Some smartphone apps track your location using GPS, although iOS does a pretty good job of alerting you when that happens and asking for your permission from time to time. Some of the companies behind those apps share that data with Unacast. And using that data, Unacast has analyzed the parts of the country in which there are people who used to move around a lot but are no longer doing so, presumably because of stay-at-home orders and recommendations related to COVID-19. As Geoffrey Fowler of the Washington Post reports, Unacast used that data to grade each state on how well its citizens are staying at home. It's an interesting story, but also an interesting reminder of how apps can keep tabs on where you are located and then share that data with third parties. And now, the news of note from the past week:
- A new post on the Lit Software website explains how Philadelphia lawyer Jeffrey Killino practices law exclusively from his iPad, not a computer.
- California attorney David Sparks discusses the new support for a trackpad or mouse in iPadOS 13.4.
- According to a new post on blog of Sensei Enterprises, a digital forensics firm that works with attorneys, the number of mobile devices in use today appears to outnumber the world population.
- I agree 100% with this plea by Dan Moren of Six Colors for Apple to add an activity circle pause feature to the Apple Watch.
- Apple provided a few members of the press with early access to the new 2020 version of the iPad Pro. Jason Snell of Six Colors says that it is great, but points out that "unless you’re using an augmented-reality app or taking an ultra-wide photo, it’s pretty much exactly like its predecessor."
- Matthew Panzarino of TechCrunch wrote a comprehensive review of the 2020 iPad Pro.
- John Gruber of Daring Fireball also wrote a good review of the 2020 iPad Pro, and he even included some audio samples to show the improvement in the built-in microphone.
- Charlie Sorrel of Cult of Mac has a good list of trackpad gestures that you can now use with iPadOS 13.4.
- This week, Apple released watchOS 6.2. Buster Hein of Cult of Mac explains what is new, such as support for in-app purchases on the watch.
- There are already countless ways that an iPhone can help you during the current COVID-19 crisis, and according to Kyle Bradshaw of 9to5Google, there will be one more starting on Monday, March 30. According to the report, on that day, the World Health Organization will launch an iOS, Android, and web app to help to keep you informed. For example, the app will offer alert notifications specific to your location.
- Bradley Chambers of 9to5Mac explains how he has used HomeKit and other smartphone devices to create a dream smarthome.
- For those of you who live in Louisiana, there is a great app called LA Wallet which lets you put a digital and legally valid version of your driver's license on your iPhone so that you know that you always have your license with you, even if you forgot your purse or wallet. (Here is my review from 2018.) To make things easier for everyone in light of COVID-19, Governor Edwards announced this week that the LA Wallet app is currently free. The LA Wallet app also provides a way for a person to prove their identity and verify that they are over age 21 (or over age 18) — and can also be used by a merchant to verify someone else using either the app or a driver's license — all without having someone else touch your device or your license. (See this video for more info.). The LA Wallet website says that this helps to reduce contact between people in the age of COVID-19. You'll still probably need to be within six feet of someone, but I guess this could help.
- And finally, kudos to Apple this week for donating millions of N95 masks to healthcare systems in desperate need of those protective devices as a result of COVID-19. Benjamin Mayo of 9to5Mac explains what Apple is doing, or better yet, you can hear about it directly from Apple CEO Tim Cook in this video that he posted on Twitter:
Proud to share we’ve been able to source 10M masks for the US and millions more for the hardest hit regions in Europe. Our ops teams are helping to find and purchase masks from our supply chain in coordination with governments around the world. pic.twitter.com/uTsA6eA5ks
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 25, 2020