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What is ABA TECHSHOW?

    For more than 25 years, ABA TECHSHOW has been the premier national conference for lawyers to share and learn about current and emerging technology for the legal profession.

    ABA TECHSHOW 2012 (March 29-31 in Chicago) comes at an important juncture in time where the confluence of societal, economic and technology trends are changing how we practice law and deliver legal services. Now, more than ever, ABA TECHSHOW 2012 is about your future in the legal profession.

    Although computer technology has been in law offices for over 30 years, it has finally achieved a tipping point. Lawyers now have more technology tools at their disposal than ever before: Affordable, reliable, and simple tools that can change the way you communicate with clients or transform your entire way of doing business.

    Lawyers can practice wherever it is most convenient, meet with clients via video from almost anywhere, remotely collaborate and draft documents in real-time, and market legal services any time, day or night. Lawyers can now deliver the services their clients want, yet in a manner that gives them the freedom to have the lifestyle they want.

    Does your firm have the right technology and do your lawyers and staff members have the necessary technology skills to compete in this new future?

    To help you, ABA TECHSHOW 2012 will offer more than 50 educational sessions across three days on the most important technology topics in our profession today: cloud computing, paperless offices, digital advertising, and iPads in the courtroom, to name just a few. All educational sessions are specifically developed for the legal profession by legal professionals. And, if you want to test-drive the latest legal products and services, ABA TECHSHOW hosts a huge exposition hall. You will be able to talk, touch, and learn how these technologies can benefit your firm.

    Don’t be nervous if this is your first ABA TECHSHOW. The Conference is designed for every lawyer and legal professional–from beginner to power user. No question is too basic. No question is too difficult to answer. There are several social events including the Taste of TECHSHOW dinners especially designed to extend the learning, sharing, and fun beyond the CLE sessions and expo hall. 

    And if that isn’t enough, ABA TECHSHOW 2012 is pleased to welcome lawyer, actor, economist, and political commentator, Ben Stein as our keynote speaker.

    Create your future by attending ABA TECHSHOW 2012 at the Hilton Chicago, March 29-31, 2012.

 

Even More 60 iPad/iPhone Apps in 60 Minutes

Several years ago, I created the 60 iPhone Apps in 60 Minutes seminar for the 2010 ABA TECHSHOW, based on the "60 Tips in 60 Minutes" format pioneered at that conference. I was joined that year by Jeff Richardson (iPhoneJD), and when we updated the session at the 2011 TECHSHOW, Tom Mighell (iPad4Lawyers) and Josh Barrett (TabletLegal) joined the faculty (along with the iPad).

We have now presented upated versions of the program to several on-line audiences of over 200 lawyers, most recently this past Wednesday. They audience has some great questions, so we thought we'd publish them across our blogs.

Question #1 from S.F. from Anchorage, AK:  What is the best way for lawyers to use Dropbox or a similar service with an iPhone or iPad, assuming the need to access client information occasionally?

Answer:  Dropbox is a useful service for sharing documents between multiple computers and between a computer and an iPhone and/or iPad.  Because Dropbox is run by a third party, however, you need to be conscious of security issues.  Jeff's solution is that he only uses Dropbox for non-confidential documents, such as copies of pleadings, depositions and exhibits.  For confidential attorney-client documents, Jeff keeps those documents in an app like GoodReader or Quickoffice that allows you to password-protect documents.

Tom also uses Dropbox, but understands that SpiderOak provides better security.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t integrate with as many iPad apps as Dropbox, which limits its utliity.  Tom also recommends GoodReader as a good app for downloading and accessing your Dropbox files - it is relatively simple to connect your Dropbox account to GoodReader, and start downloading files to your iPad.  Tom says "Whenever I download a new app, one of the first things I do is check to see whether it integrates with Dropbox - you may find you have a lot of apps that do so, and it may be easier to download into those apps directly from Dropbox, rather than into GoodReader."

Josh often uses the file manager built into LogMeIn Ignition to grab confidential client files left on the computer back at the office. The transfer from desktop to iPad is encrypted end-to-end and doesn't let the document sit on a cloud based service so the confidentiality concerns some raise about services like Dropbox don't apply. The key to using any cloud based service with your device is setting up a good workflow to help keep track of document revisions, versions and originals.

