BOLO: 2015 -2017 Apple MacBook Battery Issues

Apple has just announced that ”a limited number of older generation 15-inch MacBook Pro units, the battery may overheat and pose a fire safety risk. Affected units were sold primarily between September 2015 and February 2017 and product eligibility is determined by the product serial number.” If you have this model, click here to see if a battery replacement by Apple is warranted.

iPads still not the Laptop Killer ... yet ...

In recent years, I think many attorneys have been hoping to have the iPad replace their laptops. Laptops can be heavy and burden to lug around. iPads tend to be a bit lighter and bring more joy (at least to me and many who I speak with). The overall ease of use is great; but there is still one major issue - files!

Apple held its World Wide Developers Conference last Monday. It came out with its annual update to its various operating systems - MacOS and ideviceOSes (Now the iPhone/iTouch have a slightly different iOS than the iPad). Part of the announcement included an update to how files are managed on the iPads. Problem remains, searching through your folders for that one special file.

Sure, if you know where your file is then it’s not too troubling to move through your file tree. But if you have misfiled or not sure the exact name of the document, you will likely have a problem. On the computer, you can search folders, files and the contents within the files easily. But when you want to use the find function to look for just not the name but perhaps the details within the file (this is where OCRing your documents comes in handy - see my April 30, 2019, post), it’s not a simple effort. And I usually give up and get on the computer either remotely or onsite.

I’m not convinced the new update is going to adequately address the legal professionals’ concern about file management on the iPad. I can’t in good faith tell anyone that an iPad is (or will be in the near future with the release of iOS13) a laptop replacement for work.

You are better off with a laptop, either Windows or Macs. My iPad is primarily media consumption. But, I do experiment from time-to-time to see how or even if I can use it as a laptop replacement. So, for right now, the answer is “no”. As for the future, only time will tell.

How to make a Screenshot on your computer.

A screenshot is a picture of your screen (or a portion of your screen). I have found it handy to share a screenshot with another party from time-to-time. It may be with a tech person, an accountant, another attorney or even a client. It is neat how you can take the file, insert it into an e-mail or even a word document and send it off to some- one else. Sometimes I just like snapping a photo (usually just a piece of someone’s e- mail or document) and sending right back to the person. It helps dispel any argument that they “never said” the words I captured from their communication

On a Mac: All you have to do is hold your command “⌘” key, “shift” and the number “3” key at the same time for a picture of your entire screen (note that if you have a multi screen deceive, you’ll get one picture for each display). If you simultaneously hold the command “⌘” key and the number “4” key, a “crosshair” will appear. You can move the crosshair, click the start point, hold and move to where you want the box to end and then release the mouse or trackpad. A picture of the portion of the screen you had selected will be generated.

These screenshots will appear on your desktop.

On Windows: All you have to do is press your “Print Screen” key to make a copy of the screen. This key location and name vary from PC to PC. On my Surface Pro, it’s on the F8 key which is also titled “PrtScn.” You can then paste the picture wherever you want to place it.

In order to capture and save a screenshot, you have to simultaneously hold your “Windows logo key” and your “Print Screen” key. If you want to select a portion of your screen, simultaneously hold your Windows logo, Shift and S keys and a “crosshair” will appear. You can move the crosshair, click the start point, hold and move to where you want the box to end and then release the mouse or trackpad. You can find your picture file under c:user\“user name”\pictures\screenshots.

There are other ways of taking screenshots but the steps I provided are usually the most straightforward means of getting it done.

Happy Screenshooting!

iPads and Tablets in the Courtroom.

Jeff Richardson over at iponejd.com posted an interesting article the other day: The use of iPads by U.S. Fifth Circuit judges and law clerks.  I think it can be universally applied to both iPads and Tablets. While Jeff noted that only half of the judges on the CLE panel preferred iPads when reading their briefs, it appears that most if not all of their clerks prefer an iPad. And as that generation of clerks move up in their careers and leave behind a legacy of how work can be done while at the court, it seems to show that we lawyers need to make sure we are keeping up with technology. ABA Model Rules. 

Remember, we want to make the judges’ (and their clerks’) life easier: When the document contains links to legal citations or to the record and they don’t have to carry extra paper around the office or home, its makes their life a little less stressful. I would think this would allow them to read our briefs under better conditions and hopefully be more open to our persuasive arguments.