Mobile Ministry Magazine

Some good news out there for those of you who use RIM BlackBerry devices and have looked somewhat longingly at the Celio Redfly. In the past weeks, the versatile Celio Redfly smartphone companion devices have added BlackBerry devices to its list of compatible smartphones. So this means that for those of you who do your work on a BlackBerry, and don't want the hassle of finding wireless keyboard drivers or carrying a netbook, that you have a solid solution.

A few reviews have already been published about the Redfly+BlackBerry package, here's a snippet from the review from Brighthand:

...BlackBerrys don't have an on-screen cursor in exactly the way a PC does, so Celio had to adapt. The Redfly's trackpad-- and mouse if you plug one in -- acts like a 5-way D-pad. This can move the selection point up, down, left and right, but not diagonally. Hitting the left mouse button is the same as pressing in on the track-ball on the BlackBerry. The Redfly has a set of Up, Right, Left, Down buttons, and I often find these easier than the mouse or trackpad...

We've talked about the Redfly+Smartphone combination here a few times. This is really a good solution for those of you who'd have little to no problem working from your smartphone for long spells, but could use the larger screen and closer-to-full-sized keyboard. Add to that you get 8hrs of use out of the combination, and you really do end up with a very robust mobile solution.

There are a number of churches/orgainzations which may have looked at BlackBerries and Windows Mobile devices as enterprise-like solutions for communication and productivity. This Redfly+smartphone works really well. And, instead of configuring laptops, then having to track those (more expenses), you get something a lot less expensive in the Redfly, and something that requires a lot less maintenance for you (the IT department) and the user.

For more info, to download drivers for your device, or to see the different Redfly models available, check out the Celio website.

If you are using the Redfly, we'd love to hear how you are getting along with it and some of the positives and challenges. Leave your note in the comments below.

Labels: BlackBerry, ceilo redfly, mobility, Windows Moible

Caught this news a few days ago, Laridian Bible Software has released four new titles:

• AMG Concise Introduction to the Bible
• AMG Concise Bible Doctrine
• AMG's Encyclopedia of Bible Fact
• Reese Chronological Encyclopedia of Christian Biographies

Resources such as these can come in handy in the mist of discussions or smaller Bible studies. For more information and to purchase and download for your mobile device, visit the Laridian Bible Software website.

Labels: Apple, commentary, encyclopedia, iPhone, Laridian, Palm, software, Windows Moible

A really neat experiement has just concluded over at GearDiary. One of their writers has done a week long experiment where she's repalced using a MacBook for a week with her Samsung Epix Windows Mobile smartphone and the Celio Redfly Mobile Computing Companion. Here's a snippet from part 2 of her report:

...I found myself pushing off doing things so I could use the Redfly. Not just big things like emails, but little ones like adding tomorrow's task list, or just balancing my checkbook in Splash Money. The experience on the Redfly is just that smooth, especially over USB. And it is nice to have the bigger screen. Since I wasn't going to take care of anything on my MacBook, I found that I was better at doing things on the go with the Redfly since I did not have the excuse of "I'll send that email/update that appointment/check that website later when I am at my laptop..."

You can read Parts One, Two, and Three at Gear Diary

Labels: ceilo redfly, Samsung, smartphone, Windows Moible

As stated before, the Nokia E71 Review has been published at Brighthand for your reading. In addition, I also reviewed the new Palm Treo Pro smartphone in the same week (yea, busy one there for me).

Some general thoughts:

• The E71 is one impressive piece of device. The metal body, the battery life, and the number of features is absoutely incredible. Its amazing where mobile devices have gotten to.
• The Treo Pro is probably Palm's best Windows Mobile device yet. While it does miss some of the Palm tweaks that other Palm Treo devices have, it feels and looks the part of something that iPhone users would be willing to move to in order to be more productive.
• Both devices are a distraction during church, the Treo Pro moreso because of the color and sheen.
• Neither device is available on contract (in the US), and this works to your advantage especially of you have contract terms that are in your favor right now.

Both devices have strengths and weaknesses, but only one of them really stole the show for me. Check out both reviews at Brighthand. Feel free to ask any additional questions and look forward to some other E71 impressions in the coming weeks.

Labels: Brighthand, E71, Nokia, Palm Treo, review, smartphone, Windows Moible

This was quite interesting to see in my inbox yesterday considering the recent post on being a good steward. Splash Money for Windows Mobile has been released. It was previously available for Palm OS handhelds, but now can be used for those with Windows Mobile devices.

Here are some of the features:

• use stand-alone or sync with desktop edition
• ability to categorize individual or batch items
• 256bit Blowfish encryption
• support for several account types (checking, savings, money market, etc.)
• And more.

I really like Spash Money (and am waiting for the Symbian S60 version). Using this along with doing the Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University course with my church really helped me to better mind my manners when it came to spending. The integration with the desktop, along with the wireless syncing on one (unfortunately not all) of my back accounts made keeping track of things pretty much a breeze. Also, being able to create and print out a report of what I've been doing has been helpful as well.

Splash Money for Windows Mobile is available now as a trial version or can be purchased for $29.95. For more information and to download, visit the Splash Money website.

Labels: devotion, software, stewardship, tech, Windows Moible