TechnoLawyer: TL NewsWire

Today's issue of TL NewsWire covers a cloud billing and practice management system that integrates with QuickBooks (see article below), a collaborative whiteboard iPad app, an iPad app for optical character recognition and translations, and a cloud document assembly application. Don't miss the next issue.

QUICKBOOKS' NEW BEST FRIEND

In the beginning, developers of cloud practice management systems had to persuade law firms not to worry about data security and uptime. With these concerns now largely a non-issue, especially among solos and small firms, these companies can focus on matching the functionality of traditional practice management systems. Starting from scratch with 20/20 hindsight gives these companies the advantage creating only essential features. One such feature is QuickBooks integration.

MyCase … in One Sentence
MyCase is a cloud billing and practice management system that as of last week now integrates with QuickBooks.

The Killer Feature

To its credit, MyCase seems to have sweated the details when creating its new QuickBooks Sync. Legal technology journalist Robert Ambrogi described it "a more robust and seamless QuickBooks integration than other practice-management platforms offer."

MyCase handles all financial aspects of your practice except accounting — time and expense entries, bill creation, online bill payment, and trust accounting. With one click of the QuickBooks button you can send all of this data or selected data to QuickBooks. You can also set up automatic synchronization for client information and trust account transactions.

There's no need to manually export or import data. Also, the unidirectional synchronization eliminates the possibility of duplicate entries. Unlike some other products, there's no additional monthly fee for QuickBooks Sync.

"QuickBooks is the top-rated small business accounting software, so it's no surprise that we share many of the same law firm customers," General Manager and VP of MyCase Matt Spiegel told us. "We've taken the time to develop this integration seamlessly to ensure that we provide what our customers need to help them simplify their workflow and better serve their clients."

Other Notable Features

Also new is MyCase's Workflow technology, which ensures consistency and prevents you from missing deadlines through task automation. For example, you can create templates for your client intake process to ensure that all new clients pass a conflicts check and receive and sign an engagement letter. Workflows can crunch numbers so you can also use it for connected tasks with time-based triggers such as court filings. Thus, MyCase can place all deadlines for a matter on your calendar, and automatically adjust them if one of them changes.

As we reported in 2011, MyCase reinvented the client portal by making it work like a Facebook-style social network rather than a clunky extranet. Its features include secure communications, secure document sharing, and bill payment. MyCase also provides threaded discussions for use internally, not just with clients.

Other key features include client- and matter-based contact, document, and task management, shared calendars, and document assembly.

What Else Should You Know?

In addition to using MyCase in a desktop or mobile web browser, you can also use the iOS app on your iPad and iPhone. MyCase costs $39 per month per lawyer, and $29 per month per non-lawyer user. Learn more about MyCase.

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.

Today's issue of TL NewsWire covers Apple new flagship smartphone with biometric security (see article below), Apple's poor lawyer's smartphone, a new version of a cloud practice management system, and new document assembly software that works within Microsoft Word. Don't miss the next issue.

A TOUCH OF SECURITY

How can you persuade legal professionals to buy the seventh-generation iPhone? Let's see. Lawyers are bound by ethics rules concerning client confidentiality. How about security? Bingo! According to Apple, half of iPhone users don't use a passcode to access their iPhones (I see you sheepishly shrugging). Also, lax security can result in your kids racking up hundreds of dollars of in-app game purchases.

iPhone 5s … in One Sentence

Announced today and shipping on September 20, Apple's iPhone 5s is the company's new flagship smartphone.

The Killer Feature

Apple's new Touch ID technology enables you to unlock the iPhone using your fingerprint. You can also use Touch ID instead of your Apple ID password to purchase apps, books, and music from Apple's App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes respectively.

Touch ID is built into the home button. You can train your iPhone to work with one or more of your fingers as well as with the fingers of other people. This way, your spouse can check something on your iPhone while you're driving.

Thanks to Touch ID's ability to scan below the surface of your skin, you need not tap the home button with dead on precision or while holding the iPhone in a specific position, enabling you to unlock your iPhone when in a rush (or when you've got a beer in one hand and several in your stomach).

Because the iPhone 5s ships with iOS 7 operating system, it also benefits from the new operating system's Activation Lock, which prevents thieves from disabling Find My iPhone or wiping and reactivating your iPhone (this technology requires a free iCloud account).

