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Category Archives: iOS

The Ultimate Guide to Solving iOS Battery Drain

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Ben Stevens Posted in How Do I ...?, iOS, Technology 3 Comments
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Kwikboost-Infographic-GuideToiOSBatteryLife

Source: “The Ultimate Guide To Solving IOS Battery Drain” published at kwikboost.com

Key Takeaways for Lawyers from Apple’s WWDC Keynote 2015

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Ben Stevens Posted in Did You Know?, iOS, Mac OS X, Siri, Software, Technology Leave a comment
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wwdc 2015At Apple’s keynote presentation kicking off its World Wide Developer Conference last week, it unveiled some major improvements to its Watch OS, iOS and Mac OS platforms. Many of these changes are great legal technology that will benefit law practices. Here are a few key takeaways from Apple’s WWDC keynote 2015 address that attorneys have to look forward to:

OS X 10.11: El Capitan

The most beneficial feature of El Capitan, the new OS X for Mac computers, is that it will give people the ability to multi-task by splitting their screen. This will allow attorneys and other professionals to do two things at once, such as scan a new case and perform research at the same time.

iOS 9

Apple has added intelligence to its operating system with iOS 9 by giving it context sensitive features. For instance, if someone asks Siri, “remind me I have this” it will know that they’re talking about the meeting currently pulled up on their screen. Additionally, if an unknown number calls them, they may ask Siri to search their email for any matches.

Apple Watch 

Attorneys can now make the Apple Watch work for them in Watch OS 2 with the ability to make Face Time audio calls and respond to emails.

News

Attorneys can easily remain updated on law-related news stories with an app for the Mac called News. It will allow them to personalize their news stream and to automatically update whenever they open it. The app also includes graphics that will allow it to adapt to the news source’s aesthetics.

The Mac Lawyer Presenting at ABA TECHSHOW in Chicago, IL

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Ben Stevens Posted in iOS, Mac OS X, Mac vs. PC, Online Resources, Presentations, Switching to Macs, Technology Leave a comment
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techshowBen Stevens (a/k/a The Mac Lawyer) will be presenting on several topics at the annual ABA TECHSHOW in Chicago, IL April 16 – 19, 2015. This marks the eighth consecutive year that Ben has been asked to speak at “the world’s largest legal technology conference.”

Ben’s presentations this year will cover the following topics:

  • VOIP is Ready for Prime Time (with Nerino Petro)
  • Moving to Mac – Putting Your PC in the Rearview Mirror (with Tom Lambotte)
  • Family Road Trip to Yosemite and iOS 8 (with Katie Floyd)

Because our firm understands the importance of technology, particularly for South Carolina family law attorneys, so our firm’s other attorneys, Jenny Stevens and Jonathan Lounsberry, will also be attending this conference. If you are in Chicago or at TECHSHOW, please stop us and say hello.

How to Easily Set Up iPhone 6

Posted on December 30, 2014 by Ben Stevens Posted in How Do I ...?, iOS, iPhone, Security 1 Comment
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iPhone 6Both The Mac Lawyer and Mrs. Mac Lawyer got new iPhones within the last few weeks. If you have gotten a new one too, you should consider the following steps from Macworld.com to easily set up iPhone 6:

  1. Back up your old phone. Plug your old iPhone into your computer; go to iTunes; select your iPhone; under Backups, choose This Computer; and click “back up now”. Pro Tip: If you select “encrypt local backup”, your account passwords are stored so that you won’t have to enter them all again – and you also get maximum privacy protection too. 
  2. Restore from backup. Plug your new iPhone into your computer, navigate to iTunes, and then restore form the backup you just created. 
  3. Finish the setup. Enter your iCloud account password, enter a second security code if you’re using two-factor authentication (and you should be), agree to the iCloud terms and conditions, and designate how people can reach you over iMessage and Face Time. 
  4. Set up your Touch ID. Simply follow the instructions on your iPhone, which will involve you repeatedly touching the home button’s fingerprint sensor with your thumb so that it can learn your fingerprint. You will probably want to add your other thumb at Settings > Passcode for added ease of use. 
  5. Pick a size with Display Zoom. You can choose between standard view and zoomed view. The latter simply enlarges everything, which I can tell you is much easier on older eyes.
  6. Peruse the settings. Check out the new options and the ones that were brought over from your old iPhone.
  7. Update your apps. Go to the App Store app and update all of your apps. You can easily have all your apps auto-update by going to Settings > iTunes & App Stores > Automatic Downloads. 
  8. Install some widgets. Simply pull down from the top of your screen to show your Notification Center, scroll to the bottom, tap Edit, and then choose which apps’ widgets you want to include. You can select from upcoming appointments, package-tracking, Kindle status, and many others.
  9. Open the Tips app. This new app provides helpful tips about using your new iPhone, delivered in handy, bite-sized chunks.
  10. Set up Apple Pay. Load your credit or debit card and speed up your checkouts. Remember, this does not expose your real credit card info to the stores, so you don’t have to worry about getting a new card if/when that store gets hacked.

