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Gwabbit: Read Our Exclusive Report

By Neil J. Squillante | Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers an Outlook add-in (see article below), an online school for legal bloggers, a business card scanning service, software for privilege logs, and a site that enables you to track content of interest to you. Don't miss the next issue.

Grab More Productivity From Outlook

Facebook and LinkedIn have nothing on Outlook. You may play in the former, but you work in the latter. Unfortunately, Outlook sometimes works you more than you work it — like when you want to add contact information from an email message to your address book. Ten copy and pastes later you're done. If only people used v-cards, you sigh. Well, they don't so stop dwelling on what might have been.

Gwabbit … in One Sentence
Technicopia's Gwabbit is an Outlook add-on that places contact information from email message into your address book with one click.

The Killer Feature
Do you ever wish your computer could better understand your needs? That's what Gwabbit tries to do.

If Gwabbit identifies contact information in an email message that does not exist in your address book, it will alert you in a pop-up window. Just click the Gwabbit button to transform that data into an Outlook contact.

Even better, Gwabbit recognizes changes in contact information and can update existing contacts.

Other Notable Features
Gwabbit doesn't just look for signature blocks. It can piece together contact information from different portions of an email message. Gwabbit can also properly capitalize names, streets, cities, states, etc.

You can control how Gwabbit works. For example, you can turn off automatic scanning of every message and instead use the Gwabbit button on the toolbar to manually scan messages that you select.

If Gwabbit doesn't work properly on a message, you can click the Improve Results button to send the message to Technicopia, which will use your feedback to improve Gwabbit so that it can handle similar situations in the future.

What Else Should You Know?
Gwabbit works with Outlook 2000 and later on Windows 2000 and later. You can try Gwabbit free for 14 days after which a license costs $19.95. Learn more about Gwabbit.

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.

Topics: Business Productivity/Word Processing | Email/Messaging/Telephony | TL NewsWire | Utilities

Phaser 6280DN: Read Our Exclusive Report

By Neil J. Squillante | Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers a new color laser printer (see article below), an online calendar and billing application, an online collaborative writing tool, a network appliance for finding and storing potentially discoverable data (ESI), and a new digital music player. Don't miss the next issue.

A Printer for Your Paperless Office

TLNewsWire-03-11-09-450

When you think about it, the paperless law office is a bit ironic. You start with paper, scan it into electronic format, and at a later date print it on paper again. Of course, that in-between period of not having to store the paper makes it all worthwhile … plus being able to discard, sorry recycle, what you print. And despite ever larger monitors and even multiple monitors … another irony … printers remain a fixture in law offices. All of which leads me to ask … do you need a new printer?

Phaser 6280DN … in One Sentence
Xerox's Phaser 6280DN is a color laser printer with built-in duplex and networking capabilities.

The Killer Feature
When law offices shop for printers, they often overlook the printer language among the many specifications. That's fine if you plan to print text-only documents.

But if you're shopping for a color laser printer, you probably have more demanding print jobs in mind such as brochures.

It's heartbreaking to spend money on a new printer only to find that you still need to pay a print shop for your brochures because your printer can't output them properly.

The Phaser 6280DN features Adobe PostScript 3, which is the printer language that professional designers favor. As a result, it should be able to handle any PDF file regardless of complexity or colors. For cost reasons, very few printers ship with Postscript nowadays.

Other Notable Features
The Phaser 6280DN prints double-sided documents and connects to your network via its Fast Ethernet port. It also has a USB 2 port. You can add an optional WiFi adapter.

In terms of speed, Xerox claims 31 monochrome and 26 color pages per minute, and a cost per page of 2.7 cents for typical monochrome pages and 13.9 cents for typical color pages.

The two paper trays hold 400 sheets. With an optional third tray, the printer can hold up to 950 sheets.

The Phaser 6280DN measures 15.7x19.3x18.6 inches, and has a recommended duty cycle of 5,000 pages per month.

What Else Should You Know?
The Phaser 6280DN sells for $549. Xerox includes a one year on-site warranty, which you can extend at your option. Learn more about the Phaser 6280DN.

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.