Other Notable Features

The new iPhone weighs 3.95 ounces and measures 4.87 x 2.31 x 0.3 inches. Made from anodized aluminum, you can choose from three colors — gold, silver, or space gray. Regarding data, the iPhone 5s supports LTE and 802.11 b/g/n WiFi. In the United States, the major carriers plan to offer it for $199 (16 GB), $299 (32 GB), or $399 (64 GB) with a two-year contract.

The iPhone 5s is powered by the world's first 64-bit mobile processor dubbed the A7 (Apple designs its own CPUs for iOS devices so don't expect to see the A7 in other smartphones). But wait, there's more — a second "coprocessor" called the M7 that handles the accelerometer, gyroscope, and other motion sensors in the iPhone 5s. This means your iPhone knows when you're in a car so it can show you driving rather than walking directions, knows when it's lying on a desk so it can preserve battery life, etc. Speaking of the latter, you can expect 10 hours of battery life (250 hours standby).

Apple has improved the rear 8 megapixel "iSight" camera with a larger sensor and wider aperture. The new dual LED True Tone technology results in better flash photos. The redesigned Camera app features a burst mode (10 photos per second), image stabilization, slow motion video, zooming while shooting video, and filters.

What Else Should You Know?

In addition to shipping with iOS 7, the iPhone 5s also includes Apple's iWork productivity suit (Pages, Numbers, and Keynote), as well as iPhoto and iMovie. Learn more about iPhone 5s. Apple offers an accompanying leather case in six colors for $39. Learn more about iPhone 5s.

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.

Today's issue of TL NewsWire covers an application for securing, sharing, and comparing documents (see article below), an iCloud-enabled app for creating and editing Microsoft Office documents on your iPad, and two new virtualization applications for running Windows on a Mac. Don't miss the next issue.

COMPARE AND SECURELY SHARE THIS THAT THESE AND THOSE

With Microsoft increasingly pursuing consumers — admittedly a much larger market than law firms and other businesses — lawyers shouldn't hold out much hope for improvements to Microsoft Office such as more robust change tracking, metadata cleansing, secure file sending, etc. Fortunately, some software companies still cater to law firms.

Workshare Professional 8 … in One Sentence

Launched last month, Workshare Professional 8 enables lawyers to secure, share, and compare documents.

The Killer Feature

Workshare Professional grew out of DeltaView, software for comparing two Word documents. The new version of Workshare Professional significantly expands the comparison capabilities. It's also 10 times faster than DeltaView.

In addition to comparing the text od documents, you can also compare embedded Excel tables, numbering, bullets, images, and formatting. You can group changes into categories so that you can focus on substance without being distracted by style or vice versa. You can compare multiple versions of a document, and accept or reject changes from the various versions.

Workshare Professional works with more than Microsoft Office documents. For example, you can compare PDF documents, including scanned documents thanks to the new built-in optical character recognition (OCR) technology. As always, Workshare Professional integrates with popular document management systems.

Instead of waiting around to review changes, Workshare Professional can alert you when everyone has added their two cents.

Other Notable Features

Workshare Professional has long enabled you to remove metadata from documents before emailing them to a client or opposing counsel. This functionality remains (including Outlook integration), but Workshare Professional now includes its own secure file transfer, which works from any device such as PCs, Macs, iPads, and smartphones.

Not only does the new document sharing feature enable you to send documents too large for email and eliminate the need for an Outlook add-on, but it also gives you more control over the documents you send. For example, Workshare Professional encrypts shared documents, which means you can recall a document, limit it to read-only, make it accessible for a limited period of time, etc. The Admin Console enables your IT department to set firm-wide document sharing policies so that users need not fiddle with settings.

What Else Should You Know?

Other new features include synchronized workspaces for everyone in your firm across all their devices, the ability to brand these workspaces (especially those that clients and others outside your firm access), and tools for PDF and PDF/A creation. Pricing starts at $175 per user per year. Learn more about Workshare Professional 8.

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.

Today's issue of TL NewsWire covers an iPad app with a new approach to remote desktop (control) (see article below), a file viewer for discovery document review and other scenarios in which you need to view a document you cannot open, a new iPad note-taking app, and a service that helps you protect the articles on your blog and/or web site from unauthorized republication. Don't miss the next issue.

