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How Apps Can Make You a Better Litigator (Part 2 of 2)

Posted on July 11, 2013 by admin Posted in Guest Posts, Hardware, How Do I ...?, iPad, Office Management, Software, Technology Leave a comment
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I am pleased to present the conclusion of the Guest Post from Jim McLaren and Jonathan Lounsberry explaining how they use iPads and Macs in their family law practice. If you missed it, you can click here to read Part One. Thanks again to Jim and Jonathan for sharing this information with my readers.

Once all of the depositions are completed and the case is moving towards final preparation for the trial, we identify the key exhibits for trial.  An exhibit list for each witness is prepared, as is an overall exhibit list. All of this is keyed in and correlated in the Trial Notebook. Besides creating exhibit lists, we also prepare lists of the potential witnesses and issues. The exhibit, witness and issue lists are used to create our trial outline giving us a “roadmap” for trial. With all the outline and lists completed, we are generally ready for the trial and the presentation of testimony and exhibits.

Our basic set-up in the courtroom is much like our deposition set-up. My rule-of-thumb is to be totally self-sufficient and not depend on any locally provided services.  We bring the MacBook Air, iPads (Wi-Fi and 4G), extension cords, multi-plugs, 4G Hot Spot, chargers, VPN and Wi-Fi access to our servers at the office, thumbdrives, printers, gaffer’s tape and everything else we need to operate throughout the trial.  We usually request a staging room (if available) where we keep the printer (set-up and ready to use), an additional computer and hardcopies of documents (separated by day in which we anticipated using them).

In the trial of a case, we use TrialPad to present our exhibits.  Clean paper copies of the exhibits are marked and entered into evidence as official exhibits, with copies to all involved counsel and an extra copy for the judge.  As each exhibit is entered into evidence, our highlighted exhibits in TrialPad are put up on a screen (already in the courtroom or provided by us) in front of the attorneys, the trial judge and the witnesses.  Important portions of documents are displayed using the “call out” feature of TrialPad. Either an associate or a paralegal operates TrialPad from our counsel table; quite effective and easy to use.  No fumbling or waiting until the witness gets to page 188 of a 256 page document – we take the witness, the trial judge and all counsel directly to the excerpt.

Another effective way we present testimony and evidence in trial is through a PowerPoint presentation (or Keynote, if you are a Mac-user). I have found that using a PowerPoint presentation allows for a more structured examination of a witness or opening/closing argument. We like to keep our slides simple, illustrating single points or facts. Our motto is “detailed brevity”. This is important to keep the trial judge or jury focused and able to easily retain a larger percentage of the witnesses’ testimony. Depending on the length of the hearing and the electronic capabilities of the courtroom, we use either a laptop or an iPad (through Keynote or TrialPad) to present our PowerPoints.

Most of our office hardware and software is Microsoft-based.  While some are Apple-based, that is the exception.  Prior to the spring of 2011, I always had a reluctance to move into Apple products fearing they would not be compatible or usable with our Microsoft-based systems.  Having incorporated Apple products into our workflow, I find the Apple products are not only very intuitive but each product has become almost indispensable. Using Apple products has definitely changed the way we present a case during trial.

I hope you find this post helpful. My goal is to give the reader an idea of how we use technology in our practice, and I hope your path to successfully using technology in the courtroom has been shortened. Thank you.

About the Authors:  

James T. McLaren maintains a statewide family law practice emphasizing complex marital litigation in Columbia, South Carolina. He is a partner in the law firm of McLaren & Lee. He currently serves as First Vice-President and is on the Executive Committee of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and he is a Diplomate of the American College of
Family Trial Lawyers and a Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

Jonathan W. Lounsberry has B.A.’s in Philosophy and Political Science from the University of South Carolina (2006) and a J.D. from the Charleston School of Law (2009). He is a member of the Charleston County Bar and the South Carolina Bar. He practices in the areas of complex domestic litigation and juvenile justice.

