App Review: Present Evidence with TrialPad

Last month, TrialPad ($89.99) debuted to great fanfare. TrialPad’s creators, a joint venture between a Florida accounting firm and a software developer, provided me with an early copy to review. What follows is the good, the bad, and the bottom line.

THE GOOD

The display. Having tested several applications for jury presentation, including GoodReader and iAnnotate, TrialPad provides the cleanest, sharpest display, which matters for juries. When you open the application, you will see a file folder.

Click on the Dropbox icon to upload your documents.

Open your file folder. Your documents will be in the upper-left corner.

Select a document and slide the output bar to “open” for it to appear on a digital display (TV, overhead projector, etc.). Do not forget to plug in your iPad with a VGA-connector.

The simplicity. TrialPad is easier to use than laptop software. Simplicity matters, especially when adding technology to a law office with multiple staff who will use the application in court. For example, a simple flick across the screen allows you to annotate each document with a highlighter or red pen.

The annotation tools are simple and intuitive. Want to save this document for later, perhaps in closing argument? Press the “flame” button in the upper-right-hand corner and it will be listed as a “hot doc.”

The customer service. I had several preliminary comments – for example, a better way to transfer files into the application – and the developers immediately issued an update syncing TrialPad with Dropbox. Great customer service, which is important for app developers. As customers dream up new features, TrialPad will improve over time.

THE BAD

The cost. TrialPad’s developers market the application as a low-cost replacement for expensive jury presentation software such as Trial Director. As Peter Summerill notes at MacLitigator, “by setting the price at a steep $89 the developers ignore the Apps ecosystem and economy.”

The files. TrialPad documents must be saved as .pdf files. GoodReader ($2.99), which is also VGA-compatible and thus a less-expensive alternative, allows you to create client folders and save multiple file formats (.doc, .jpeg, .pdf, .mp3) within each case file. However, TrialPad is far superior to GoodReader in display and usability. TrialPad should consider allowing audio and picture files with its next update.

THE BOTTOM LINE

I strongly recommend TrialPad. As a prosecutor, I use two applications: GoodReader, which is great for storing and reviewing documents from counsel table, and TrialPad, which is perfect for presentation. The documents render beautifully when displayed through a VGA connection. TrialPad gives you the essentials – and nothing more – which is its strongest selling point. With Dropbox integration, this application is worth the price.

For questions, comments, or help using the Apple iPad at work, please contact me at redean@gmail.com.