IPAD REMOTE DESKTOP WITHOUT THE MOUSE TRAP

When lawyers first learn that they can control their Mac or PC from their iPad they get excited. These remote desktop apps theoretically enable you to travel with just your iPad, knowing that you can run Microsoft Word if necessary. But then lawyers try these apps after which the excitement wanes. Trying to control a mouse cursor on an iPad is like trying to tie your shoelaces while wearing ski mittens. A new remote access app takes a different approach.

Parallels Access … in One Sentence

Launched yesterday, Parallels Access enables you to control one or more Macs and PCs via your iPad.

The Killer Feature

Parallels Access doesn't show you your computer's desktop or mouse cursor. Instead, its App Launcher displays your computer's desktop applications as iPad-style app icons. You can rearrange your applications and remove those you don't use. Nothing changes on your computer. Instead, this transformation of your desktop programs into touch-friendly apps occurs only in the Parallels Access iPad app.

"With Parallels Access, you can tap, swipe and pinch your way around Mac and Windows applications to ultimately be more productive at work and lead a more connected life," said CEO of Parallels Birger Steen.

Other Notable Features

Along the right side of Parallels Access you'll find the App Switcher, which enables you to switch among different documents within the same application (e.g., multiple Word documents), and also switch among all the open applications on the computer you're controlling.

As noted above, Parallels Access eschews the mouse emulation that makes other remote control apps so frustrating. Instead, you select, cut, copy, and paste text in Word and other desktop programs just as you would in a native iPad app.

When you need to use a menu or a toolbar, Parallels Access' SmartTap technology magnifies the area your finger touches to make it more foolproof to tap the correct command. Similarly, scrolling works as you would expect on an iPad with no need to use the scrollbar in desktop windows.

You can summon the iPad's keyboard when you want to work in a document. Parallels Access adds special function keys in a row above the regular keyboard that varies depending on the desktop operating system you're controlling (e.g., the Command key versus the Windows key). Alternatively, you can use an external Bluetooth keyboard instead of the iPad's software keyboard.

What Else Should You Know?

Parallels Access requires the iPad 2 or later. In addition to the iPad app, you must install the Parallels Access Mac Agent or PC Agent respectively on the computers you want to control. Parallels Access works both over your local WiFi network and also over the Internet. Like all remote access solutions, the computer you want to control needs to be running. Parallels Access costs $79.99 per computer per year. You can try Parallels Access free for 14 days. Learn more about Parallels Access.

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.

Today's issue of TL NewsWire covers an online word processor with collaboration tools (see article below), an iPad text editor with support for snippets and macros, a note-taking app for iPad and iPhone that syncs via iCloud, and an RSS feed service for your law blog. Don't miss the next issue.

COLLABORATIVE WORD PROCESSING

Microsoft Word remains shackled to its roots in the early days of personal computing before networks let alone the cloud. Back then, lawyers collaborated by writing a draft, and then circulating printed copies for feedback. Over the years, Word has gained some collaboration tools such as Track Changes, but new word processors built from the ground up for collaboration may have an edge.

Quip Business … in One Sentence

Launched this month, Quip Business is an online word processor with collaboration tools.

The Killer Feature

Quip Business enables you and others to work on a document at the same time — without the need for a server-based technology such as Microsoft SharePoint. The application keeps track of each person's changes and can save all versions. You can also use Quip Business offline. When you again have an Internet connection, your changes merge with the existing document, again preserving versions and enabling others to see your changes.

Other Notable Features

In addition to traditional documents, Quip Business also supports documents with specific structures such as checklists and outlines. Each Quip Business document has an area along the side for comments by those with access to the document. Quip Business can send you an alert when a person with whom you share a document first accesses it, makes changes, and adds comments.

Quip Business currently works in all modern web browsers on Macs, PCs, and mobile web browsers. A dedicated app exists for iPad and iPhone users that you can download for free from the App Store.

You can organize documents into folders, which enables you to share entire folders in addition to sharing select documents. Using the Admin Console, you can change user permissions anytime such as when an employee leaves your firm. You can also remotely manage and wipe the Quip Business app on iPads and iPhones issued by your firm.

