TechnoLawyer: TL NewsWire

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers an online accounting application (see article below), a mobile dictation app, a mobile scanning app, a wireless charger, and an online billing solution. Don't miss the next issue.

Simpler Accounting and Billing

"Less is more" should apply to cliches. But this overused saying is appropriate for software. What explains the success of mobile apps these days? They're a throwback to the simple yet functional applications of the early PC era. Developers of PC applications should take heed — not only when developing software, but Web applications (SaaS) too. For example, early accounting and billing SaaS products were often just as complex as their desktop counterparts. But some developers have heard the call.

Less Accounting … in One Sentence
Less Everything's Less Accounting is an online accounting system.

The Killer Feature
Many law firms dislike their accounting systems. But accounting systems have superglue-like lock-in — it's difficult to transfer your data to other accounting systems. Unless you use QuickBooks.

The downside of being king of the hill is that everyone has a target on your back. Less Accounting claims that it can import your QuickBooks data in two minutes. It also integrates with several popular online applications such as HighRise and PayPal.

Other Notable Features
Less Accounting's personalized Dashboard lists bank balances, unpaid bills, pending proposals, and how your firm spends its money. You can import bank statements every month. You can also adjust a number of business settings, including bill templates, bank accounts, users and privileges, and more.

Less Accounting tracks expenses using standard IRS categories, which you can modify. You can create and send bills within the body of an HTML email message or as a PDF attachment. Like every application nowadays it seems, Less Accounting has an accompanying iPhone app, primarily for viewing information and entering expenses.

What Else Should You Know?
Less Accounting offers four plans ranging in price from $12/month to $300/month. The plans differ not by number of users, but by feature set. Learn more about Less Accounting.

How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers a new smartphone (see article below), server-based OCR software, an online scheduling service, an online meeting service, and an iPhone app for accessing Wikipedia. Don't miss the next issue.

Read Me

Lawyers have traditionally embraced mobile technology much faster than office technology. The smartphone as a status symbol (versus the PC as a nerd symbol) has certainly played a role in this early adoption, but lawyers actually need the features of the latest and greatest smartphones more than most people. Apple's iPhone currently leads the pack in terms of mindshare and press. Its slogan, "There's an app for that," has become part of the cultural fabric because it perfectly describes the iPhone's chief selling point — simple, useful applications that require little to no training. What can Apple do for an encore?

iPhone 4 … in One Sentence
Announced this week and shipping on June 24th, iPhone 4 is Apple's fourth-generation smartphone.

The Killer Feature
If you're playing games, a sharper screen can enhance the experience, but gameplay is far more important. That's why classics like Tetris endure. A sharper screen, however, can dramatically improve your reading experience.

iPhone 4 features a new "Retina" display with a 960x640 pixel resolution at 326 ppi. In other words, the screen provides a sharper resolution than a piece of paper printed at 300 dpi.

Also new, Apple has outfitted the iPhone with a more durable "aluminosilicate" glass screen that sits directly on top of the display to further improve sharpness and depth of field. The same glass covers the back of the iPhone as well.

Other Notable Features
iPhone 4 has two cameras — a 5 megapixel camera on the back with a 5x digital zoom that shoots still photos and HD video and has a flash, and a 3 megapixel camera on the front. Using the new FaceTime app, you can video chat with other iPhone 4 users when you're both on a WiFi network. Both cameras work with FaceTime. Using the toggle button, you can either show yourself or what's happening around you.

Also new on iPhone 4 is a noise-canceling microphone designed to help with phone calls in noisy environments.

Many of iPhone 4's features will also become available on older iPhones thanks to the new iOS 4 operating system. For example, iOS 4 supports multitasking (running multiple apps simultaneously), and folders for organizing your apps. Similarly, the iBooks app with its built-in bookstore will become available for iPhone 4 and older models. iBooks will support PDF files.