Reid uses the Dropbox-GoodReader combo, and also uses DropBox to transfer PDFs to the Apple iBooks app for reading. 

Alternate Calendar Apps

Question #2 from J.H. from San Francisco, CA: Does entering an event in Calvetica simultaneously make the entry in the iPhone Calendar app?

Answer:  Yes.  One of the nice features of third party calendar apps such as Calvetica, Easy Calendar or Agenda is that the all use the iPhone and iPad's built-in calendar database.  Thus, you can use one app to enter an event, another app to edit the event, another app to view the event, and they are all working from the same database. 

Question #3 from C.P. from Greenwood Village, CO:  Do the calendar apps interface with Microsoft Outlook calendars?

Question #4 from L.L. from Saint Louis, MO:  Do the calendar apps interface with MS Outlook?  We use an Exchange server to coordinate with our iPhones.

Answer:  Again, yes,  Because all iPhone and iPad calendar apps use the built-in calendar database, if you have your iPhone and iPad configured to synchronize with your office's Exchange server, you can add an event in a third-party app and then the change will be synced to Exchange and will show up in Outlook on your computer.

Stylus

Question #5 from C.McD. from Blue Bell, PA: What stylus do you like for Penultimate?

Question #6 from M.M. from Reno, NV:  What is the name of the suggested stylus?

Answer:  Jeff's current favorite stylus is the Kensington Virtuoso Stylus for Tablet which he reviewed on iPhone J.D. here.  Tom's current favorite stylus is the Adonit Jotpro Stylus.  If you go to the iPhone J.D. website and do a search at the top right for “stylus” you will find lots of reviews pointing out the advantages and shortcomings of many different options. Josh uses the MORE/REAL Stylus cap (http://uncrate.com/stuff/morereal-stylus-caps/) because it has the weight and balance of a regular pen. That said, Josh recommends waiting until version 2 is released with the faster tip. 

Accessing Online Legal Resources

Question #7 from: M.S. from Shawnee Mission, KS: Two general questions regarding the iPad.  First, do you have any suggestions on how to access electronic dockets and pleadings etc. in federal court?  I can access it through my browser on the iPad but cannot scroll within documents that are retrieved.  Do any apps help?  Second, and similarly, I cannot scroll down within the web browser when accessing Lexis on my iPad.  Do any apps help for this?

Answer: When you access PACER from an iPad, once you select a document from the docket, if you click the button to view a document you only see the first part of the first page and cannot scroll down.  However, there is a workaround.  Instead of clicking the button that says "view" click the button that says "download."  This will send a .zip file to your iPad, and your iPad will ask what app you want to open the zip file in.  One such app is GoodReader, an app that Jeff recommended. Josh recommends ReaddleDocs for the same functionality.  Either app will allow you to unzip a .zip file and view all of the PDF files contained in that file.

As for accessing Lexis on the iPad, Lexis is supposed to be updating Lexis.com so that it can be accessed from an iPad.  Moreover, before the end of this year, Lexis will be releasing a Lexis Advance app for the iPad.  For more information on the upcoming Lexis app, see this post from Jeff on iPhone J.D.

Voice transcription

Question #9: S.E. From Draper, UT: Can the Dragon Diction app be download to an iPad?

Answer:  Yes.  The Dragon Dictation app works on both the iPhone and iPad.

Remote access

Question #10 from R.H. from Milwaukee, WI:  Is there an app to allow my iPad to connect to my desktop remotely?  I use Time Matters.

Answer:  Yes, any of the remote access apps that we discussed today will let you do this — Citrix Receiver, LogMeIn Ignition or GoToMyPC.

 Question #11 from P.O. from Austin, TX: Is LogMeIn Igntion better than iTap RDP?

Question #12 from P.dB. from Stuart, FL: Do you recommend LogMeIn more than iTeleport? 

Answer:  None of the presenters have used the iTap RDP, but in Tom’s opinion, it looks like a good option.  It uses Windows’ Remote Desktop Protocol, which is a solid method for remotely accessing your computer.  Tom thinks that LogMeIn might be better for one reason:  ease of configuration.  With LogMeIn, it “just works,” and requires very little configuration.  It looks like the iTap RDP requires a little more work under the hood, which might limit the app’s appeal to more advanced users.  Further, with LogMeIn you can access your desktop from any computer using just a browser, with no configuration; with the Remote Desktop Protocol, you’d have to configure it on any computer you plan to use. 

