Author / Brett Burney

by Brett Burney

David Sparks (aka MacSparky) Releases an Excellent Video Field Guide Covering the Hazel Software

The indubitable David Sparks has released yet another “Field Guide” this time covering Hazel.

The indubitable David Sparks has released yet another “Field Guide” this time covering Hazel.

I actually don’t use Hazel but I know David, and therefore I know that I am missing out on a lot of automation in my computing life.

Plus Hazel comes from one of the best named software developers: Noodlesoft.

I’ve seen David present many times in person and heard him speak many times on the Mac Power Users podcast and I ALWAYS take away something new and useful.

Watching the Hazel Field Guide is like sitting next to David at a Starbucks and just having him walk you through all the cool things you can do with Hazel on your Mac.

You can get a taste of the Hazel Field Guide from the sample video on MacSparky. The sample is a juicy 35 minutes long, but you’ll be able to decide if it’s something you need after the first 3 minutes.

The full Hazel Field Guide is 2.5 hours and it’s one big-falutin’ QuickTime file. But the best part is that David included Chapter Markers for each section – you can see the list of sections on the MacStories write up. Each Chapter is clearly labeled so you can jump to whatever section you need to see.

You can read more about the Hazel Field Guide at MacSparky.com and watch the sample video. Happy Hazel-ing!

by Brett Burney

Brett Burney to Speak at Apple Store, Eton on May 20, 2016 on Using Macs, iPhones & iPads in the Practice of Law

Brett Burney will speak for the Apple in Law Event, “Boosting Profitability with Mac, iPhone & iPad,” on Friday, May 20, 2016 at 9:00am at the Apple, Eton store.

Brett Burney will speak for the Apple in Law Event, “Boosting Profitability with Mac, iPhone & iPad,” on Friday, May 20, 2016 at 9:00am at the Apple, Eton store.

The 90-minute feature will provide lawyers with a better understanding of how to use Macs, iPads, and iPhones to increase profitability in their law practices.

Brett will be joined by Tom Lambotte, CEO of GlobalMac IT.

For more information—or to register—send and e-mail to the Business Team at the Eton Apple stored (etonbusiness@apple.com) or call the store at (216) 535-4563.

by Brett Burney

I Use Tabs in Finder Because I Like Tabs in Safari

I can’t use Safari without Tabs, and now I can’t use Finder without Tabs. I’m constantly accessing multiple folders in Finder and if I had to open a New Window every time I’d go crazy.

I like to use one SINGLE Finder Window, and then I open multiple locations/folders in Tabs.

I used TotalFinder from BinaryAge for years as a Finder add-on that gave me Tabs and other wonderful options. Unfortunately, with the introduction of the super-security-feature System Integrity Protection in El Capitan, the developers have thrown in the towel.

It’s a shame because TotalFinder was amazing (why doesn’t Apple let me sort the Finder with folders on TOP???). There are great alternatives to TotalFinder but I value simplicity and prefer to stick with native OS X features whenever I can.

Starting with Mavericks, Apple finally built Tabs into Finder although I didn’t start using them until TotalFinder was unstable in El Capitan.

It’s not perfect, and I can’t sort folders on TOP(!!!!), but the native Tabs in Finder work well for my needs.

Finder in Mac OS X to create new tabs instead of windowsI first go to Finder > Preferences and click “Open folders in tabs instead of windows” so that any folder I double-click opens as a new Tab.

But I usually stick with the ⌘ + T shortcut to launch a new Tab, just like in Safari (there’s also the “+” on far right to click open a new Tab). In the Finder > Preferences pane, I also set the default path that opens when I create a new Tab – I selected Dropbox under “New finder windows show:” dropdown.

You can click and drag a tab to re-position. I cycle through Tabs using Shift + ⌘ + [ to go left or Shift + ⌘ + ] to go right (just like in Safari).