What Else Should You Know?
In the United States, AT&T remains the sole carrier (for now). You can choose from two models in black or white — 16 GB ($199) or 32 GB ($299). Learn more about iPhone 4.

How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers document assembly software (see article below), an iManage add-on, an iPhone app for deposition transcripts, computer monitoring software, and a text editor. Don't miss the next issue.

Step on the Document Gas

Life is too short to waste time writing the same old clauses over and over again rather than have a computer do the work. But that's what lawyers routinely do because getting to that automated promised land requires such a gargantuan effort that the status quo no longer seems so bad. But don't fool yourself — it's bad and getting worse. Fortunately, document assembly technology is getting better, requiring less effort to get started. Time to get with the program — or, rather, get a program.

HotDocs 10 … in One Sentence
Released last week, HotDocs 10 is a document assembly program.

The Killer Feature
Someday, you'll plug a USB cable into the back of your neck Matrix-style, and create a HotDocs template while you type. Until then, HotDocs has developed some tools for non-programmers.

For example, you can use your model documents to create templates. Just mark the blanks and HotDocs will create an interview for creating that type of document. Also, you can fill in PDF forms using PDF Advantage, which is bundled with HotDocs 10.

Other Notable Features
HotDocs 10 supports Microsoft Word 2010 and Corel WordPerfect X5 as well as earlier versions of both word processors. HotDocs also integrates with popular document and practice management programs.

Other features include support for Unicode, and the ability to answer questions directly in your document or in a dialog pane, save your progress and return later, edit your document when previewing it, and incorporate WordPerfect macros.

What Else Should You Know?
HotDocs offers HotDocs 10 in several versions — User, Developer, and Server. You can also purchase a connector for Microsoft SharePoint. Learn more about HotDocs 10.

How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers an office suite (see article below), a group buying service for lawyers, a time entry system, an iPhone task manager, and a network attached storage appliance. Don't miss the next issue.

Old Word Processor Learns New Tricks

Imagine a reality-based TV show in which a lawyer has to choose from several dozen software products. In the end, he would likely hook up with the word processor — though the sexy email program would finish a close second. The only wrinkle — most word processors are creeping up in age and bloated with features no one uses. But there's hope thanks to the latest version of one of the oldest word processors, which seems to have improved with age.

WordPerfect Office X5 … in One Sentence
Corel's WordPerfect Office X5 Professional Edition is a software suite that includes programs for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, email, databases, and more.

The Killer Feature
Regardless of which word processor your law firm uses, you must have the ability to work with Microsoft Word files. The new version of WordPerfect is compatible with Microsoft Word 2007's .docx format. You can save documents in that format and also open any documents you receive. The same is true of other formats such as .xlsx and .pptx.

To help manage documents you create and receive, WordPerfect Office X5 integrates with Microsoft SharePoint. Using WordPerfect's document comparison feature, you can compare different versions of documents in SharePoint against each other.

Other Notable Features
Corel hasn't just integrated Microsoft technologies. For example, with WordPerfect iFilter, you can search WordPerfect documents in SharePoint using Google Desktop Search. You can also embed live charts in documents that update automatically over the Internet (e.g., stock prices).

WordPerfect has offered basic PDF creation for several years. The new version adds an annotation tool for marketing up documents. Also new are tools to help you get up and running quickly — improved migration technology that preserves templates, and customized menus and toolbars, and a new Reference Center with tips, tutorials, and documentation.

In addition to its own programs such as WordPerfect, Quattro Pro and Presentations, WordPerfect Office X5 also includes third-party programs such as PaperPort 12 SE and Mozilla Thunderbird.

What Else Should You Know?
WordPerfect Office X5 requires Windows XP or later. It costs $249.99 (upgrades cost $159.99). Learn more about WordPerfect Office X5.

How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers a litigation support software suite (see article below), a document management system, an eDiscovery suite, an iPhone note-taking app, and a mobile online meeting service. Don't miss the next issue.

Can Your Litigation Support Software Do That?

