Yesterday, Apple announced that it will give a presentation on September 9, 2015 at 10 Pacific / 1 Eastern to show off the 2015 version of the iPhone. Well, technically Apple didn't say what it is showing off, but for many years now Apple has shown off the new iPhone in early September so I'm sure that is what they will do this year too. The event will take place at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, which is a large venue, and inspires one to think that this will be a big announcement. Invitations were sent to select members of the press with the teaser phrase: "Hey Siri, give us a hint." What does that mean? Well, you could try asking Siri on your iPhone. I activated Siri and said "Give us a hint" and Siri answered "Why don't you check a rumors blog? That's what I do." Very funny, Siri. Keep asking Siri and you'll get other humorous answers, including: "You'll have to wait until September 9. I bet you were one of those kids who snuck downstairs to open presents early, weren't you?" Suffice it to say that if you are ready to get a new iPhone and have been waiting for the new model to come out, it looks like your wait is almost over. And now, the news of note from the past week:
- This week, ABA Journal announced the its 2015 list of Legal Rebels. One of the honorees is Prof. Tanina Rostain of Georgetown University Law Center, who is honored because she developed a course called Technology, Innovation and Legal Practice in which law students learn to develop iOS apps that help make the justice system more accessible to everyone. You can learn more about the Iron Tech Lawyer program here. I wish that I could have taken this course when I was at Georgetown Law School, but alas, there was little demand for iOS apps in the early 1990s.
- California attorney David Sparks discusses dictation on iOS and the Mac. When nobody else is around, I use Siri to dictate texts and short emails all of the time. It is much faster than typing.
- Last year, I reviewed an app called Immigration that provides access to the key law relevant to an immigration law practice. This week I heard from the developer, Josh Adams, and he told me that he updated the app. He writes: "Last year you reviewed Immigration, an iOS reference app I created for immigration attorneys. In your review, you noted that the manner of accessing the full text of statutory sections was not ideal. In light of feedback from your review and from other users, I enhanced the app to show statutory sections in variable-length rows, as shown in this screenshot. I have also added to the app the practice manuals of the Immigration Court and Board of Immigration Appeals. By popular demand, I am adding the Foreign Affairs Manual. I enjoyed making Immigration so much that I recently left my attorney job and began creating software full time for a consultancy in San Francisco." Good luck, Josh, in your new career, and thanks for making the app more useful!
- Steven Sande of Apple World Today reviews the Inateck 2-port Rapid Car Charger, a device that fits into the cigarette lighter port in your car and can charge up to three iPads or iPhones at one time.
- John Moltz of It's A Very Nice Web Site reviews Bluetooth headphones that work with the Apple Watch and cost less than $100.
- Andrew Cunningham of Ars Technica reviews the Logitech K811 Bluetooth keyboard. He likes it.
- Cam Bunton of 9to5Mac reviews the Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard, another new Bluetooth keyboard. He likes it.
- And finally, while I normally wouldn't condone the mindless destruction of expensive items, I'm often intrigued by slow-motion video or split-second photography of a bullet piercing an object, such as the famous picture of a bullet going through an Apple. In that spirit, I offer today a slow-motion video of a bullet piercing an Apple Watch. And just to make it all even more ridiculous, the bullet is shot by Verne Troyer — the actor who played Mini-Me in the Austin Power movies. Take it away, Verne:
