The Mac Lawyer : The Mac Lawyer : Ben Stevens : Using Macs In The Practice Of Law

This week marked the much awaited announcement of the Apple iPad. Considering that people’s mouths were watering over the non-event of the iPhone 3G S launch last year, the arrival of the tablet is garnering, as many have observed, the type of interest reserved only for other tablets delivered to the masses several millenia ago (though made out of stone).

Money is tight in 2010, so with a sense of sadness and impatience, we must often wait to own our beloved new gadget. Or we dip into college or retirement savings. The Onion hilariously captured our lemming-like excitement over new gadgets in this piece from December ‘09.

But consider this: you can add life to your existing gadget for little money, and have a sense of a new machine. I recommend the Gadget Spa Day, having done this recently with my iPhone. For instance:

1. Put a new screen protector in place. I prefer a matte finish so my fingerprints and face don’t muck up an otherwise beautiful machine. Learn how to place the screen on correctly and avoid trapping dust and making bubbles. It requires a little dexterity, and perhaps the technique is worthy of its own post. But if you get frustrated, take a deep breath, and say to yourself, “Yes we can!”.
2. Get a new protective case. Let’s face it. iPhone cases get scratched up easily and look nasty quickly. And that zebra pattern your using? SO 2009. I love the new iFrogz case I purchased, which is mostly hard plastic with a small rubberish section to keep it from sliding off smooth surfaces.
3. Clean up your apps. When’s the last time you played the bubble wrap or toilet paper game? If you or the kids haven’t used an app in a month, kill it, even if you paid for it. The Rocket Matter iPhone version is the only exception to this rule. Once you’re done, apply all the updates so you don’t have to stare at the annoying red number on the App Store icon.

Computer Spa Day

When you’re working on your actual systems, you can give them a performance boost just by turning off the amount of programs that run on startup. You’ll boot faster and run faster. Just be careful you don’t turn off anything important, like printer drivers or something. But c’mon, do you really need Quicktime and Java scanning for updates? Do Skype and Scansnap Manager really need to launch when your system does?

• Windows users can go to Start–>Run…, then type “msconfig” and type on the “Startup” tab. Don’t turn off anything important. When in doubt, leave it.
• Mac users can go to System Preferences -> Accounts, highlight an account, click Login Items, then remove the items you don’t want on the list.

Another way to revamp on Spa Day? Clean up your destkop. Remove icon clutter safely by reading this post. Get some cool new wallpaper. There are plenty of free sites, including Desktopography, Simple Desktops, or Interface Lift.

It’s like a fresh coat of paint for your trusted machine. You don’t have to waste time migrating data, you don’t get stuck with version one of the latest gadget, and you save a little dough as well.

Would love to hear your Gadget Spa Day tips! Leave a comment so we can hear your rejuvenation tips and tricks.

Source:  "iPad Envy? Save Money with Gadget Spa Day" by Larry Port, published at Rocket Matter's blog.

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Web-based software is continuing to gain in popularity and usage among attorneys.  My firm uses several of these in our daily practice, including Rocket Matter (case management / time & billing), gMail (firm email), and Evernote (electronic filing / storage system).  If you hear the terms "the cloud" and "SaaS" but aren't quite sure what all the fuss is about, you can find out everything you need to know in the following article:  

Understanding "The Cloud": The Pros and Cons of Web-based Software for Attorneys

If you've attended a technology CLE or read a technology publication over the last year, chances are good you've at least heard of "the cloud" or cloud computing. Cloud computing is a term that's used to describe a spectrum of services, software, and infrastructure delivered over the web rather than installed on a user's computer or server.

One of the better-known forms of cloud computing is software as a service (or "SaaS"). SaaS aims to mirror (or even improve on) the experience of traditional software without requiring the user to buy expensive software licenses, struggle with complicated installations, or manage upgrades and updates.

SaaS has proven both popular and controversial among attorneys. While some have adopted it wholeheartedly and swear they'd never go back, others have chosen to steer clear, claiming the risks outweigh the benefits.

To help you better understand SaaS and to decide whether it has a place in your practice, here are a few of the pros and cons:

The Pros:

• It "just works." With SaaS, you avoid the headaches of installation and maintenance. As long as you have an Internet connection and a web browser (like Internet Explorer), using your software is as simple as logging in. Furthermore, most SaaS products have been built with usability as a high priority, making them easy to learn and use.
• Mac friendly. Because SaaS products operate through the web browser, they usually run just as well on a Mac as they do on Windows.

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This month's The Legal Mac column from Law Practice Today, the ABALaw Practice Management Section's webzine, discusses the issues involved in working remotely with your Mac.  I am pleased to present, "Working Remotely on the Mac" by Jason Wietholter, Director of Technology, Opveon Litigation Services:

Get advice for using your Mac as a work tool no matter where you are.

