There are certain staples that tend to be recession-proof: alcohol, toilet paper, Spam. You can add smartphones to that list, reports the New York Times. Sales of BlackBerrys, iPhones and other smartphone models are projected to increase by 25% this year.

In case you’re thinking about contributing to that increase, Gizmodo has a guide to the latest and greatest models: the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3G S, the Palm Pre, the HTC Magic, and the BlackBerry Storm. The tech savvy folks at Gizmodo compare the hardware, software, and cost of these little electronic extensions of ourselves.

Check out the Gizmodo piece for tech love poems and detailed charts. Here’s the short version:

To summarize: iPhone OS claims advantages in ease of use, its burgeoning App Store, and a respectable core feature set, but falters on multitasking and its lack of ability to install unsanctioned apps. The Pre’s WebOS is extremely slick and friendly to multitasking, but its App Catalog is light on content, and its development SDK is somewhat restrictive. Android and BlackBerry OS are both more laissez-faire, letting users install apps from whatever source they choose. Neither of their app stores is spectacular, but Android’s is markedly less anemic.

Last month, we did a post on the best iPhone apps for lawyers. If you chose to download Black’s Law Dictionary, we’d love to know if it’s worth its hefty price tag. We included some polls in that post about which smartphones you all prefer, and what’s on offer at your firms. Results after the jump.

These days, it seems like the Blackberry stranglehold on Biglaw is loosening. Purely anecdotally, we’ve been seeing many office-pale fingers making use of iPhone touch screens to check for partner e-mails over the weekends.

Let’s move beyond the anecdotal though. Which do you prefer as your Biglaw ball and chain?

Richardson’s top 10 iPhone app picks, and a couple more polls, after the jump.

With cancer cured and AIDS no longer a threat, America can finally turns its attention toward that final frontier of western civilization: iPhone fart applications. For those of you unfamilar with fart applications, they are downloadable programs that make “hilarious” farting noises on command, thereby rendering real farts completely obsolete.

But where there’s gas, there’s a fire, and last Friday, the creators of iFart Mobile asked a Colorado federal court to rule that the phrase “pull my finger” was common parlance and therefore not protectible under trademark law.

By way of background, iFart previously published a press release announcing that Apple had at long last agreed to carry the “innovative” application. The release stated, somewhat disparagingly, that for many months, iPhone users were denied this critical application, as prudish Apple did not want apps asking people to “pull my finger.” However, when the creators of Pull My Finger, another iPhone fart application, got, er, wind of this press release, they threatened suit for trademark infringement.

There is perhaps no better use of the court’s time, or your time, for that matter, than reading iFart’s bag of hot air complaint. Highlights and the completely ludicrous document, after the jump.

We recently reported on Winston & Strawn making iPhones available for its attorneys. Will other firms follow suit?

Some already have. This morning, Sheppard Mullin announced that it will be “adding the iPhone as a selection in our mobile device program,” as of mid-September. Full memo, after the jump.

One firm that’s not phalling for the iPhone: Latham & Watkins.”Latham isn’t going for the new version or the new software,” a tipster tells us, “because of a lack of ‘whole-device encryption.’ They posted [a message] on the Latham [intranet].” That message, also after the jump.

Earlier today, we noted that Debevoise & Plimpton just slipped from the top spot in the American Lawyer’s A-List rankings. One Debevoise associate has a solution, proposed in this open letter:

Dear Rick [Evans, Presiding Partner],

By now you have no doubt seen the AmLaw rankings. You will have been as horrified as I to see Debevoise drop from #1, a position it has held for four years now, to #5. More dramatic, though, is the drop in the Associate Satisfaction score — we shed 90 points out of 200. Luckily, I have an effective, easily implemented solution to offer: iPhones. That’s right - iPhones. For just $200/associate, you can infinitely increase our satisfaction, as well as get some great press on Abovethelaw.com.

Think about it, Rick. iPhones. Debevoise can be “that” firm — you know, the hip, modern, generous, lifestyle-caring-about firm that law students buzz about and want to work for.

Let’s reclaim our destiny. With iPhones.

Best,
[redacted]

In other iPhone news, John Carney asks over at our sister site, Dealbreaker: “Has Apple Sold So Many iPhones It Crashed Its System?”

The Sheppard Mullin and Latham iPhone announcements, after the jump.

Two pieces of good news from Winston & Strawn. First, like many other leading law firms, they’ve raised their maternity leave to 18 weeks (from 12 weeks). To see where your firm stands, check out our maternity leave table, continuously updated by surveys guru Justin Bernold.

Second, for all of you iPhone-atics out there:

You guys might be interested in this little tidbit. Beginning August 1st (provided there are no issues with compatibility or supply), Winston & Strawn will include the iPhone as part of its supported mobile devices. Last summer, Winston announced it would start purchasing BlackBerry devices for attorneys on a 2 year replacement cycle (prior to that time, attorneys were required to purchase their own devices but the firm reimbursed for data charges).

As noted in the announcement below, the Apple iPhone will now be among the supported devices, and the firm is even willing to purchase it for eligible attorneys (i.e., if you are not subject to a 2 year contract). For those attorneys who want the 16GB model, the firm will pay the first $200 (representing the cost for the 8GB model) and charge back the $100 additional cost to the attorney’s personal account.

