Whether you already have an iPad or are thinking of getting one, you’ve no doubt seen the ads for them. iPads are cool. They are neat “toys” for grown-ups. All that’s true, but what you may not know is that iPads are incredible business tools that can help you get organized, manage your cases, and even help you present your case at trial. Many of the apps listed below are free. Others range in price from a couple of dollars to just under $90. Also, be sure to check out the great iPad cases from Zagg.com. They’re made from aircraft-grade aluminum. Get one with an embedded wireless Bluetooth keyboard and you’ll be the talk of the courthouse.
Thanks to Finis Price at TechnoEsq.com and an excellent RocketMatter webinar for turning me on to some of the apps listed here!
General
Roboform: Excellent free password manager
Skyfire: Web browser for iPad allows you to watch videos, including flash videos.
Kindle: I couldn’t live without this one! If you love to read, it’s a must.
Brushes: This is just for fun. Turn your photos into works of art. Easy to learn, but used by the pros, too. Illustrations made with Brushes have graced several New Yorker covers!
Netflix: Watch streaming movies right on your iPad.
Productivity
GoToMyPC: Allows you to connect to your office right from your iPad.
iTeleport: Similar to GoToMyPC, and supports VPN-based encryption.
Dropbox: Free cloud-based file storage. A must for all iPad users.
Penultimate: Cool note-taking app for iPad. Great for quick notes, very easy to use.
Notes Plus: Another great note taking app allows you to mix drawings/text & move them around.
Dragon Dictation: This free app lets you dictate to your iPad. – Then with a couple of taps email, tweet or post to Facebook.
AudioNote: Note taking app that is also a voice recorder. Use this app during interviews; record the interview while taking note; the sound syncs with the text.
Evernote: This app was inducted into the Apple “App Hall of Fame.” Save everything from photos to web pages to written and audio notes in one place and easily sync everything with your computer.
iAnnotate: Allows you to annotate PDFs on your iPad & create your own custom toolbars. Syncs with Dropbox.
Line 2: Turn your iPad into a second phone with Line2. Line2 is designed as an iPhone app, but it works on the iPad as well, and features call waiting, hold, transfer and conferencing.
TruPhone: A phone app designed for the iPad.
QuickOffice Connect Mobile Suite: This app allows you to open and edit documents and spreadsheets on your iPad. Very easy to use.
Legal
Court Days Pro: Court Days Pro is a rule-based calendaring program you can customize. Very cool.
FastCase HD: As a member of The Florida Bar, you have a free access to Florida case law through FastCase. Make the most of your subscription with this free app.
TrialPad: At $89.99 this is one of the pricier apps out there. But if you’re in the courtroom a lot it’s worth checking out. It allows you to organize and present evidence right from your iPad.
LawBox: Free app that contains the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and other Federal resources, as well as the Florida Statutes.
Florida Evidence Code: Tekk Innovations created this app, together with Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure and the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure.
Travel
Gate Guru: Want to know where to eat in Concourse B at the Denver International Airport? Gate Guru will give you a complete list of restaurants with reviews.
Flight Track: Get live flight status from virtually all major airlines.
Kayak: Excellent search engine for flights and hotels.
WeatherBug: Very cool weather app.
That ought to get you started. Now grab that iPad and have some fun!