In this day and age, demands for our time and our presence require us to be everywhere and work from everywhere. We choose Macs because they are dependable and easy to use. Working remotely on the Mac platform is just as simple and reliable. With services such as Mobile Me and the growing popularity of the entire Mac platform, more and more options are opening up to facilitate working on the road; everything from the hardware necessary to the software and services that help keep everything running smoothly.

The hardware is simple. It just works. Whether you have a MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro or even an iPhone, your Apple device has the tools you need to work on the road - already built in. All you’re missing is an internet connection. Each one of these Macs has its benefits and a certain set of constraints. Obviously, the iPhone is the smallest and most mobile option, but you give up some flexibility in not having expansion options, such as USB ports. All of the other laptops in the Mac line offer different levels of power. The MacBook and MacBook Air are the “lightweights” of the breed while the MacBook Pro is for the “heavy lifting” users out there. The beauty of the Apple hardware lineup is that you can have a laptop for the road and a desktop for your office or home and use them in perfect harmony. The basis of the Mac OS X operating system and the software available for the Mac platform make working remotely as beautiful as the hardware your run it on.

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Wow – what a day to be a Mac fan!  The WWDC today exceeded all expectations, and I will spend the rest of this week covering all of its major announcements.  From MacBooks to iPhones to Snow Leopard, there was something for everyone.  Stay tuned...

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Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is next week, June 8-12, in San Francisco, CA. I previously posted as to what might happen, but with it only being a few days away, I thought it would be interesting to see what the experts/pundits are predicting now. Enjoy the links below, and let's see who's right and who's not.

• WWDC 2009: What will Apple do?
• Wall Street analysts anticipate WWDC 09
• CNBC's Goldman: Apple's WWDC to be about software, software, software; not hardware
  
• Analyst: Apple's WWDC likely to 'disappoint'
  
• Flanked by Rivals, Apple Revs Up for WWDC
  
• Just a Thought - Bluetooth Could Big Big At WWDC
  
• Other iPhone Rumors with 4 Days Left Until WWDC '09

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If you were not able to attend this year's ABA TechShow (or even if you were), you should check out the excellent video interviews conducted by attorney and legal technology expert Finis Price of the TechnoEsq blog. He interviewed some of the most popular vendors to discuss their products, including the following:

• Larry Port from Rocket Matter about their practice management software (view here)
• Derek Flower from Fujitsu about the ScanSnap S1500 (view here)
• Jack Newton from Clio about their practice management software (view here)

Source: Finis Price's TechnoEsq blog.

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There has been lots of speculation regarding what Apple has planned at its upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which will be held June 8–12 in San Francisco, CA. Most experts agree that there will be a focus on Snow Leopard, the next generation of Apple's OS X operating system.

The smart folks at Gizmodo predict that many other interesting items may be addressed at the WWDC. I, for one, hope that they are right. Their predictions are as follows:

• New iPhone :: They are virtually certain that an improved model will be announced that includes a better camera, video recording, and increased speed/storage.
• Apple Tablet / Netbook :: Possibly an iPhone OS-based tablet that will be similar to a netbook, though this is obviously not certain.
  
• Improved MacBook :: Rumors are circulating that MacBooks may become available with 3G capabilities built in.
  
• Steve Jobs :: Could this event mark Steve Jobs' return to Apple in a very public and dramatic way?

As for me, after playing with a netbook recently, I have all my fingers (and toes) crossed that Apple announces something along those lines. My experience with the "other" netbook was that it was very useful, but clearly not an Apple product. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high, but I am really excited about this possibility.

Source: "What's Cooking for Apple WWDC '09" by Jesus Diaz, published at Gizmodo.com.

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Larry Port from Rocket Matter and I will be conducting a free webinar next Thursday, May 21, 2009, at 3:00 p.m. entitled Using Macs in Your Law Firm.  The webinar description is listed below.  I hope that you can attend, and if you are interested, you can register by clicking HERE.

Until recently, law firms needed PC's to run their practices. No longer. Scanners, software, printers, are now available to practice law on the Mac, and the iPhone is now a powerful business tool.

Ben Stevens, aka The Mac Lawyer, will get us up to speed on how a firm can transition to Macs for legal work. We'll answer audience questions, conduct interactive polls, and discuss the latest gear and software for the Mac platform.

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I was recently a guest on the "What's All The Hype?" podcast from GSA Business.  The description for this episode is listed below: 

A Spartanburg-based family attorney is making a name for himself nationally. Ben Stevens is the Mac lawyer, the No. 3 blogger in the American Bar Association Journal's Blawg 100. In this week's podcast, Stevens of Stevens - MacPhail PA shares his thoughts on Apple computers and discusses family law, social media, tort reform and private investigators.