How Apps Can Make You a Better Litigator (Part 2 of 2)

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Ben Stevens Posted in Guest Posts, Hardware, How Do I ...?, iPad, Office Management, Software, Technology 1 Comment
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I am pleased to present the conclusion of the Guest Post from Jim McLaren and Jonathan Lounsberry explaining how they use iPads and Macs in their family law practice. If you missed it, you can click here to read Part One. Thanks again to Jim and Jonathan for sharing this information with my readers.

Once all of the depositions are completed and the case is moving towards final preparation for the trial, we identify the key exhibits for trial.  An exhibit list for each witness is prepared, as is an overall exhibit list. All of this is keyed in and correlated in the Trial Notebook. Besides creating exhibit lists, we also prepare lists of the potential witnesses and issues. The exhibit, witness and issue lists are used to create our trial outline giving us a “roadmap” for trial. With all the outline and lists completed, we are generally ready for the trial and the presentation of testimony and exhibits.

Our basic set-up in the courtroom is much like our deposition set-up. My rule-of-thumb is to be totally self-sufficient and not depend on any locally provided services.  We bring the MacBook Air, iPads (Wi-Fi and 4G), extension cords, multi-plugs, 4G Hot Spot, chargers, VPN and Wi-Fi access to our servers at the office, thumbdrives, printers, gaffer’s tape and everything else we need to operate throughout the trial.  We usually request a staging room (if available) where we keep the printer (set-up and ready to use), an additional computer and hardcopies of documents (separated by day in which we anticipated using them).

In the trial of a case, we use TrialPad to present our exhibits.  Clean paper copies of the exhibits are marked and entered into evidence as official exhibits, with copies to all involved counsel and an extra copy for the judge.  As each exhibit is entered into evidence, our highlighted exhibits in TrialPad are put up on a screen (already in the courtroom or provided by us) in front of the attorneys, the trial judge and the witnesses.  Important portions of documents are displayed using the “call out” feature of TrialPad. Either an associate or a paralegal operates TrialPad from our counsel table; quite effective and easy to use.  No fumbling or waiting until the witness gets to page 188 of a 256 page document – we take the witness, the trial judge and all counsel directly to the excerpt.

Another effective way we present testimony and evidence in trial is through a PowerPoint presentation (or Keynote, if you are a Mac-user). I have found that using a PowerPoint presentation allows for a more structured examination of a witness or opening/closing argument. We like to keep our slides simple, illustrating single points or facts. Our motto is “detailed brevity”. This is important to keep the trial judge or jury focused and able to easily retain a larger percentage of the witnesses’ testimony. Depending on the length of the hearing and the electronic capabilities of the courtroom, we use either a laptop or an iPad (through Keynote or TrialPad) to present our PowerPoints.

Most of our office hardware and software is Microsoft-based.  While some are Apple-based, that is the exception.  Prior to the spring of 2011, I always had a reluctance to move into Apple products fearing they would not be compatible or usable with our Microsoft-based systems.  Having incorporated Apple products into our workflow, I find the Apple products are not only very intuitive but each product has become almost indispensable. Using Apple products has definitely changed the way we present a case during trial.

I hope you find this post helpful. My goal is to give the reader an idea of how we use technology in our practice, and I hope your path to successfully using technology in the courtroom has been shortened. Thank you.

About the Authors:  

James T. McLaren maintains a statewide family law practice emphasizing complex marital litigation in Columbia, South Carolina. He is a partner in the law firm of McLaren & Lee. He currently serves as First Vice-President and is on the Executive Committee of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and he is a Diplomate of the American College of
Family Trial Lawyers and a Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

Jonathan W. Lounsberry has B.A.’s in Philosophy and Political Science from the University of South Carolina (2006) and a J.D. from the Charleston School of Law (2009). He is a member of the Charleston County Bar and the South Carolina Bar. He practices in the areas of complex domestic litigation and juvenile justice.

