TechnoLawyer: Utilities

Coming June 9, 2006 to Fat Friday: Howard Raab reviews his favorite iPod car accessories and provides a can't miss iPod upgrade tip, Brad Jensen shares his thoughts on the recent feud between bloggers and USALaw.com, Andrea Cannavina provides an interesting twist on the continuing software training debate that will likely spark another debate, Edward Brooks discusses the problems with legal software and tech support, and Britt Knuttgen compares Norton AntiVirus to AVG. Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Fridays, Fat Friday is a weekly newsletter that features a grab bag full of genuinely useful product reviews and tips on a wide variety of topics. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

In today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, tech expert Jill Bauerle covers a new and improved version of a case analysis tool, conversion software for PDF and other files, and a handy utility for magnifying items on your screen. Don't miss the next issue.

Below you'll find one of the three articles from today's edition:

Litigation Software that (Almost) Does the Thinking for You
By Jill Bauerle
Behind every open and shut case is a lot of hard work. To help litigators and litigation teams save time while producing even better results for their clients, LexisNexis CaseSoft has released CaseMap 6, the latest version of its popular litigation analysis tool. CaseMap 6 sports many new user-requested features and a "faster," "retooled" database engine that accommodates hundreds of custom fields. Also, its new look will make users of Microsoft Office 2003 feel right at home. Among the new features is the Intake Interview Jumpstart, which enables you to e-mail clients a questionnaire about their case. When you receive their completed questionnaire, you can import it into an existing or new CaseMap case file and even generate a ReportBook. Such automation seems to be everywhere in CaseMap 6, which also includes document index creation, bulk e-mail importing, and tight integration with the new CaseMap Bates Stamper. The revamped Issue Analysis Mode helps you decide when to file for summary judgment, and the MSJ Statement of Fact Creator helps you create the accompanying brief. Similarly, new tools exist for identifying privileged documents, and then creating a privileged log. Other new features include links to CaseMap Webinars for on-demand learning, the ability to create a fact from a document, batch copying of linked PDF files, and bulk updating of linked file paths and field values. LexisNexis CaseSoft has also enhanced existing features, For example, more options exist for creating and formatting ReportBooks, and you can now link to more applications than ever, including CaseLogistix, Interwoven WorkSite, Hummingbird DM5, and iCONECTnxt. Pricing for CaseMap 6 starts at $595; upgrade pricing starts at $199.  Learn more about CaseMap 6.

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.

In today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, tech expert Jill Bauerle covers a security utility that will nuke files for good, a discrete wireless Bluetooth headset, and a free tool for storing and sharing your bookmarks, Web clippings, and other information. Don't miss the next issue.

Below you'll find one of the three articles from today's edition:

Hasta La Vista, You've Been Erased
By Jill Bauerle
Gone but not forgotten, remnants of old files can remain on your hard drive long after you've moved them to the recycle bin. The next time you have confidential documents to delete, try Eraser 5.8 from Heidi Computers. An advanced security utility, Eraser "shreds" magnetic remnants embedded in your hard drive by overwriting it numerous times in different patterns using Peter Gutmann's method. Without such a tool, deleted files sit on your hard drive until written over. Even then, forensic experts can reconstruct them, making you and your confidential files vulnerable. Eraser not only scrubs existing or "deleted" files and folders individually, it erases entire hard drives using the software's "Boot and Nuke" feature, and prevents file recovery applications from functioning. Eraser can also eradicate indexed, encrypted and compressed files, caches, cookies, Norton Unerase files, and more. If you're in a hurry, you can instead erase the first and last 2KB of a file, rendering it unusable. Once you download the freeware, Eraser's simple interface enables you to pick and choose your action on the spot or set up a schedule. Eraser is free and supports Windows 95 and higher as well as DOS. Learn more about Eraser.

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.

In today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, tech expert Jill Bauerle covers a Web-based utility that stores and organizes your Web clippings, an eBay search engine for smarter and safer shopping, and an all-inclusive Web-based calendar and contact application to keep you and your world in sync. Don't miss the next issue.

