I have been publishing iPhone J.D. for almost a dozen years, and for that entire time, the focus has been on how lawyers can use mobile devices to do a better job of seeking justice for their clients. For the past two weeks, as the entire world has focused on abuses of power, I’ve thought about how mobile devices have also played a critical role in implementing the famous reminder by Justice Brandeis that sunlight is the best disinfectant. A picture may tell a thousand words, but a video taken at the very time when power is being abused makes it easier for everyone to understand what is actually happening. We see how long the knee is on the neck and how unconscionable that is. We sympathize with peaceful protestors as they are gassed and beaten. We understand injustice in a way that words alone cannot really convey. As Apple improves the camera in the iPhone every year, it becomes an even better device for preserving memories of family and friends, and I love that, but it also becomes a better tool for social justice. And now, the news of note from the past week:
- If you own an Apple Watch, you know that, from time to time, you can earn an activity award in various different days. Ryan Christoffel of MacStories reports that today you can earn an award for World Environment Day by simply closing your stand ring — get up and move around at least once during 12 different hours. With all of the difficulties in modern life as a result of COVID-19 etc., it is nice to have an activity award that is easy to achieve.
- On the Apple website, Apple CEO Tim Cook shares his thoughts on speaking up on racism.
- In an interesting article for Macworld, Glenn Fleishman discusses what happens to digital purchases that a loved one made from Apple after they pass away.
- Joe Maring of AndroidCentral interviews developers to discuss how much more difficult it is to develop apps during the COVID-19 pandemic. The article reveals that it is even harder to develop Android apps than iPhone apps because there are so many more different types of Android devices, so when a developer is not working in an office with access to lots of different devices to test, app development slows down.
- Chance Miller of 9to5Mac provides his impressions of the iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro after six weeks of use.
- Samuel Axon of Ars Technica also reviews the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro.
- If you don’t have an Apple Card credit card yet, and if you sign up for one this month and spend $50 at Walgreens, you will get $50 back. Details are on the Apple website.
- For attorneys and others with a lot on our plates, a good task manager can be essential. Filipe Espósito of 9to5Mac reviews a new app called Tasks that allows you to organize tasks by project. I haven’t tried the app yet, but this review makes it sound pretty good.
- And finally, last night I saw a trailer for a new series starting on Apple TV+ today that looks like it could be uplifting during these troubled times. It is called “Dear…” and it profiles game-changing individuals such as Spike Lee, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Stevie Wonder, Oprah Winfrey, Gloria Steinem, and even Big Bird, who have inspired many people to do great things: