Google Drive On The Horizon

Google is set to launch its new Google Drive product. From what I can tell it is going to be a cloud based file storage and collaboration tool similar to Dropbox and Box.  What intrigues me about Drive is its favorite apps feature.  According to Google you will be able to "create, open and share files from a variety of apps directly in Google Drive." And you will be able to "open over 30 file types right in your browser—including HD video, Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop—even if you don’t have the program installed on your computer."  Does that mean I can open and edit a PowerPoint on my iPad?  Read pdf's without a viewer app?  Read and write Word docs\?  The inference would be yes.  And that would be a nice gadget enhancer!

The exact release date is not out.  You can log in to your Google account and request that a notice be sent when it is available.  Sounds positive.  We will have to keep an eye on it.

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Paddling Through A River of *$x@

Nothing is going to change tonight. Nothing I say is going to make any difference at all. You’re going to wake up in the same river of shit tomorrow morning that you’re in today.

So starts a blog post from Lee Rosen regarding initial consultations in family law.  Actually Lee is quoting from comedian Lewis Black, but the passage, and the balance of Lee's thoughts are germane to what we do, and how we should do it.

The initial consultation with a potential family law client is our opportunity to sell ourselves, and land a paying client.  Of course we need to be empathetic, and encouraging.  At the same time we have to help the person appreciate the situation he or she is in, help the person to frame realistic expectations, and appreciate the extent to which we can help.  The tendency is to over promise; only to leave the client frustrated and distressed when we under deliver.

During the initial consultation Lee suggests:

Tell them up front that you can’t make them less miserable. Explain that you can only resolve the legal issues. Tell them it’s up to them to make themselves happy. We don’t offer that service.
Don’t stop there. Talk about the money too. You know they’re going to be upset about the cost of the services. Deal with it now.

Explain that they’re going to spend far more money than they’d like. Tell them that you didn’t create this mess, and fixing it is going to be ridiculously expensive. Feel free to explain that their lives won’t be any better when this is over: they’ll still be miserable if that’s the choice they make. You can explain that happy people make their lives happy and that you don’t have anything to do with it.

Will they run from your office screaming? Will they hire someone else who lies to them?
No, in my experience they appreciate the honesty. They’re happy that you’re shooting straight with them. They’re more likely to hire you, not less.

I found this blog post to be right on.  And I agree with Lee completely.  Honest interaction and assessment make the relationship much more realistic and workable for lawyer and client.


Please click here to read the entire post.

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PowerPoint Presentations On The iPad

I speak at continuing legal education programs enough to be dangerous. It is a lot of fun. Get's me out of the office. Allows me to visit fun places. Forces me to refresh myself on the pertinent topic. Makes it easy to meet new colleagues, and provides great marketing benefits for me, my practice, and my law firm.

The world's default support app for public speaking is Microsoft's PowerPoint. When I am presenting a program solo, I usually prepare my accompanying slide show with Apple's Keynote app on my iPad. However, when I am collaborating with other speakers, or am part of a panel where Keynote is not acceptable, the PowerPoint juggernaut is called in to play.

I bought an iPad to get away from the bulk and instability of a Windows based notebook. Unfortunately, if you want to use PowerPoint without any glitches, the iPad was a problem. There was no way to seemlessly run PowerPoint presentations on the iPad. UNTIL NOW. I have started using an app called SlideShark. You create a free SlideShark account. You install the free SlideShark app on your iPad. You upload your PowerPoint presentation to your SlideShark account, and then download it to your iPad. Then you connect your iPad to your projector, and run your PowerPoint presentation from the SlideShark app. Works Perfectly! No formatting errors. No missing graphics. No incompatible fonts.

Keep in mind, all SlideShark does is play your PowerPoint. You cannot edit the slides, or add or delete slides. SlideShark is a dumb slave app, but one that does what it is designed to do! It is the best app I have found for running PowerPoints on the iPad.

For more information, please click here to visit the SlideShark website.

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60 Apps In 60 Minutes

Apps, apps, apps. We got apps!

Josh Barrett has posted his latest 60 apps list from the 60 Apps In 60 Minutes presentation that he gave at the ABA Techshow last week. Some of them, like Westlaw Next and fastcase, we have talked about previously on this blog. Others are new to me. The list is always fun reading, and all the picks benefit from Josh's tech acumen. Please click here to view his latest list.

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Great Little Known Features of iPad and iPhone

I just came across an article written by Brian Malcolm for law.com highlighting features of iOS 5.1 that I had no idea existed. For example, did you know that your device can read your email messages out loud, and for which you don't need an extra app? The feature is called VoiceOver, and it is already on your device. Want to project your device screen to a TV or projector? You can do that with mirroring. There's lots more.

Brian's article, while written for lawyers, is beneficial for anyone with an iPhone or iPad. It covers features pre-loaded on the devices, apps he likes, and accessories he likes.

This is a great article with great features that I was completely unaware of. Please click here to check it out!

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More On My Stand-Up Desk

Too Much Sitting Is Bad For You. US News.com ran an article yesterday about the health woes of sitting. According to the research featured in the article "[t]hose who spend 11 or more hours a day sitting are 40 percent more likely to die over the next three years regardless of how physically active they are otherwise . . . ."

Citing a study published in the March 26 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, the USN article mentions that "[s]everal workplaces in Australia are testing sit-stand work stations . . . a generally well-received initiative that may be a future option for other offices. "Try ways to break up your sitting and add in more standing or walking where possible," said study author Hidde van der Ploeg, a senior research fellow at the University of Sydney.

This takes me back to an article I wrote in October on this blog about the stand-up desk that I use at my office. As I mentioned then, I have used a stand-up desk for years, and I love it.




Please click here to read the original sitting article.

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My Thoughts On My New iPad

Friends and frequent visitors know that I love the iPad. I carry case files to court with it. I have all the California codes, case law, and reference materials that I need on it. I annotate pdf documents with it. I take notes on it. For me the device is a godsend. Last week I received my new iPad 2+. I have posted earlier on all the hardcore tech reviews for this latest model, so we won't go there again. Instead I will stick with the simple stuff.

First, the setup. It went like a dream. I backed my old iPad up on iTunes. Then I plugged the new one in to iTunes and did a restore. In about ten minutes it was all done, and everything worked perfectly.

Second, the retina display. This is the big marketing hero for the new iPad. Did I notice a difference? Yes, the screen is clearer. Did it take my breath away? Not really. Nice, but I am not speechless about it. I could have survived with the old screen.

Third, the speed of the machine. This new iPad has a beefier processor. The increased processor power translates into a noticeably quicker computer. Apps open faster, and run faster. A very nice improvement.

Fourth, the wireless data connection. OK, this is where I am really, really, thrilled! My first iPad had AT&T data service. As with everything AT&T it sucked. Signal strength was abysmal. 3G was never on line. Data transmission speeds reminded me of my old telephone modem. Clearly inadequate technology for road warriors.

This time around I went with the Verizon data plan. I am very impressed. I am getting 4G reception just about everywhere that I go, and that 4G is blazing fast! I don't have technical reports for you, but my simple eye test suggests that the 4G easily competes with the wi-fi for upload and download speeds. I have already made effective use of the data plan at the courthouse. Right now I have the 1GB plan that costs $20 per month. I'll let you know if that is enough, or if I have to bulk up with more GBs?

A side note here: In my opinion wi-fi alone is not enough if you want to be a truly mobile lawyer with your iPad. I use mine in court A LOT. Many of our courthouses in the San Francisco Bay Area do not provide free wi-fi. Without the data plan, I am out of luck. That data connectivity is essential to my successful mobile lawyering.

Fourth, the camera. My original iPad did not have a camera, and I did not miss it. I was not expecting to gain any real benefit from the camera in my new iPad. Lo and behold, it is proving to be a nice feature. I have used it to take fun photos. I am also starting to implement it as a document scanner. Something that I had not thought about before my purchase.

Do I love my new iPad? Yes I do. Was it expensive? Yes it was. Do I feel guilty? Absolutely not. The iPad is a business investment for me. It helps me do my job better. Plus, it is a nice toy to play with. The fact of the matter is that Apple does things right. The machine is stable and reliable. For features and service I am more than willing to pay the extra bucks. I cannot afford to buy cheap.

Please visit hardinglaw.com for more information about Harding & Associates Family Law

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