Below you'll find one of the three articles from today's edition:

Bye Bye Bookmarks
By Jill Bauerle
Too many bookmarks in your browser? Forgot why half of them are even there? Time for an account with Clipmarks. Whether you're researching a case, comparison shopping, or keeping track of celebrity gossip, Clipmarks is a Web-based utility that provides a permanent URL for storing and organizing Web clippings. Unlike a bookmark, which just takes you back to an entire page, a Clipmark enables you to "clip" a certain portion of a page and apply "tags" to that clip for easy retrieval. In short, it enables you to create a searchable database of everything you find on the Web. After creating your account and installing the required Firefox extension or Internet Explorer toolbar, the Clipmarks editing symbols appear in your browser. As you mouse over text on a Web page, just click on the paperclip symbol embedded in your toolbar and automatically enter editing mode. This tool actually "clips" text by copying paragraphs or photos into a Clipmarks folder once you click on the "Save" button. You can keep multiple clippings in one file. Each folder contains a link to the original Web page (in case you need to refer to the original source) plus searchable title, tags, and comments. Other tools include an e-mail button to share your clips, a bookmark button that sends your clips to services such as del.icio.us or BlinkList, and "cliprolling" (an RSS feed of your clip tags). On Clipmarks' home page, a "word cloud" shows the most popular topics in real time. Clipmarks offers four views: "Mine," "Public," "Board," or "Hot." For each clip you create, you have the option of marking it public or private. Check out what everyone else is clipping in "Public." See who's commenting on your clips in "Board." Or look at popular clips in "Hot." One possible use for Clipmarks is to draw attention to articles you've published on the Web. Who knows, maybe your clips will become the next hot topic! Clipmarks is free. Learn more about Clipmarks.

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.

Coming April 14, 2006 to Fat Friday: Mark Lieb reviews a handy password recovery program for use in e-discovery, Grady Thrasher discusses a workaround for integrating DeltaView PE with Worldox, David Hudgens reviews his experience with PCLaw, Michael Bates reviews the Web hosting and design company he used to build his firm's Web site, and Corey Rich discusses the convenience and cost of online public records. In addition, this issue features links to 10 additional Posts in the TechnoLawyer Archive. Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Fridays, Fat Friday is a weekly newsletter that features a grab bag full of genuinely useful product reviews and tips on a wide variety of topics. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

In today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, tech expert Jill Bauerle covers fax server software that enables you to send a fax as easily as an e-mail, an appliance that will protect your e-mail from enemy #1 — spam, and a hardware/software suite that integrates with your firm's copiers and scanners to bring you closer to a paperless office. Don't miss the next issue.

Below you'll find one of the three articles from today's edition:

Bridging the Gap Between E-mail and Faxes
By Jill Bauerle
A fax consists of an image whereas e-mail consists of text. So, they're vastly different, right? Wrong. They both consist of bits. Bits are bits are bits. So then shouldn't faxes behave more like e-mail? That's the thinking behind Zetafax 2006, the new version of Equisys' popular fax server. Zetafax 2006 integrates with Exchange, which means you can send and receive faxes securely within Outlook. Faxes arrive in your choice of PDF or JPEG format. If you don't use Outlook, fear not — Zetafax 2006 works with virtually all other e-mail programs thanks to its SMTP Gateway. Alternatively, you can use the Zetafax 2006 client or a Web browser. Among its other e-mail-like features, Zetafax 2006 features a junk fax filter that can block faxes from designated telephone numbers. You can set up a firm-wide junk fax filter, and also give users the ability to set up their own personal filters. With e-mail, you can preview your message before sending. Equisys brings this same ability to Zetafax 2006 thanks to its "what you see is what you fax" technology. With e-mail, you can easily annotate and edit messages before forwarding them. Zetafax 2006 gives you the same power over faxes that you wish to send to someone else. E-mail's greatest strength lies in its distribution costs — none. Faxes still require telephone calls, but Zetafax 2006 enables you to distribute faxes via IP T.38 (fax over IP) or V.34 to reduce costs. You can even configure Zetafax 2006 to send non-urgent faxes and large distributions at night to take advantage of off-peak rates. Zetafax 2006 runs on Windows 2000 or later, and works with most class 1/class 2 fax modems as well intelligent fax boards by Brooktrout, Eicon, and Intel Dialogic. A Zetafax 2006 5-user, 2-line starter system sells for about $510. Learn more about Zetafax 2006.