Topics: Copiers/Scanners/Printers | TL NewsWire

Bill4Time: Read Our Exclusive Report

By Sara Skiff | Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers an online billing application (see article below), an iPhone eBook reader, automation software for HUD closings, software that enables you to search your PC from a smartphone, and legal graphics software. Don't miss the next issue.

Can Technology Help You Bill More Time?
By Neil J. Squillante

B4T-37-NPP-450

If you're like most lawyers, you probably dislike keeping track of your time but enjoy the end result — getting paid. Two paths exist that can deliver you from this chore — leaving legal practice or using technology to make billing your time easier. If you can carry a tune and don't mind being berated by Simon Cowell, great. The rest of you might want to explore the latest billing technologies.

Bill4Time ... in One Sentence
Bill4Time is an online time billing and project management system that enables you to track time and expenses on the go.

The Killer Feature
When we first covered Bill4Time in this newsletter in July 2007, we noted how its Web-based nature freed lawyers to bill their time using a Web browser on any Mac or PC.

While liberating, a number of situations exist in which lawyers don't have access to a computer or the Internet or both. Bill4Time has addressed this issue by releasing free applications that connect to your Bill4Time Web account.

For example, the new Bill4Time Widget is a desktop application for Mac and Windows that enables you to enter time and expenses with or without an Internet connection (if you're not connected, it syncs when you next connect).

Similarly, Bill4Time offers mobile apps for BlackBerry, iPhone, Palm, and Windows Mobile, which enable you to use Bill4Time on the go without having to use a laptop.

Other Notable Features
Over the past year and a half, Bill4Time also realized that one size does not fit all. You can now choose from three versions — Free, Lite, and Professional. The differences primarily concern the number of users, clients, and matters (projects).

Also new since our previous coverage is integration with QuickBooks thanks to the free QB Connect program. This software enables you to import your Bill4Time invoices, payments, balances, and other data into QuickBooks Pro or Premiere 2004 or later.

One of the most requested features among Bill4Time's early adopters was trust accounting, which the company rolled out about six months ago. You can create trust accounts for clients and even for specific matters.

Bill4Time offers a variety of ways to monitor activity. You can receive realtime email alerts, configure and view a Web dashboard, and create and export reports.

What Else Should You Know?
Bill4Time backs up your data offsite six times every day and encrypts your connection to your account. You can also backup your data locally. Bill4Time Free costs nothing of course, but you can try Bill4Time Lite and Professional free for 30 days. Pricing starts at $19.99 per user per month and includes unlimited support. Learn more about Bill4Time.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that enables you to learn about new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Topics: Accounting/Billing/Time Capture | Online/Cloud | TL NewsWire

Dimdim: Read Our Exclusive Report

By Sara Skiff | Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers an online meeting and presentation service (see article below), an iPhone dictation app, a BlackBerry task management app, an online marketing intelligence tool for lawyers, and an online research service for intellectual property practitioners. Don't miss the next issue.

Who Needs Legs Anyway?
By Neil J. Squillante

In a recent series of Dilbert cartoons, Dilbert hitchhikes to a business meeting with a serial killer because his company cut his travel budget. If Dilbert had any sense, he would have scheduled an online meeting instead. Of course, when our legs become tiny vestigial appendages someday, we may regret such innovations.

Dimdim ... in One Sentence
Dimdim 4.5 is an online meeting service that enables you to collaborate on documents and give presentations.

The Killer Feature
If you want to conduct flawless online meetings, you need a second monitor since what your audience sees often lags what's on your screen.

Dimdim's new SynchroLive technology eliminates the need to monitor your meeting. It keeps your presentations in sync across your entire audience.

Essentially a secure private network, SynchroLive constantly adjusts as necessary to maintain a consistent flow of data. Thanks to SynchroLive, you can show your audience live Web pages and even video (think depositions).

Other Notable Features
You're not a salesperson. Heck, you're not even a rainmaker. You don't need to give presentations. But you do need to collaborate.

In addition to offering online presentations, Dimdim offers two-way collaboration features such as videoconferencing, document sharing, and a virtual white board.

If you're videoconferencing, it might seem rude if you always have your head down taking notes. Fortunately, there's no need as Dimdim can record your meetings.

Other features include multiple presenters, public and private chat, annotation tools, and a virtual laser pointer.

