TechnoLawyer: Online/Cloud

Today's issue of TL NewsWire covers a cloud document management service that uses native software (see article below), a fast monochrome laser printer, a document management app for the iPad, and a task manager that works on the web and in dedicated iOS apps. Don't miss the next issue.

CLOUD DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT WITH A LOCAL TWIST

We've entered a new era in the legal technology world. Few lawyers debate the necessity of a document management system anymore. Instead, the debate has shifted to which combination of features best fits the needs of law firms in the second decade of the 21st century. The debate has thus far focused on cloud versus local, but a new product suggests that a hybrid approach may best suit the needs of many law firms.

Worldox GX3 Cloud … in One Sentence

Launching today, World Software's Worldox GX3 Cloud is a hybrid cloud document management system.

The Killer Feature

As its name suggests, Worldox GX3 Cloud stores your firm's documents and client-related email in the cloud (secure web servers). But here's the twist — you're not relegated to using a web browser to access and work with your data. Instead, you can use the very same Worldox software you would use if you stored your documents on an onsite server.

According to World Software, Worldox GX3 Cloud works so seamlessly that your colleagues may not realize their documents are stored in the cloud and not locally, thus eliminating a common complaint of cloud applications — the slowness of web browsers (a web browser must download text and images in addition to the data you seek).

Worldox GX3 Cloud adds to its speed advantage by enabling you to edit and work with large PDF documents directly on the web-based server instead of having to download a copy.

"We are proud to be the most widely-used document management system in the legal market," World Software President Ray Zwiefelhofer told us. "While largely known for our small to midsize firm presence, our GX3 enterprise release in 2012 meets the needs of larger law firms. And our new GX3 Cloud release furthers our company goal of offering a completely flexible document management system, so law firms of all sizes can choose the solution that benefits them most."

Other Notable Features

Worldox GX3 Cloud provides the same feature set as an on-premises Worldox system. For example, it forces everyone to store new documents in Worldox GX3 Cloud and create a searchable document profile, and provides check in and check out functionality, full-text searching, document access restrictions, etc.

Worldox GX3 Cloud also includes a full-featured PDF editing suite, obviating the need to purchase PDF software. This suite supports saving documents in PDF/A format, Bates stamping, form creation and completion, redaction, and more. Speaking of third-party software, thanks to 25 years in business, Worldox GX3 Cloud integrates with a large number of products to accommodate your workflow — Outlook, billing software, document comparison products, practice management systems, etc.

Security is always a concern when using cloud applications. World Software uses Rackspace OpenStack, which has earned all the major certifications such as SSAE 16 and ISAE 3402. Your firm's data is literally walled off. It's also backed up and stored across multiple data centers for added redundancy.

What Else Should You Know?

Worldox GX3 Cloud doesn't require a capital investment up front — you need not purchase and maintain a server or pay for a software license. Instead, it costs $55 per user per month. Learn more about Worldox GX3 Cloud.

How to Receive TL NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TL NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The newsletter's innovative articles enable lawyers and law office administrators to quickly understand the function of a product, and zero in on its most important features. The TL NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Originally published in the October 2, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: Small law firms have the same document needs as large law firms, just not the same budget. Therefore, many make do with inefficient manual systems. In this issue of SmallLaw, Seattle estate planning attorney John Creahan reviews SAFE Cloud, a web-based document management system with large firm features like secure access via a virtual private network at a small firm price. In his review, John discusses set up and customization, importing documents and email, search capabilities, security, technical support, and more. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for 10 safety tips for high-risk practice areas.

How to Receive SmallLaw
Small firm, big dreams. Written by practicing lawyers who manage successful small firms and legal technology and practice management experts who have achieved rock star status, SmallLaw provides practical advice on management, marketing, and technology issues in small law firms, as well as comprehensive legal product reviews with accompanying TechnoScore ratings. SmallLaw also links to helpful articles in other publications about solo practices and small law firms. The SmallLaw newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Coming today to BlawgWorld: Our editorial team has selected and linked to 137 articles from the past week worthy of your attention. Below you'll find a sample article from each section of today's issue, including our BlawgWorld Pick of the Week.

QuickBooks v. Peachtree for Law Firms

Are Windows 8 Tablets Doomed Given Microsoft's History?