Likewise, none of the presenters use iTeleport, which also looks like a solid remote desktop application.  However, like iTap, it does not appear that you can use iTeleport on regular computers to remotely access your desktop - LogMeIn’s universal capabilities give it an advantage here.

Reid’s office has a corporate GoToMyPC account, so he has to use their iPad app. He finds it works well on his iPad2, although sometimes a bit balky.

First generation iPad

Question #13 from J.G. from Pocatello, ID: Do most or all of the apps discussed work with the first generation iPad?

Answer:  Very few apps that work with the iPad require the iPad 2, although some do exist.  All of the apps that we discussed work on the original iPad and the iPad 2, although some of these apps are designed for the iPhone and therefore run on the iPad/iPad 2 in iPhone emulation mode.

Accessing Word documents

Question #14 from M.H. from Lubbock, TX: What is the best app to read and edit Microsoft Word documents?

Answer:  The most popular apps for reading and editing Word documents are Documents to Go, Quickoffice and Office2.  Jeff's current favorite is Documents to Go because it is the only app of the three that shows you footnotes and shows you redline edits (although it will not let you create footnotes or create redlines).  But these apps are updated frequently, so hopefully the other apps will add this feature soon.

Apps for transactional law

Question #15 from D.C. from Naperville, IL: I am a transactional lawyer, with a specialty in business law, estate planning, tax and some business litigation.  What are the apps you would consider important for a lawyer with that type of practice to have?

Answer:  As a transactional lawyer you deal with a lot of documents.  If those documents are in PDF format, GoodReader or PDF Expert are essential app's for managing and annotating those documents. Josh prefers PDF Expert because of the easy to use document signing too, the ability to reorder/move/delete pages from a PDF and the ability to fill PDF forms. You also need one of the Microsoft Office compatible app's like Documents to Go or QuickOffice. 

Josh recommends creating a folder on your Dropbox with your principal forms. This will give you access to your key drafting inspirations from anywhere.

If you use a Mac in the Office, also consider TextExpander Touch (with the desktop companion TextExpander) which allows you to expand text snippets into words, sentences or even paragraphs. With this app, Josh types "attfee1" and TextExpander types his preferred attorney fee clause. The snippet "simplemisc" expands into my preferred miscellaneous clauses for a basic contract that I can then edit. "engageltr" expands into the text I start with when drafting my engagement letter or email.  Note that iOS 5 will also provide a shortcut feature like this but it is unclear whether you can sync the shortcuts to a computer.

One key to making the iPad work well for transactional lawyers is to have some flexibility or be willing to try new things in your workflow. For example, Josh does lots of drafting in plain text on the iPad and only worries about formatting when back in front of a desktop computer. Even with the Word compatible apps mentioned here, they aren't WYSIWYG. You will still need to fine tune back at the office on your own or send to an assistant to format. Plain text is also necessary to take advantage of TextExpander since at this time the Word compatible apps do not support it but app's like Elements or Plaintext do support TextExpander.

iPad Impact: Going Where No Lawyer Has Gone Before?

As I passed through airport security last Wednesday, and reached in the gray bin for my iPad as it rolled out the x-ray machine, I realized it was not mine but the traveler ahead of me. Moments later, as several new bins came rolling at me, the passenger behind me reached for my iPad, mistaking it for hers. That never happened with my laptop before! On my flight that day--and on many flights recently, there are quite a few more iPads in use than even just a few months ago. 

Just last week I shared an article on Google+ about the consumerization of enterprise IT by iPad users and smart phone users.  I also tweeted about an article sent to me by Susan Traylor of the Arizona Bar about a personal injury law firm handing out customized iPads to clients to facilitate communication and case collaboration.

Today, I picked up the August issue of Law Technology News that contains an article by Alabama trial lawyer, James Moncus III, about his firm's decision to use the iPad 2 and the TrialPad app in a high profile wrongful death suit of a police officer, instead of more mature and expensive trial technology. The articles details this decision and their use of the TrialPad app to help them win a $37.5 million verdict. 

Two weeks ago I served as faculty with Jeff Richardson, Josh Barrett, and Tom Mighell, on a ALI-ABA webcast, 60 iPhone/iPad Apps in 60 Minutes, that attracted over 200 lawyers to the on-line seminar. We have similar crowds when we do this live at the ABA TECHSHOW.