What Else Should You Know?

If you have a Google account, you can use it as your Quip Business login for single sign on convenience. Quip Business costs $12 per user per month, which includes up to 250 users. A free version exists for up to five users, but it lacks the administrative tools. The company also offers an enterprise version for large law firms with custom pricing. Learn more about Quip Business.

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.

Today's issue of TL NewsWire covers a cloud storage service with an emphasis on collaboration, redundancy, and security (see article below), backup and syncing software for Mac and Windows, a practice management app for Android smartphones, and litigation support software. Don't miss the next issue.

SECURELY CLOUD-ENABLE YOUR FOLDERS AND DOCUMENTS

Does the world need another cloud storage service? Yes because despite all the press and hype, the gold rush is just getting started. Market consolidation remains years away. The current market leaders serve the needs of consumers, not regulated businesses like law firms. Furthermore, enterprise software companies have just begun to enter the market. The products that balance convenience and security will win. The latest entrant, which has street cred to spare, seeks to check these two boxes.

Cubby … in One Sentence

LogMeIn's Cubby is a cloud storage service with native applications for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.

The Killer Feature

Cubby's DirectSync technology enables you to cloud-enable one or more folders on your computer. These folders continue to function like regular folders except that you can access and modify the documents in these folders on your other devices using the Cubby apps. Any changes you make sync back to your original folder and across all your devices. Versioning enables you to keep all prior versions of a document.

Launched this year, Cubby Pro and Cubby Enterprise work similarly except that multiple people can access these cloud folders (cubbies) for collaboration purposes. Cubby can essentially make your file server available to everyone in your firm without having to implement and maintain a VPN.

All versions of Cubby enable you to share specific documents privately or publicly with clients and others. Thus, you can also use Cubby to "send" documents to clients that you cannot email for security or size reasons. Cubby doesn't impose any size limits on documents.

Other Notable Features

LogMeIn claims that Cubby offers superior security than Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, and others because it encrypts your documents in addition to providing a secure connection to them. Cubby Pro and Cubby Enterprise offer even more security via Cubby Locks. When you apply a Cubby Lock to a folder, you must enter a second folder-specific password to access its documents.

Cubby Enterprise provides you with a centralized administrative console through which you can manage all your users and their permissions. For example, you can disable or limit public sharing, prevent resharing, and create groups so that you can apply the same settings to multiple users simultaneously.

What Else Should You Know?

Cubby Basic for individual users provides 5 GB of storage for free. Cubby Pro for 1-10 users starts at $47.88 per year per user for 100 GB of storage. Cubby Enterprise for 10 or more users requires that you contact LogMeIn for a custom proposal based on your needs. Learn more about Cubby.

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.

Today's issue of TL NewsWire covers an Outlook add-on designed to improve your email productivity (see article below), a new duplex color document scanner, a legal research tool, and an add-on for Microsoft OneNote. Don't miss the next issue.

RECAPTURE PRODUCTIVITY LOST TO EMAIL

Countless "email killers" have come and gone. Persuading billions of people to replace an easy-to-use communications medium is challenging to say the least. Instead, entrepreneurs should focus on making email more productive. That's the approach taken by a new product designed for lawyers who use Microsoft Outlook.

RepriseMail … in One Sentence

Launched last month, Reprise Apps' RepriseMail is an Outlook add-on and accompanying service that analyzes how you use email to identify productivity problems, and suggests how you can solve these problems.

The Killer Feature

RepriseMail analyzes your email usage to formulate a Weekly Report highlighting five Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). For example, the Productivity Killers KPI lists the number of messages opened within two minutes of their arrival, the number of messages replied to within five minutes of arrival, and the number of messages left in your inbox each day.

The other KPIs consist of Email Traffic (the number of messages sent and received), Time Spent (the time spent reading and writing messages), Same-Day Responses (how often you reply the same day), and Inbox Checks (how often you interrupt your work to check email).

Other Notable Features

This "diagnosis" of your email problems enables you to "treat" them. For each KPI, you'll find a link to the RepriseMail Dashboard with advice on how to address a particular problem. The Dashboard also provides deeper analytics. The RepriseMail Dashboard makes email productivity more enjoyable with game elements such as the ability to see how your metrics compare to those of your colleagues in the aggregate or against your prior week's results.