Review: Navigon

Practice Tip: Don't Bill for Having Sex With Your Client

Open Letter to New Lawyers: Learn How to Use the Internet

Congratulations to Alex Castle of PCWorld on winning our BlawgWorld Pick of the Week award: How to Create a PC Resuscitation Kit on a USB Flash Drive

Today's issue also contains links to every article in the January 2013 issue of Law Practice Today. Don't miss today's issue or any future issues of BlawgWorld.

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Our newsletters provide the most comprehensive coverage of legal technology, practice management, and law firm marketing, but not the only coverage. BlawgWorld enables you to stay on top of all the noteworthy articles (and podcasts) published online without having to hire a research assistant. Even when you're busy, you won't want to miss each issue's Pick of the Week. The BlawgWorld newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Originally published in the September 28, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: With digital signatures still in their infancy and too hard for normal people to use, the fax stills reigns supreme for signed documents. In this issue of SmallLaw, New Jersey legal malpractice lawyer Edward Grossi reviews FaxLogic, a fax-to-email service that can also work with existing fax machines if needed. It also includes secure cloud storage. Edward used FaxLogic in his solo practice for about six months before writing his review, which covers the various plans and of course how well the service works. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for a review of Chrometa 2012, an automatic billable time capture service.

How to Receive SmallLaw
Small firm, big dreams. Written by practicing lawyers who manage successful small firms and legal technology and practice management experts who have achieved rock star status, SmallLaw provides practical advice on management, marketing, and technology issues in small law firms, as well as comprehensive legal product reviews with accompanying TechnoScore ratings. SmallLaw also links to helpful articles in other publications about solo practices and small law firms. The SmallLaw newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Originally published in the December 14, 2012 issue of TL NewsWire. Instead of reading TL NewsWire here, sign up now to receive future issues via email.

In 2012, we reported on 205 new products in TL NewsWire. In what has become an annual tradition, today in this year's last issue of TL NewsWire we present to you the TL NewsWire Top 25 Products of 2012. You'll find commentary on the Top 10 products, a list of the next 15 products, and links for all 25 products.

How do we determine the winners? We don't. You do. Each TL NewsWire article about a new product contains a link to that product's web page. We anonymously track everyone's clicks on these links to help us figure out which types of products most interest TL NewsWire subscribers, and also to create the annual TL NewsWire Top 25 Products.

THE 10 HOTTEST TL NEWSWIRE PRODUCTS OF 2012

Congratulations to the 10 hottest products in the TL NewsWire Top 25!

1. Total Attorneys App Store

After raising a significant round of capital, Total Attorneys came out swinging this year with two cleverly framed blockbuster announcements.

Several companies announced "application programming interfaces" or APIs this year, which enable other products to more easily integrate with theirs. To its credit, Total Attorneys chose not to use this term given that most lawyers are not programmers and therefore don't know what it means.

Instead, Total Attorneys announced an app store. Thanks to Apple, everyone knows what that means! Using this colloquial term vaulted Total Attorneys App Store to the top of the TL NewsWire Top 25. So congratulations to Total Attorneys not only for the add-ons it announced, but also for how the company framed this announcement.

2. Total Attorneys

Before launching its app store, Total Attorneys relaunched its cloud practice management system. This alone would have likely earned it a spot on the TL NewsWire Top 25. But Total Attorneys also announced an incredibly low price of just $1 per user per month, which explains its second place ranking.

Total Attorneys isn't crazy. Instead, like Amazon's strategy of selling its Kindle tablets at or below cost and later earning a profit on ebooks and other content, Total Attorneys essentially gives away its practice management system with the hope that you'll purchase apps such as credit card processing.

3. CitePin

When we reported on CitePin, we called it the "Evernote of the Legal Industry" as it's a cloud application designed to keep track of legal information such as legal research in a freeform manner but with legal-specific features.

CitePin clearly excited many of you. Just one caveat. This company reminds me of the Pink Floyd song, Is There Anybody Out There? We could not find an email address. We filled out the contact form requesting a screenshot to no avail (our thanks to LawSites for letting us use one of its screenshots).

4. TheFormTool PRO

According to the CEO of TheFormTool, the TechnoLawyer Network, including TL NewsWire, enabled the company to grow much faster than it originally anticipated.

TheFormTool PRO adds document assembly functionality to Microsoft Word without the need for programming skills. Because of the intense interest in TheFormTool PRO, we reviewed it twice from two perspectives in our BigLaw and SmallLaw newsletters.

5. MobileScan Pro 100

It would shock me if a scanner didn't make the TL NewsWire Top 25. In many law firms, scanners have become as essential a peripheral as printers. In fact, many law firms find that they need several types of scanners — high-volume, network, desktop, and mobile.

Ambir's new scanner garnered so much attention from TL NewsWire subscribers because it's the Batman of scanners — highly mobile with a dual personality. It functions as both a sheet-fed scanner and as a wand scanner. Also, it can scan without any cables to a Micro USB card.

6. Workshare PDF Professional Plus 2.0

Workshare PDF Professional 1.0 ranked second in last year's TL NewsWire Top 20. And here is version 2.0 ranked sixth in this year's TL NewsWire Top 25. Acrobat XI Pro also made the list this year but it's further down. That's because while PDF software is a hot topic, PDF software designed specifically for lawyers is an even hotter topic.

You probably found Workshare PDF Professional's support for PDF/A and its file size shrinking technology of interest given that many courts require this format and have file size limits. Version 2.0 also offers integrations with Autonomy Worksite and Microsoft SharePoint, two popular document management systems used by midsize and large law firms.

7. eBillity

eBillity has interesting origins. One of its co-founders used to work at Bill4Time, a cloud legal billing software pioneer. As a result, the two products share a number of features, chief among them an iPhone app as well as desktop widgets for Mac and Windows. Also, the pricing for Bill4Time and eBillity is identical.

Perhaps because of its late entry into the marketplace, eBillity has teamed up with larger companies. For example, it powers Thomson Reuters' new Time and Billing product. And when Intuit abandoned its cloud billing product, it recommended that its customers switch to eBillity.

8. Harvest

Harvest serves the billing needs of several industries, including legal. It offers both iPhone and Android apps, thus covering the majority of TechnoLawyer members (49% use an iPhone; 28% use an Android smartphone). For law firms with three or more timekeepers, Harvest costs less than rival products.

9. CaseFox

Clearly, TL NewsWire subscribers like cloud billing software as CaseFox also falls into this category. We cited CaseFox's ability to accommodate temporary contract lawyers as its Killer Feature. CaseFox also falls on the less expensive end of the pricing spectrum.

10. PDF Converter 8

We covered three new Nuance products this year. Not surprisingly, its PDF software received the most attention.

PDF Converter 8 is practically a word processor given its editing capabilities. That's why you'll find some of Nuance's Dragon speech recognition technology built into the software. Like Workshare PDF Professional, PDF Converter 8 integrates with a number of products popular among lawyers, including CaseMap and Worldox.

THE NEXT 15 HOTTEST TL NEWSWIRE PRODUCTS OF 2012

Congratulations to the 15 remaining products in the TL NewsWire Top 25 Products of 2012!

11. OmniOutliner for iPad

12. Leap

13. Amicus Attorney Premium Edition 2012

14. Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover

15. HoverBar

16. Acrobat XI Pro

17. Apollo

18. Standzfree

19. TranscriptPad

20. Disconnect

21. DocMoto

22. Amicus Cloud

23. Samsung ML-2165W Mono Laser Printer

24. iPad 3

25. SwingHolder

How to Receive TL NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TL NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The newsletter's innovative articles enable lawyers and law office administrators to quickly understand the function of a product, and zero in on its most important features. The TL NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Originally published in the August 17, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: Early refrigerators lacked freezers. We now take this integration for granted. Software products for small law firms have followed this same path. Clio, a cloud application, is one such product as it offers integrated legal billing, practice management, document management, and more. In this issue of SmallLaw, Oakland lawyer Jeffrey Allen reviews Clio, which he has used for several years. Thus, Jeffrey has a unique perspective, having seen Clio evolve in functionality. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for a buyer's guide to VoIP telephone systems.

