1360 Studios produces one of only two known transcript managers for Mac OS X, Transcript Manger Pro. The software incorporates all the right parts, but put together in a rather bizarre fashion that offends any regular Mac user. Further, the software carries a fairly hefty price tag of $199.  But, to their credit, that’s down from the former $625 and cheaper than the only other depo software, Clarity Legal’s Deposmart.
Open, No, Really, Please Open.
Transcript Manager Pro (“TMP”) wastes no time finding a way to offend users. Users cannot import transcripts through a simple drag and drop. Instead, users must use the Import>Open dialogue. Â Worse still, the program refuses to use OS X’s
 Finder. So, no Spotlight to quickly find that transcript… and no plug-in software like the awesome Default Folder X. Nope, it’s time to drill down through folders the old fashioned way… really old fashioned. You can’t even type the first few letters of a sub-folder to jump there, you must scroll the the specific sub-folder.
Quick Search, Search & Index.
TMP offers a ‘Quick Search’ function that will find a specific word or phrase. Quick Search only searches the currently open transcript, not across transcripts. Further,the Quick Search offers no feedback to the user regarding number of hits and only provides a ‘previous’ or ‘next’ button for navigation.
TMP also offers a more robust “Search” feature that allows Boolean, exact phrase, and range function (i.e. golf WITHIN 3 WORDS cart). But getting the search accomplished presents a very unintuitive OS X experience. Users must fill out one of
 the three types of searches, click the “+” symbol, choose which transcripts to search and then run the search. Not exactly a smooth workflow for litigators trying to juggle complex fact patterns, legal concepts, case theories and witness names all at once.
Once completed, the Search function returns a ‘report’ style page. This page collects gives a list of all transcripts with the search terms. You then click on the particular transcript and are taken to a ‘snippet’ style summary where the search result appears in context. Clicking on a hyperlink carries you to the complete transcript location in a new window. Even if unintuitive, the search happens very quickly and appears to be very accurate.
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And, finally, the index function is … non-existent. Really. This glaring oversight simply must be cured in order for TMP to be taken seriously as a transcript manager.
Issues, Highlighting, Notes.
The software also provides the expected ‘highlighting’ issues feature. You can define issues, assign colors and then mark-up to your heart’s content. Also, notes may be attached in the margin of the transcript. Sadly, notes are not searchable.
A report can be generated for all highlights/issues and notes associated with the particular highlight will appear in the report. The report functions identically to the Search function, a bit obtuse but it will do.
Live Feed From a Court Reporter.
This feature is available, but apparently requires an adapter. 1360’s web page currently doesn’t show any adapters.
Summary.
TMP is a blunt, somewhat crude instrument that reminds me of the original LiveNote or Real Transcript software from the Windows 95 days. Overall, the app feels like it’s programmed in Java. Â In other words, it’ll work, but I’d still rather run a virtualized version of TextMap via Parallels or VMWare’s Fusion.
You really, really should use DepoSmart. It’s much, much more polished.
Lots of Mac attorneys use it including myself.
The company’s site was down for a while and I think they’ll be going out of business.
TextMap is good, but there are other better PC alternatives like LiveNote.
Thanks for the input Ted. We’ll likely be doing a review of Clarity Legal’s DepoSmart in the not too distant future.
I am not affiliated with them at all but I do think the developer is good. Their software has gotten better each year.
Developer’s name is John and he’s a nice guy and very supportive of the Mac community even though the software is available for windows and linux although I don’t use those systems.
I have had much better luck using the program, and would write a very different review, but I do worry about the company as I can get no service. I have used TMP for over 50 depos in commercial litigation practice. I connect live (just like Livenote) and have had great success, with only 1 connection problem during that time (PC error rate much higher). The real time experience is outstanding, and (when defending) I can quickly highlight text, make comments on live transcript and still object as needed. When the depo is over, in 2 minutes I can create a report in PDF with comments and highlights and send to client. The search pane is fast, accurate and counterintuitive as you note, but once you catch on, very effective. I exchange transcripts with team members using Livenote on PCs with no problem. I never go into the folders. When I need to get some testimony out for a paper or hearing, I go into the program, the folder I have set for that case, and use the search pane. Pretty fast in my experience. I love spotlight but do not think it would help anymore given the number of transcripts I typically am carrying (dozens). My paralegal caught on to this program quickly and keeps my transcripts up to date. I typically get a rough sent via email right after the depo by the court reporter, I drag it on to the desktop and open the program, file, import, and in. That is not so bad. I replace that when the final comes in, and it will preserve marks if you want. If this company survives, and ever responds to request for aid, they could go far. But from what I am reading, that will not happen, and all that will be left for those who want to stay Mac is Deposmart, and so I will break down and try that then…
TMP was/is a terrible piece of software.
I really do not understand this review and Jo’s reaction. I still own both, and just yesterday tried to connect with DepoSmart and it would not connect real time. I continue to have trouble with it accepting transcripts from court-appointed court reporters. Its interface is counter-intuitive, you have to go to the menu to pause a live transcript, for example, and to connect. You have to hunt all over the website for instructions on connecting live, and the video does not even demonstrate it. Calling TMP a terrible piece of software without explanation does not inform the group.
I am an ardent support of Mac-based large firm litigation practice and use many programs for that purpose. I have used TMP in over 100 depositions successfully. I bought and still try to use DepoSmart only to smooth integration with TrialSmart, and excellent program I use and champion regularly. But DepoSmart needs much work in my opinion.
I believe there are many of you out there that would like to know more about these programs. I would be happy at any forthcoming event to participate on a panel, with live connections through a court reporter, and to compare the differences.
And I am not affiliated with either company. I do not get a fruit basket or free software for pushing either program. I have the receipts for paying for both. I have spoken to John and he is very helpful, the one standout feature for his company. I cannot get responses from 1360 Studios and thus question there present status. But the program still works fine. I have sent messages to 1360 Studios again today, and I will follow up with John on connection issues, but I challenge anyone out there to meet me at a convention and lets run the programs together, side-by-side, in front of our peers and see which one really aids the practicing attorney.
Moderator: Please use this version of my comment, which corrects two typos; thank you.
I really do not understand this review and Jo’s reaction. I still own both, and just yesterday tried to connect with DepoSmart and it would not connect real time. I continue to have trouble with it accepting transcripts from court-appointed court reporters. Its interface is counter-intuitive, you have to go to the menu to pause a live transcript, for example, and to connect. You have to hunt all over the website for instructions on connecting live, and the video does not even demonstrate it. Calling TMP a terrible piece of software without explanation does not inform the group.
I am an ardent support of Mac-based large firm litigation practice and use many programs for that purpose. I have used TMP in over 100 depositions successfully. I bought and still try to use DepoSmart only to smooth integration with TrialSmart, an excellent program I use and champion regularly. But DepoSmart needs much work in my opinion.
I believe there are many of you out there that would like to know more about these programs. I would be happy at any forthcoming event to participate on a panel, with live connections through a court reporter, and to compare the differences.
And I am not affiliated with either company. I do not get a fruit basket or free software for pushing either program. I have the receipts for paying for both. I have spoken to John and he is very helpful, the one standout feature for his company. I cannot get responses from 1360 Studios and thus question their present status. But the program still works fine. I have sent messages to 1360 Studios again today, and I will follow up with John on connection issues, but I challenge anyone out there to meet me at a convention and lets run the programs together, side-by-side, in front of our peers and see which one really aids the practicing attorney.