If you're a managing partner or in another leadership role, you can see the KPIs for everyone in your firm to identify major problems and those most afflicted. Trend reports enable firm leaders to identify star performers, as well as those who have improved and those who haven't. Leaders can tap their stars to teach colleagues email productivity best practices.

"Lost time in email is the number one productivity killer in the legal industry today," lawyer and co-founder of Reprise Apps Paul H. Burton told us. "We developed RepriseMail specifically to help legal professionals recover that lost time. Solving the email overload problem increases law firm profitability as well as lawyer and staff well being."

What Else Should You Know?

RepriseMail works with Outlook 2007 and later (Windows). RepriseMail costs $5 per user per month. If you have more than 100 users, the price drops to $4 per user per month. You can try RepriseMail for free for 30 days. Learn more about RepriseMail.

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.

Today's issue of TL NewsWire covers an integrated financial and practice management system with dashboards (see article below), an iPad app for managing the ediscovery process, an online service for tracking federal and state legislation, and a smartphone app for obtaining low rates at upscale hotels. Don't miss the next issue.

DRIVE YOUR LAW PRACTICE TO GREATER SUCCESS

Imagine driving your car without a dashboard. While it might provide a good excuse if you get pulled over for speeding, you'd probably feel uncomfortable. There's no denying the brilliance of having all the information you need right in front of you. For this reason, all lawyers should have one or more dashboards to monitor their law firms, practice groups, and/or personal goals.

PCLaw 13 … in One Sentence

Launched this month, LexisNexis' PCLaw 13 is an integrated legal billing, accounting, and practice management application.

The Killer Feature

The new version of PCLaw features three dashboards — My Practice, My Clients, and My Business — that give you an overview of different aspects of your law firm and help you pinpoint potential problems. Each dashboard enables you to drill down to see more detailed data.

My Practice helps you manage your schedule and workload. It displays your appointments, tasks (current, upcoming, and overdue), client-related email and other messages, matters on which you've recently worked, and legal news in your designated practice areas courtesy of Lexis.com.

My Clients collects all information about each client and matter in one location — appointments, tasks, contact information, email and other messages, recent activities such as notes, telephone calls, and time entries, and financial information such as unbilled activities, trust account balance, last bill, last payment, last dunning notice, etc.

My Business gives you the big picture, enabling you to assess the financial health of your firm. You can also use My Business to track personal goals such as billable hour targets. Depending on your access rights, the My Business dashboard displays financial summaries, budget tracking, income and expense details, and key performance indicators such as account receivables, bank account balances, billable hours, work in progress, etc. From this dashboard, you can also generate income and other financial statements, and access frequently-used features such as applying payments, generating past-due notices, and writing checks.

"Our research consistently demonstrates that smaller law firms find it challenging to balance the practice of law with the business of law," LexisNexis Senior Director for Law Firm Practice Management Loretta Ruppert told us. The new dashboards in PCLaw visually surface relevant information so lawyers can monitor the firm's business performance without waiting for reports and quickly find information when clients call."

Other Notable Features

PCLaw also seeks to help law firms standardize routine processes to ensure consistency and minimize errors.

For example, PCLaw has a new paperless client intake system. From within PCLaw, you can email prospective clients a customized intake firm. When a prospective client returns the completed form, you can import the data into PCLaw, perform a conflict check, and automatically send the prospective client an engagement or non-engagement letter. Standardizing your intake system in this manner may help reduce your malpractice insurance premiums.

PCLaw also features customizable email templates for the entire billing process. This ensures that each communication is personalized, features your firm's branding, and contains your firm's payment terms.

What Else Should You Know?

PCLaw runs on Windows 8 and earlier versions, and integrates with Office 2013 and earlier versions. Pricing starts at $985 for the first timekeeper and $498 for each additional timekeeper. Your license includes a one-year Annual Maintenance Plan, which entitles you to PCLaw Mobility for mobile access, software updates, technical support via email and telephone, and web training materials. Learn more about PCLaw 13.

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.

Today's issue of TL NewsWire covers a tablet with a retina-quality display that weighs less than a pound (see article below), a symbolic calculator that saves your calculations in documents, discovery software that shortens the amount of time required for document review, and a cloud practice management system. Don't miss the next issue.

