Using the iPad in legal practice

Contents Contents ............................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 5 1. Setting up ........................................................................................................................ 5

1.1 WiFi + cellular, or just WiFi? .......................................................................................... 5 1.2 Which mobile network? ................................................................................................ 5 1.3 Storage capacity ........................................................................................................... 6 1.4 Online storage .............................................................................................................. 6

Benefits .......................................................................................................................... 6 Concerns? ...................................................................................................................... 7 DropBox ......................................................................................................................... 7 Box ................................................................................................................................. 7 SugarSync ....................................................................................................................... 8 iCloud............................................................................................................................. 8 SpiderOak ....................................................................................................................... 8 OneDrive ........................................................................................................................ 8 Wuala ............................................................................................................................. 8

1.5 Adobe Acrobat ............................................................................................................. 9 1.6 Scanners ....................................................................................................................... 9 1.7 File structure and naming convention.......................................................................... 10 1.8 Fax service .................................................................................................................. 11

2. Applications for the iPad .............................................................................................. 11 2.1 File viewers, viewers and annotators ........................................................................... 11

GoodReader ................................................................................................................. 11 iAnnotate PDF ............................................................................................................... 15 Documents ................................................................................................................... 16 PDF Expert 5 ................................................................................................................. 16 Adobe Reader ............................................................................................................... 16 .................................................................................................................................... 16

2.2 Microsoft Office ......................................................................................................... 16 Word for iPad ............................................................................................................... 16 .................................................................................................................................... 16 Excel ............................................................................................................................. 19 PowerPoint ................................................................................................................... 19 .................................................................................................................................... 19

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QuickEdit ...................................................................................................................... 19 Documents To Go Premium .......................................................................................... 19 Pages ............................................................................................................................ 19 Keynote ........................................................................................................................ 20

2.3 Note taking ................................................................................................................ 21 NoteTaker HD ............................................................................................................... 21 Noteshelf ...................................................................................................................... 23 Notes Plus ..................................................................................................................... 24 7notesHD Premium ....................................................................................................... 24 WritePad ....................................................................................................................... 24 AudioNote .................................................................................................................... 24 Livescribe+ .................................................................................................................... 25 Evernote ....................................................................................................................... 25 Dragon Dictate ............................................................................................................. 25

2.4 Legal research & reference .......................................................................................... 25 AustLII .......................................................................................................................... 25 Australian Legal Dictionary ............................................................................................ 26 The Daily List ................................................................................................................. 26 ProView ........................................................................................................................ 26 BlueFire Reader ............................................................................................................. 26

2.5 News .......................................................................................................................... 26 PressReader .................................................................................................................. 27

2.6 Presentations .............................................................................................................. 27 AirPlay .......................................................................................................................... 27 Prezi ............................................................................................................................. 27 Haiku Deck ................................................................................................................... 27 .................................................................................................................................... 27 Reflector ....................................................................................................................... 28 AirServer ....................................................................................................................... 28 AirDisplay ..................................................................................................................... 28

2.7 Video ......................................................................................................................... 28 Video ............................................................................................................................ 28 AVPlayerHD .................................................................................................................. 28 VLC .............................................................................................................................. 29

2.8 Off-line and RSS readers ............................................................................................. 29 Pocket .......................................................................................................................... 29 Readability .................................................................................................................... 29 Instapaper ..................................................................................................................... 29

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Mr Reader ..................................................................................................................... 30 Feedly ........................................................................................................................... 30 .................................................................................................................................... 30

2.9 VNC & VPN ................................................................................................................ 30 TeamViewer .................................................................................................................. 30 iTeleport ....................................................................................................................... 30

2.10 Password managers .................................................................................................. 31 1Password .................................................................................................................... 31 LastPass ........................................................................................................................ 31

3. Getting information on & off the iPad ........................................................................ 31 3.1 iTunes ........................................................................................................................ 31 3.2 Third-party programs .................................................................................................. 32

DiskAid ......................................................................................................................... 33 PhoneView ................................................................................................................... 33

3.3 Cloud storage ............................................................................................................. 33 3.4 Printing ...................................................................................................................... 33