How Apps Can Make You a Better Litigator (Part 1 of 2)

Posted on July 9, 2013 by admin Posted in Guest Posts, Hardware, How Do I ...?, iPad, Office Management, Software, Technology Leave a comment
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I have had the privilege of seeing several presentations by my friend (and trial lawyer extraordinaire) Jim McLaren explaining how he uses iPads and Macs in his family law practice. I asked Jim and his associate, Jonathan Lounsberry, to write this Guest Post to share this valuable information with my readers, and I greatly appreciate their generosity and willingness to do so. Part One appears below, and Part Two will be published on Thursday:

First, I want to thank Ben Stevens for giving me this opportunity. My intention is not to lecture on how to handle a case from top to bottom. Rather, I hope to share my firm’s learning experience in dealing with technological and organizational challenges in critical phases of the litigation process. The choices, good, bad and in-between, will be shared. Hopefully, some of our experiences will shorten your path to successfully using technology in and out of the courtroom.

Remember, this is a team effort. Our staff is very specialized and experienced, each having an integral role. Input and participation from everyone in the office is essential. All lawyers and staff must know how to fly the plane. Since our approach to litigation of cases is a team effort, everyone on the team must be able to use the necessary tools.

Like many, we began with carbon copies and semi-manual typewriters. Now, we are fairly sophisticated from a technology standpoint, always trying to stay on the cutting edge of technology. When a case demands it, everyone in the office collapses around and works on that case during critical stages, such as preparing for trial, hearings or depositions. We endeavor to produce (in a short period of time) high-quality legal work.

We use technology throughout all phases of the litigation process. The two phases where technology has the most impact are depositions and trial. Below are the ways our firm uses technology during these two critical phases.

In depositions, I prefer to have three iPads in front of me as well as my MacBook Air, together with multiple hard copies and an index of all exhibits and a list of questions or subject areas I intend to cover with the witness. Why do I use three iPads?

On iPad #1 (Evernote), I have my deposition cross-examination outline, and any summaries or comparative analyses I plan to refer to during the deposition. Evernote allows me to collect and combine a multitude of information into a single repository. Also with Evernote Business, anyone at the firm can access and update the deposition cross-examination outline, summaries or comparative analyses. We refer to this iPad as the “OutlinePad”.

On iPad #2 (PDF Expert), I have annotated copies of all of the exhibits I intend to enter during the deposition. PDF Expert allows me to annotate the exhibits and highlight what I am going after. Other good Apps for that purpose are Adobe Reader, iAnnotate and Good Reader. We refer to this iPad as the “ExhibitPad”.

iPad #3 (BT Chat HD), is used exclusively for communication during the deposition with my experts, my client and co-counsel. I have used both email and messaging (BT Chat HD or Apple iOS Messages) for this purpose. I find messaging is the best method, being a little bit cleaner and more efficient. Messaging eliminates the clutter of email chains and extraneous emails. We refer to this iPad as the “YammerPad”.

Sure, you can get away with one iPad, but it is difficult to maneuver between the screens in the heat of a deposition. It is better to have three – they are cheap and make your work easier and more manageable.

On the MacBook Air, we maintain the case Encyclopedia Britannica (Trial Notebook) allowing me to access any information about the case, particularly anything I have overlooked in preparation. You should not undervalue having everything about the case with you. The witness probably will bring up some obscure document you logged, bates-stamped and have readily available in the Trial Notebook.

Following the deposition, we always request the transcript in electronic (preferably .txt format) and paper forms. Once we get the deposition transcript in the office, we go about the business of summarizing the depositions. The summarization process is done with either iAnnotate or Transcript Pad. Whomever you designate to do the deposition summary should have a good handle on the case and the subject matter to be highlighted. Part Two will explain how technology can assist you in the courtroom. Stay tuned…

About the Authors:

James T. McLaren maintains a statewide family law practice emphasizing complex marital litigation in Columbia, South Carolina. He is a partner in the law firm of McLaren & Lee. He currently serves as First Vice-President and is on the Executive Committee of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and he is a Diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers and a Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

Jonathan W. Lounsberry has B.A.’s in Philosophy and Political Science from the University of South Carolina (2006) and a J.D. from the Charleston School of Law (2009). He is a member of the Charleston County Bar and the South Carolina Bar. He practices in the areas of complex domestic litigation and juvenile justice.