What Else Should You Know?
Dimdim works on both Macs and PCs. The Free edition allows an audience up to 20 people. The Pro edition starts at $99/year, expands the maximum audience to 100 people, and also offers custom branding and an uptime guarantee. The Enterprise edition starts at $1,999/year, has a maximum audience size of 1,000, enables your firm to conduct simultaneous meetings, and can reside in your firm on your own server. Learn more about Dimdim 4.5.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that enables you to learn about new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Topics: Collaboration/Knowledge Management | Online/Cloud | Presentations/Projectors | TL NewsWire

iCreate 7.0: Read Our Exclusive Report

By Neil J. Squillante | Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers document automation software (see article below), a flat fee legal research service, a secure communications and file exchange service, a utility that facilitates pen-based input into PDF files, and an iPhone app for controlling PowerPoint presentations. Don't miss the next issue.

Document Automation Comes of Age
By Neil J. Squillante

TL NewsWire02-18-09-450

Someday, computers will learn how to think, which means they'll learn how to draft legal documents. Relax. You'll have long since retired by then. For the time being, computers remain faithful servants, not threats. So why not use them to their fullest potential? When it comes to producing agreements and other legal documents, you should do the thinking but let your computer do the formatting and other grunt work. So-called document automation technology has come of age. Have you?

iCreate 7.0 … in One Sentence
Esquire Innovations' iCreate 7.0 enables you to automate the creation of routine documents in Microsoft Word without any specialized programming knowledge.

The Killer Feature
The first rule of medicine is do no harm. Esquire Innovations has embraced a similar rule for iCreate 7.0 — make it look like it's part of Word to reduce the learning curve, integrate existing Word features that work well, fix broken Word features, automate slow processes, etc.

Called "Enhanced Native Architecture," this philosophy has resulted in new features such as the iHyperstyles Toolbar, which appears within Word like any other toolbar.

With the iHyperstyles Toolbar, you can create and save numbering systems for documents that your firm routinely creates, create and apply Styles using your keyboard, create a table of contents and authorities, and much more.

Other Notable Features
In addition to the iHyperstyles Toolbar, everyone in your firm can immediately benefit from the templates included in iCreate such as letters, memos, fax cover sheet, pleadings, expense report, check request, and more.

But the real power lies in creating your own customized templates, which you can do without heavy duty programming languages such as Visual Basic. Instead, iCreate uses XML-based open standards.

Once you create a template, everyone in your firm can access it from the Template Launcher (see above screenshot). Additionally, iCreate integrates with popular document management systems.

Also new is QuickMerge, which can dynamically place information from your firm's contact management system into documents. When the information changes, you can have the document update automatically.

What Else Should You Know?
iCreate works with Microsoft Office 2002 (XP), 2003, and 2007. QuickMerge works with Outlook, InterAction, GroupWise, and Lotus Notes. You can try iCreate for free for three months. Learn more about iCreate 7.0.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that enables you to learn about new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Topics: Automation/Document Assembly/Macros | Business Productivity/Word Processing | Collaboration/Knowledge Management | Email/Messaging/Telephony | Laptops/Smartphones/Tablets | Legal Research | Online/Cloud | TL NewsWire | Utilities

Amicus Attorney 2009 Premium Edition and Amicus Attorney 2009 Small Firm Edition: Read Our Exclusive Report

By Sara Skiff | Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers new practice management software (see article below), a Web application for time tracking and billing, inexpensive OCR software for law firms with modest needs, secure instant messaging software, and a time-billing application for Macs. Don't miss the next issue.

Your Practice, Your Way
By Neil J. Squillante

GGA-308-NPP-450

Having information at your fingertips won't do you much good if there's too much of it to thumb through. Nowadays, you don't just need access to information. You need intelligent access. This need is particularly acute within the context of practice management software because that's what you use to run your firm. Fortunately, help is at hand.

Amicus Attorney 2009 Premium Edition and Amicus Attorney 2009 Small Firm Edition … in One Sentence
Gavel & Gown Software's Amicus Attorney 2009 Premium Edition and Amicus Attorney 2009 Small Firm Edition (collectively, Amicus Attorney 2009) enables small firms and larger firms respectively to manage their practice, including calendars, contacts, document creation, email, tasks, and more.