The above steps are just an overview, and you can read Macworld’s fully comprehensive setup guide to get step-by-step assistance.

Source: “Got an iPhone 6? Do These 10 Things First” by Susie Ochs, published at Macworld.com

Free iOS Security Webinar

Posted on November 14, 2014 by Ben Stevens Posted in iOS, iPad, iPhone, Security 1 Comment
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ios securityMore lawyers are managing their practice and accessing client data on the go on their iOS devices. Unfortunately, very few small law firms have the proper measures in place to protect their confidential client data. If needed, could you convince a Board of Ethics that you had done your due diligence to protect your client’s data?

There’s a lot more to mobile security than enabling the password on your iPhone or iPad. Strong iOS security starts with becoming familiar with the most common threats to compromising firm data on your iPhone or iPad. While many assume they are not at risk since they are not a ‘big’ law firm, the opposite is true.

Join legal technology expert Tom Lambotte (CEO of GlobalMac IT and author of “Hassle Free Mac IT Support for Law Firms”) on Thursday, November 20, 2014, from 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Eastern) for “Securing Your iPhone and iPad: Don’t Put Your Client’s Data at Risk”. In this free webinar sponsored by Rocket Matter, Tom will discuss real world scenarios that put your client’s data at risk, as well as actionable steps you can take to secure your mobile device and keep your client’s data and other information safe.

Click here to learn more or register for this free webinar. Trust me, it will be well worth your time.

Rocket Matter Releases iPad Edition

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Ben Stevens Posted in Apps, iOS, iPad, Office Management, Product Reviews, Software Leave a comment
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Rocket MatterRocket Matter created the first cloud practice management software for the legal community in 2008, and since then it has become the premier total law firm management software in the cloud. My law firm has used Rocket Matter since the day it launched, and we couldn’t be happier with it.

However, the folks at Rocket Matter are not ones to rest on their laurels, as evidenced by the numerous new features and refinements rolled out in recent years. Now, they have released their new iPad edition, and they are once again leading the way with the first and only tablet platform for today’s busy, mobile lawyers.

portriat-1This release (shown at right) heralds a new era of legal practice management software with a dedicated tablet platform that’s fast, easy-to-use, and accessible both online and offline. Lawyers can now enjoy legal iPad software that delivers incredible productivity gains and at the same time has the beauty and the simple elegance of the iPad itself.

Larry Port, Rocket Matter’s CEO, says

We’re excited to announce today our evolved platform and sleek new look. The Rocket Matter iPad Edition is not just a mere ‘app’ – it’s an entire tablet-based solution that ties into Rocket Matter’s cloud data storage. We’ve carefully watched how lawyers, law firms, and bar associations have all eagerly embraced the practical advantages that tablets can provide. We took these observations, combined them with direct suggestions from our lawyer partners, and did what we do best: built software that is simply unmatched in legal practice management.

You can learn much more about Rocket Matter’s iPad edition and see a video of it in action here. Lawyers with Rocket Matter subscriptions will be able to download the iPad Edition from the Apple iTunes store starting today.

7 Tips to Help Keep Your iPad Secure

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Ben Stevens Posted in How Do I ...?, iOS, iPad, Security Leave a comment
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ipad securityiPad use continues to increase in the legal field, and millions of attorneys use them to work on their clients’ cases every day. In light of our ethical obligation to safeguard and protect our clients’ information, we should take all reasonable steps to ensure that the information on our iPads is secure and out of the reach of thieves and hackers. The following tips and suggestions can help you keep your iPad secure:

1. Don’t leave it lying around. iPads are easy targets for thieves, so don’t let yours out of your sight when in a public place. Also, don’t leave it in plain view in your car or you might end of up with a broken window too.

2. Use a passcode. Although it’s not 100% hacker-proof, it will block unauthorized users from accessing your information.

3. Consider enabling automatic data erasing. You can configure your iPad to erase your data after 10 failed pass-code attempts. However, this may not be a good solution for anyone who constantly forgets a password or for those who have kids trying to log in repeatedly.

4. Encrypt your hard drive. On your iPad, simply enabling the password will turn on encryption. All iOS devices also come with a second layer of encryption (called data protection) that protects your e-mails and attachments. This protection can’t be broken, even if the passcode is stripped.

5. Enable iCloud Find My Phone. This is a valuable tool to use if your iPad is misplaced. With it, you can log in and find your iPad and/or remotely wipe it if you have sensitive data on it.

6. Install software updates. As with all software, make sure you have the latest iOS security updates installed to protect against hackers and viruses.