And there were countless lawyers toting and using iPads in Toronto last week at the ABA Annual Meeting.

In January 2010, I blogged about the iPad being a tipping point in legal technology. It fulfills the need caused by a confluence of economic, technological, and professional changes that are taking place in the world around us. However, the rapid adoption of the iPad as a serious legal tool has even surprised me. From client communication to trial presentation, from reading and marking up depositions on a plane flight to Skyping with a client halfway around the world, the iPad has changed the way we do business as lawyers. That trend will only accelerate: The iPad is allowing lawyers to be more nimble, mobile, responsive, and productive.

About the only thing holding lawyers back are the strictures imposed by IT professionals who are not keeping up with the innovation that is tablet computing. Yes, we have to be mindful of our professional responsibilities, but we also need to keep innovating to keep up with our clients and the ever-present demands to lower the costs of delivering legal services.

Confessions of a TECHSHOW Chair

I am excited to be leading a wonderful group of nine people who are planning the 2012 ABA TECHSHOW next March. It is a small collection of volunteer lawyers and legal professionals who plan all facets of this premier technology conference for the legal profession. We held our second 2-day planning meeting last weekend (the first being in May) to develop the "grid" of over 70 educational sessions over 3 days, review the expo hall for over 100 vendors, select and engage a keynote speaker, and dozens of other details. Despite the work, it is really a terrific professional experience to build the next edition of this twenty-five year tradition.

But it does cut into my freetime, and as you can see from the lack of blog posts in the last few months, it really cuts into my blogging time.

Yet I wouldn't trade the experience. Besides working with my colleagues on the TECHSHOW Planning Board, I am being introduced to many new people who contact me to be a part of the ABA TECHSHOW 2012, mostly as a speaker. It's time consuming, but worth it.  I am corresponding with lawyers from acroos the U.S. and Canada. The planning board works to incorporate up to 30% new speakers each year, so I welcome these inquiries. 

The Board also has its ear to the ground for new ideas, topics, and the Next Big Thing. We continue to keep offering popular topics such as the Paperless Track that are well-attended each year, as well as new tracks and sessions--yep, iPads in the law office (and at trial) will be an expanded topic this year.

We are well into our planning, but always have time for few more good suggestions--in addition to the ones we get from past conference attendees and others. So feel free to email me with your suggestions. And while I can't promise positive results, if you would like to be a speaker, include a brief synopsis of your past technology and speaking experience. We always have the top legal speakers at this conference, so the competition is tough.

Anyway, I'll blog when I can, but be sure to check out the ABA TECHSHOW blog too, for updates throughout the coming months leading to the conference on March 29-31, 2012 in Chicago. 

More iPad and iPhone Apps for Lawyers

Josh Barrett , Jeff Richardson, and I will present 60 iPhone/iPad Apps for Lawyers at the 2011 ABA TECHSHOW in April. I recently highlighted several translation apps, but I am blown away by the 8-part series Josh is blogging on his blog, TabletLegal. He covers the following types of iPad apps:

• File Storage and Access
• Writing
• Calculator
• PDF Annotation
• Presentations
• Microsoft Word and Excel Compatibility
• File Management and Use
• Remote Desktop Connection

Hats off to Josh for a valuable series of posts. We'll cover some of those plus many others at our TECHSHOW presentation. Hope to see you there!

Translation Apps for iPhone Can Help "Lingually-Challenged" Lawyers

Twenty years ago few lawyers needed to know more than plain ol' American English. However, over the past two decades the world has grown smaller and our society more diverse. Dual language skills are quickly becoming an asset as U.S. based lawyers are doing more business worldwide, and a larger share of local clients use English as a second language.

While many of us do not have bi-lingual skills, computer-based translators can be very helpful. A number of those translators have been created or adapted for the iPhone and iPad that can help you get through in a pinch:

Google Translate — This free app allows you to speak or type something in English (or virtually any other language) and then translates it to another language.  For many languages, the app also speaks the translated text, or shows it in large type on the full screen making it easy for you to show another person.  This is a great app for someone traveling to another country, but note that you need to have Internet access for this to work (so hopefully you will be in a Wi-Fi hotspot when you have the need to use this app to communicate with someone who does not speak English).