The Killer Feature
As intimated above, sometimes you need to see the forest and sometimes you need to see the trees. The new Dashboard in Amicus Attorney 2009 offers the best of both worlds.

You can decide exactly what you want to see thanks to completely customizable screens. Also, you can create as many Dashboards as you want.

In addition to viewing data from within Amicus Attorney 2009, you can also view external information such as file servers (including specific folders and files) and Web sites.

"Amicus 2009 lets you do it your way," said Ron Collins, President of Gavel & Gown Software. "With over 24,000 law firms using our software, we've learned that no two law firms work the same way."

Other Notable Features
Among the other new features, the File Intake Form standardizes the creation of new accounts and matters, ensuring that you capture all the information you need at the outset. You can design your own templates and designate mandatory fields or use the included Client Matter Intake Form.

Of course, before you set up a new client, you'll want to take advantage of the improved conflict searching. You can designate which areas of Amicus Attorney 2009 to search, including custom fields, notes, and even time entries. You can run a conflict search for multiple names simultaneously. The report generated lists the names searched, the criteria you selected, the person who ran the search, the results, and any comments entered by the searcher.

Also new is the Communications Preview Pane, which enables you to preview email, phone calls, and phone messages at the bottom of your screen.

What Else Should You Know?
Last year saw the release of Amicus Mobile for the Windows Mobile platform. With the 2009 release, the company has created a version for BlackBerrys. Amicus Mobile 2009 works exclusively with Amicus Attorney 2009 Premium Edition.

Pricing for Amicus Attorney 2009 Premium Edition starts at $699 while pricing starts at $349 for Amicus Attorney 2009 Small Firm Edition. The company offers a free trial so that you can kick the tires. Learn more about Amicus Attorney 2009 Premium Edition and Amicus Attorney 2009 Small Firm Edition.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that enables you to learn about new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Topics: Accounting/Billing/Time Capture | Practice Management/Calendars | TL NewsWire

Pulse Smartpen: Read Our Exclusive Report

By Sara Skiff | Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers a pen that records your handwriting and any accompanying audio (see article below), two Web-based litigation support applications, an extranet built atop Microsoft SharePoint, and a device for securely downloading data from popular cell phones for discovery purposes. Don't miss the next issue.

A Backup System for Your Handwritten Notes
By Neil J. Squillante

Evolve or die, right? That's pretty much our only choice. It also applies to gadgets. Typewriters couldn't evolve so they died. Cars have evolved (though some of the companies that make them have not.) What about the pen? Supposedly mightier than the sword, we still use them, but for how much longer without a leap in functionality? After all, yesterday's sword is today's chef's knife.

Pulse Smartpen ... in One Sentence
Livescribe's Pulse Smartpen is a pen that captures your handwriting and can also record any accompanying sound associated with your note-taking.

The Killer Feature
How does every case start? With a client interview. Did you ever take notes during such an interview only to realize later that you missed something?

The Pulse Smartpen uses special Dot Paper that activates its functions via infrared. When you start taking notes, tapping the record button starts recording any accompanying audio using two built-in noise-canceling microphones.

When reviewing your notes later you can tap a line of notes to play back the audio at the moment you wrote those particular words.

Other Notable Features
Originally you had to purchase the Dot Paper (and you still can), but you can now print your own as well. The paper features a row of buttons along the bottom that you activate with the tip of the Pulse Smartpen — record, pause, stop, jump back or next, and bookmark.

Also included with the Pulse Smartpen is Livescribe Desktop, software for storing, reviewing, and sharing your notes and accompanying audio. You can also search your handwritten notes thanks to Livescribe Desktop's handwriting recognition software. Livescribe Desktop is currently available for Windows XP and Vista with a Mac version en route (you can use the public beta in the meantime).

What Else Should You Know?
A 1 GB Pulse Smartpen costs $149.95. The 2 GB model costs $199.95. For an additional $29.95 you can buy MyScript, which converts your handwritten notes into text that you can transfer into email, documents, etc. Learn more about Pulse Smartpen.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that enables you to learn about new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Topics: Dictation/OCR/Speech Recognition | Gadgets/Shredders/Office Gear | TL NewsWire

pdfDocs Desktop 2.2: Read Our Exclusive Report

By Neil J. Squillante | Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers a PDF content management system (see article below), a discovery document review application, new case management software, document management software for electronic and scanned files, and a contract automation and management system. Don't miss the next issue.

