Whether for fun or for work, there are a number of iPad applications that allow the creative minded attorney to produce high quality photographs, videos, audio, slide presentations and art work that a few years ago would have required sophisticated equipment and help from experienced engineers and/or graphic artists. These are ten of my current favorites that I have used and can wholeheartedly recommend:
Haiku Deck (App Store-Free with optional in app purchases) – This App allows you to create stunning slide-show presentations similar to PowerPoint and Keynote without all the frills. What makes Haiku Deck special is its ability to retrieve beautiful high resolution images based upon the key words in your slides. The App by its nature does not allow lots of bullet points or excessive text, so it forces the user to conform to what are considered slide presentation best practices. See demo video.
Video Downloader Pro (App Store- $ 3.99) — Allows you to capture download videos from the web and save in your iPad or iPhone photos folder. Once downloaded the video files can be edited in iMovie or Pinnacle Studio. I use the App to download copies of offending advertisements in my false advertising practice.
360 Panorama (App Store $ .99) – This App allows you to create an amazing interactive 360 degree photograph with your iPhone or iPad. This could be an invaluable tool for mapping out an accident site or crime scene. You can see an example photograph of the cul-de-sac in front of my house that I created in about five minutes using my iPhone. These images can be shared, flattened, etc.
AremaC (App Store- free with option to purchase additional filters) – Allows the creation and application of photo filters on the iPad. A few examples of what this app can do are demonstrated below. The first photo is the original:
Snapseed (App. Store $ 4.99) – My favorite photo editing suite for iPhone and iPad. Allows the basic editing and enhancement of photographs as well as the application of limited special effects. Easy to use and great for basic photo touch-up.
Lapse It (App Store – Free) – “Lapse It” is an award-winning full featured app for capturing amazing time lapse and stop motion videos (Available for iPhone, iPad and Android). It is easy, fast and intuitive. I have had lots of fun with this App, capturing cloud movements, traffic patterns, an ice cube melting, etc. Could be useful for a litigator seeking to demonstrate movement patterns over time.
Slo-Pro (App Store – Free) — SloPro captures footage at 720p 60fps, giving you twice as many HD frames to work with. You can toggle slow motion on and off while shooting for engaging fast/slow effects. You can also edit the fast/slow points after shooting. The app allows sharing directly to Facebook and YouTube. Upgrade to export to your camera roll and email. Pro users can also export raw 60fps footage via iTunes. This is great for capturing sporting events, analyzing golf swings and studying batting posture.
Pocket WavePad HD (App Store – Free)- A sophisticated sound editor for recording, editing, adding effects, and sharing audio files. Pocket WavePad allows you to record voice or music, then edit the recording and add effects to achieve high quality audio recordings. Work within audio waveforms to make selections for quick editing, such as inserting recordings from other files, or apply effects like the high pass filter to clarify audio quality. Pocket WavePad makes it easy to store or send recordings so they are readily available wherever they are needed. Great for witness interviews and on scene
Pinnacle Studio (App Store– $9.99) — Pinnacle Studio is a surprisingly intuitive video/audio App for the iPad. The app allows editing of audio and sound, transitions, titles and special effects. You can share your completed project directly to YouTube, Facebook and Dropbox. For video editing two separate audio tracks are available allowing for a music track and a voiceover track. I have used the App in my litigation practice to create quick and dirty deposition highlight reels.
Explain Everything (App Store-$2.99)
Originally designed for educators, “Explain Everything” is an easy-to-use design tool that lets you annotate, animate, and narrate explanations and presentations. You can also use Explain Everything as an interactive whiteboard using the iPad2 and new iPad video display.
Explain Everything records on-screen drawing, annotation, object movement and captures audio via the iPad microphone. Import Photos, PDF, PPT, and Keynote from Dropbox, Evernote, Email, iPad photo roll and iPad2 camera. Export MP4 movie files, PNG image files, and share the .XPL project file with others for collaboration.
The potential uses for this app are only limited by your imagination. For example, you can create an animation showing the direction of travel of automobile involved in an accident. You can import and crop photographs, add graphics such as arrows, shapes, etc. You can also introduce typewritten text or handwriting. In a nutshell, with the app, you can put most anything on the screen and manipulate it in real-time, while the same time recording it for later presentation in movie format. The animations can be displayed from the app, or uploaded into Keynote or PowerPoint.
I hope you are productive and/or have fun with these Apps. As always your questions, comments or recommendations are welcomed.
This keyboard uses magnet connectors like those in the Apple Smart Cover to hold the keyboard to the iPad in the closed position– the aluminum backed keyboard looks really sharp closed like a small Macbook
