THERE'S A LOT of software programs that can rip your CD collection to your hard disk, but the best I've encountered is dBpoweramp. Why do I like it? First, it works in conjunction with AccurateRip, a massive online database that stores the correct CRC value for zillions of CDs. As soon as you rip a track, even using the super fast "burst" method, it generates the CRC and compares it to the data collected by AccurateRip from other people who ripped the same CD. If the values match, you can be confident you have a bit-perfect rip! At present only a handful of rippers support this fantastic feature. But there's more. dBpoweramp also does an outstanding job at automatically completing all the meta tags for your tracks (i.e. track name, artist, album etc.). It actually usesfive online providers to check and compare information to arrive at "PerfectMeta" tags. The last awesome feature I like in dBpoweramp is how it automatically retrieves album artwork, inserts it in the file and creates folder.jpg copies in the album folder. These three features save a huge amount of time and help insure you wind up with excellent digital library. I typically rip discs to FLAC (a lossless format) and at a later date create smaller MP3 and WMA versions. When you spend the time to rip your library, do it once and do it right!
LOOKING FOR A powerful, free screen capture utility? Try the last freeware version of FastStone Capture. The program is now shareware, but this portable free version from 2007 can still be distributed. Click here to download a copy. If your screen capture needs are extensive and you have the budget for it, I suggest SnagIt orFullShot.
APPLE ANNOUNCED A powerful new line of Intel based Macbook Pro laptops this week. According to a Bloomberg wire article, "The laptops feature a new technology calledThunderbolt that was developed by Intel Corp. to transfer data, including data, including video at high speeds..." How high of a speed? Well, frankly it sounds too good to be true. According to the article, it would be possible to transfer an entire Blu-Ray movie (typically 25-50 GB) in less than thirty seconds. If true, that is about twice as fast as the recent USB 3.0 standard. Thunderbolt transfers at about 10 GB a second whereas USB 3.0 transfers at five. Mere mortals like myself who still use the ubiquitous USB 2.0 have to chug along at 480MB a second. For a detailed speed comparison of the new technologies click here. One of the new Macbook Pros with a 15" screen will set you back about $1800 at present: Apple MacBook Pro MC721LL/A 15.4-Inch Laptop.
I HEARD ON the news this morning that the instability in Libya may affect the Internet in unexpected ways. For instance, if the government shuts down the Internet there, the popular link shortening website bit.ly may no longer work. The "ly" in the suffix stands for Libya! I have used bit.ly extensively in conjunction with my Twitter accounts. I hope corporation, which is based in New York has a plan for this contingency. Mother Jones published a good article this month that clearly explains what is happening in Libya.
CHINA HAS BEGIN blocking the popular business networking site LinkedIn after Chinese members began to discuss the recent revolutions that overturned governments in the Middle East. A least one member suggested that Tunisia's Jasmine Revolution should spread to the Asian country. Linked in has about 90 million members worldwide. 1 million of them are Chinese. This does not bode well for those who had hoped the Chinese government might reopen Twitter and Facebook soon. And of course, this censorship decision is obviously at odds with China's goal of developing global trade and human rights. Read more at the San Francisco Chronicle.
AFFORDABLE AND EASY to use software to manage a law office is harder to find than a needle in a haystack. But that may be changing. I recently learned about WinYou Law 2010. WinYou Law is an all-in-one program to help you organize and manage clients, cases, projects, contacts and documents while also managing your time, billing and calendar. The cost for a solo practitioner is only $199 with no annual subscription fee required. That's less than I paid just for a copy of Quickbooks Pro. The program is closely integrated with Microsoft Office and network versions are available for firms. Check out the free, fully functional trial version here!
DO YOU FEEL lost when it comes to integrating social media in your practice? If so, consider purchasing Social Media for Lawyers: The Next Frontier, by (lawyers) Carolyn Elefant and Nicole Black and published by the ABA. The authors attempt to show lawyers how to use a practical, goal-centric approach to social media. They note toward the end of the book that "Technology is here to stay and ignoring it is no longer an option..... It's time for the legal profession to pull its collective head out of the sand when it comes to social media, emerging technologies, and the Internet." The sole reviewer on Amazon gives it a big thumbs up and says the book is a "comprehensive guide to help lawyers and other legal professionals understand the impact social media has had on the way consumers and in-house counsel find and select lawyers to solve their legal problems. The book is informal, written in clear and easy-to-understand language, and is chock full of illustrations and details." Did you update your blog and tweet today?
That's it for now. Have a great weekend everyone!
-- Michael
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