I want to thank Francis Allgood for having me as a guest, and I invite my readers to listen to this podcast by clicking HERE.

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The following Guest Post is from Ware Cornell:

G. Ware Cornell Jr. is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer in Weston, Florida where he primarily practices employment law with the firm of Cornell & Associates P.A. He is a graduate of Emory University, the University of Georgia School of Law, and served as the first senior law clerk for United States District Judge William M. Hoeveler in the Southern District of Florida upon his investiture in 1977. Mr. Cornell was recently selected as a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, a trial lawyers' honorary society.

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I am pleased to present the following Guest Post from Blake Boyd, who is one of the premier Trial Technologists and Legal Presentation Specialists in America:

Since the advent and rise in popularity of the internet, the general public has changed the way we all gather our news, research and general information.  This electronic age has trickled it's way into the courtroom.  Many major cities in the United States are adding courtroom A/V expenses into their budgets.  Newly constructed courthouses are almost guaranteed to at least include a projector, screen, and sometimes individual monitors for the Judge and Jury to view.  Have you found yourself wondering how you can take advantage of these visual tools?

As the technology has become more popular so has the usage of Trial Technologists.  When I started helping present evidence in trial 8 years ago, the major fear of most attorneys was they would look "too flashy".  Other attorneys in the courtroom would joke saying, "Are you going to show us movies?  Do we get to watch you play games?  What is all of this for?"  I would sit back and smile as they didn't understand how powerful it is to explain the issues of a case visually to the Jury.  Now those same attorneys are trying their hardest to incorporate audio visual presentations into their case.  

I talk to many attorneys that are having trouble justifying the added expense of hiring a Trial Technologist, and while I'm an strong advocate of the usage of technology in the courtroom, some cases do, and some don't, justify that expense.  When trying to help them answer this question I tell them to think about these different options, each has their pro's and con's:

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After listening to many people, including my friends and tech gurus Kevin O'Keefe and Grant Griffith, preach the virtues of Twitter for a long, long time, I finally decided to open an account for myself to see what the buzz is all about.  My username is @TheMacLawyer (fittingly enough), and you can follow me at twitter.com/themaclawyer.

Twitter is one of those things that is a little hard to describe to others.  The short definition is that it is a micro-blogging service, but that doesn't tell you much.  Twitter describes itself as "a service for friends, family, and co-workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?"

To this point, I am still experimenting with how to best utilize Twitter, and the jury is still out.  I have posted some personal views/opinions there, and I will post some blog/tech related items in the future.  If any of my readers are on Twitter, please let me know and we can "follow" each other (in Twiiter-speak).  I'll try to post here from time to time to let you know what I think about Twitter going forward.

Update 11-9-08:  In the three or so days that I've been on Twitter, I've managed to pick up almost a hundred followers.  So far, I think Twitter is pretty cool, and I'm enjoying the connections and interactions that I am having with everyone there.  If you haven't done so, check me out HERE.

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I posted a few weeks ago about an attorney who uses his Mac to create online videos to attract clients.  After reading that post, one of my readers, noted Nashville trial lawyer Eddie Davidson, sent me a link to his website to show me how he used his Mac to create a video to help explain his trial philosophy, "Trial As Story."  What I found unique was how he was able to integrate actual courtroom video in with his Mac-generated video to communicate his message.  I urge you to take a few minutes to click HERE to view Eddie's video, which runs less than three minutes.

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Once upon a time back in the late summer of 2007, there was a Mac-using attorney was preparing to make a big presentation to a statewide legal association.  Everything was going well, until his hard drive spontaneously committed suicide only days before his presentation.  To make matters worse, this lawyer didn't have a recent backup of his hard drive.

After talking with the folks at AppleCare and visiting a Genius at his local Apple Store, this poor soul faced the sad reality that it seemed as though all of his data was lost.  Then, he learned about DriveSavers, and after discussing his situation with them, he decided to give them a try.  The ailing hard drive was shipped to California for diagnosis and testing, and after a few days, some of the once-lost data was recovered and returned to the lawyer.

There are many morals to this story:

1. Backup all of your critical data, and do it regularly.  There are several excellent backup programs, but I prefer SuperDuper! because it is very easy to use and it makes bootable copies of your hard drive.
2. Have a second alternative to your backups, such as OS X's built-in Time Machine.  Trust me, you can never be too safe with your data, and this second method is quick, easy, and invisible.
3. If you are faced with data loss, despite the two recommendations above, utlize a top-notch data recovery service, like DriveSavers.  They are not inexpensive by any means, but how much is your data worth to you?
4. Never admit that you were dumb enough to not have a backup of your data, even if it's blatantly obvious that your blog post was about yourself...