How Apps Can Make You a Better Litigator (Part 1 of 2)

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Ben Stevens Posted in Guest Posts, Hardware, How Do I ...?, iPad, Office Management, Software, Technology 2 Comments
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I have had the privilege of seeing several presentations by my friend (and trial lawyer extraordinaire) Jim McLaren explaining how he uses iPads and Macs in his family law practice.  I asked Jim and his associate, Jonathan Lounsberry, to write this Guest Post to share this valuable information with my readers, and I greatly appreciate their generosity and willingness to do so. Part One appears below, and Part Two will be published on Thursday:

First, I want to thank Ben Stevens for giving me this opportunity. My intention is not to lecture on how to handle a case from top to bottom. Rather, I hope to share my firm’s learning experience in dealing with technological and organizational challenges in critical phases of the litigation process. The choices, good, bad and in-between, will be shared. Hopefully, some of our experiences will shorten your path to successfully using technology in and out of the courtroom. 

Remember, this is a team effort. Our staff is very specialized and experienced, each having an integral role. Input and participation from everyone in the office is essential.  All lawyers and staff must know how to fly the plane.  Since our approach to litigation of cases is a team effort, everyone on the team must be able to use the necessary tools.

Like many, we began with carbon copies and semi-manual typewriters. Now, we are fairly sophisticated from a technology standpoint, always trying to stay on the cutting edge of technology.  When a case demands it, everyone in the office collapses around and works on that case during critical stages, such as preparing for trial, hearings or depositions. We endeavor to produce (in a short period of time) high-quality legal work.

We use technology throughout all phases of the litigation process. The two phases where technology has the most impact are depositions and trial. Below are the ways our firm uses technology during these two critical phases.

In depositions, I prefer to have three iPads in front of me as well as my MacBook Air, together with multiple hard copies and an index of all exhibits and a list of questions or subject areas I intend to cover with the witness. Why do I use three iPads?

On iPad #1 (Evernote), I have my deposition cross-examination outline, and any summaries or comparative analyses I plan to refer to during the deposition. Evernote allows me to collect and combine a multitude of information into a single repository. Also with Evernote Business, anyone at the firm can access and update the deposition cross-examination outline, summaries or comparative analyses. We refer to this iPad as the “OutlinePad”.

On iPad #2 (PDF Expert), I have annotated copies of all of the exhibits I intend to enter during the deposition.  PDF Expert allows me to annotate the exhibits and highlight what I am going after.  Other good Apps for that purpose are Adobe Reader, iAnnotate and Good Reader. We refer to this iPad as the “ExhibitPad”.

iPad #3 (BT Chat HD), is used exclusively for communication during the deposition with my experts, my client and co-counsel. I have used both email and messaging (BT Chat HD or Apple iOS Messages) for this purpose. I find messaging is the best method, being a little bit cleaner and more efficient. Messaging eliminates the clutter of email chains and extraneous emails. We refer to this iPad as the “YammerPad”.

Sure, you can get away with one iPad, but it is difficult to maneuver between the screens in the heat of a deposition.  It is better to have three – they are cheap and make your work easier and more manageable.

On the MacBook Air, we maintain the case Encyclopedia Britannica (Trial Notebook) allowing me to access any information about the case, particularly anything I have overlooked in preparation.  You should not undervalue having everything about the case with you.  The witness probably will bring up some obscure document you logged, bates-stamped and have readily available in the Trial Notebook.

Following the deposition, we always request the transcript in electronic (preferably .txt format) and paper forms. Once we get the deposition transcript in the office, we go about the business of summarizing the depositions.  The summarization process is done with either iAnnotate or Transcript Pad.  Whomever you designate to do the deposition summary should have a good handle on the case and the subject matter to be highlighted. Part Two will explain how technology can assist you in the courtroom.  Stay tuned…

About the Authors:  

James T. McLaren maintains a statewide family law practice emphasizing complex marital litigation in Columbia, South Carolina. He is a partner in the law firm of McLaren & Lee. He currently serves as First Vice-President and is on the Executive Committee of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and he is a Diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers and a Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

Jonathan W. Lounsberry has B.A.’s in Philosophy and Political Science from the University of South Carolina (2006) and a J.D. from the Charleston School of Law (2009). He is a member of the Charleston County Bar and the South Carolina Bar. He practices in the areas of complex domestic litigation and juvenile justice.

When’s the Best Time to Purchase Apple Products?

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Ben Stevens Posted in How Do I ...?, Online Resources, Technology Leave a comment
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Have you ever struggled with when to purchase a new product from Apple?  Should you hold out for the latest and greatest iDevice in hopes that it might be released in the very near future?  Should you hold out for a deal, or does it make sense to go ahead and purchase now while prices seem reasonable? If you decide to wait, how long should you wait?

If this sounds like you, worry no more.  The folks over at DealNews have analyzed over a year’s worth of data and compiled the infographic below, which identifies the lowest prices during Apple’s model’s product cycle, to help you better strategize your next Apple purchase.

Source:  “Price Trends: When to Buy a Mac” by Louis Ramirez, published at DealNews.

Do You Have A Social Media Will?

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Ben Stevens Posted in How Do I ...?, Miscellaneous, Online Resources, Technology Leave a comment
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Social media is everywhere. Each of us will die one day. We would be well served to prepare for the convergence of those two realities.  The following article from my friend, Tim Baran, does an excellent job addressing this topic, and he’s graciously agreed for me to republish it here.  I hope that you not only read it, but also consider Tim’s suggestions. 

Social Media WillA couple of my Facebook friends died last year. I went to the memorial services and thought I had closure, but their profiles were still alive and I didn’t have the heart to unfriend. Then the other day I was startled to get an automated birthday notification from one them. It was time to unfriend but it got me thinking about what happens to our social media accounts and online identity when we die.

A few platforms, like Twitter and Google, have policies around accessing or deactivating accounts of deceased users. Or, you can choose to memorialize an account on Facebook.

The government addressed this concern by adding a breakdown of what to consider when creating a social media will on the USA.gov personal finance and estate planning site:

Social media is a part of daily life, so what happens to the online content that you created once you die? If you are active online you should consider creating a statement of how you would like your online identity to be handled, like a social media will. You should appoint someone you trust as an online executor. This person will be responsible for the closure of your email addresses, social media profiles, and blogs after you are deceased. Take these steps to help you write a social media will:

  • Review the privacy policies and the terms and conditions of each website where you have a presence.
  • State how you would like your profiles to be handled. You may want to completely cancel your profile or keep it up for friends and family to visit. Some sites allow users to create a memorial profile where other users can still see your profile but can’t post anything new.
  • Give the social media executor a document that lists all the websites where you have a profile, along with your usernames and passwords.
  • Stipulate in your will that the online executor should have a copy of your death certificate. The online executor may need this as proof in order for websites to take any actions on your behalf.

Thing is, a list of usernames and paswords might be less than helpful since we often change them. I suggest investing in a password manager, like 1Password. Then all you’ll need is one master password on that list.

Rocket Lawyer has a social media will that you can fill out online. It allows you to state how you’d like your online identity and other digital assets, such as email accounts and computer files, to be handled after your death.

It’s never too soon to get your virtual affairs in order.

About the Author:  Tim Baran is the Community Manager for Rocket Matter, the leading mobile online legal practice management and time and billing software.

Guest Post :: Document Management for the Mac-Using Lawyer with DocMoto

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Ben Stevens Posted in Guest Posts, How Do I ...?, Office Management, Software Leave a comment
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Note from The Mac Lawyer:  Among the questions that I am asked most often are: “What document management systems are available on the Mac?” and/or “My firm uses Worldox.  Is there anything similar for the Mac?”  While the Finder may be a suitable solution for some smaller law firms, many others want something more powerful.  I recently had an opportunity to meet face-to-face with the developers of an exciting new product, DocMoto, and view its features.  I was so impressed that I asked them to provide this Guest Post to make my readers aware of their product and its amazing capabilities.  I believe that this new document management system (developed exclusively for Macs) will be a tremendous asset to attorneys and law firms that want or need such powerful features.  – Ben Stevens

“Document management – everybody needs it to some extent, but the benefits to law firms of effective document management are considerable.”  First off, a big thank you to Ben Stevens for asking us to write this brief article on document management and our product DocMoto.

If ever there was a topic that meant all things to all people document management is it. But in the legal environment it can be boiled down to some key benefits:

  1. Client/Matter-Centric Storage :: All electronic material can be “tagged” by both the client and the matter, plus any other tags that will be helpful in retrieval. Once tagged, it’s easy to find all material for client X or matter Y.
  2. Consistency :: Rules can be imposed on the storage of material. This guarantees a consistent approach for everybody within the firm. With consistency comes a reduction in error and an improvement in the speed of retrieval.
  3. Centralisation :: Everything, including email, documents, and even images can be stored in the one central location. This makes searching faster and more thorough. It also ensures that all material is included in the search, avoiding any possible issues with eDiscovery.
  4. Full Text and Tag Searching :: Complex searches can be simply performed. Searches can include multiple criteria, such as a combination of tags and text. For example, find all references to Mrs. Z in matter Y.
  5. Document Access Control :: Security can be applied to the repository ensuring only the correct people have access to the appropriate material. Confidential matters remain that way.
  6. Client Access Via The Web :: Clients can be given secure access to the repository via the web. This improves client service levels, it also further ensures material is consistently stored.
  7. Version Control – Material is checked in and out of the repository, with a full revision history being kept of all files.
  8. Audit Trail :: All material has a full audit trail to see who accessed material and when.
  9. Simplified Backup :: As everything is in one place, backup is greatly simplified.

In the case of the sole practitioner it is accepted that most of this can be achieved with a manual system. But the moment there is more than one person involved, particularly if information is being entered by members of staff, the need for a document manager rises sharply. Of course there are numerous document management systems to choose from. The reason our product, DocMoto is featured here is because it is a truly Mac product.

DocMoto’s central repository is accessed through a software interface very similar to Finder. To coin Apple‘s line “you already know how to use it”. The repository can hold any file type, from documents and email through to images and even audio. The repository can be accessed by multiple people at once, is secure, and supports a powerful tagging and templating system. Simple storage rules can be applied ensuring material is correctly and consistently tagged. DocMoto supports very powerful text and tag searches and all files have a complete version history.

DocMoto can be downloaded and installed for a trial period, but since it is a business critical application we recommend treating it as a “mini project” and we are more than happy to provide the support necessary to achieve this. The product can be located in-house or in the cloud. Pricing plans range from a one off purchase to monthly payments.

You can learn more about this topic in general in Document Management Systems: Why Bother and How to Shop for One (Part 1 of 2) by John Heckman.

About the Author:  This Guest Post was written by Neil Cameron, director of UK based CHL Software.  CHL has been developing OS X based solutions for the past five years and document management systems since the company was founded in 1996. DocMoto, their flagship product is rapidly being adopted by attorneys worldwide.

Guest Post :: Whole Disk Encryption & OS X Lion

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Ben Stevens Posted in Guest Posts, How Do I ...?, Mac OS X, Security 5 Comments
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With all the discussion about encryption and security, I asked Mac consultant (and MILO member), Matthew Bookspan, to write the following Guest Post, which I hope my readers enjoy and find helpful:

Whole Disk Encryption & OS X Lion

First, this is an exciting feature of OS X Lion for business users. I have opined about this feature before in a previous post. However, let’s state the facts: whole disk encryption ensures business users that their data is more secure than in previous releases of the operating system.

Second, let’s get an understanding of what whole disk encryption means for everyone. Security always sounds great, although it has lots of uncertainty. We’ll use the definition from Wikipedia:

Disk encryption uses disk encryption software or hardware to encrypt every bit of data that goes on a disk or disk volume. Disk encryption prevents unauthorized access to data storage. The term “full disk encryption” (or whole disk encryption) is often used to signify that everything on a disk is encrypted, including the programs that can encrypt bootable operating system partitions.

Setting up whole disk encryption (FileVault 2) in OS X Lion

Originally, we had planned to write a “how-to.” However, Apple has done a better job in articulating the setup steps in this knowledge base article. Further, in the Ars Technica review of OS X Lion, there is another great example of how to enable this feature.

Instead, we are going to focus on how you will use whole disk encryption in your daily tasks.

Before we articulate the usage, there is a key missing item from Apple’s article: time to setup. Yes, it takes time (a lot of it) to enable this feature within OS X Lion.

Let’s articulate the time in detail:

  • Initial setup (not migrating from FileVault v1): about 10-15mins
  • Encryption time: on a brand-new install of OS X Lion, with no additional applications installed, it took just over two hours to enable whole disk encryption on a three year old iMac. This time could decrease or increase based upon your system.

Using FileVault 2: Performance impacts

Once you have Filevault 2 enabled, you will not notice any performance changes. Whether it is real or a matter of perception, your files feel like they open just as fast. Your apps launch without any additional delay. Your backups via Time Machine work the same, etc.

Upon system boot, you will be prompted to login, as you must authenticate with your username and password, even if you previously did not enable this authentication.

Using FileVault 2: Security Benefits

By enabling whole disk encryption, you are adding a new level of security to your Mac. All of your data is now secured using XTS-AES 128 encryption. To translate from technical gobbledygook – this is pretty darn secure.

Utilizing whole disk encryption via FileVault 2 will ensure that if your computer is lost or stolen, your data will not be retrievable. For those with sensitive client data (or business data), utilizing this feature is fundamental to your business security.

Summary

We didn’t spend any time talking about migrating from FileVault v1 to v2 because that is handled in Apple’s Support article mentioned above. Nevertheless, the significant security and performance improvements provided with this whole disk encryption feature is essentially a complete win-win for business users.

If there are any gotchas – there are two:

  1. DO NOT LOSE YOUR SECURITY KEY.
  2. DO NOT FORGET YOUR PASSWORD.

Sorry for the yelling, although we wanted to make sure that you received the message loud and clear. 🙂

Of course, if you want to learn more about FileVault 2/whole disk encryption and security, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us here at Blacktip.

About the Author:  Matthew Bookspan is the Chief Shark at Blacktip IT Services, an Apple Consulting firm based in Orlando, FL. He’s written this post to to help us learn more about OS X Lion Security and has not recieved compensation for it.

(Note:  This article was updated on July 27, 2011, after it’s original publication on July 25, 2011.)

Tips to Help Master Your iPhone

Posted on May 5, 2011 by Ben Stevens Posted in How Do I ...?, iPhone Leave a comment
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If the suggestions earlier this week were helpful, the following list of tips will help you truly become the "master of your domain":   

  • DOUBLE-TAP Even while your iPhone is locked, you can access the audio controls by double-tapping on the home button when the lock screen appears. This saves you the time it takes to unlock your phone, open a music-playing app like iPod and get to the volume and track controls. This feature is not limited to Apple’s iPod app. If you are using Pandora, for example, the same technique will bring up its controls.
  • VOICE ACCESS If you press and hold the home button while the phone is locked, you can still access Voice Control to place a phone call (or FaceTime call) or get to any of the iPhone’s other voice commands.
  • TELL TIME Voice control can dial phone numbers (“dial 212-555-1212”) or people (“Dial Mom, mobile”), and it can control music (“Play music,” “Play artist Earth, Wind & Fire,” Play album “That’s the Way of the World,” “Play more songs like this,” “Shuffle,” etc).  But did you know that it can also tell you what time it is? Say “What time is it?” and your phone will say the time back to you. It may sound silly, but it comes in handy if you are rushing and do not have the time or inclination to pull out your phone. (And who wears watches anymore?)
  • SHORTCUT TO SEARCH Swiping to the right from your first home screen pulls up the search window, where you can pull up any contacts, apps, e-mails, calendar appointments and media that have the word you are seeking.  But the search screen is also a shortcut to Google and Wikipedia. The last two search results for any entry are always “Search the Web” and “Search Wikipedia,” saving you the time it takes to open browsers or apps.
  • FORCE-QUIT APPS Double-tapping the home button while your phone is unlocked reveals a panel of most recently used apps. Swiping to the left moves through the apps in reverse chronological order to aid in quick app switching. This is advanced-beginner stuff.  But serious iPhone ninjas know that pressing and holding an app icon in this panel will cause minus signs to appear beside each app. Touching an app in this state forces it to shut down, a useful move if you have an app that is running in the background and causing trouble.
  • MUSIC SHORTCUTS Swipe that same previously used app screen to the right and you get another shortcut to music-playing controls. If you have the latest operating system, iOS 4.3, you will also see a button that will call up controls for AirPlay, Apple’s wireless audio feature.  It is here that you also gain access to the screen rotation lock button, so you can turn on or off the iPhone’s ability to switch from portrait to landscape mode. Swipe once more to the right from this screen and the iPhone’s volume control appears.
  • VOLUME LOCK If you want to limit the iPhone’s volume (because it is being used by your children, for example), you can go into Settings, then iPod. Under “Volume Limit” you can adjust the maximum volume and set a code to lock the setting. This code can be different from the lock code for the entire phone, if you have set one of those.
  • SAVE WEB IMAGES When you’re looking at Web pages in Safari, tapping and holding any image will call up buttons that can save the image to your camera roll or copy it to the clipboard.

 

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Secrets & Tips to Get the Most from Your iPhone

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Ben Stevens Posted in How Do I ...?, iPhone Leave a comment
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If you want to get the most out of your iPhone (and iPad), consider the following tips and tricks:

  • If you’re scrolling through a long web page or list, tap the bar on the top of your screen to go immediately to the top.
  • To lock your screen orientation, double tap the home key, then swipe over to the left. Tap the looped arrow to lock. You can also control your iPod from here.
  • Double tap the home button while the screen is locked to bring up your iPod controls.
  • When using the iPhone ear buds, double tap the middle of the controller to skip to the next song. Triple tap to listen to the previous song. (Single tap plays and stops music.)
  • The Mail app automatically detects times and dates and converts them to a link. Tap the link to add the event to your calendar.
  • If you want your iPhone to automatically remember an extension, edit the contact info and tap the "+ * #" you’ll see an option to add a pause. Tap that, then the extension.
  • Swipe your finger across an e-mail in your inbox to delete it. If you’re using a Gmail account, you can set this to delete or archive the message in settings.
  • Close programs running in the background by double tapping the home key. Hold your finger down on the app you’d like to close until it starts wiggling. Then tap the red minus icon to close.
  • Edit your phone’s dictionary: Go to Settings, General, Keyboard, International Keyboard, Add New Keyboard, and select Japanese Ten Key. Now go back and select "Edit User Dictionary" from the main Keyboard screen. Tap the "+" in the top right-hand corner, then tap "Word". You can now add any word you want your iPhone to recognize.

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