To close a Finder Tab, I use the ⌘ + W shortcut (again, same as in Safari).

by Brett Burney

“iPad for Lawyers” featuring Brett Burney at State Bar of Wisconsin – January 6, 2016

If you 1) practice in Wisconsin and 2) are getting a new iPad for Christmas, then register now for “iPad for Lawyers – Featuring Brett Burney” sponsored by the State Bar of Wisconsin.

The full-day seminar will take place at the State Bar Center in Madison on Thursday, January 6, 2016.

Brett will be joined by legal technology luminary Nerino Petro, CIO at Holmstrom & Kennedy, P.C. Nerino also blogs actively at Computerist.com.

The schedule covers everything that an iPad-totin’ lawyer needs to know about how to effectively incorporate the iPad into your daily practice. You’ll learn how to edit Microsoft Word documents, annotate PDF files, give presentations, and conduct legal research. The seminar will discuss your ethical duties for protecting the information on your iPad, and the speakers will show off their favorite apps, tips, and gadgets.

Don’t miss the “iPad for Lawyers” seminar in Madison, WI on January 6, 2016.

by Brett Burney

Rare End of Year Sale on TrialPad, TranscriptPad, and DocReviewPad – Buy Now and Save $20 Each

If you’re an iPad-wielding lawyer it’s time to spend a tiny bit of your professional technology budget on 2-3 apps that you need in your practice.

I’ve been using TrialPad and TranscriptPad since they were first released by Ian O’Flaherty and his crew at Lit Software. I talk about both of those apps (and the more recent DocReviewPad) at EVERY iPad CLE presentation I give around the country.

2015.12.19 TranscriptPad on SaleLit Software is taking $20 off each app now through December 30, 2015. I know Ian and he doesn’t offer many discounts so this is rare treat.

I’ve heard folks complain that these apps are too pricey. My first response is that these are professional-grade apps and NOT Candy Crush. My second response is that an app like TrialPad is an amazing bargain when compared to purchasing a full license of TrialDirector or Sanction. Now you have no excuse with this sale going on.

Watch and hear other lawyers talk about the apps.

More information about the sale here.

Links for TrialPad, TranscriptPad, and DocReviewPad.

by Brett Burney

Get TextExpander 5 for only $22 (51% OFF!!) – Get it NOW!

One utility that I use E-VE-RY-DAY on all my Macs is TextExpander. I can’t live without it. It’s built-in muscle memory now.

Anytime I need to type out my e-mail address, or name, or the current date, or an e-mail signature … I save valuable seconds by using a TextExpander Snippet.

If you’re not using TextExpander, you are wasting valuable time.

Regular price is $44.95 but Mac App Deals has it for only $22 until December 9. That’s 51% OFF! I paid full price and would do it again in a heartbeat. So it’s a no-brainer at $22.

Also, congrats to Smile Software (developers of TextExpander) for their website refresh – looks fantastic!

Lastly, if you want to watch how I use TextExpander Tomasz Stasiuk recorded I presentation I gave on TextExpander at the MILOfest 2012 Conference and posted it on YouTube (entitled “TextExpander: Newbie to Ninja”). Part 2 and Part 3. Thank you Tomasz!

 

by Brett Burney

Handwritten Notes Mailed Directly From Your iPad – The Wonderful Felt App

The Felt App is a fantastic way to send a physical handwritten note directly from your iPad (and you don’t even have to print it out!).

Felt App IconI’ve been a big fan of the Felt App and consider it one of the most innovative apps on the iPad.

Who doesn’t like to receive a handwritten note in these days of impersonal digital communications? But I don’t have time to run to the store and buy a card.

Open the Felt App, find the card design you like or create one yourself, and use a stylus to handwrite your note. You can even hand-address the envelope. Pay $4 (or 4 credits) and Felt will print the card on beautiful physical paper just as you wrote it and send it to your snail-mail recipient.

It’s a great way to send personal or business thank-you cards.

The Felt App is free to download but you’ll need a credit card to purchase cards or credits inside the app. They’re running a special 30% off credits for Labor Day which is a great deal.

