word 2010 without spending a dime. In this TechnoFeature article, Microsoft Word expert and trainer Jan Berinstein offers ten customization tips guaranteed to boost productivity in your law firm. Ranging from fonts to quick parts to styles to toolbars to the ribbon and more, Jan will have you driving your copy of Word 2010 in the fast lane.
How to Receive TechnoFeature
Our flagship newsletter never disappoints thanks to its in-depth reporting by leading legal technology and practice management experts, many of whom have become "household names" in the legal profession. It's in TechnoFeature that you'll find our oft-quoted formal product reviews and accompanying TechnoScore ratings. The TechnoFeature newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.
By Sara Skiff | Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Coming today to TechnoFeature: Every law firm needs word processing software to produce their work. But does every law firm need to upgrade to Microsoft Word 2010, the new version of the world's most popular word processor? That's the question Word expert and trainer Jan Berinstein answers in this TechnoFeature article. Specifically, she assesses the six most important new features in Word 2010 from a law firm's perspective. What does Jan think? Read her analysis to find out.
How to Receive TechnoFeature
Our flagship newsletter never disappoints thanks to its in-depth reporting by leading legal technology and practice management experts, many of whom have become "household names" in the legal profession. It's in TechnoFeature that you'll find our oft-quoted formal product reviews and accompanying TechnoScore ratings. The TechnoFeature newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.
By Sara Skiff | Monday, August 9, 2010
Coming today to BlawgWorld: Our editorial team has selected and linked to 102 articles from the past week worthy of your attention, including our Post of the Week. Here's a sample:
Adobe's Advice on Purging PDF Documents of Metadata
A Frugal Attorney Reviews the Motorola i1
Nail Non-Verbal Negotiation by Mirroring Your Opponent
Law Firm's Ad Derides Service It Uses
Don't miss this issue or future issues.
How to Receive BlawgWorld
Our newsletters provide the most comprehensive coverage of legal technology, practice management, and law firm marketing, but not the only coverage. To stay on top of all the noteworthy articles published in blogs and other online publications you could either hire a research assistant or simply subscribe to BlawgWorld. The BlawgWorld newsletter has received rave reviews and is free. Please subscribe now.
By Jeffrey Allen | Monday, August 9, 2010
Originally published on August 2, 2009 in our free SmallLaw newsletter.
I
recently reviewed Apple's iPad in the
TechnoFeature newsletter. Below you'll find reviews of two iPad apps on which I've come to rely — Aji's iAnnotate for reading and annotating PDF files and Culture Code's Things for project and task management.
IANNOTATE
iAnnotate serves as a competent PDF reader that enables you to create notes and highlight portions of PDF files. It is very easy to use and a potentially valuable tool for lawyers. iAnnotate costs $9.99.
iAnnotate's tools include sticky note comments, underlining, highlighting, strikethrough, freehand drawing, and bookmarking. The highlight, underline, and strikeout annotation features only work with PDF files that you upload through the iAnnotate PDF Service.
The what? The iAnnotate PDF Service is a software program for Mac and Windows that enables you to sync your iPad with your computer via a WiFi connection to transfer PDF files.
File transfer represents iAnnotate's greatest weakness. Computers with extra layers of security sometimes preclude the application from working. iAnnotate does not support the most popular cloud storage locations yet. As with other document apps, you can sync the documents through your iTunes software.
iAnnotate has great potential and already qualifies as very useful. I hope later releases will fix some bugs and address the deficits, especially the issue of file transfer. Until the developer resolves these issues, iAnnotate will not realize its full potential. Nevertheless, if you buy an iPad, you'll find iAnnotate worth the $9.99 investment.
THINGS
Things offers rudimentary project management functionality on your iPad for $19.99. I should note that the developer also sells an iPhone version ($9.99) and a Mac version ($49.50). They all do basically the same thing (no pun intended), although the interface appears slightly different in the various versions.
Things organizes projects by lists of activities that you must complete to finish the project. Things is well designed and fairly simple and straightforward to use. It enables you to view your information in several different perspectives including:
- The "Next" list, which shows all of the next actions for each project, organized by project. You can also sort this list by due date by touching the alarm clock icon.
- The "Scheduled" list provides a view for tasks to start at a later date, which is helpful if you need to schedule something that could take several days to complete.