PDF Software Built From the Ground Up for Law Firms
By Neil J. Squillante

DOC-35-NPP-450

The legal profession relies heavily on PDF technology. Most lawyers would agree that it's Pretty Darn Fantastic. But here's the thing. Lawyers picked up on PDF years after the first PDF applications appeared. Those early vendors have since tacked on legal-friendly features but the marketplace seems ripe for a PDF suite built from the ground up for the legal profession.

pdfDocs Desktop 2.2 ... in One Sentence
DocsCorps' pdfDocs Desktop 2.2 is a PDF content management system that includes features such as PDF creation, collation, annotation, redaction, and file splitting, and integrates with major document management systems.

The Killer Feature
In a classic TV spot, the owner of a donut franchise grumbled every morning about it being "time to make the donuts." Of course, this grind meant fresh donuts every day for customers, the point of the ad.

Similarly, there's no denying the helpfulness of placing multiple documents into a single PDF file (e.g., closing books, deal books, etc.), but doing all that work is a grind.

pdfDocs Desktop's "Binder" technology automates this task. The new version features a number of enhancements. For example, you could always add both PDF and native format files such as Word to the Binder. But now you can edit any native file from within the Binder, a timesaver.

You might find this ability useful for an executive summary describing the contents of the Binder. If the Binder changes, you can quickly update the executive summary.

Other Notable Features
To create a Binder, you can add documents from any source, including document management systems such as Interwoven, NetDocuments, Open Text, and Worldox. You can rearrange files within the Binder using drag and drop.

pdfDocs Desktop's Binder automatically creates a hyperlinked table of contents and keeps it updated when the contents change. To make all the documents appear uniform, you can apply elements in the header and footer such as page numbers, date and time stamps, and information from your document management system such as author, Doc ID, or version.

You can save these header and footer settings for one click use in the future. In fact, you can take this automation even further by saving an existing Binder as a template. Templates can include any security, numbering, and watermark settings.

Speaking of security settings, you can use encryption to prevent users from changing or modifying the content of the documents within the collection, and you can redact confidential or sensitive information.

Also, the new "Snapshot" feature locks down folders and documents within the Binder to prevent others from moving or deleting content within the Binder. Snapshots protect your templates from being changed or modified or having individuals inadvertently remove core documents.

What Else Should You Know?
As part of the Binder creation process, pdfDocs Desktop will generate an Autorun.inf file for you, which makes the resulting PDF file you distribute on CD or DVD foolproof for your clients or whomever -- it'll open automatically when inserted into a computer.

pdfDocs Desktop is part of the pdfDocs Solutions Suite, which sells for $189. You can try it for free. Learn more about pdfDocs Desktop 2.2.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that enables you to learn about new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Topics: Automation/Document Assembly/Macros | Business Productivity/Word Processing | TL NewsWire

ImageDepot: Read Our Exclusive Report

By Sara Skiff | Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers an online review tool for discovery documents (see article below), a redaction plug-in for Adobe Acrobat, an intra-firm communication service, an online idea sharing application, and an iPhone time tracking and billing app. Don't miss the next issue.

Next-Generation Discovery Document Review
By Neil J. Squillante

TL NewsWire Blog 01-21-09 450

Despite what you may have heard, an "online review tool" is not a widget that generates product reviews (cool as that might be). Instead, it's the latest salvo in the ongoing struggle between litigation teams and the discovery documents they need to process. With an online review tool, litigation teams can use their Web browser to review documents, eliminating the need to license and install software.

ImageDepot ... in One Sentence
Trial Solutions' ImageDepot is an online review tool with native file support that handles all discovery-related document tasks, including early case assessment and document productions.

The Killer Feature
Litigators over 35 may recall a time when you could estimate the costs of a document review by simply counting the number of bankers boxes. Nowadays, a hard drive might contain one document or a million documents.

This need to size up a case during its infancy has given rise to the term "early case assessment." ImageDepot includes an early case assessment tool that can tell you the number and type of documents in your collection. A variety of different reports enable you to dive into the data as deeply as necessary.