If you are interested in learning more about what goes into a data recovery company, you should read Macworld's interesting profile of DriveSavers, which was published last week.  It closely examines all aspects of the company, from its roots to its newest complex, and it features its use of Macs throughout its history.

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The New York State Board of Law Examiners recently announced that it will not allow its examinees to take the bar exam on their Macs.  Apparently, the exam software is designed to only run on Windows systems, and the board included this clause in its laptop policy, warning in capital letters: "We do not support Apple products in any form including Intel-based laptops running Boot Camp -- no exceptions."  As if it's not stressful enough taking the bar exam, in my opinion, being forced to do so on a Windows PC should be considered "cruel and unusual punishment."

Source:  "A Windows-Based Bar Exam Policy: No Macs Allowed" by April Dembosky, published in The New York Times.

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Sorry that this post is a little late, but I want to cover the three big announcements from last week's WWDC.  I have had several projects going on at work, which I will discuss in subsequent posts later this week.  Of course, the 3G iPhone was formally announced, as widely expected.  It not only includes 3G capability, but it also has GPS built-in and will support Microsoft Exchange ActiveSynch.  It will be available on July 11th in over 70 countries.  Best of all, Apple has reduced the price to $199 for the 8 GB model and $16 GB model.

Apple also announced its MobileMe service, which is a repackaged and improved version of .Mac.   This new service, described as "Exchange for the rest of us," uses "push" technology to give users the ability to synchronize their email, calendar, and contacts across multiple computers.  It also makes that information available via a web interface, and it provides a large iDisk online storage area too.  MobileMe will be available in early July and will cost $99 per year for a single user or $149 per year for a five user family pack.

Finally, Apple provided developers with information about Mac OS X 10.6, called "Snow Leopard."  Instead of an overhaul, this release is expected to focus on performance rather than new features.  Expected to ship sometime in late 2009, Snow Leopard aims to deliver "a new generation of core software technologies that will streamline Mac OS X, enhance its performance, and set new standards for quality. Snow Leopard dramatically reduces the footprint of Mac OS X, making it even more efficient for users, and giving them back valuable hard drive space for their music and photos."

Source: "WWDC 2008 Keynote: iPhone 3G, 2.0 Firmware, SDK, MobileMe, 10.6 Hints" published at MacRumors.com

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As everyone knows, Apple's WWDC begins tomorrow in San Francisco.  There have been many rumors circulating about what will / won't be announced at this conference.  Steve Jobs will deliver the keynote speech at 10:00 a.m. (PDT), so in less than 24 hours we'll know for sure.  In the meantime, here are some of the most popular rumors from around the 'net:

• 3G iPhone Release  ::  It is widely expected to finally be released at the WWDC.  AT&T has completed  their 3G rollout, and it has prohibited  its employees from taking a vacation between June 15th and July 12th in preparation for an "exciting Summer Promotional Launch".
• New iPhone Features  ::  Most experts believe that it will have true GPS functionality.  Some sources report that the phone will be slightly thicker than the existing model, while others claim it will thinner.  It's possible that the new model will offer video conferencing, though this is far from confirmed. Some claim that the new iPhone will be lower in price, while others claim it may be higher.
• .Mac, Me, Mobile Me  ::  It is possible that .Mac might be revamped and possibly renamed to Me or Mobile Me.  The rumored new functions could include over the air synching, synching with Windows, and "push" email.
• Mac OS X 10.6  ::  Steve Jobs said some time ago that Apple plans to update OS X every 12 to 18 months.  Within the last few weeks, rumors have surfaced that OS X 10.6, code named "Snow Leopard", might be previewed at WWDC.  Instead of a complete overhaul, this update is expected to be more of a tweak that focuses on  security, stability, and performance.
• Tablet Computer  ::  Rumors have persisted for quite some time that Apple is working on a tablet computer.  However, it is not expected that any such device will be revealed at the WWDC.

Source:  "Worldwide Developers Conference 2008 Rumor Roundup" published at MacRumors.com.

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Kait Duplaga was understandably upset when her White Plains, NY apartment was robbed.  The crooks took flat-screen televisions, computer games, iPods, DVDs, and two laptop computers.  Fortunately for her, one of the items taken was her Mac laptop.

Although the police were not having much luck tracking the thiefs, Ms. Duplaga exploited the software installed on her Mac to track down the culprits and even get their photographs.  She utilized a feature called "Back to My Mac," which enabled her to access to her missing laptop remotely and to activate its built-in camera and PhotoBooth to take the culprit's photo.