- The "Someday" list enables you to park the tasks that you'll get around to "someday" whether it is working toward a paperless office or buying a new billing program.
- The "Projects" area lists all of tasks associated with each project. Tap on a project to open it and see the list. Like the other lists, you get an icon bar at the top with which you can filter by tag, move an item to another list or project, mark items you want to pay attention to today, or add new items.
- The Logbook stores your completed tasks.
Things for the iPad has no import or export options (except syncing with the desktop software), and no way to email a list of tasks to someone else, though you can email individual tasks from each item's info box.
Things' organization of tasks by project makes it a useful addition to the standard "to-do" list program or calendar. I think it costs more than it should. Accordingly, I downgraded its Technoscore as a result of my cost-benefit analysis.
Conclusion
Both iAnnotate and Things make the iPad more useful as a legal tool. iAnnotate offers potentially greater utility, but has more flaws. Things is more polished, but in my opinion somewhat overpriced. Nevertheless, I plan to keep both apps on my iPad (I use iAnnotate more often).
Written by Jeffrey Allen of Jallenlawtek.
How to Receive SmallLaw
Small firm, big dreams. Published first via email newsletter and later here on our blog, SmallLaw provides you with a mix of practical advice that you can use today, and insight about what it will take for small law firms like yours to thrive in the future. The SmallLaw newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.
By Sara Skiff | Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Coming today to TechnoFeature: Do you lust for an iPad? Have you failed to persuade your law firm to buy you one? Lawyer and iPad owner Jeffrey Allen has come to your rescue — maybe. In this TeachnoFeature, Jeffrey reviews iWork, Apple's office suite for the iPad, which consists of Pages for word processing, Numbers for spreadsheets, and Keynote for presentations. Every lawyer uses an office suite so if iWork measures up you may have all the ammunition you need. Keep your fingers crossed and read the article to find out whether Jeffrey considers these apps essential legal tools or not.
How to Receive TechnoFeature
Our flagship newsletter never disappoints thanks to its in-depth reporting by leading legal technology and practice management experts, many of whom have become "household names" in the legal profession. It's in TechnoFeature that you'll find our oft-quoted formal product reviews and accompanying TechnoScore ratings. The TechnoFeature newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.
By Neil Squillante | Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers a task management tool for multiple users (see article below), a trackpad that supports gestures, a utility for splitting PDF files by size for e-filing purposes, eDiscovery processing and review software, and an iOS app for a popular eDiscovery review platform. Don't miss the next issue.
Just Do It
Many lawyers complain that task management tools often require more time than the tasks themselves. It's like having to build a hammer before you can drive a nail. Lawyers just want a hammer, preferably one that doesn't require much training. "Hold it here and aim for the nail." Does such a task management tool exist?
Stacks … in One Sentence
Imulus' Stacks is a Web-based group task management system.
The Killer Feature
Many task managers live in isolation, but lawyers don't. Stacks is designed for use by everyone in your firm. You tag each task with a project (matter) and assign it to yourself or someone else. You can use the filters to view your tasks or check on the tasks you've assigned to others. Stacks gives you a good idea of who among your staff is busy and who has free time. You can organize employees into groups (e.g., paralegals) so that you assign tasks to several people with one click such as attending training sessions.
Other Notable Features
A graph at the top of the dashboard provides a visual time line of tasks, including overdue tasks. You can click on a day or the overdue stack to see only those tasks. The table listing tasks has a number of headers that you can click to sort — client, project, task, urgency, actionable, due date, assigned to, and status.
When creating tasks, you can attach files and create alerts. You can also write notes to provide more detail about the status. If someone has a conflict or cannot otherwise complete an assigned task, they can respond through tasks. Each task has a history log that shows you all associated activity, including who viewed it and when.
What Else Should You Know?
You can choose from four plans for Stacks — Small ($20/month), Medium ($40/month), Large ($60/month), and Ginormous ($80/month). The plans differ by number of users and storage. Every plan offers unlimited clients and projects. Learn more about Stacks.
How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.
By Neil Squillante | Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers a new word processor (see article below), an Exchange-compatible Android mail client, backup software, and two personalized news apps for the iPad. Don't miss the next issue.