7. Only connect to trusted WiR networks. Public WiFis are open territory for hackers and identity thieves. Whenever you connect, make sure it’s a legitimate, secure connection.

This article was excerpted from the Technology Tips newsletter published by Tom Lambotte, President of GlobalMacIT, an Apple-centric IT firm in Northeast Ohio that specializes in business solutions for law firms, small businesses. Their monthly newsletters are an excellent resource for Mac users, and you can access their archive of past newsletters here.

Visual Notes: iGadgets and iGear for the iLawyer

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Ben Stevens Posted in iOS, iPad, iPhone, Presentations Leave a comment
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If you weren’t able to make it to Chicago last week for ABA TECHSHOW, you can get some idea of what Jeff Richardson and I discussed during our “iGadgets and iGear for the iLawyer” session via the visual notes graphic that was created by Stephanie Crowley of The Chrysalis Solution (courtesy of the folks at MyCase):

iGadgetsForTheLawyer

3 Reasons Siri Is the Best On-The-Go Assistant

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Jenny Stevens Posted in Did You Know?, iOS, iPad, iPhone, Siri Leave a comment
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SiriAdmit it, we all love Siri. Whether or not we’re using her to her fullest potential, we love having her on stand-by for a good laugh (just tell Siri “I love you” or “Why did the chicken cross the road?”) or for a confidence boost (tell Siri “thank you” and wait for her response), at the very least.

One of my favorite ways to use Siri, by far, is as my on-the-go assistant when I’m stuck in the car alone driving long distances. Putting Siri to work while I need both hands on the wheel is Productivity 101. Here are three ways she helps me stay ahead of the game:

  • Voicemail – In this day and age, I don’t get nearly the amount of voicemail I used to. The shear dominance of email and texting has rendered the standard voice message somewhat obsolete – at least in my life. However, despite the fact that I don’t get much of it, I typically like to return these calls when I’m driving between other appointments during my day. Siri makes that so simple. Ask Siri, “Do I have new voicemail?” or “Play my last voicemail.”  When finished playing the message, she will ask “Would you like to call back or play the message again?” Simply tell her to call  back and check one more thing off that “to do” list.
  • Scheduling – This is certainly one of Siri’s finer abilities – keeping up with a constantly changing schedule. Half the time, I have no idea what’s on my plate for the day, so on the way into work, I just ask: “Siri, what does my day look like today?” She gives me a run down of my scheduled appointments already on my calendar. When I’m notified of a meeting I can simply tell Siri: “Set up appointment with Dr. Smith at 10:00 AM on Friday.” or “Schedule a meeting about our taxes at 4:00 PM today.” And, presto, Siri adds those items to my calendar.  Maybe the best thing, especially for this mom of 6 kids with very fluid schedules, is that Siri can expertly handle any change that may come up with only minimal direction from you. Doctor appointment cancelled? Say, “Cancel my 10:00 AM appointment on Friday.” Done. Lacrosse practice moved from Monday to Tuesday? Simply say, “Move Lacrosse practice from Monday to Tuesday.” Done. If any of the new appointments conflict with your calendar, Siri is also smart enough to catch those too and will alert you, confirming no other changes are necessary.
  • Finding Food – Anyone who knows us, knows my husband (@TheMacLawyer) and I are foodies. But not only are we foodies, we also love to travel, so when we’re in a new city (or even just a big city with lots of variety), we don’t always know the best places to go. Siri to the rescue! Tell her “Make me dinner reservations for two tonight at 8:00 PM.” That’s it. Siri will scour the nearby locations for restaurants that have that availability and serve up a list of possible options organized by their ratings on Yelp. Simply scroll through to find one to your liking and you’re set.

Tips to Make Your iPhone Run Faster

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Ben Stevens Posted in Apps, iOS, iPhone Leave a comment
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iphone speedRegardless of what iOS you use, you should consider the following tips to make your iPhone run faster:

  • Get rid of things you don’t need. Look to see what you’re using (Settings > General > Usage) and consider removing clutter that you don’t use.
  • Clear your browser’s cache. Improve performance by clearing your iPhone’s browser’s history, cookies and other data (Settings > Safari (or other browser) > Clear History > Clear Cookies and Data.
  • Delete old text messages. Heavy SMS users can free up some space by deleting old conversations that are no longer needed. Open a chat, tap and hold on a sent message until “More…” appears, choose the messages you want to delete or tap “Delete all.”
  • Turn off auto app updates. If speed and performance are your top priorities, this might be a good idea. Go to Settings > iTunes & App Store > Push all of the buttons to the left to turn off automatic downloads.
  • Turn off location services. This tip will improve speed, increase battery life, and provide privacy. Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > turn off for apps that don’t need to know where you are.
Source: “5 Awesome Tricks That Will Make Your iPhone Run Much Smoother” by Zach Epstein, published at Yahoo! News.

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