One of her roommates recognized the person photograph as a friend of a friend, who had been a guest at their apartment a few weeks prior to the theft.  The deputy commissioner of public safety in White Plains said "It's certainly a great use of what was probably meant as a business product. But if she had taken the picture and didn't know who he was, we wouldn't be in the same place as far as the investigation goes."

Source:  "Stolen Laptop Helps Turn Tables on Suspects" by Lisa W. Foderaro, published in The New York Times.

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As I previously posted, I am honored to be speaking at the inaugural "Mac Track" at this year's TechShow 2008, sponsored by the American Bar Association.  If you are planning to attend, please note that the "early bird" discount expires this Friday, February 1, 2008.  Also, if your bar association is listed here, you may be entitled to a discount.  You can learn much more about TechShow 2008 by visiting my prior post or by clicking on the image below to visit its website.

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The Tennessee Bar Association is sponsoring Law Technology 2008: Marketing, Management and Techology Solutions for Your Firm on February 22, 2008, at the Doubletree Hotel in Nashville.  I will be presenting two sessions at this CLE, which will focus on using Macs in your law practice.  I am looking forward to getting back to the Music City, and I hope that my readers will attend if they are able to do so.  Much more information about this seminar is listed below.

This year's program includes something for everyone! Hear about legal technology trends for 2008 and the latest technology in the courts. Lawyer, author and marketing guru Greg Siskind discusses marketing through webinars, blogs and podcasts. Dual track programming allows attendees to select the programs they want. Guest presenter Ben Stevens, publisher of the well known law office management blog, "The Mac Lawyer," will discuss why Macs are better than PCs and the equipment and software that can be used in a Mac law office.

Law Tech 2008 also offers ethics programming relating to management and technology and pluses and pitfalls of Microsoft Vista and Office 2007.

Don't miss this exciting opportunity to interact with a number of exhibitors! Vendors for a number of other technology-related products will also present at the program. A number of door prizes will be given away including an Apple iPod Shuffle, Best Buy Gift Certificate, Shell Gas Card, Blockbuster Gift Card and much more!

Save Money: TBA members can use the three prepaid CLE credits that come with their Complete Membership to reduce the cost of this program.  6 hours dual CLE • 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. -- REGISTER NOW

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As all Mac fans know, Steve Jobs' keynote address is scheduled for tomorrow (9:00 a.m. Pacific / Noon Eastern).  The big question that everyone is asking is "what's in the air"?  Apple posted banners on site and on its website that simply state "There's something in the air."  Speculation has raged that this could refer to the long-awaited sub-notebook computer, though no one outside of Cupertino, CA knows for sure -- until tomorrow.  Apple.com promises that you can watch Mr. Jobs' keynote online, and I'm certainly looking forward to it.

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Several months ago, I posted a way to connect a Mac notebook computer to the internet using a Bluetooth telephone.  I have been using this method for quite some time, and it works flawlessly.

One of the reasons I was hesitating to get an iPhone was because I didn't want to lose the ability to use my cell phone as a wireless modem from time to time.  Well, I now have one less excuse, because the folks at Dragon Forged have figured out how to do just that.

The step-by-step illustrated instructions are listed HERE, and of course, this method is completely free!  Thanks to those guys and gals for their efforts in figuring out how to do this and for sharing it with the rest of us.

Note:  I am still waiting on the 3G iPhone to be released before I get one, so I have not tested this method myself.

Source:  "Tethering the iPhone for OS X" posted at the Dragon Forged blog.  Thanks also to Finis Price of the TechnoEsq blog for pointing out this information at the Macs in Law Offices (MILO) group.

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If you have never checked out Netvibes, you should do so right now!  What is it?  Well, it's honestly a little difficult to describe, but I'll try.  Netvibes is a fully customizable homepage, on which you can add numerous "modules" to view all sorts of information in one convenient location. 

For instance, you can add to do lists, weather forecasts, RSS feeds to read blogs, and hundreds of other types of modules.  Netvibes also integrates with numerous email providers, Google products (Calendar, Notebook, GMail, etc.), and it is super convenient to have everything that you need from the web right in one place on your homepage.

For you mobile warriors, Netvibes now has a "mobile" version that allows you to access your netvibes page on your mobile phone or your iPhone too.  What's the cost for all this convenience?  It's free.  I have been using it for well over a year, and it is a fantastic product that you should look into for yourself.

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I previously posted about my fondness for the Fujitsu ScanSnap scanner.  What I didn't mention was that my particular ScanSnap (model 5110EOX2) is actually a holdover from my old PC-using days.  I had this scanner for roughly a year before I moved my office to Macs two years ago.

Some time after that, Fujitsu released a Mac-specific (white) version of the ScanSnap.  However, many people want to use the PC (black) model with their Macs -- either because they already owned one before the Mac version was released or or because the PC version is slightly less expensive than it's white cousin.

