Mobile Ministry Magazine

Here's one of those times where I wish that I was invited to take part inside of an event that would have been able to have a significant impact into the way that we use biblical software.

Specifically, I'm talking about the Bible Software Shootout that took place this weekend at the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) Conference. The website This Lamp has provided the only> report of the event that I have seen - this despite the many tweets on the event which were very incoherent and disjointed. Here's a snippet about a surprising entry into the field:

...Although Olive Tree could not perform every aspect of the last two challenges, what they could do was very impressive, indeed. The representatives from Olive Tree showed that their "pocket" software can be used for very serious work if someone is so inclined to do so...

Now, without getting into the details too much, each participant was to use their software to complete 5 tasks, and then document the steps they went through. It seems (from This Lamp's reporting) that only Accordance was able to do this successfully, the others (Logos Systems, Stuttgart Electronic Study Bible, Bible Works, and Olive Tree) missed on one or several points.

It would also seem that not just the tasks, but also process documentation was a difficult piece to address. We've talked about it some here in terms of designing a Bible UI around the user, not so much around the features. And it would seem that some of the applications got caught up into the latter.

Another few things I noticed from this report were in those that were not present: Laridian, Word Search, Sword, and a few others. I would have thought that this would have been more about getting as many platforms here as possible for evaluation, not just those with certain name or reputation recognition. Nevertheless, there now seems to be some metric for some of these software platforms to be measured against in respect to academic (I refuse to use the word serious) biblical study on computing devices.

Check out the rest of the post at This Lamp, and be sure to give some feedback to your Bible software platform of choice if you would see these features better developed for what you've paid for. This will only make the field better for all, and hopefully, better students of the Word.

Other Posts on the Software Bible Shootout:

• OliveTree's Presentation at SBL
• #SBL (via Twitter Search)
• Report via Resources for Biblical Studies

Post Edit Note: If you've got a report from the Software Bible Shootout, post a link to it in this comment and I'll link it to this main post.

Labels: accordance, Bible, Logos, Olivetree, review, software

Kevin Purcell put together an early impressions review of the new Logos iPhone Application over at his website about a week ago. We are just getting to it now, but if you are considering the Logos iPhone App, then I definitely recommend this read. Here's a snippet.

...The other good thing about the Logos iPhone app is the overall interface. It is nice. It opens to the Home screen which lists reading plans and news information. Tap on Library and there are two lists, the bookshelf (pictured above) and the library. It is a little confusing to have a library tab on the library page. I wish they had made it more obvious that the bookshelf is the most used books while the library tab is all available books. Titles like Favorites and All would be more explanatory...

Read the rest of the review at Kevin Purcell's website.

Labels: Bible, iPhone, Logos, review, software

Last time, I talked about my decision to purchase a T-Mobile G1. It seemed like the logical choice given the way I used my mobile devices in times past, and I figured it was one that I could grow with. But now that I've had the phone for a week, I thought I'd give a bit of a review and share my thoughts.

First and foremost, the best part about purchasing this device is that it didn't require me to change my plan, other than adding data service. Robin & I already had unlimited texting on our accounting, so I was able to simply add the $24.99/mo data plan without affecting our texting plan. As far as the initial purchase is concerned, the only issue I had upfront was that the data plan didn't get properly added to my account at Wal-Mart and ended up having to call T-Mobile customer service when I got home to get it added. That was a minor hassle, and a one time event, so no complaints there.

After getting the phone charged and the 3G service working, the phone did its thing in syncing my hosted Google account (larosa@trailblazinministries.com), bringing over my contacts, email, and calendar without any issue. I double checked and everything looked good, especially with my contacts. From there, I hit the Android Marketplace and started to download some applications for the device, so that I could start getting some good use out of it. Given that Google doesn't natively have a tasks app (yet) and are just getting around to implementing it in Gmail, one of the first things I downloaded was a tasks/to do list application. At first I tried Tag ToDo, but that didn't work out too well; it was a bit too simple. So, I ended up settling on TooDo, which seems to fit my workflow and needs a lot better. Once I settled on the tasks app, I spent a little while configuring it and porting (manually) all of the tasks that I needed to complete. Other than what came preinstalled, that was the only application that I really needed for productivity's sake.

