A group of my local (Boise) geek friends have been using Google Wave to share Google Wave tips and tricks with one another was we each kick Wave’s tires.  Here are some of the most useful tips/tricks that have come out of that ongoing conversation:

1.   The “Files” button google wave files button in the lower right doesn’t work unless someone has already uploaded a file.  The “Files” button is not used to upload files (yes, very illogical).  To upload a file, you need to click on the paperclip icon.  Note:  you can’t see the paperclip icon until after you start a new reply or are otherwise in “edit mode.”

Google Wave paperclip button

2.   If you add an image (Tip 1 above), a separate button for Images shows up next to the Files button.  Perhaps the Files button shouldn’t be visible until after there is at least one file…

Google wave images button

3.   The first line of the first message (aka “blip”) you type in a wave…becomes the title of the wave.  Having a nonsensical wave title is frustrating when you are looking for a wave amongst a list of waves.  Yes, you can go back and edit the first blip to make a better title.

Wave Title

4.  In a “wave” you’ll have a number of threaded conversations.  Each conversation is a “wavelet.”  Each message in a wavelet is a “blip.”  See this Mashable post for a more thorough explanation.

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5.  If you push the “Reply” button in the upper toolbar, you start a new wavelet.  wave reply.

6.  If you mouse over the bottom of a wavelet window that no one else has responded to, you receive the option of “Continue this thread.”

Capture10-22-2009-7.58.27 PM7.  If you mouse over the junction between the two blips in the wavelet, you receive the option of “insert reply here.”

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8.  If you double click in the middle of a blip you can insert an inline reply.

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I’m sure those tips are just the tip of the iceberg…

Update:  A video worth watching:

 
Nom nom nom nom.

Nom nom nom nom

My office is slowing going paperless, doing a number of things including scanning all paper files to PDF when we close them.

One little insight that those of you whom are not yet paperless should consider:   staples.

To scan a file to PDF, all papers in it must first be unstapled.  The kicker is that the task of unstapling the file takes almost as much labor as scanning the file.  Believe it, or not.

Thus, even if you know you are years (or decades) from going paperless, it makes sense to institute an “Everyone Should Use Less Staples” policy.   Before you staple something together that is going to be tacked down in the file, ask “do I really need to staple it?”  If no…don’t.  For things that must be stapled together…staple away!

 

Perhaps the biggest tech buzz this last week was Google’s release of 100,000 invites to its new project, Google Wave.

Google was kind enough to release a very long video (80 minutes) explaining Wave…a video that was “too much information” for most people trying to grasp the basic concept.

Luckily, they followed up with a < 8 minute video last week that  really summarizes what it is, how it works and (presumably) about 20% of what it does.  I encourage you to watch the short video (embedded below [direct link])…then you’ll get it.


A different short video explanation (also worth watching) can be found at this link.

To me, it sounds like Google Wave is email 2.0.  Sort of a combination of email + social networking + chat (instant messaging/Skype) + document sharing…all relating to a particular project.  Thus, you would create a new “wave” for each project you are working on with other people.

If you want an invite, you can request one from Google via this link…unless you know someone who has an account and can send you an invite (hint, hint, hint – my email is snipper @ gmail.com).

I look forward to using it (when I get an invite).  I really think it will be quite useful for both collaborating with clients as well as coordinating projects within the office between you, your paralegal/associates/secretaries.

I’m sure this post is….to be continued.

[Update:  this post is an excellent summary of how Google Wave is about collaboration, if you don't collaborate with others..you won't "get" it:  http://danieltenner.com/posts/0012-google-wave.html]

 

QuickJump_main_window_narrowI previously mentioned QuickJump in an earlier post, back when QuickJump was still in beta.  I had been using it for a few days when I wrote that post, and I’m still using it.  It is a great program that solves a HUGE need.

QuickJump scans all of the folders on your computer (and your file server if you tell it to), creating an index.  Then, when you need to open a file/save a file/etc….you can activate QuickJump (by pressing Ctrl-Shift-J) and typing in characters/words in the folder name you’re looking for.  QuickJump will take you right to that folder.  They illustrate all of this in a video that can be found here:  http://www.techhit.com/QuickJump/QuickJump_video/video.html.  If you’re like me…you have thousands of folders on your server.  Being able to instantaneously move to the right one is a huge time saver.

Thanking me for my mention, TechHit (QuickJump’s makers) have given me a promo code for my readers that will give you a 20% discount (code expires September 22, 2009):  http://www.TechHit.com/l/qjdInventBlog.  No, I don’t get a referral fee…I really like this program and think you will too.

Sep 142009
 

There has been a lot of chatter online lately about banks starting to accept PDF’s and other scans of checks (personal and business) for deposit (rather than requiring you to go to the bank to deposit a check).  What a great potential time-saver for law firms!

The Fujitsu ScanSnap Scanner blog has the scoop, including a list of banks already offering that service:  Remote Deposit Capture | Fujitsu ScanSnap.

 

I’m speaking tomorrow for AIGA Idaho on “Ten Things Every Designer Needs to Know about Copyrights and Trademarks.”  Details can be found on the AIGA Idaho website.

I’ll be using this post as my “show notes”…a listing of links I think the presentation’s attendees (design professionals, graphic artists) will find useful.

 

If you use PACER often, you might really like the “RECAP” FireFox extension (plug-in).  As you download court documents in PACER, RECAP sends a copy of them to the Internet Archive (making them available for free to the world.  RECAP also alerts you when one of the PACER documents you are about to download is already available in the Internet Archive for free.  A very slick way of freeing government data for the masses.  The < 3 minute video on their website is an excellent overview of all of its features:  How It Works | Recap Firefox Extension.

If you have PACER documents you’ve previously downloaded that you’d like to donate to the same? similar? cause (by manually uploading them), check out http://pacer.resource.org/.

 

I was listening to the most recent episode of the Kennedy-Mighell report (legal technology podcast) earlier today and was shocked to hear Tom Mighell report that law blogging (at least “starting a law blog”) seems to have peaked, with fewer and fewer new law blogs starting every year. It shocked me, but now that I think about it, I can only think of a handful of new, active IP law blogs (http://www.1201tuesday.com, http://www.patentabilityblog.com/, http://inventivestep.net/),

The podcast (The State of the Blawgosphere) itself is an excellent summary of the past, present and future of legal blogging…definitely worth listening to.

 

Trike Show Stephen Nipper PodcastI was recently honored by branding/marketing gurus Justin Foster and Johnathan Hardesty of Tricycle Consulting by being asked to be a guest on their podcast (“The Trike Show”). On the podcast we talked about trademarks, branding, blogging and social media (as it applies to “professionals” (such as lawyers).

The audio can be found here: Trike Show Podcast.

By the way, Johnathan designed my non-work “calling cards,” as well as my Twitter background and J. Matt Buchanan’s Twitter background. [BTW that is not an advertisement, but a personal recommendation...he does great work!]

 

Buffy: You left me a message?
Jeffrey: You weren’t home! Like always.
Buffy: You broke up with my machine?

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)

Apparently, the ABA recently decided to essentially break up with Erik J. Heel’s machine, axing perhaps the most useful, timely and relevant information in its Law Practice magazine, Erik’s “nothing.but.net” column on technology.  According to Erik…they didn’t even say thanks or explain why.  Sad.

Here’s to hoping they reconsider.  If not, rest assured that we can all still read Erik’s blog to get the latest scoop on technology.

By the way, if you enjoy The Invent Blog, you will likely enjoy Erik’s too (in my opinion, both are technology blogs by patent attorneys (instead of being per se “patent blogs”)).

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