Both models work basically the same.  They both come with the full version of Adobe Acrobat, and they both work quickly and efficiently.  However, there is a difference that I want to address in this article.  The Mac driver for the black (PC) version is only available in Japanese.  Domo Arigato! 

All of the features work just fine, but nothing is in English, which makes it a bit tricky figuring out certain things.  Fortunately, all of the dialog boxes are in the same places as shown in the English manual, but it's not practical to keep that on hand in case you need it.

Never fear though, there is a solution to this situation which enables you to load the Japanese drivers and then convert them to English.  The following instructions walk you through this process step-by-step:

1. Download the English and Japanese versions of the ScanSnap software from Fujitsu (be sure to download the correct version for your Mac, Intel or PPC).
   • Japenese Link (Currently V20L22)
   • English Link (Currently V20L10)
2. Mount the Japenese disk image (V20L22.dmg) and install (just keep clicking the blue button on the right hand side to advance the installation).
3. After installation, unmount the Japanese image to avoid confusion later on.
4. Mount the English disk image (V20L20.dmg) but DO NOT install it.
5. Open the English disk image (you should see a file named "ScanSnap_V20L11" or "ScanSnap_V20L11.pkg").
6. Right-Click (control-click) on that image and select "Show Package Contents".
7. Open the "Contents" folder and open the "Resources" folder.
8. Locate the file called "ScanSnap_V20L11.pax.gz" and double-click on it.
9. After it has unarchived the file, a ScanSnap folder should now appear on your desktop. Open it.
10. In this folder, you should see the "ScanSnap Manager" which shows the WHITE version of the scanner.  Right-Click (control-click) on the application and select "Show Package Contents".
11. Open the "Contents" folder and open the "Resources" folder.
12. Locate the folder called "English.lproj" and copy this folder to a safe place (like your Desktop).
13. At this point, it will help you avoid clutter and confusion by closing all of the various open windows.
14. Go to your Applications folder, find the ScanSnap folder there, and open it.
15. In this folder, locate the "ScanSnap Manager" which shows the BLACK version of the scanner, which is the Japenese version that needs to be change. Right-Click (control-click) on the application and select "Show Package Contents".
16. Open the "Contents" folder and open the "Resources" folder.
17. Copy the "English.lproj" that you just extracted to this folder.
18. Voila! You should now have support for multiple Fujitsu ScanSnap scanners with English localization!

Source:  "ScanSnap fi-5110EOX for Macintosh" thread in the MaxOSXHints Forums.

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As I have previously noted, it is no secret that I very badly want an iPhone.  However, I have resisted the temptation to get one (at least so far), for three main reasons:  (1) I have a good bit of time left on my current cell phone plan, (2) I love the ability to use my bluetooth phone as a wireless modem for my MacBook, and (3) I am concerned about the iPhone's slow internet connection speeds.  If any one of those three items were to be resolved, I could probably "overlook" the other two, or at least find some workable solution.

AppleInsider reported yesterday that according to analysts for CIBC World Markets, "checks suggest Apple is actually looking to introduce a 3G version of the iPhone for the U.S. market in November, ahead of the holiday season and earlier than currently expected."  The article went on to say that "a recent in-house survey of iPhone buyers that suggested the key shortcoming of the current iPhone model is its poor data connectivity through AT&T's yesteryear EDGE network. 'This isn't a surprise, and Apple's CEO Steve Jobs admitted the iPhone's cellular connectivity can use an improvement. We now believe the "improvement" could come soon.'"

If true, this is fantastic news, and I guess I know what I'll be getting myself as an early Christmas present!

Source:  "Analyst Claims iPhone Demand Slowing But 3G Model in Cards" by Prince McLean, published at AppleInsider.com.

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Everyone knows (or should know) that Macs are very secure and are the safest way to use the internet.  However, knowledge is power, and you should know as much as possible about ways to ensure that you stay secure.  Fortunately, there is a blog devoted to Mac internet security.  The Internet Security for Your Macintosh has published the following top 10 things you can do to keep your Macintosh safe on the Internet:

