The most talked about technology announcement last week didn't even come from CES. Apple announced its new phone at the MacWorld conference in California. The new iPhone sure looks snazzy. But it took me all of about five minutes before I realized I won't be getting one. First, it will be a pretty weak PDA compared to what's available in the Windows arena. Few applications will work on the iPhone and the web runs over the very slow Cingular EDGE network. Second, I've gone back to two devices after years of having a PDA phone simply because I like my phone small and compact and I like my PDA to have a good sized screen. I don't like holding a big screen up to my cheek when I speak and I don't want to always have to have a bluetooth headset on me either. I'm sticking to my Samsung A920 lightning fast EVDO phone from Sprint combined with my Dell Axim x51v. I get high speed Internet via a wireless bluetooth connection between the Samsung and the Dell and the Dell is just a sensational PDA. The Samsung also happens to be an excellent phone.

Powercast, a Pennsylvania startup company, announced at CES a rather amazing new technology. Using a small RF transmitter to emit a radio wave, small devices like cell phones with a fingernail-sized Powercast receiver will be able to get "trickle" re-charging without being plugged in to a charger. The company will also use its technology for wireless keyboards and mice so that those devices need never be plugged in for recharging.

Wow, this is actually a for real good piece of news and long overdue. No more mailing in the AR-11 form every time you move and then having USCIS bury the forms in a vault never to actually be entered into a database.

According to USCIS,

USCIS processes more than one million change of address requests each year. The new online service will reduce processing time and improve customer service by providing immediate confirmation that USCIS has received the updated address information. Overall, test users found the new online form convenient and simple to use.

USCIS also reports that address change reporting for naturalization applications will also soon go online.

The new web service can be found at http://www.uscis.gov/AR-11.

I have now spent two days at the Consumer Electronics Show and, as in every year, seen amazing technology, one gadget more stunning than the next. Perhaps the most important development that will affect you, my colleagues, is the upcoming roll out of the new Microsoft Vista operating system and the new Microsoft Office 2007. My first reaction - I was stunned by how much of an improvement both products are over their current versions (Microsoft XP an Microsoft Office 2003). I also saw numerous other must have products and plenty that you definitely can't claim to need, but are certainly cool (do I really NEED a 104 inch plasma television?).

Over the next few days, I'll be blogging about some of the best of the best. I also am planning on writing an article on the new Microsoft products. Now I'm so tired that I am falling asleep at my keyboard and need to turn in. Nighty night!

Thanks Nolan Rappaport for pointing out Gethuman.com, a web site that gives you instructions for bypassing those annoying prompts when you call company telephone systems. They've got 500 of the most common on their web site.

The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General has issued a new report that largely slams USCIS for it's inability to successfully modernize its technology infrastructure. I've been highly critical of the disastrous USCIS web site upgrade that recently took place with virtually no customer input.

Now the OIG report indicates that USCIS' IT folks have a serious institutional problem of not getting feedback from the agency's customers. Is this any surprise from this most Soviet of US government agencies?

USCIS expects that its plans for increasing user involvement in transformation activities will reverse problems with limited awareness and commitment to transformation objectives.

Without adequate input or participation from a range of users, USCIS may develop transformation solutions that may not meet user needs.

As a result of its lack of participation, OCIO [Office of the Chief Information Officer] awareness and commitment to business transformation has waned. The OCIO has not been consistently involved over the past year as the initial IT modernization program shifted to a more business-driven effort. The prior CIO who began the previous IT modernization was not involved in business transformation. OCIO has had only one full-time representative involved in transformation activities: A detailee from a field location, assigned to the Technology Solution Team. This team had limited involvement in transformation from the outset, as the requirements it needed to support its systems design activities had not been gathered. The team ultimately lost resources and discontinued its work due to funding cuts. Additional OCIO involvement in transformation generally has been limited to IT project managers working on related efforts, such as infrastructure upgrades and data integration. Since joining USCIS in June 2006, the new CIO has taken steps to assist with transformation activities, such as enterprise architecture planning and technical systems design; however, the role that this official ultimately will play in transformation has not been determined.

This recommendation will remain open until USCIS makes additional progress in ensuring representation and participation of users at various levels.

I'll be in Las Vegas this coming week visiting with clients, but it's no coincidence that I've scheduled this week for that trip. As a technology writer for the ABA and for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, I attend the Consumer Electronics Show each year to cover the latest gadgetry that can be used in your law office, home or car. In past years, I stuck to writing magazine articles, but this year I'll also be blogging from the show and letting readers know right away about the coolest discoveries I make. So be sure to check this blog over the next week.

Just saw at HR Management Magazine's web site this useful article for human resource professionals on managing the immigration process at a company or organization. While the article is geared to in house people, the tips translate well for lawyers in private practice. Among the topics discussed -

1. Put Your Immigration Policies in Writing
2. Get Your Message Out and Never Stop
3. Invest in Training for Your Immigration Management Staff
4. Partner with other Stakeholders in Your Organization
5. Create an Immigration Intranet
6. Make Case Status Information Available Online
7. Automate Every Manual Task You Can

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