A few of the other apps I downloaded included: SMS Popup (an app that shows a pop-up when a new text comes, instead of the standard alert), Bank of America, Note pad, ShopSavvy (which scans barcodes & looks for prices online), Toggle Settings (a quick app to change the phone's mode, i.e. turning the ringer to vibrate or turning Wi-Fi off/on), the Weather Channel, and a few games (Sudoku, Blackjack, Maths Workout, Chess & Tic-Tac-Toe). I also downloaded a Facebook application (which replicates the iPhone browser view of Facebook) and CadreBible, a Bible software application. So far, the only thing that I feel like I'm missing is having my Google Reader in its own app, but since that's not available in hosted Google, I'm not surprised; either way, I can still view it from the browser.

Once I found all the apps I wanted, I took some time to customize the home screen so that my most important apps were always quickly available (i.e. TooDo, Toggle Settings, Contacts, Mail, Weather, etc.), then with my games & other items on one of the other screens.

In terms of usage, this phone isn't much different than how I used my T-Mobile Dash, other than how certain things operate. Given my knowledge of tech, I didn't bother reading the manual and felt right at home using the device. The only thing I had to really figure out was how to scroll the window, but once I figured that out, the device was super easy to use. About the only complaint I have with the device itself is when it locks itself (after timing out) and then I have to go through the process of unlocking the phone to get back to what I need, especially while on a call. Granted, I have a pattern set to unlock the phone for security reasons, but it can be annoying at times. I may end up delaying the timeout past 1 minute & see if that changes things (hopefully without negatively affecting my battery life too much).

Given my schedule, I haven't had too much time to "play" with the phone, but I have given most of the features a try, including the Google Maps, which became invaluable just the other day. I had to take Ryan to Awana for the first time and I had never been to the church where it's held, so I used Google Maps to chart out my course. Well, I ended up missing my turn and used the GPS to pinpoint my location and then find my way back. It was totally a lifesaver that night! Other than the Google stuff, this is really no different than any other smartphone, which is a good thing for me, as it's very consumer friendly.

The last thing I want to note is the accessories, which I wasn't all too pleased with. The one I purchased came with all the new stuff (1GB SD card, headphone adapter, etc.), but it really didn't impress me that much. given that the adapter/headphones are supposed to double as your headset, I found the headphone cord way too long to be useful for that purpose (because it leaves the mic hanging too low). I haven't even bothered trying it yet because I didn't feel like messing with it to get it to be the length I needed. Instead, I purchased a Jawbone 2 bluetooth headset, which should be here Monday, so that I don't have to worry about wires at all. The other complaint is the case that comes with the phone. Granted, it's a nice case & all, but there's no belt clip or loop, so users are forced to stick it in their pocket or a bag when traveling. I tried that for the first few days, but found the phone to be too bulky, even in my roomier jeans. I eventually settled on using the case that came with my Dash (the G1 amazingly fit in it, albeit very snug) so that I could continue carrying my phone on my hip. The only concern I had with that was the magnetic closure, as I had read in some Android forums that magnetic case closures can screw with the compass. I figured I'd live with that for now until I'm able to find a better case, seeing how I couldn't tolerate the standard case that came with the phone.

Overall, I'm very pleased with my purchase and very glad that I made it. It's made things a lot easier to work with, especially now that I don't have to worry about having a lot of my data in multiple locations (i.e. my calendar & tasks). I look forward to seeing what they come out with next, and I think I'll be using this device for a long time to come. For a first generation OS, this is a very solid and stable device and I'm pleased to be a part of the android community & movement.

Labels: Android, G1, review, T-Mobile

Two things to remind you, even though this seems to be a very busy week all around.

• BibleTech: Don't forget to register if you are intending on going. Remember also that there's a special room rate at the Hilton where the conference is being held. Keep up with the speaker schedule and other updates via Twitter (#BibleTech09)
• Pretty cool event going on in Barcelona, Spain called the Mobile World Congress. Basically, every mobile, web, and IT folks from all over the world showing their wares and presenting what will be coming down the pipe. And believe it or not, innovation and ingenious use doesn't slow down because of recessions. Just imagine what areas the Body can plug into given the state of those things mobile and web.