How to Receive SmallLaw
Small firm, big dreams. Written by practicing lawyers who manage successful small firms and legal technology and practice management experts who have achieved rock star status, SmallLaw provides practical advice on management, marketing, and technology issues in small law firms, as well as comprehensive legal product reviews with accompanying TechnoScore ratings. SmallLaw also links to helpful articles in other publications about solo practices and small law firms. The SmallLaw newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Originally published in the July 6, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: Up until 2011, the legal technology world speculated which of the cloud practice management startups LexisNexis would acquire. Then LexisNexis surprised everyone by launching Firm Manager, its own cloud practice management system. In this issue of SmallLaw, practice management consultant Seth Rowland reviews Firm Manager from top to bottom and then some — features (including the new client portal and document management system), interface, speed, underlying technologies, etc. Seth tested Firm Manager on two PCs, a Mac, an iPad, an iPhone, and a Droid Pro. What's Seth verdict and TechnoScore? Read his review to find out. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for a visual walkthrough of Cloudon, the iPad app we recently reviewed that runs Microsoft Office on your iPad.

How to Receive SmallLaw
Small firm, big dreams. Written by practicing lawyers who manage successful small firms and legal technology and practice management experts who have achieved rock star status, SmallLaw provides practical advice on management, marketing, and technology issues in small law firms, as well as comprehensive legal product reviews with accompanying TechnoScore ratings. SmallLaw also links to helpful articles in other publications about solo practices and small law firms. The SmallLaw newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Originally published in the May 24, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: Time flies when you're busy at work, which makes it all the more difficult to accurately capture and bill. Maybe someday we can build a time machine and persuade Reginald Heber Smith not to invent the billable hour. Until then, the most promising technology is automatic or passive time capture. In this issue of SmallLaw, estate planning lawyer Chandra Lewnau reviews the new version of the most actively developed and well-known of these tools — Chrometa 2012. Chandra has become a senior product reviewer for SmallLaw because of her thoroughness. True to form, her review leave no feature unexplored. As an added bonus, below the review you'll find a response from Chrometa. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for advice on how solos and small law firms can compete against LegalZoom now that we have more insight from its recent IPO filing.

How to Receive SmallLaw
Small firm, big dreams. Written by practicing lawyers who manage successful small firms and legal technology and practice management experts who have achieved rock star status, SmallLaw provides practical advice on management, marketing, and technology issues in small law firms, as well as comprehensive legal product reviews with accompanying TechnoScore ratings. SmallLaw also links to helpful articles in other publications about solo practices and small law firms. The SmallLaw newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Originally published in the May 11, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: In the entertaining book, "Inside Apple," Adam Lashinky describes the NSA-like secrecy policies at Apple. It's unlikely anyone at Apple uses Dropbox or USB flash drives. But the iTwin might make the cut. Today, New Jersey lawyer Edward Zohn, SmallLaw's senior product reviewer, evaluates the iTwin, a remote access device that Ed describes as an "endless hard drive cable." As usual, Ed used the iTwin for about a month in his own small law firm before penning this review. He not only discusses its features in detail, including security, but compares it to alternatives such as cloud storage, portable storage, remote control, and virtual private networks. If you still don't have an ideal remote access solution, read Ed's review and share it with your colleagues. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for five secrets to winning over a company seeking outside counsel.

How to Receive SmallLaw
Small firm, big dreams. Written by practicing lawyers who manage successful small firms and legal technology and practice management experts who have achieved rock star status, SmallLaw provides practical advice on management, marketing, and technology issues in small law firms, as well as comprehensive legal product reviews with accompanying TechnoScore ratings. SmallLaw also links to helpful articles in other publications about solo practices and small law firms. The SmallLaw newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Originally published in the May 10, 2012 issue of SmallLaw: Mulder and Sculley have long since retired, but one of the great mysteries of our time has nonetheless been solved. Much like Deep Throat, Google itself recently unveiled its long-rumored Google Drive. In this issue of SmallLaw, cloud application expert and law practice advisor Erik Mazzone reviews Google Drive from the small law firm perspective. Erik analyzes Google Drive's storage, pricing, desktop and mobile functionality, web interface, feature set, and security. In short, it's the most comprehensive review of Google Drive not only among legal publications but among all publications. Also, don't miss the SmallLaw Pick of the Week for 10 tips on how to write articles for client development.

How to Receive SmallLaw
Small firm, big dreams. Written by practicing lawyers who manage successful small firms and legal technology and practice management experts who have achieved rock star status, SmallLaw provides practical advice on management, marketing, and technology issues in small law firms, as well as comprehensive legal product reviews with accompanying TechnoScore ratings. SmallLaw also links to helpful articles in other publications about solo practices and small law firms. The SmallLaw newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.