Twenty years ago today, I started practicing law — at the same firm where I still practice today, Adams and Reese in New Orleans. Well technically, I wasn't sworn in as member of the bar for another two months, but my first day in the office was August 15, 1994. Back then, Adams and Reese used Macs, and I was excited to be the first person in the office with a Power Mac 6100, the first Mac with a PowerPC chip. My firm switched to PCs in the early 2000s, but thanks to the iPhone and iPad, some of the best (and certainly the most enjoyable) technology in my law practice is still made by Apple. The 1994 version of me would have been floored by what you can do with an iPhone today. Twenty years from now, perhaps the 2034 version of Siri will be smarter than all of us. And now, the news of note from the past week:
- John Edwards of Law Technology News recommends six iPhone productivity apps, including the Hours time-tracking app that I've heard good things about.
- Law firms have been focused on diversity and releasing diversity data for many years, and this week, Apple released lots of data about their workforce diversity and created this webpage with more information. As Apple CEO Tim Cook says: "We believe deeply that inclusion inspires innovation." That is certainly true in the practice of law, and it doesn't surprise me that it also holds true for technology.
- Apple is known to have a sophisticated in-house education program, but most of the details have been held close to the vest. Brian Chen of the New York Times managed to learn quite a bit about so-called Apple University and wrote this interesting article.
- My favorite external keyboard for the iPad is the one made by Apple, the Apple Wireless Keyboard. It is nice to have an iPad stand that works with the Apple keyboard, and I have long used and recommended the Incase Origami Workstation. Julie Strietelmeier of The Gadgeteer discusses five stands that work with the iPad and the Apple keyboard, including the Origami Workstation.
- Speaking of that 2034 version of Siri, some of the folks who invented Siri before it was purchased by Apple are now working on sophisticated artificial intelligence that is supposed to do a great job of responding to your questions. Steven Levy wrote an interesting account of these efforts in an article for Wired.
- I recently reviewed the Lumsing Harmonica Style Power Bank, a 10,400 mAh external battery that costs $23. Lumsing tells me that their 6,000 mAh battery, the Ultra Slim Portable Power Bank, is the subject of a promotion on Amazon; it costs $23.99, but today only you can use the code LUMSING6 at checkout to get $5 off, so that makes it only $18.99. Click here for more details on Amazon.
- Do you hate having to crawl under a desk to reach an outlet? Janet Cloninger of The Gadgeteer reviews the Wall Mounted Outlet Extender, an interesting $40 device from Hammacher Schlemmer that moves the outlet up to your desk height.
- If you can't get enough of the law during your day job and you want to also play a lawyer on your iPhone or iPad, yesterday Capcom released the fifth installment of the Ace Attorney games: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies. I haven't played them, but I'm told that they are very popular, especially in Japan. The game is free an includes the first episode, but the remaining episodes require an in-game purchase. Jared Nelson of Touch Arcade has the details.
- And finally, do you want to charge your iPhone in your car, but do so with the flair of Doc Brown and Marty McFly in a time-traveling DeLorean? Then you will want to check out the Flux Capacitor USB Car Charger. Originally an April Fool's gag, ThinkGeek manufactured the product and it will be released next month for only $24.99, the perfect device for all of you who still have fond memories of the Back to the Future series. The device includes two 2.1 Amp charging ports (which can handle two iPhones or iPads), but most importantly includes a Flux Capacitor light sequence. Have fun, but be careful when you hit 88 mph...