AirPrint ......................................................................................................................... 33 FingerPrint .................................................................................................................... 34 Printopia ....................................................................................................................... 34 Print n Share Pro ........................................................................................................... 34

3.5 Video conversion ........................................................................................................ 34 DVD Fab ....................................................................................................................... 34 Handbrake .................................................................................................................... 35

4. Accessories ..................................................................................................................... 35 4.1 Cases & covers ........................................................................................................... 35 4.2 Stylus ......................................................................................................................... 35 4.3 Keyboards .................................................................................................................. 36 4.4 Miscellaneous ............................................................................................................. 36

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Introduction The iPad is a great tool for lawyers. It lets us connect to our colleagues, the courts, clients, and the world. It lets us carry large amounts of documents. It lets us reduce the paper we need to carry, and to do more work remotely and in the courtroom.

There is no one “right way” to use the iPad. This is outline is based largely on my setup, and suits my workflow. You might choose a different setup because of your practice, or to fit in with network requirements at your work.

Even if you use it for nothing other than to carry a suitcase’s equivalent of documents, it will change your practice.

This handout is best used electronically. Tapping on app-icons and blue hyperlinks will take you the relevant webpage, to save you needing to search for it.

Kyle McDonald Patterson’s List

Victorian Bar

1. Setting up

1.1 WiFi + cellular, or just WiFi?

The iPad comes with a WiFi connection to wirelessly access the internet. WiFi uses a receiver that connects to any wireless access point (WAP) broadcasting an internet connection. Most WAPs have a range of around 20 metres indoors, and 60 metres outdoors

Celluar refers to a mobile phone network with the ability to provide high-speed data over the mobile phone network. Using cellular, the iPad can connect to the internet anywhere there is a mobile phone signal. To do this, you need a SIM card from a mobile network and a data plan.

1.2 Which mobile network?

There are three mobile phone networks to choose from: Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone. Other providers re-sell access to these three.

I’ve tried Vodafone, 3 and Telstra. Now that Telstra’s prices are more competitive, I use a Telstra 3GB-per-month pre-paid service, and find that’s heaps of data for me. (1GB would be a bit tight, and I just want to use my iPad without worrying about how much data is left.) If I

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kept mainly to the city or big population areas, I’d probably use Vodafone, but it is only good if you stay in the capital cities, and in my experience, its network is a bit patchy in areas. Optus has good prices, but I don’t know if it still suffers network congestion because it’s so popular. YMMV. (Your mileage may vary.) Also, consider pre-paid data plans. For example, a 4GB plan with Telstra costs $35 per month on contract, but $30 per month for 3GB on pre-paid. Use 1 GB excess data on that contract plan, and you’ll pay $100 for it. But on prepaid, buy 1 GB more for $20.

1.3 Storage capacity

The iPad uses solid-state storage — also called a flash drive — instead of a spinning magnetic hard-disk drive. It comes in four sizes: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128 GB.

Just like you can’t be too rich and too good looking, when it comes to computer devices you can’t have too much storage and too much speed. I have the 64GB model, so I never have to worry about how much space is available for my documents.

1.4 Online storage

I can access my documents on my iPad when I’m away from the computer using online or

‘cloud’ storage.

‘Cloud’ is a metaphor for the internet, as data is loaded ‘up’ to and ‘down’ from the ‘cloud’.

All my documents are stored on my computer, and synchronised with a cloud-service. I have more than 64GB of data on my computer, so I only load onto the iPad those documents I anticipate needing. But if I need something else, I use my iPad’s data connection to access my documents stored in the cloud. I can even download them onto my iPad.

Benefits

Two good reasons to use cloud storage are:

• Files are synchronised across linked devices. I change a document on my laptop at home, and the changes are replicated on my desktop computer in chambers, and vice versa. And I can access different change versions.

• Files are securely backed up. In case of fire, flood or theft, all my files are still backed up and accessible in the cloud. Remember Hurricane Katrina? Apparently many New

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Orleans lawyers lost all their files, and even now struggle with cases more than 5 years old. What will you do if your only copy of your paper file is lost, destroyed or stolen?

Concerns?

Security might be a concern. Most cloud company’s servers are based in the USA, and potentially subject to its laws about access to otherwise confidential information.

Some of the USA State Bars recently noted the potential for breach of client privilege or the ethical obligation of confidentiality, but cautiously approved lawyers using cloud computing. See:

• New York State Bar Association ethical opinion 842 • California State Bar formal opinion 2010-179 • Alabama State Bar ethics opinion 2010-02

There are many services, but I’ll mention the main ones I’m familiar with.

DropBox Free

DropBox is almost indispensable. You need it. You want it. Just get it. Get a free 2GB account; try it for yourself.

It set the standard for cloud-synchronisation, and is so popular that many other iPad apps integrate with a DropBox account.

It backs-up and synchronises everything inside a folder named ‘DropBox’. I put all my folders in there, rather than under ‘My Documents’. I have two accounts: a 100GB personal account, and a 50GB work account. DropBox uses 128-bit encryption (as used by the banks for online banking), so it’s pretty secure.

DropBox allows me to set up share folders. I grant access to specified people to that share folder, and we can all see and access the files. No email size limits, and no problems with version control of our documents!

DropBox also has public share folders (any documents in that are available to the world) and now has a groups version intended for corporate users.

In my view, the DropBox app is a pretty ordinary way to access any of your files stored in your dropbox. It only lets you view them, or open them in another app. DropBox’s real benefit lies in its integration with other apps, such as GoodReader.

Box Free

Similar to DropBox, but with a heavier emphasis on sharing documents amongst groups. A free Box account gives you 5 GB of online storage. I also have a BoxNet account.

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SugarSync Free

Similar to DropBox, but allows you to select any folder on your computer to backup. It doesn’t link quite as easily to some of the iPad applications I’ll discuss in later posts, which is probably the only reason why I prefer DropBox over this great service. Yup, I have a SugarSync account too.

iCloud Free

iCloud does much the same as MobileMe before it. It only synchronises documents if an app supports it. At the moment, that is largely confined to Apple’s own products: Keynote, Pages and numbers.

SpiderOak Free

Another sync service similar to DropBox. This one is much more secure. It encrypts your files as it uploads them to the Cloud. You keep the only ‘key’, or password, on your devices, guaranteeing that no one else can access your files in the Cloud. But neither can you if you lose your key!

OneDrive Free

OneDrive is a sync app made by Microsoft. It offers 7 GB of online storage. Right now it’s the only cloud storage that directly integrates with Microsoft Office on the iPad.

Wuala Free

Wuala is another sync service with an emphasis on security. A free account offers 5GB of storage

Of these, the first three are the easiest to use on the iPad because they integrate with other apps.

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1.5 Adobe Acrobat

Aside from using iTunes to activate the iPad when you first get it, you don‘t need other software on your computer to use the iPad.

But if you want to get the most use with your documents on it, having Adobe Acrobat helps. A lot. There are cheaper programs that do some of what Acrobat does, but not everything. If you want to do everything that Microsoft Office can do, you have to spend the cash buying MS Office. So too if you want to do everything Acrobat can do, you need to buy Acrobat. Oh, and I don’t mean Acrobat Reader: I’m talking about the full version of Adobe Acrobat Professional.

With Acrobat I can convert Word documents and webpages to PDF; combine files; add bookmarks, sticky notes and highlights to documents; insert annotations; perform OCR (optical character recognition) documents scanned as images, and virtual faxes, and turn them into searchable documents; and add security restrictions to documents.

If you want to know more about using Acrobat in legal practice, check out:

• PDF for lawyers • Acrobat for legal professionals

1.6 Scanners

I have two scanners to turn all the paper I get into electronic documents. That way I can store my briefs in the Cloud, and only carry on my iPad those that I need. If for some reason I need access to a brief not on my iPad, I get it instantly through DropBox.

The Fujitsu ScanSnaps are highly recommended.

I have two.

The iX500 desktop is a sheet-feed scanner that scans both sides of a document in one pass. It holds up to 50 sheets.

The S1300i portable scanner unfolds to take up to 10 A4 sheets at a time, and also scans both sides of a document in a single pass. It can run off USB or AC power. I do take it to court

occasionally. Once, when briefed at court, I used it to scan parts of the only copy of a police brief (with permission) at a courthouse with no copying facilities. Once it was converted to PDF I put the brief together electronically with Acrobat on my laptop, bookmarked it, and transferred it to my iPad! Instant disclosure!

There’s an ultra-portable version, the S1100, but it’s slow enough to be only useful for a few pages, and has no sheet feeder.

If you shop around, you can buy both scanners from online retailers cheaper than the RRP.

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And if you have a scanner, with software like Paperless or Neat Receipts you can digitise all your receipts and get rid of that shoebox!

If you do use a scanner, buy a stamp that reads “scanned”. Scan paper as it comes in, and if you need to keep it rather than return it or shred it (ideal), stamp it as scanned so the next time you see it you know it’s done.

1.7 File structure and naming convention

It’s important your file structure and naming convention helps you locate files quickly and easily. If you use a commercial document management system, then that system will name and file your files for you.

Otherwise, it’s up to you how to name and arrange your files.

Two common conventions for naming files are:

• Starting with a date e.g. [document date] [description] • Starting with the type of document e.g. [Document Type][Receiving

Party][Subject][Original Document Date] or some similar format

I use the first naming style, using the appearance date I’m briefed for e.g. yyyy_mm_dd FAMILYNAME Given name — [brief type].pdf.

Here’s a screenshot of my DropBox, showing my folder structure, and some of my briefs.

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These file names automatically sort in date order. If I do forget where a file is, I can search for it by file name or — because the files are OCR’d — by a word or phrase in the file.

Getting the structure right and choosing a naming system that works for you is important. I spent more time deciding on this than any other aspect of setting up my computer and iPad. A few resources you might find helpful are:

• How to organize paperless client files — Lawyerist • Sign up to DocumentSnap for a download document on paperless document

management • Digital Workflow CLE • The Document Naming System in Our Paperless Office — ABA Law Practice Today • Are there any recognized “best” practices for file naming conventions? —

Compujurist

1.8 Fax service

Last, not strictly something just for the iPad but useful nonetheless, a virtual fax service allows me to send and receive faxes by email as PDFs. No fax machine or paper required. Great for getting faxes at court without the fees some of them charge!

I use Ozefax, but only because I get so few faxes. Consider Fax2Mail, which is better value if you send and receive a lot of faxes.

2. Applications for the iPad

2.1 File viewers, viewers and annotators

I mentioned above how great the iPad is for carrying around many documents. The iPad doesn't access it storage memory the way a computer does: there's no file manager or explorer program.

We need an app (application) to store and view our files. These are the big guns for legal work. (Apart from SugarSync’s own app, none of them link directly with the SugarSync cloud service I mentioned here.)

GoodReader $6.49

GoodReader is my file viewer of choice.

The screen shot below shows its default opening page. I added the folders you see at the top left. You can transfer files into it through iTunes by USB cable; via DropBox over the internet; or using a third-party file transfer program.

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Can you see the Word document in the file list? GoodReader can view Word, txt, html, pictures, video and PDF.

GoodReader allows me to connect to a variety of cloud storage services, including multiple DropBox accounts. It's very fast — faster than using the DropBox app.

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I can annotate files on the iPad, and save to the original file or create a copy, and sync the latest version to the Cloud. GoodReader can view annotations created using Adobe Acrobat.

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iAnnotate PDF

$12.99

If you only want to work with and mark up PDFs all the time, this app is probably the pick of the bunch. It uses customisable toolbars on the sides of the screen to provide quick access to editing tools. It can access many of the same cloud services as GoodReader or ReaddleDocs. This is what it looks like, with a few example annotations on the document.

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Documents Free

Documents views a wide range of files and stores them on the iPad. Similar to GoodReader, this can access an even larger number of cloud services. Integrates closely with other apps produced by the same company, Readdle: PDF Expert; Scanner Pro, Printer Pro; and PDF Converter.

A good file manager for the iPad.

PDF Expert 5 $12.99

Made by Readdle, this works easily with Documents, and allow for PDF form completion. It’s other claim to fame is it allows for easy signature addition to PDFs on the iPad.

Adobe Reader

Free

Given Adobe invented the PDF (portable document format), you’d expect this to be good, and it is. It too allows you to complete PDF forms, and has an excellent ability to allow signatures on PDFs.

2.2 Microsoft Office

Word for iPad Free for viewing; requires Office 365 subscription to edit and save docs

After years of rumours, on 27 March 2014 Microsoft finally released its suite of Microsoft Office for iPad. And, the apps are very good.

Word for iPad allows for many of the functions lawyers need such as paragraph numbering, track-changes and footnotes. You can’t modify styles in it; it will only render system fonts; and in a glaring omission that is sure to be fixed in later releases, you can’t print from it.

As a reference, here’s a screenshot of submissions authored in Microsoft Word. The first is the document in Word on a Mac; the second is on the iPad.

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Figure 1 — submissions on computer

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Figure 2 — same submissions in Word for iPad

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Excel Free for viewing; requires Office 365 subscription to edit and save docs

PowerPoint Free for viewing; requires Office 365 subscription to edit and save docs

QuickEdit Free

A good Office alternative, offering simple editing for Word, Excel and Powerpoint with track-changes.

Documents To Go Premium

$21.99

A strong competitor to Microsoft’s suite, this all-in-one works on iPad and iPhone, allows editing of Word, Powerpoint, and Excel files, and integrates with multiple cloud services.

Pages $12.99

This is Apple’s iPad version of its word processor. It is compatible with MS Word documents, but doesn’t always handle formatting as you might expect. It has excellent integration with iCloud, but no direct integration with other cloud services.

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Keynote $12.99

This is Apple’s iPad version of its presentation software, equivalent to PowerPoint. It’s an excellent app — better than the Mac version, and streets ahead of Powerpoint. If you do much presenting, it’s well worth the price.

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2.3 Note taking

When I first started using the iPad I struggled to take notes when at court or talking with people, and then keep track of those notes and integrate them with my electronic documents. I think some of these apps provide a solution.

NoteTaker HD $6.49

All my notes are stored locally until deleted. You can see here the opening page, with notes listed on the left side; a preview on the right side; and the page tool menu open for the most recent note. Despite its busy interface, this is the app I use because it provides the greatest control, and integration with other apps.

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Individual notes can run for as many pages as you wish, and allow for highlighting and annotating. You can also import PDF documents and annotate them, or even sign documents. Like many note-taking apps, this one uses a zoom window so your writing doesn’t look it was done with a crayon.

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Noteshelf $7.49

Noteshelf is now my favourite note-taking app. It looks great, and is simple and intuitive to use. Once it provided export-to-PDF — an essential function for me — I jettisoned NoteTaker HD.

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Notes Plus $8.99

Notes Plus has a variety of export options, including sync with Google Docs and Dropbox, and export to PDF. It can convert hand drawn shapes to perfect circles, squares, triangles etc, and has useful gestures like crossing out a word to erase it. With a paid upgrade, you can circle handwriting, which flags it for conversion to typed text. And you can record audio as you take notes. The only downside is that being so customisable, you need to invest a bit of time in learning how to use it properly.

7notesHD Premium

$9.99

The stand-out feature with this app is its ability to convert handwriting to text. It does a pretty good job of it too, relying not just on handwriting recognition, but also context so that it can figure out individual hard-to-decipher letters based on the spelling of the rest of the word you write. Personally, I find the handwriting-to-text conversion takes just long enough to slow me down.

WritePad $9.99

This app is similar to 7notesHD Premium. It’s handwriting recognition is perhaps just a little better, and has the added advantage of providing an option in the settings to choose from various common handwriting letter shapes, improving its recognition even more. The conversion process is a bit slower in my experience, and despite good export options, I’m not sold on this app.

AudioNote $5.49

This is, frankly, a fairly basic note-taking app without even a zoom window for writing. But, it’s has one interesting feature: it allows audio recording that synchronises with your handwriting. Simply tap on the page to jump to the accompanying audio from when you wrote that text. This is similar to the LiveScribe smartpen, but without the need for paper. Trial this with the free Lite version.

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Livescribe+ Free

This app works with a LiveScribe audio-recording pen, and transcribes everything you write on paper onto the iPad! With LiveScribe, you can play back notes synced with your writing.

Evernote Free

Evernote offers very flexible note-taking, perfect for typing out a quick note with little formatting options to get in the way. It can also store all sorts of other media in it, such as PDF, audio and video clips, emails, photos and webcaptures. Combined with Penultimate — a handwriting app — and Skitch for image annotation, it is a great productivity ap.

Dragon Dictate

Free

If you’d prefer to dictate your notes, then this free app might be what you’re after. It works pretty well, though I found it had difficulty with some words. Maybe I mumble though, and you’ll find no problems with it.

2.4 Legal research & reference

The file-viewer apps above allow us to pre-load the iPad with legislation and cases, or access it from our cloud storage as needed. But, if you need something else when you’re away from your office, there’s an app for that too.

AustLII Free

AustLII’s app works on the iPad or iPhone, and provides quick access to its many databases. I prefer to just use the iPad’s web-broswer Safari and go straight the AustLII site, but you might prefer the simplicity of the app.

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Australian Legal Dictionary

$59.99

Taken from the 4th edition of the Butterworths Concise Australian Legal Dictionary.

The Daily List Free

This app is produced for the Victorian Department of Justice. As its name suggests, it produces daily court lists in a browsable and searchable form.

ProView Free

Thomsons has really set the bar for legal publications on the iPad. The app is free, but you have to buy the content. eBooks or eSubscriptions link with your account, and download on this and sync to desktops, including any notes you make. An example of how useful the iPad can be done with a properly thought out app.

BlueFire Reader

Free

It seems LexisNexis Australia hasn’t invested a great deal in its ePubs. BlueFire Reader is a perfectly fine eReader, but it shows up the lack of bookmarking and useability provided in Lexis Nexis’s eBooks. Not much choice if a publication is only available from Lexis, but if you have an option, I recommend ProView.

The subscriber websites for the big three legal publishers work on the iPad too. LexisNexis AU is accessible, and Thomson’s WestLaw site works perfectly on the iPad.

Jade’s BarNet also works perfectly on the iPad, defaulting to a version optimised for mobile.

2.5 News

Most major papers are now providing iPad apps, though many are moving to either part or full subscription models.

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PressReader Free + ongoing subscription

PressReader provides digital replicas of 2000 newspapers from around the world. You can zoom in to view individual articles, flip pages, and share articles.

2.6 Presentations

The iPad is ideal for presentations. Simple load your PowerPoint presentation on any of the Microsoft Office compatible apps discussed above, or produce a Keynote presentation on the Keynote app. Connect to a projector or HDTV using the Apple Digital AV Adaptor, or mirror your iPad display using AirPlay.

AirPlay Built in to iOS

Another innovation in iOS 5, AirPlay provides wireless streaming of video and audio to compatible devices, either using Apple TV, or a computer monitor.

Prezi Free

Prezi is a template-based presentation app, that works across computers and devices via the cloud.

Haiku Deck Free

This presentation app matches images to atomic-style slides.

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Reflector $US 12.99

A mirroring program for the PC and Mac, and also allows you to use AirPlay for music. It provides a choice of frames around the image, and allows for multiple iOS devices to mirror at the same time. The computer background remains in view with this app.

AirServer $US 14.99

Similar to Reflector, except this doesn’t offer the option of frames around the image. This app offers a higher resolution full-screen mode and recording. Will also display two iOS displays simultaneously, and blacks out the background so you can’t see the computer background.

AirDisplay $US 14.99

This program allows you to use an iPad as a secondary monitor, so you can display something from your computer on the iPad.

2.7 Video

Video Built-in

This is the iPad’s built-in video viewer. It does a fine job, but is pretty limited in the file formats it will handle: H.264; mp4; m4v; and mov.

AVPlayerHD $3.79

This is a reasonably simple app that also allows for Wi-Fi transfer of files, and can handle a wide variety of video formats. It has some options for changing viewing size, and also to control playback speed.

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VLC Free

The swiss-army-knife of video playback, this open-source app handles nearly everything you can throw at it. Sometimes chokes on HD video, which is when AVPlayer HD might perform better.

2.8 Off-line and RSS readers

Sometimes you just can’t view something on the iPad, or you want to keep it handy for later viewing. These apps let you save webpages for later reading, even if you don’t have an internet connection at the time, or sorting through your RSS feeds.

Pocket Free

Saves webpages, tweets, videos, RSS feeds and allows switching between a scaled-down version of the original or a full version. Syncs with other iOS devices and web-based access for your desktop computer.

Readability Free

Similar to Pocket and Instapaper, this app also has a built-in web-browser for finding additional content.

Instapaper $4.99

Another off-line reader, this focuses more on reducing web pages to text for distraction-free reading, and has the widest variety of customisations.

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Mr Reader $4.99

If you subscribe to multiple RSS-feeds on blogs or news sites, this is the best app for keeping up with them.

Feedly Free, or optional subscription

Following the closure of Google’s RSS Reader, Feedly leapt to become the number one RSS service. Offers an iPad and iPhone version along with desktop services on web browsers.

2.9 VNC & VPN

Virtual Network Computing (VNC) provides remote control to a computer. Virtual Private Network (VPN) software provides additional security for you iPad — particularly important if you’re working on unsecured public Wi-Fi networks — and, depending on your network, can provide you with access to your home or office network.

TeamViewer Free

A great remote control application for accessing your PC or Mac through your iPad.

iTeleport $24.99

Another VPN access app.

After trying a few, I recommend WiTopia VPN, with a wide variety of server locations and easy settings for the iPad. Another well-regarded one is StrongVPN.

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2.10 Password managers

Last, you should consider some reasonable password managers so you can use secure passwords on your iPad and computers.

1Password $22.99

Set one, strong password to your vault, and let 1Password generate unique strong passwords for every account, and auto-fill websites with them for you. Syncs via cloud services to other iOS devices and your PC or Mac. Also securely stores and encrypts user profiles, credit cards, and notes.

LastPass Free app, $12 annual subscription for Premium service

Similar to 1Password, only the premium service offers iOS sync.

3. Getting information on & off the iPad

3.1 iTunes

Apple’s standard way of transferring files is using File Sharing in iTunes.

From iTunes:

• select your iPad • select the ‘Apps’ tab • under File Sharing, select the application you want to transfer to or from

Depending on your screen size, you might not be able to see File Sharing: you might need to scroll down to view it!

Here’s a screen shot that shows this.

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iTunes won’t copy across folders of files, but does now provide bi-directional file transfer.

3.2 Third-party programs

An easier way to do this is with a file transfer program that shows the iPad like a removable disk on your computer. These allow bi-directional file transfer, and at much faster speeds over USB cable, which is particularly important when dealing with large documents or video files.

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DiskAid $29.90

This program is available for both PC and Mac. The free version allows access to the iPad file system and will transfer files to and from apps. The paid version allows video and photo transfer, as well as access to messages, contacts, notes and phone calls (on the iPhone).

PhoneView $29.95

A Mac-only program that does much the same as the paid version of DiskAid, including a very useful message display function — particularly useful if you need to produce SMS records in Court proceedings.

3.3 Cloud storage

This method is one of the benefits of the cloud services discussed above. As long as your cloud service is supported by your particular app, you can download your documents onto the iPad so long as you have an internet connection.

GoodReader, iAnnotate and Documents are particularly useful because they all provide bi-directional syncing so that any changes you make to a document on the iPad are made to the document on your cloud service and from there to your computer and other connected devices.

3.4 Printing

It is possible to print from the iPad, but because it is so easy to store and share documents electronically, the first question you should ask is if it really is even necessary to print? In many cases there really is no need to produce paper copy other than habit.

But, if it is necessary, there are a couple of ways of doing it. To be honest, some aren’t very elegant, and you might find it easier to sync your documents with a computer and print from there.

In most apps, simply look for the the Action icon in order to print:

AirPrint Built-in

Apple introduced AirPrint when it released the update to the iPad operating system in iOS 5. AirPrint allows for printing from apps to supported printers on the same Wi-Fi network as the iPad.

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Kyle McDonald Last updated 7 April 2014 Barrister

FingerPrint $21.74

FingerPrint requires you to download and install a small program or package that effectively runs a printer-server on your computer. When your iPad is on the same wireless network as your computer and printer, the iPad can see that printer, and print straight to it.

Printopia $19.95

A Mac-only program that installs a printer-server package on computer. This one also allows you to ‘print’ a file to your computer, and to ‘print’ PDF and JPG files directly to DropBox.

Print n Share Pro

$10.49

This app is one of 8 made by the same company, each of which offer only some of the features available in this one. It can print to networked and Wi-Fi printers; create PDFs; print calendars, contacts, emails; provide multi-user accounts; and send files to your printer over 3G when you’re out of the office or home.

3.5 Video conversion

If you have video in a non-compatible iPad format, or on physical media like DVD, you need to convert it for use on the iPad and then transfer using one of the methods discussed above.

DVD Fab $45

This all-in-one PC and Mac program will copy video from a DVD and convert to iPad-compatible format in one pass. Highly recommended.

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Handbrake Free

If you already have your video file in digital format, but still need to convert it, this program has a range of presets to take the guesswork out of the process for you.

4. Accessories There are literally thousands of accessories for the iPad, to suit every need and taste. I’ll mention just a few you might like to consider.

4.1 Cases & covers

In my experience, protective skins like BodyGuardz or InvisibleSHIELD aren’t really necessary on the iPad, especially if you plan to use a stylus on your screen. But, if you are particularly rough on your gadgets, or want to take special care with them, either is good. I’ve tried both, and have a very marginal preference for BodyGuardz.

The Apple SmartCover is a great front for the iPad, and I like the SwitchEasy CoverBuddy to protect the back from scratching without adding bulk.

Other popular cases for a range of needs from aesthetic to military-grade protection are OtterBox and Gecko.

If you like something old-world, the Twelve-South Book Book wraps your iPad in a leather-bound embossed book cover, or the Dodocase provides a Moleskin-style cover.

4.2 Stylus

A stylus makes annotating and note-taking much easier on the iPad, and lets you use it with gloves on in cold weather.

I’ve tried many, and recommend the Waacom Bamboo Stylus. It has a great writing feel, and the rubber tip can be replaced when — not if — it wears and tears, in contrast to all the other brands where you throw away the whole stylus and buy a new one.

The Adonit Jot is a more pen-like stylus with a fine-point with a ball-and-socket fitting into a plastic-disc. It clicks on the iPad glass — enough to be heard in quiet settings — and I found mine made very fine scratches on my screen.

Other popular styluses are the Ten-One Pogo Sketch, and the BoxWave stylus. I found the Pogo ‘spongy’ and didn’t enjoy using it. The BoxWave stylus writes well when new — similar to the Bamboo above — but over time the rubber wears and it becomes quite ‘grippy’ on the screen, and then the rubber tip tears.

There are few Australian bricks-and-mortar stores that stock styluses. I’ve bought mine online from the USA, or else from www.thestyluscompany.com, http://pogosketch.com.au and www.buywacom.com.au.

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Kyle McDonald Last updated 7 April 2014 Barrister

4.3 Keyboards

The virtual keyboard on the iPad is a big improvement on that on the iPhone, and is great for small amounts of typing. For serious typing, you might find a dedicated keyboard improves your accuracy.

A couple to consider here are:

• the Apple wireless keyboard • The Brydge • The Clam Case • Anker Ultrathink Keyboard cover • Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard cover

4.4 Miscellaneous

A few other gadgets that might be useful:

• HoverBar — places your iPad next to your computer screen • Wallee case — mount your iPad on a desk stand, wall mount, headrest adaptor • Compass — portable easel-type stand

Last, if you want to learn more about getting the most out of your iPad, I suggest you buy:

• the iBook Paperless by David Sparks. Though David is a lawyer, his book is aimed at iPad users generally. (But lawyers will still get a lot from it.) This ‘book’ contains video, audio, pictures and page after page of detailed advice and recommendation about using the iPad to go paperless, and will be the best $5 you’ve ever spent.

• the iBook Acrobat in One Hour for Lawyers by Ernst Svenson. Ernie was a lawyer, but recently started working exclusively training lawyers in paperless practice. His book is essential reading for anyone wanting to reduce paper, use Acrobat or generally become more proficient in using electronic documents.