The number of important documents in a typical case hasn't changed. It's a constant like the sun, moon, and tides. But the number and types of documents have changed — more of them in an increasing array of electronic formats. As a result, old school litigation support software doesn't work as well as it once did. Instead, these programs need new functionality to help litigation teams stay on top of all these documents. The latest version of one of the leading litigation support products offers a number of new functions designed for modern litigation.

CT Summation Enterprise 2.7 … in One Sentence
Released earlier this week, CT Summation Enterprise 2.7 is a scalable SQL-based litigation software suite for managing cases, including discovery documents and deposition transcripts.

The Killer Feature
Litigation support software like CT Summation Enterprise originated because litigation teams found themselves drowning in paper during discovery. CT Summation Enterprise enabled these teams to transform all that paper into searchable electronic documents — and it still does.

Nowadays, litigation teams find themselves drowning in electronic documents. Answering the call of the industry again, the new version of CT Summation Enterprise has added a Near-Native Document Viewer and more.

With this tool, you can view virtually any type of file without the need for the original program. For example, you could view CAD illustrations created by AutoCAD without having to buy a copy of AutoCAD.

Other Notable Features
Also new are CT Summation Enterprise's built-in tools for accelerated document review and coding, enabling you and your colleagues to group similar documents processed through a near-duplicate analysis service or software, and more easily bulk-code an entire near-duplicate set.

With CT Summation Enterprise, it's unlikely you'll run into any production task you cannot handle thanks to the new Petrification Toolkit. Petrification refers to the process of converting native files into an image format (e.g., for responding to document requests). Thanks to the Oracle Outside In technology at the core of the Petrification Toolkit, you can configure batch sizes and process all the latest file formats, including very old programs like Wordstar.

What Else Should You Know?
CT Summation has made it easier to access the features of Enterprise with a refreshed user interface. Much of these improvements stem from client feedback. Learn more about CT Summation Enterprise 2.7.

How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers a credit card processing service for smartphones (see article below), an authoring system for creating multimedia demand letters, an online backup and file sharing service, a Gmail add-on, and a clipboard manager for iPhone. Don't miss the next issue.

Make it Cool for Clients to Pay You

If you invented blogs and then sold your invention to Google, would you retire? Or would you invent Twitter instead? And if you invented Twitter, would you stop there? Or would try to reinvent credit card processing? Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Blogger and Twitter, is clearly not a man who rests on his laurels. If your law firm accepts credit cards, his latest invention may help you far more than his previous two.

Square … in One Sentence
Square offers credit card processing via smartphone with simplified processing fees.

The Killer Feature
Why start a credit card processing company? Who knows, but it seems likely that Jack Dorsey once opened a merchant account and was mortified by all the nickeling and diming on each month's statement.

Square offers a simpler fee structure. If you swipe a card in person, you pay 2.75% of the amount charged plus 15 cents. If you key in the card number (card not present), you pay 3.5% plus 15 cents.

You do not need a merchant account. There's no contract, setup fees, monthly fees, or monthly minimum. Square gives you a free mobile card reader.

Other Notable Features
The Square card reader plugs into the headphone jack on your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, or Android smartphone (Square plans to support other devices in the future). You can also manually enter credit card numbers in the free Square app.

Square emails you a receipt of each transaction. You can log into your account using a Web browser to review transactions and create reports.

Your clients can also sign up for a Square account, enabling them to monitor their bills and payments. You can create offers to generate repeat business though these rewards probably work better for retailers (e.g., buy 10 cups of coffee and get your next one free).

What Else Should You Know?
Square processes transactions using bank-grade security, including PCI Level 1 and PA-DSS. Learn more about Square.

How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers a portable scanner (see article below), an online meeting app for iPad, a project management system for electronic discovery, a book about knowledge tools, and a gadget to improve your sleep. Don't miss the next issue.