1. Physical security first. Although not strictly an Internet security issue, the odds of something bad happening to your Mac due to a physical problem are much higher than something happening to it over the Internet. So take precautions appropriate to your situation, such as physical lock-down cables, surge protectors and proper care of data on portable machines (such as encryption of any important files). And be sure to keep good, up-to-date local and remote backups.
2. "The only constant is change." Especially on the Internet. New security threats are discovered, temporary fixes and updates are issued, mistakes are sometimes made. It's important to keep up as best you can:
   • Subscribe to Apple's Software Update and install security fixes soon after they're available, although not necessary immediately.
   • Utilize online (for instance our blog isfym.com) and offline (for instance users' groups) sources to keep up with new security issues, implement temporary protection as needed, and make sure updates appear good.
   • Keep up on updates for any other popular applications you use, especially cross-platform ones like Microsoft products and security applications like your firewall and anti-virus applications.
   • And of course stay knowledgeable about everything you can, for instance through our "Internet Security for Your Macintosh" eBook.
3. Use a personal firewall. We sell one, so we're biased, but that doesn't mean we're wrong. You need a personal firewall on each of your machines, and the one Apple includes in Mac OS X is only sufficient for keeping you safe until you can get a better one. Be sure your firewall has logging fully enabled, and use a log analysis application to highlight issues that need to be addressed. And, no, the so-called firewall in any router you may have isn't good enough either (although it does help).
4. Use good passwords. Until the day we log into everything through retinal scans or other "biometric" means, passwords will be the main way we identify ourselves to Internet-based services. Use passwords appropriate to the importance of the service they're protecting, choosing longer, harder to guess (and more unique) passwords for the more critical services. Apple's password assistant, built into Keychain Access, can be a big help here.
5. Do not send confidential information by email, unless you know how to use encrypted email. Also treat all email messages received, even from people you know, as suspect. Same applies to IM (with certain exceptions like encrypted iChat). On the Web, be sure the Web page is a secure one (look for the lock icon) before entering confidential information.
6. Never open attachments in email messages, which are more often than not viruses. This advise may seem a bit over the top, but you should apply it as the general rule, with the only real exception being when you know the person who sent you the attachment and the context from the rest of the email makes it clear that that person really did intend to send you that attachment.
7. Never click on links sent in email messages. Again this is the general rule, with similar exceptions as with email attachments. These links are often to "phishing" Web sites that will attempt to steal personal information from you, or to "maliciously-crafted" Web sites that will attempt to do even worse things, like take over your machine (yes, even if you do use a Mac). Always type URLs directly into your Web browser, use known-good bookmarks, or click on links from reputable sites (including search engines) that you've gotten to through one of these methods.
8. Consider an anti-virus application. There are essentially no known Mac-specific viruses, and use of anti-virus applications can help keep it that way. Right now, anti-virus applications are essentially insurance policies, which you hope to never need to use, but are glad you have if you do. Also like insurance, you need to be sure to keep your anti-virus application, and its associated virus definitions, up to date.
9. If at all possible, do not provide any services from your Macintosh. In other words, all services in the Sharing pane of System Preferences should be off, along with other services like iTunes music sharing and iPhoto photo sharing. If you do need to offer services, use your personal firewall to restrict access to as few machines as possible (preferably just machines on your local network). And of course use good passwords for those services, in particular for the cross-platform Remote Login (ssh) service, which is often subject to dictionary attack.
10. Properly secure your wireless (AirPort) environment, both at home and on the road. At home the most important things are to change your wireless router's password and to use WPA encryption. Beyond that, don't allow your router to be administered over the Internet and add other security measures (like creating a closed network and limiting access by ID) if you feel comfortable configuring them. On the road, be sure to turn off or block any services your Mac is providing through your firewall, be cognizant of who's looking over your shoulder, use a VPN if you're talking back to your home or work network and watch our for rogue access points.
11. Bonus: Consider running your Mac as a non-administrative user most of the time. This is an advanced technique that provides few immediate benefits, but, similar to anti-virus applications, acts as "insurance" by limiting any damage that could result from a security breach. Someone gaining access to your machine would still have access to many of your files, but not to most of the underlying machine and OS itself. The easiest way to run as a non-admin user is to create a new, administrative account and then change your normally used account to a non-administrative one.

Source:  "The Top 10 Things You Can Do to Keep Your Macintosh Safe on the Internet" by Open Door Networks, published at the Internet Security for Your Macintosh blog.

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If you've ever used iChat, you already know what a great messaging program it is.  If your company has blocked your messaging access to the internet, this tip from MacOSXHints might be the solution you've been waiting for:

Many companies block the default port used by most IM clients. However, you can change iChat's port from 5190 to 80, which is the same port your browser uses. Open iChat, then go to Preferences » Accounts » Server Settings, and change the port number from 5190 to 80. You must be offline (iChat: Log out of AIM) before you can make this change. This will allow iChat to connect to the IM servers, and off to text messaging you go. I'm pretty sure this tip will only work for text messaging, since voice and video chat use ports that are not changable in iChat.

Source: "Use iChat Behind a Company Firewall" published at MacOSXHints.com.

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As you are aware, I switched from my PowerBook to my new MacBook in mid-January.  I love the new computer, but I have had one problem with it -- until today.  Since it arrived, I have not been able to access the internet from anywhere as I could with the PowerBook.  Allow me to explain...

For the last couple of years, I had a Verizon Wireless PC card to connect my PowerBook (and my PC laptop before it) to the internet from anywhere.  The card I used was a Novatel PCMCIA Card, and it worked flawlessly on both PC and Mac platforms.  I always had fast, reliable service, and I was able to connect to both my office network and the internet at large when I was away from my home or office.

However, the MacBook doesn't have a PC card slot, which rendered my existing card useless.  Verizon does offer a USB card, but their customer service department didn't do anything to entice me to make the conversion.  In fact, they offered me the same options as someone who had never been a Verizon customer, basically igoring our mutli-year relationship.  Also, I was a little hesitant to lock myself into another long-term contract with all of the technological developments occuring almost weekly.

My regluar cellphone service is with Alltel, using a Motorola RAZR v3c.  I have read where some people had been able to connect various laptops to the internet using only their cellphones, and I decided to find out if this option would work for me.  After a quick Google search on this topic, I found an article by Michael Ash which explained how to connect a Mac to Alltel's network using a RAZR.  After spending less than five minutes following Mr. Ash's procedure, I was able to connect as described. 

Because I have excellent service from Alltel, I can once again access the internet from anywhere I have cellular service, which is almost everywhere.  The access speed is somewhat slower than I had with Verizon, but it's still fast enough to be functional.  Also, $0 is much better than the $70 per month I was paying with Verizon.  The setup for this new procecure was fast and easy... and it just works -- very Mac-like.

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The April 2007 edition of Macworld reports that over 60% of the Macs sold by Apple over the last nine months have been MacBooks.  The article notes that the differences between laptops and desktops have narrowed due to advances in technology and price decreases.

Also, this edition of Macworld focuses on three topics:

• The ModBook, a tablet-like, modified MacBook;
• Apple's new Airport Extreme wireless networking hardware; and
• Tips and advice for laptop users.

Source:  "Laptop Nation" by Jason Snell, published in Macworld magazine.

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"Bigger is better" -- or so the myth says.  However, there is also a saying that "there is an exception to every rule."  AppleMatters recently published an article which explained how and why Apple is it in this case.  Consider these excerpts from this article:

• Apple commands about 5 percent of the U.S. computer market share and about 2 percent worldwide. Apple's small slice provided just that, allowing them to introduce new products to a wide but limited audience, providing real world results and further optimizing future products.
• The word proprietary is often associated with restriction, incompatibility, and unsupported. In the long run, Apple's use of proprietary systems has not only created revolutions and evolutions, but has proven that proprietary systems can offer a lot for consumers, more than they think.
• Many have criticized Apple because Mac OS X will only run on a Macintosh with most Macs supposedly out of their price range (although whether a Mac is more expensive than a PC could be debunked). And one could argue that quality does not come cheap.
• With OS X running only on the Mac platform, Apple has unique advantages over other manufacturers, including Microsoft. Apple is in control of their hardware and can tailor OS X for full optimization on each machine. Apple also has the opportunity to create simple and seamless transitions no other company would consider.

Source: "Why Apple's Proprietary System and Small Market Share Are a Good Thing" by Tanner Godarzi, published at AppleMatters.

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I gave a presentation several weeks ago on Effectively Using Family Law Blogs at the annual "Hot Tips From the Coolest Domestic Law Practitioners" seminar presented by the South Carolina Bar.  In this presentation, I pointed out the many ways that legal blogs and RSS feeds can revolutionize your law practice and really the way that you view and use the internet.

If you are not familiar with RSS feeds, you need to be! They can make your web usage so much more efficient that you will literally wonder how you ever got along before them. Using RSS, you are able to monitor a large quantity of information quickly and easily. Echoing my thoughts, Alex Wollenschlaeger of The Unofficial Apple Weblog recently posted

It's no exaggeration to say that the day I started using a feed reader, my internet life changed forever. Suddenly, instead of having to click through my regular cohort of a few dozen sites, I was able to scan hundreds of sites for the news I wanted.

The Wall Street Journal Online has an excellent article, A Guide to Using RSS, to help get you up and running. Once you realize the benefits of RSS feeds, you will need to decide how you want to read/monitor them. There are two basic ways to read and subscribe to RSS feeds: (1) newsreader software (such as NetNewsWire or NewsFire), and (2) a Web based newsreader platform (such as Bloglines, Google Reader, or NewsGator). I will take a closer looks at the differences in these in later posts.

Note: If you're interested in viewing the written materials from Effectively Using Family Law Blogs, you can download a *.pdf version of my written materials by clicking HERE.

Source: "Hot Tips From the Coolest Domestic Law Practitioners" by Ben Stevens, published at The South Carolina Family Law Blog.

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