Quick Tip: The Felt App does offer “wrist protection” when writing a card but it’s not very obvious – just simply swipe up from the bottom of the screen and you’ll have a place where you set your palm down without “writing” anything.

by Brett Burney

Pay What You Want: Mac Power User Bundle – BusyCal, CrossOver, and More…

You have 3 more days to take advantage of this “Pay What You Want” bundle from Cult of Mac. I recommend it for BusyCal and CrossOver alone but the other apps are great too.

BusyCal LogoYou have 3 more days to purchase this “Pay What You Want” bundle from Cult of Mac Deals. Honestly, if you pay anything less than $50 then you’re getting your money’s worth by purchasing BusyCal alone. I’ve been using BusyCal for many years now and prefer it over the OS X built-in calendar for the general look and customization options.

CrossOver 14 MacThe bundle also comes with CrossOver 14 Mac which doesn’t fully compete with VMware Fusion or Parallels, but provides a much simpler method of running select Windows-only software. Many Mac-using attorneys use CrossOver to open “E-Transcript” .PTX files from court reporters. Thomson Reuters only offers a free E-Transcript Viewer for Windows, but CrossOver can run this just fine without requiring you to jump into a full virtual Windows environment (Thomson Reuters does offer the free Westlaw Case Notebook Portable E-Transcript iPad app that will open .PTX files).

WinZip and StuffIt are great to have when working with compressed files.

I’m sure RoboForm Everywhere is good, but I still recommend 1Password for any Mac user.

WALTR sounds interesting, and I’ve been interested in checking out Scapple for a while now since it’s from the developer of Scrivener (Literature & Latte)

You can get everything for only $10 today, but I’d recommend adding on a few dollars. You’re supporting the excellent Creative Commons cause as well.

No referral link from me – you can go direct to the Cult of Mac site and get the bundle before it expires.

https://deals.cultofmac.com/sales/pay-what-you-want-magic-mac-bundle

by Brett Burney

The Definitive Guide for Lawyers that Want to Use Macs in their Law Office

Three years ago I was honored to write “So You Want an All Mac Office?” for the fantastic Attorney at Work blog. They asked me to update the article and the result is “Still Want an All-Mac Law Office? What You Need and How You Can Do It” that was posted last week.

Three years ago I was honored to write “So You Want an All Mac Office?” for the fantastic Attorney at Work blog. The post continued to rack up hits over the years so the editors asked if I would architect an update.

It was published last week: “Still Want an All-Mac Law Office? What You Need and How You Can Do It.” I discuss why lawyers are using Macs, which Mac you should purchase, and a list of software you can run.

But it gets better because I reached out to four Mac-using lawyers to ask how they used their Mac, why they chose the Mac, and what helps them make it through the day – “Lawyers Who Use Macs: Why They Do It and How.” Their answers are incredibly helpful to any legal professional that’s considering the switch from Windows to Macs and how to do it successfully.

Here's a graphic, courtesy of MyCase, that I included in the piece. This was drawn during the 2014 ABA TECHSHOW session titled, “The Business Case for Going All Mac.” (Click the graphic to enlarge it.)

Here’s a graphic, courtesy of MyCase, that I included in the piece. This was drawn during the 2014 ABA TECHSHOW session titled, “The Business Case for Going All Mac.” (Click the graphic to enlarge it.)

 

If you’d like more information, feel free to contact me with any questions.

by Brett Burney

Lawyers and iPads: What Will Law Firms Do Differently in 5 Years Thanks to Going Mobile?

I was interviewed for a blog post entitled “Lawyers and iPads: What Will Law Firms Do Differently in 5 Years Thanks to Going Mobile?” that appeared on the Relativity Blog on July 24, 2105.

kCura is one of the few e-discovery vendors that offers a companion iPad app (Relativity Binders) for their document review product (Relativity). kCura interviewed five legal technology experts to get their ideas on where iPads and mobility will take law firms in the next 5 years.

Read  “Lawyers and iPads: What Will Law Firms Do Differently in 5 Years Thanks to Going Mobile?“