A Scanner With a Heart

Small and cheap — not always a good combination. However, for mobile computing gadgets it's an ideal to which companies aspire. But what about scanners? Thanks to the dimensions of paper, they might never fit in your pocket, but they should not weigh you down or consume too much space. That means no power cord. And perhaps no automatic document feeder to further reduce size and weight, especially if your mobile scanning needs are light. If you could find such a scanner, would you mind if it had a heart-shaped button?

Doxie … in One Sentence
Apparent's Doxie is a portable sheet-fed USB scanner.

The Killer Feature
Doxie scans into JPEG, PDF, and PNG formats. It also integrates with both desktop and Web applications. For example, you can scan documents and photos directly to EverNote, Flickr, Google Docs, Scribd, etc. Alternatively, Apparent offers its own cloud-based storage service for Doxie users.

Other Notable Features
Doxie measures 11.5 x 2 x 1.6 inches, and weighs 10.9 ounces. It scans at 12 seconds per page at 200 dpi. It can scan at resolutions up to 600 dpi, albeit at lower speeds.

Doxie does not have a document feeder, but you can scan documents with multiple pages — it combines them into a single file. Doxie can scan any size document from a business card up to legal, including A4 and letter.

What Else Should You Know?
Doxie works with Macs (10.5 or later) and PCs (Windows XP or later), and draws its power from the USB cable. It comes with a carrying case. Doxie costs $129. Learn more about Doxie.

How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers a legal-specific credit card processing service provider (see article below), an alert service for important email messages, a network storage appliance, an eBook reader, and a legal dictionary for the iPad. Don't miss the next issue.. Don't miss the next issue.

Take Charge and Get Paid Faster

Most businesses don't think twice about accepting credit cards. They just do it because it increases sales and reduces collections. But most businesses don't have to worry about regulations — like all those ethics rules that govern law firms. For this reason, many law firms have concluded that the costs of accepting credit cards outweigh the benefits. But what if you could minimize those costs?

Law Charge … in One Sentence
Designed by lawyers, Law Charge is a credit card processing service that offers legal-specific merchant accounts designed for law firms bound by trust accounting rules.

The Killer Feature
Accepting credit cards through a traditional service provider typically involves a cumbersome process for lawyers. That's because most credit card processors remove the discount and transaction fees from the amount you charge so that you end up with less than the transaction amount in your trust account. Thus, you need to write a check in the amount of these fees and deposit it in the trust account. You may also need to write another check for the monthly maintenance fees.

As a workaround, some firms deposit all funds into their operating account, then write a check for the transaction amount and deposit it into their trust account. Unfortunately, this method may fail an audit because it commingles funds if only for a short time.

Law Charge eliminates this dilemma. Depending on the nature of a charge, you can deposit the funds to your operating or trust account. If you deposit into your trust account, Law Charge places the transaction amount in the trust. It separates out the transaction fees and deducts them from your operating account at the end of the month.

Other Notable Features
Law Charge does not charge a monthly processing fee, inactivity fee, or any other "junk fees" as Law Charge CEO and lawyer Tracy Griffin characterizes them. "Clients are holding onto their cash because they just aren't sure whats coming next in this economy. Therefore, more and more lawyers are offering their clients the choice to pay by credit card," she added.

You can process transactions in the manner that best suits your firm — point of sale terminal, telephone, fax, Internet virtual terminal, and/or your own Web site (online store). Additionally, Law Charge integrates with Clio and VLOTech, popular Web-based practice management systems.

What Else Should You Know?
Costs depend on the type of processing you need. Learn more about Law Charge.

How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers an accounting and practice management system (see article below), a mobile dictation and transcription app, a hosted service for processing eDiscovery documents, a Google Apps add-on for collaboration, and brainstorming and mind mapping software. Don't miss the next issue.

Can Your Billing and Practice Management System Do That?

Times are still tough. Law firms like yours need every possible operational advantage. This means getting paid faster and with greater operational efficiency. So put your existing software products on the witness stand and give them a thorough cross examination. For example, can your billing and accounting software process credit cards? Can your practice management system integrate with a hosted Exchange server? Do you know which clients are profitable and which ones are a financial burden?

Tabs3 and PracticeMaster version 15.3 … in One Sentence
Software Technology's Tabs3 and PracticeMaster version 15.3 comprise an integrated suite of software products that offer billing, practice management, check writing, and general ledger and trust accounting.

The Killer Feature
Paper or plastic? You may want to start asking your clients this question, paper referring to a check and plastic referring to a credit card.

The new version of Tabs3 can process credit card transactions in both the general ledger and trust accounts depending on how and when you process payments and retainers. The new trust accounts integration enables you to comply with ethical rules required by your state bar.

Also, Tabs3 uses First National Merchant Solutions (FNMS) for processing and settlement. Thanks to the installed base of Tabs3 users, Software Technology has worked out favorable discount rates. FNMS deposits your credit card transaction into any bank account you choose. Thus, you need not open up any new bank accounts.

Other Notable Features
Software Technology also focused on email integration in version 15.3. PracticeMaster has integrated with Outlook and Microsoft Exchange going back several versions. However, the new version of PracticeMaster now integrates with hosted Exchange servers, which an increasing number of small and midsize firms use.

Generally, PracticeMaster offers client and case information, shared calendars, conflict checking, customizable data entry forms for specific practice areas, time tracking, document tracking, instant messaging, and integration with CompuLaw Court Rules.

Notable Tabs3 features include batch exporting of bills to individual PDF files, reports that rank clients by billings, WIP, write offs, and more, flexible billing options for virtually any arrangement, and compensation rules for fee distribution.

What Else Should You Know?
Pricing for Tabs3 starts at $295. Pricing for PracticeMaster starts at $150 (Basic) or $295 (Premier). Learn more about Tabs3 and PracticeMaster version 15.3.

How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers a metadata removal solution for mobile devices and Webmail (see article below), a Bates stamping and watermarking utility for Microsoft Word, an online file storage and sharing service, an iPhone business card scanning app, and an iPad VPN app. Don't miss the next issue.

Metadata Removal for Smartphone and Webmail Users

Imagine that your clan lives on an island not far from a hostile clan on another island. After much effort, you build a defense system that no boat can penetrate. But you soon discover that your rivals have invented something called an airplane. Now what? Law firms find themselves in a similar predicament regarding document security. After investing in technology to prevent lawyers and staff from emailing documents containing metadata from their PCs, your firm now needs to safeguard their smartphones and Webmail accounts too.

Workshare Protect Server … in One Sentence
Workshare Protect Server prevents metadata leaks via email sent from corporate Webmail accounts as well BlackBerry, iPhone, and other mobile devices.

The Killer Feature
The term "metadata" refers to invisible information in PDF and word processing documents such as annotations, redacted text, and tracked changes.

With "minimal user training," Workshare Protect Server removes metadata from Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF attachments (including those in .zip archives) sent via mobile devices, Outlook Web Access, and Lotus iNotes. Workshare Protect Server also has a minimal footprint. There's no client software to install or configure.

Other Notable Features
As its name implies, Workshare Protect Server enables you to centrally manage and configure your firm's metadata policies. From the administrative Web-based console you can also monitor, track, and audit all metadata leaving your firm.

Workshare Protect Server includes a number of reports. For example, users can receive a clean report via email, which lists all the metadata removed from a document. Administrators can receive email alerts when policy violations or other issues arise. Other features include cleaning overrides and embedded email support.

Workshare Protect Server integrates with Workshare Protect (desktop metadata removal software) and Workshare Professional (document comparison and metadata removal suite).

What Else Should You Know?
Using the application programming interface, you can customize Workshare Protect Server to remove metadata from third-party software such as Microsoft SharePoint and document management systems. Pricing starts at $70 per seat. Current Workshare customers are eligible for special pricing. Learn more about Workshare Protect Server.

How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.