Check out the full announcement — plus a handy chart comparing the iPhone with the Blackberry 8100, Blackberry 8800, and Blackberry 8830 — after the jump.

As bloggers, internet addiction is a job requirement, but we hear it’s a bad thing for “normal people.” We’ve noticed quite a few articles recently on cell phone addiction and Web abuse. We think lawyers more than most may be prone to technological addictions, due to their nifty firm-supplied tech toys, many billable hours spent in front of computers, and the ever-present blackberry/crackberry.

Wired reports that one influential psychiatrist has proposed adding internet addiction to the manual of mental disorders:

In the March issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry, Jerald Block proposed that Web abuse be added to his field’s bible, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Block cites research from South Korea, where, he says, the affliction is considered a serious public health problem, and the government estimates that 168,000 children may require psychotropic medications. In China, the Beijing Military Region Central Hospital puts the number of teenage pathological computer users at 10 million.

Like other addicts, users reportedly experience cravings (for better software, faster machines), withdrawal (logging off may cause irritability), a loss of sense of time (wee-hour fixes), and negative social repercussions (it’s so much easier to date an avatar).

Check. Check. Check. No check — our social life is just fine, thank you.

There are your warning signs for internet addiction, so look out! We wonder if carrying a PDA is the equivalent of chewing nicotine gum…. More discussion of addictions and how the love of the iPhone can lead to robbery at gunpoint, after the jump.

Lawyers seem to cluster at two extremes when it comes to technology. Some are true tech geeks, who wet themselves over every shiny new gadget; others are technophobes, who are intimidated by two-sided printing.

After Apple unveiled the new iPhone yesterday, we received several emails from readers in the first camp. For example:

In light of Apple’s release of software making the iPhone compatible with corporate Microsoft Exchange servers, I think the iPhone merits a “Biglaw Perk Watch” post. Which firms are now allowing use of the iPhone? Which firms are paying for it?

Now that iPhones are compatible with Microsoft Exchange servers, perhaps Skadden will no longer frown upon lawyers spending their technology allowances on iPhones.

A second tipster tells us that at least one large law firm is jumping on the iPhone bandwagon:

Just watched the Apple keynote address today from MacWorld in San Francisco (watch it at apple.com). In the first 10 minutes, Steve Jobs shows a video about enterprise users adopting the new iPhone. Sonnenschein is one of three or four different companies they profile — including Genentech, Disney, and some army thing.

Pretty cool! Looks like Sonnenschein will adopt iPhones! Are any other firms doing this?

Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal has been going through a rough patch lately. But if shiny new iPhones are on the way, things are looking up.

If you know about your firm’s policy with respect to the iPhone, please chime in, in the comments. Thanks.

P.S. We know of at least one Biglaw partner who is an iPhone fan: noted Supreme Court litigator Tom Goldstein, of Akin Gump. To find out what he keeps on his iPhone, click here.

The New IPhone Is Ready for Business [Business Technology]
Apple Aims for the Masses With a Cheaper iPhone [New York Times]
Tom Goldstein’s iPhone [SCOTUSblog]

Earlier: A Clarification About iPhones at Skadden
Skadden Raises To… iPhones!
Waiting for the iPhone: An iWitness Account

Lots of interesting debate in the comments over the wild rumor that Skadden might raise starting salaries to $195,000 before the year’s end.

Some think it’s crazy talk. Others note that it might simply mark a return to Skadden’s prior practice of paying above-market base salaries, combined with smaller year-end bonuses (designed to bring total comp for Skadden associates up to market, depending upon other firms’ year-end bonuses).

Anyway, regardless of what you think about that gossip, here’s something that’s confirmed:

tipster: interesting tidbit
ATL: I’m all ears
tipster: skadden will reimburse associates for iphone purchases from their tech allowance
ATL: oh cool!
tipster: Pretty much makes skadden associates the coolest on the planet!

Here are more details on the Skadden technology allowance, from the firm website:

The firm provides up to $3,000 to attorneys for the purchase of technology equipment at the commencement of employment. After 2 years of service, the firm provides additional allowances for the purchase of approved technology equipment.

If you’re Skadden associate, go treat yourself to five iPhones. Then send the four you don’t use to your friends at ATL.

Update: Some caveats about Skadden and iPhones appear here.

Attorneys and Law Students: FAQs [Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom]

Earlier: More Wacky Rumor-Mongering: Skadden to $195K?
Waiting for the iPhone: An iWitness Account

Okay, this is kinda random. But it’s Friday, so please give us some latitude.

(Also, we have previously covered this subject, in a way that connected it to the legal world. So there.)

As you all know, today is I-Day: the first day that Apple’s coveted iPhone will be available for sale to the general public. At 6 PM, Apple and AT&T stores will open their doors, and the masses will flood in. Long lines have already formed in different cities around the country.

We were just IM’ing with one ATL reader standing outside an AT&T store waiting for his iPhone. If you’re curious, you can read portions of our exchange after the jump.