Word Up
Notwithstanding all the software innovation this century, the word processor remains at the heart of every law practice. Only email has challenged its dominance — and email was invented last century. Because lawyers essentially sell their analysis in written form, it's unlikely any other innovation will surpass the word processor in popularity. So when a new version of the most popular word processor in the legal world hits the street it's worth some investigation.
Word 2010 … in One Sentence
Microsoft's Word 2010 is a word processor.
The Killer Feature
Vendors that offer Web-based word processors tout the superiority of their collaboration features. For example, you and your colleagues can work on these documents simultaneously, and you can view an audit trail showing who changed what when. By contrast, using a traditional word processor typically results in multiple files that require document comparison software to manage.
Word 2010 supports co-authoring via either SharePoint or Windows Live, the latter of which is free. You can initiate instant messaging sessions or phone calls with your co-authors from within Word.
Other Notable Features
With Word 2010, you can work on your documents even when you don't have them with you. Microsoft Word Web App is an online word processor that integrates with Word 2010. Also, later this year you can use Microsoft Word Mobile 2010 to edit documents on Windows Phone smartphones.
In the last version of Word, Microsoft replaced the toolbar with the ribbon. In Word 2010, the File menu contains Microsoft's Backstage technology with improved document management functions.
Other new features include recovery of documents you close without saving, photo editing and screenshot tools, and enhanced document searching.
What Else Should You Know?
Microsoft sells Word 2010 alone or as part of its Office suite. Word 2010 by itself costs $150. The suites range in price from $150 to $500. Word 2010 runs on Windows XP or later. Learn more about Word 2010.
How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.
By Neil Squillante | Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers an Outlook alternative (see article below), a Facebook plug-in, a time-billing application, an eDiscovery review tool, and a Facebook defriended tracker for iPhone. Don't miss the next issue.
An Outlook Alternative
Microsoft Outlook still dominates the corporate world, which means it constantly has a target on its back. A cottage industry of Outlook alternatives exists thanks largely to small businesses like law firms that want Exchange-like functionality without having to buy, install, and manage Exchange.
Pimero … in One Sentence
Soft Evolution's Pimero 2010 is a program for calendar, contacts, email.
The Killer Feature
Many people still send email newsletters and other email broadcasts by placing a bunch of email addresses in the BCC field. Or worse by placing everyone in the TO field. It's not their fault. When these people think email, they think Outlook. They don't realize specialized broadcast email software exists.
Pimero includes broadcast email functionality in addition to a traditional email client. With the Serial Mailer, you can create up to 30 placeholders for conditional content such as names to personalize your messages. You can also save your recipient lists for repeated use. Rounding out the features, you can preview your message and also send a test message before unleashing your email on your recipients.
Other Notable Features
Pimero pretty much duplicates what Outlook offers without the need for Microsoft Exchange. You can use it standalone or set it up to work across your network, which enables you to benefit from group calendars and shared address books. Also, you can set up Pimero so that you and you colleagues can access it from any standard Web browser and smartphone Web browser.
The Scheduler (calendar) enables you to show your free time and offers automatic reminders. The email client offers three different views and the ability to create contacts from a signature. The Task Manager also provides three different views, including a timeline. The Contact Manager includes label printing and Skype integration.
Other features include QuickView for seeing your schedule in a small floating window, Chat for intra-office instant messaging, Agenda for seeing all appointments, tasks, and birthdays on one page, Notes, and an RSS newsreader.
What Else Should You Know?
You can choose from three editions — Free, Standard, and Professional. Pricing starts at $68 for Standard and $94 for Professional with discounts for volume purchases. Pimero runs on Windows. The Web functionality requires Microsoft Webserver IIS. Learn more about Pimero
How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.
By Sara Skiff | Thursday, June 24, 2010
Coming today to Answers to Questions: Karl Rowe discusses everything you need to know about tables in WordPerfect, Sam Craig shares an Excel tip for time billing, Bob Leonard reviews iPhone dictation apps Dictamus, HT Professional Recorder, and iTalk, Bruce Berls sets the record straight on Window's Vista network map, and Andrew Weltchek shares a file naming tip for document management. Don't miss this issue.
How to Receive Answers to Questions
Do you believe in the wisdom of crowds? In Answers to Questions, TechnoLawyer members answer legal technology and practice management questions submitted by their peers. This newsletter's popularity stems from the relevance of the questions and answers to virtually everyone in the legal profession. The Answers to Questions newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.