PAPER BETTER WATCH ITS BACK

Microsoft may have lost the tablet war despite being first to market more than a decade ago in part because of its disdain for the PDF document format, which was then owned by rival Adobe. Little did Microsoft know that paper replacement would become among the most common uses of tablets in business, including in the legal industry. Microsoft still seems ignorant of this phenomenon. Apple understands it — and as of now so does Google.

Nexus 7 … in One Sentence

Announced last week and shipping to customers beginning tomorrow, Google's Nexus 7 (2013) is its second generation seven-inch tablet.

The Killer Feature

The original iPad seemed light until the iPad 2 put it to shame. But then the iPad 3 and 4 gained back some weight, but lawyers forgave it because of the retina display, which meant exceptionally sharp text in documents. The iPad mini made the iPad seem like an anchor by comparison, but it split lawyers into two camps because it lacks a retina display.

The Nexus 7 sports a retina display — 1920 x 1200 pixels at 323 pixels per inch — despite weighing only 0.64 pounds and measuring 4.4 x 7.8 x 0.3 inches. The display has a 16:9 aspect ratio (like a TV), and measures seven inches horizontally as the name of the tablet suggests.

Other Notable Features

Google offers both a WiFi-only model as well as WiFi plus cellular. The cellular model only supports LTE, the advantage being that you're not tied to one carrier (the disadvantage being that you're out of luck if LTE is unavailable).

You can expect about nine hours of battery life. Two storage options exist — 16 or 32 GB. Other hardware features include a 5 megapixel rear camera, a 1.2 megapixel front camera, a quad core processor, 2 GB of memory, and stereo speakers.

What Else Should You Know?

The Nexus 7 runs a new version of Android that supports user accounts. This means you can share your Nexus 7 with your kids and not have to worry about them deleting your documents or learning about Anthony Weiner. The new version of Android also supports Bluetooth 4. The WiFi models cost $229 (16 GB) and $269 (32 GB). The cellular model, available only with 32 GB of storage, costs $349. Learn more about Nexus 7.

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.

Today's issue of TL NewsWire covers an email sales automation application that works with Gmail and Outlook (see article below), Microsoft's new Outlook apps for iPad and iPhone, an iPad stand that will match your furniture, and a specialized iOS search engine app. Don't miss the next issue.

TRANSFORM EMAIL INTO LEGAL FEES

Don't look now, but the legal profession has changed dramatically yet few lawyers realize it because the transition seems so natural. Nowadays, lawyers increasingly take on new matters and even new clients via email instead of in person or over the telephone. It makes sense given email's strength at exchanging documents such as a retainer agreement. Now that you're closing so many engagements via email, take it to the next level.

Tout … in One Sentence

Toutapp's Tout is an email sales automation application that integrates with Gmail and Microsoft Outlook.

The Killer Feature

A cloud application, Tout enables you to create templates for email messages you frequently send. In addition to taking care of the message subject and body for you, the templates you create can also automatically attach designated documents such as brochures, PowerPoint presentations, etc. and also cc designated colleagues.

Templates also support database fields for personalization. Thus, a template can enter a greeting using the recipient's first name, mention their company name, etc. If you want to schedule a meeting or telephone call, you can embed several dates and times on which you're available. When you finalize your email message, you can immediately send it or have Tout send it later at a time you specify. Tout also handles bulk email messages.

Other Notable Features

You can set up Tout on a firm-wide basis to ensure consistent communications with prospective and existing clients. In addition to Gmail and Outlook, Tout also integrates with customer relationship management applications such as Highrise and Salesforce so that you can import contacts and create groups.

Tout tracks all activity. You can see when recipients open your message, whether they view your presentation, if they visit your web site, etc. Tout has particularly deep insight into PowerPoint presentations that you send from within Tout. For example, you can see how much time recipients spend per slide. All this realtime data can help you decide which prospects to focus on and when to follow up with them.

What Else Should You Know?

You can choose from four plans that cost $30, $100, $250, and $750 per month respectively. The least expensive plan is for one user as it lacks template sharing and other collaborative features. Tout has a consulting division that can help with setup and training for an added fee. Learn more about Tout.

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.