If you work in a legal department, ImageDepot can inform you as to which law firm should handle the case. If you're a litigator, you can give your client an estimate of the cost of discovery.

Other Notable Features
ImageDepot doesn't only handle early case assessment, but all document-related discovery tasks. It supports native files as well as scanned PDF and TIFF images (with or without OCR processing). You can also import email.

For document review, you can create an unlimited number of fields for tagging purposes and apply tags to groups of documents rather than one at a time. You can also annotate and redact documents.

In addition to searching for your tags, you can run full-text searches as well. When you create a perfect search, you can save it and share it with others.

Other features include single document and batch printing, the ability to download documents, document audit and other customizable reports, the ability to export reports in Excel and other formats, and more.

What Else Should You Know?
ImageDepot does not require any software or hardware. You just use your Web browser. The security settings enable you to create user profiles down to the field level. You pay per document or per gigabyte of storage used on a monthly basis and can terminate the service anytime. Trial Solutions offers reduced rates for 6 and 12 month contracts. All plans include technical support via telephone, email, and live chat. Learn more about ImageDepot.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that enables you to learn about new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Topics: Litigation/Discovery/Trials | Online/Cloud | TL NewsWire

inData TrialDirector Version 5.2: Read Our Exclusive Report

By Sara Skiff | Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers new trial presentation software that handles PDF files (see article below), an online document assembly application, an online service designed to help transactional lawyers draft documents, an online post office box service for managing your mail, and task management software for Macs. Don't miss the next issue.

Present PDF in the Courtroom
By Neil J. Squillante

If Rip Van Winkle were a litigator who fell asleep at his desk for 20 years after reading a complaint, he might very well wake up just in time for the trial. But he might not find any TIFF documents on his trial laptop. "What's PDF?" he would exclaim. "How can I annotate and redact PDF files so I can use them as demonstrative evidence?" He might be tempted to take another nap unless he could quickly find a trial presentation tool that could handle PDF files.

inData TrialDirector Version 5.2 ... in One Sentence
inData TrialDirector Version 5.2 is a trial presentation application that now offers advanced tools for PDF files and supports the MPEG-2 video format.

The Killer Feature
Although PDF is not exactly a new technology, TIFF files remain a fixture in the litigation world. Many litigation support applications cannot annotate, redact, or otherwise handle PDF files as well as they can handle TIFF files.

But litigators have spoken. They want to use PDF files, especially at trial. inData TrialDirector Version 5.2 enables them to do so.

For example, you can view PDF files instantly no matter how large, annotate them using tools such as a highlighter, arrows, and shapes, redact them using all the common colors and styles, navigate to any page, magnify any area, merge and extract pages, add sticky notes and text labels, and print bar codes and slip sheets.

Perhaps best of all, you can present PDF files and integrate them with TrialDirector's full suite of tools such as annotation layers, live annotations, zoom, rotate, and pan, and callout projections. You can also create a snapshot of any page of a PDF file.

Our customers asked for more flexibility for using PDF images when needed so that's what we delivered in Version 5.2 of TrialDirector," inData CEO and President Derek Miller told us.

Other Notable Features
With consumers migrating to HDTVs, they expect higher quality video in the courtroom as well. TrialDirector 5.2 has always supported MPEG-1 video files. Now it supports MPEG-2 as well, which offers much higher quality. It also supports MPEG-4, QuickTime, and DVD-VOB. Importantly, TrialDirector includes an MPEG-2 codec for video playback, eliminating the need to buy one separately.

Other new features include the ability to automatically assign exhibit numbers, customize the presentation toolbar, position the closed captioned transcript text that accompanies video testimony, and sort and edit documents in a new optional grid view.

Also notable is that TrialDirector 5.2 runs on Windows on a Mac using Boot Camp, Fusion, or Parallels. Just as importantly, inData will provide support for these configurations.

What Else Should You Know?
TrialDirector 5.2 is a free update to licensees of TrialDirector versions 5.0 or 5.1 with a current maintenance contract. Single-user licenses of TrialDirector v5.2 start at $595 plus maintenance. Learn more about inData TrialDirector Version 5.2.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that enables you to learn about new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Topics: Litigation/Discovery/Trials | Presentations/Projectors | TL NewsWire
 
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