Jibbigo is a new level in computer-based translators. While many translators translate text to text, and some (like Word Lens) translate text in real time, this is the first iPhone-based app to translate speech and play it back in the selected language. Just speak into the iPhone microphone, then listen for the translation to be read back to you. Unlike Google Translate, Internet access is not needed; the entire translation occurs on the iPhone. The English-Spanish version is great for travelers, and may also help a lawyer with Spanish speaking clients to convey short messages in a conversation. Some reviewers report trouble with the app understanding their speech, but I have had no problems. If you do have some speech recognition problems, those can be edited easily using the keyboard. At a hefty $25 per language library and 210 Mb in size, it may give you pause; however, from my perspective, it is a worthy app in today's world.

Word Lens -— This app really amazes me. It instantly translates printed words from Spanish to English or English to Spanish using the iPhone camera. (Hopefully, it will soon be optimized for the new iPad 2.) Just point the app (which automatically engages the camera) at a sign or document and watch the words change immediately. No snapping and processing a picture—it just works. Great especially for immigration lawyers or those lawyers needing an occasional translation. While the app is free, each language-to-language “dictionary” is $9.99. More languages coming according to the developer.

These apps and 57 other iPhone/iPad apps for lawyers will be part of my presentation 60 iPhone Apps for Lawyers in 60 Minutes presented with Jeff Richardson and Josh Barrett at the ABA TECHSHOW 2011.

Why should you attend ABA TECHSHOW 2011?

The countdown to ABA TECHSHOW 2011 is on! 

If you are unsure if ABA TECHSHOW is for you, download the conference brochure to see everything that is taking place or watch a video explaining why you can't afford to miss ABA TECHSHOW. It has something for attorneys in all practice settings and all level of technical skills. Most of all, it is presented by attorneys for attorneys (and their staff) to become more effective, efficient, and profitable.

ABA TECHSHOW is excited to welcome keynote speaker: Professor Larry Lessig. Professor Lessig is the Director of the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, and a Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. Don't miss his highly-anticipated presentation titled, Code Is Law.

IMPORTANT DEADLINES:

• Registration — the early bird deadline is February 25, 2011 and is the best deal going. Click here to see the rates and register!

• Housing — the hotel reservation deadline is March 10, 2011. Make your reservation before all the rooms at the landmark Chicago Hilton are gone!

• Airfare — Book early for best pricing. I like Kayak.com to find and track the best prices. Don't forget Southwest Airlines for low prices. SWA doesn't participate on airfare aggragation sites, but often has great on-line deals.

Technology changes fast — it's important for attorneys to know the best technology applications and trends that will help them practice better — and that's why ABA TECHSHOW exists!

The Versatile iPad Rings in the Holidays

My brother forwarded the link to this fun musical video featuring musicians playing instrument apps on their iPads. What a great idea--and what a great holiday concert!  

6th Annual Holiday Gift Guide for Lawyers (2010 Edition)

    It’s time again for thoughts of holiday cheer interrupt the lives of busy lawyers. Ok, let me rephrase that: It’s time to put down the Blackberry, slow down the pace of work, and enjoy the Christmas and holiday seasons.  And regardless of whether you are giving loved ones hints for yourself or are looking for gift ideas for your favorite lawyer spouse, partner or friend, my annual gift guide can help! I will do my best to prevent yet another “Scales of Justice” tie from being under the tree this year! Enjoy!

iPad: This game-changing new technology has gone from toy to tool faster than any device in the history of American legal jurisprudence. Lawyers are flocking to the iPad with good reason: It does what lawyers need to do especially when out of the office. Many of these lawyers once eschewed the virtual keyboard on the iPhone are liking the larger virtual keyboard on the iPad. That means more work gets done when on the road or out of the office. Not a complete replacement for a laptop, but it’s close. $500-$750.

If your lawyer already has an iPad, there are tons of great accessories including sleek, innovative cases, skins, and stands to hold the tablet, not to mention optional keyboards. Most are around $30.

Give the gift of Life. It’s been a tough year for many lawyers who are scrambling to log their billable hours. Many lawyers may have missed the Discovery Channel’s epic series, Life, featuring 8 hours of the most compelling images of life on Earth ever captured on film. This series is a great diversion from office life, and will both fascinate and intrigue your favorite lawyer. Available on DVD or Blu-Ray. $50-$70.

Bottle Armor: Due to airport security, you can no longer carry-on a favorite bottle of wine or scotch, and must trust the contents to your suitcase where an uncertain fate awaits. Now you can protect any bottle of your favorite spirits when traveling with Bottle Armor, the leakproof padded nylon bag from MaGellan’s. $25

Slingbox Media Player and SlingPlayer Mobile: Whether you are stuck in the office or at a family command performance, now you don't have to miss that big game or final reality show episode! When connected to WiFi or 3G, this iPhone app or Android app allows you to watch and control your home TV or DVR wherever you—provided you have the Slingbox SOLO or Pro-HD media player. $30 for the app; $180 and up for the player. (Not cheap, but cheaper than a TV subscription for your phone!)

Hands-free control of your smart phone not only makes good sense, it is the law in more and more states. Try the Jabra Cruiser in-car speakerphone to call and talk without your hands leaving the wheel. Great for the billable hour, but let's be careful out there! About $80.

Far too many lawyers grab a sandwich for lunch and eat at their desks in front of a computer. Great for billable hours, but what a mess on the keyboard! Enter CyberClean, a “Play-doh-like" substance that you press into the keyboard and pull off to remove dirt, crumbs, and bacteria. I can tell you from personal experience, this does the trick. Works for any device with a keyboard and makes a great stocking stuffer for about $8!

Trading Spaces may have started it, but t-shirts and mugs, sporting the logo of a favorite “educational” TV show is all the rage! From The Colbert Report to Dirty Jobs; from Diners, Drive-ins & Dives to the collegial joys of Shark Week, lawyers can make a fun statement about their favorite non-legal diversion. Starting around $20.

Vu-Point Magic Wand Portable Scanner: Thanks to fellow lawyer and blogger, Jim Calloway, for pointing me to this inexpensive battery-operated portable full-page scanner that weighs less than 8 ounces. Need to copy a document at the court house or client’s office? Whip out this handy scanner from your briefcase and the job is done. Unbelievable for $80!

Now from the practical to the sublime-The Wizard’s Wand Universal Remote. This “magic” wand uses accelerometer technology (as found in Wii controllers) to allow 13 different movements to be programmed into the wand to control your TV. From volume control to changing DVD tracks or TV channels, this promises to make you the Merlin of your Man Cave! About $80

Speaking of Wii, Sony and Microsoft have launched their own movement-based video games. Joining the Wii craze is the PS3 Move and Xbox Kinect which attach to the PS3 and Xbox game systems, respectively. If your favorite lawyer is turning into a couch-potato, this will get them on their feet and having fun! From $99

OK, this item scores real high on the “geek meter” but may be a Godsend to a lawyer pulling an all-nighter. Instead of yet another cup of coffee, pop a couple Stay Puft Caffeinated Marshmallows to keep that edge while finishing up late. $20

For the lawyer who has everything, except holiday spirit, get her a festive knit reindeer sweater complete with flashing miniature Christmas lights, powered by an ultra-miniature battery pack. Sweater purveyor, Skedouche also has some interesting other designs that are definitely naughty yet nice. Starting around $60.

Beats by Dr. Dre audio headphones and earbuds are flying off the shelves these days for good reason: The sound quality is awesome. I have the iBeats for iPhone and the quality is definitely a step up from the V-Moda earbuds in my 2008 gift guide. The earbud line-up includes PowerBeats and Tour, as well as traditional headphones that are getting rave reviews too. Starting around $99.

Books always make great gifts, so might I be so bold to suggest one I co-authored? The Busy Lawyer’s Guide to Success is chocked full of practical advice and profitable ideas--it’s the gift that keeps on giving all year! Paper or Kindle, about $50. Check out some of the other legal-specific business books from the American Bar Association. Update: Enter Promo Code: PEPØEBLG at checkout for 30% off at the ABA Bookstore plus free shipping through December 31!