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.

Coming March 10, 2006 to Fat Friday: Mark Lieb reviews a password and login management utility, Corey Rich reviews Copernic desktop search software, Neil Chap explains why his Windows PC using firm couldn't live without his Mac (he's the sole Mac user), Bruce Vermeychuk discusses Mac security past, present, and future, and Channing Strother discusses Enfish's recent transformation into EasyReach. Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Fridays, Fat Friday is a weekly newsletter that features a grab bag full of genuinely useful product reviews and tips on a wide variety of topics. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

In today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, tech expert Jill Bauerle covers a fast, versatile PDF suite, a Web-based billing system, and an anti-spam appliance with a unique twist. Don't miss the next issue.

Below you'll find one of the three articles from today's edition:

A Sly Suite of PDF Tools
By Jill Bauerle
Does your PDF software leave you enough time to fetch a cup of coffee when opening files? Instead of sitting like a hen in front of your screen, try Foxit's quick-footed PDF tools. Foxit develops a number of programs for managing, reading, writing, and converting PDF files. At 1MB, the free Foxit Reader downloads instantly and runs without installation. No more "welcome" screens and agonizing waits. Foxit Reader supports Chinese, Korean, and Japanese character sets once you download a special plugin. Another program, Foxit Reader Pro, has added features like a typewriter tool for inserting text, a note tool for inserting comments, and text-marking tools for highlighting, underlining, and striking out text. With Foxit Reader Pro, you can also draw lines and shapes, convert pages to pure text, and browse files in the Foxit Library. Other Foxit programs include the Reader for Pocket PC, PDF Editor (which enables you to freely edit text and images in PDF files), PDF Text Viewer, and PDF Page Organizer. Foxit's tools require Windows for the most part, but Foxit Reader can also run in Linux. Foxit Reader is free; Foxit Pro costs $39. Check Web site for pricing on other Foxit programs. Learn more about Foxit.

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.

Coming March 3, 2006 to Fat Friday: Brian Garves explains how to reduce your Stamps.com costs, Jerry Sullenberger reviews three iPod accessories, Bruce Hanson discusses alternatives to Symantec AntiVirus, Anita Evans joins the debate over technology training for lawyers, and Maggie Fisher argues for more transparency among legal vendors. Don't miss this issue.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Fridays, Fat Friday is a weekly newsletter that features a grab bag full of genuinely useful product reviews and tips on a wide variety of topics. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

In today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, tech expert Jill Bauerle covers a customizable, integrated case management program, an online project management system, and a universal word count utility. Don't miss the next issue.

Below you'll find one of the three articles from today's edition:

Case Management Software that Caters to Your Every Whim
By Jill Bauerle
Imagine a world created just for you in which everything worked as you envisioned. Well, that'll probably never happen. But with Abacus Data Systems' new AbacusLaw v2006, you can at least create a practice management system to your exact specifications. With AbacusLaw v2006, not only can you customize the interface and toolbars, but you can even remove menu items and other elements that you don't use. What else is new in this major upgrade? AbacusLaw v2006 features BlackBerry synchronization, private notes and calendar events, complete drag and drop, your choice of Google, MapQuest, or Yahoo for integrated maps, zip code lookup, a mini-calendar that can display 1-12 months, an enhanced Notes editor, and the ability to email events to anyone. Abacus Data Systems also focused on improving the integrated accounting component. The "intuitive check writer" looks just like a paper check, and the "enhanced check register" enables you to quickly search for checks using any parameter. AbacusLaw now saves every bill in PDF format and links it to the corresponding matter. When working at your desk, you can easily toggle among multiple timers as you move through your to-do list — plus you can now post time entries from anywhere in AbacusLaw. With AbacusLaw's new reports, you can always get a handle on your firm's activities. For example, the Matter Synopsis Report gives you a birds-eye view of all current activities, and the Malpractice Report lists all matters without any notes or future calendar events. AbacusLaw v2006 runs on Windows XP/NT/2000. Learn more about AbacusLaw v2006.

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.