Another fine book is the recently published The E-Myth Attorney. It is the attorney-focused version of the best-selling E-Myth Revisited—a book every small business owner must read.  It makes a great companion to The Busy Lawyer’s Guide to Success. Also available as a podcast from iTunes. Around $25

 The Flipshare Mino HD video camera made the guide this year, not because it is such good camera, but because editing the videos into a cohesive story is so easy. Shoot video, upload to your computer via the retractable USB plug, then let the included software guide you into making a coherent video complete with optional background music. A must for any lawyer with a busy family. Around $150

As the business of law gets more competitive, lawyers have to be more innovative. The Think Outside the Box statue on the desktop may be just the subtle reminder your favorite lawyer wants to keep ahead of the pack. $80

And now for something way out of the box! Whoogles is both a blog and new book that showcases often bizarre and offbeat searches asked of Google, such as "How drunk am I?" or "Can I catch herpes from my cat?" And yes, it gets way more bizarre from there . . .

Using accelerometer technology that seems so popular this year, the pocket-sized, wearable Fitbit device tracks your calories burned, steps taken, distance traveled and sleep quality on a daily basis.  Syncs with Macs and PCs through Fitbit’s website so you can chart your results. $99

While the game Monopoly isn’t much fun for real estate lawyers, it is a great family diversion for most others. Today there are hundreds of themed versions from cities and colleges to The Beatles and U.S. Navy; from the NY Yankees to the Family Guy TV show. Sorry, no Lawyer Edition, but they do have my favorite--the John Wayne Edition. Around $25

Doesn’t it seem that almost the second a photo is snapped, people want to see it? Group viewing on the small screen on most cameras just doesn’t cut it, and loading the picture to a nearby computer is a hassle (if you have one nearby). Enter the Nikon Coolpix S1100pj that is both a camera and a projector. Now, you can immediately beam your pictures to a wall or screen so they can be shared with the whole family or firm! About $350

Hope this year's ideas help you through the holidays! If nothing here rings your bell, there is still some great ideas from past editions of this guide in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.

Merry Christmas!

OMG--My First Apple Rant

For those who know me, sit down before you read this. I’m afraid you might faint. 

For those readers who don’t know my deep affection (read: slave loyalty) for Apple products, you can read some of my prior iPhone posts or just know that since my first Macbook Pro 6 years ago I have been totally sold on Apple products, service, and culture. I am on my second Macbook Pro (purchased December 2009) and my third iPhone, having purchased the iPhone 2.0 and 3Gs. From the sales experience, to the coolness factor, to the outstanding heads-above-the-crowd customer service, I am a huge Apple fanatic.

 Until June 24, 2010—the day the iPhone hit the streets and I purchased mine.

In less than 2 weeks Apple went from an 11 on a 10-point scale to a 5—one small step above their PC competitors.  Loyalty, once unquestioned, is proving to be fickle.

Yes, it has everything to do with the new antennae and reception problems, but it goes beyond the technical problems and to the heart of why I love(d) Apple—they treated me with respect and stood behind their products just like I stood behind the company.

Until last week. Apple has screwed up and is lying about it. Now I am one angry customer!

I guess I should have had a clue when the Apple store associate brought me my new phone along with a new rubber bumper case he said I would want to “protect” it. It seemed a friendly gesture at the time, but I had not yet heard of the reception problem. I realize now the Apple associate was trying to warn me. (It was my teenage son who told me of the reception problem about 2 nanoseconds after I got back from the Apple store.)

Then Apple releases a disingenuous letter blaming some software glitch causing the reception bars to show better reception than actual. Right.

It’s the antenna, stupid.  It’s not AT&T. It’s not my hand. It’s Apple.  I take the same route home from work everyday. Down Constitution Avenue, past the White House, across the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge, through Arlington, and out to Fairfax County. Before the iPhone 4, I had 2 drop zones—crossing the bridge from DC to Virginia and in a dip in the road near my house. Now, I have calls drop all along the route. Totally frustrating!

Maybe if some of their beta testers had actually HELD the case rather than hiding it in a fake 3Gs case Apple would not be in this predicament.

Furthermore, security settings pop up at random times, and my email is far slower to load than will my old 3Gs. Yes, the screen clarity is amazing and the folders are great, but I need a smart phone to work!

Consumer Reports jumped to the defense of consumers this week and stated they could not recommend the phone. That may have been the tipping point.

True, Apple has a 30 day return policy—and I am seriously considering this. But Apple has to do more. They have to do the right thing. They have to resolve this problem without me (and millions of others) having to return our phones for the old 3Gs. They have to be Apple once again.