But that's all for now. Stay tuned this week for the next part to LJ's T-Mobile G1 Review, as well as some other thoughts and goodies.

Labels: BibleTech, community, G1, MWC, review

I wrote a few weeks back about my belief that the only thing I thought I needed to make my BlackBerry the complete mobile ministry companion was some form of GPS navigation. At the time I picked a model, I had to decide between having Wi-Fi capabilities or a GPS radio.

I picked wi-fi for the call advantages and the ability to have a second method to get internet access. Plus, third-party GPS pucks provide better (IMHO) functionality than current built-in radios.

I had an opportunity to see if TeleNav GPS Navigator would fill my needs.

TeleNav 5.1 promised to make my Blackberry a mobile GPS voice navigator, and I wanted to see it done.

After getting the software on my device, I was able to go throught the setup process, and pair it to my bluetooth puck via my phone's bluetooth radio. The program itself gives the option of Drive To, Directory assistance, Maps & Traffic and Tools/Extras. I went straight into the Drive To menu. I entered an address, and the program immediately queried the address and gave me the directions. The display showed clear 3-D arrows, and gave me the option of looking at the summary of the trip, or switching to 2-D. During the trip, I received close-to-live updates of the trip in progress, and estimated time of arrival.

You get to pick what type of voice you want; the voice prompts were clear and not given in a timely fashion. Any major deviations to the presented routes were met with ominous rings. After a few requests to turn round, it mapped an alternate route immediately.

I changed the inputs... the program can map your trip to accommodate fastest way, shortest, preferred route, or you can have the route optimized for traffic or pedestrian walking. The system continually polled for traffic, and located a major pileup before the electronic roadsigns noted it. It then gave the option of a segment-avoiding re-route.

All in all, I was surprised by the intuitive nature... every facet seemed to have been created to assist drivers in a very busy world. Even the little things, like the ability to search and input destinations by voice, or the integrated compass, are all very useful. The biggest treat is integration with desktop browsers. Telenav has browser plugins that integrate with Internet Explorer and Mozilla FireFox. These plugins help auto-populate your account with addresses that are synced to your device over-the-air. In other words, you can plan a trip on your laptop, and be ready to go when you open and sync the program to the servers.

While the volume was a bit low for my taste, it worked over my device's media player; so, even with music playing, the program "spoke" over the music at turns and such.

Another feature that seemed glaring in its absence was the inability to input trips with multiple stops. However, it does force better pre-trip planning, and since the Drive-To feature is fast, this can easily be used at every stop.

This program is juicy enough to be a homerun hit, but TeleNav does take it a bit further. The customer service was exemplary, and it was via the most innocuos of sources: Twitter. Within minutes of sending the most general of messages over Twitter, I was treated like royalty. Not bad in this day and age. Shockingly wonderful service.

Maps are upgraded quarterly; thus, you'll always have recent information.

TeleNav is available in different packages. You can purchases a one-yr, two-yr or four-yr licence, or you can do a monthly subscription plan. They also offer a 30-day free trial period. They also have standalone units, GPS receivers, and solutions for business as well.

For the peace of mind, I highly recommend it.

Software was tested on 8-hr trip with Freedom Bluetooth GPS Keychain receiver and BlackBerry 8320 running OS 4.5.

Labels: BlackBerry, GPS, review, software

This application is one of my rant 'n' rave items.

SplashMoney is yet another component of SplashWallet from SplashData, and is aimed at being a mobile financial manager. And boy, does it deliver...

Just like its sister app SplashID, it comes in a dual package: a handheld utility and a syncable desktop companion. Both are full-fledged and combine to give the user the ability to manage financial matters on the go.

To start, SplashMoney serves as a secure, password-protected repository of your sensitive data. Each account you have can be entered by type and account number. In this sense, it is the complete financial ledger; you can input financial transactions as they occur. Instead of carrying a check register, you can do it electronically on your smartphone, as this is a complete check Register.

Now, what really sets SplashMoney apart is its online capabilities. SplashMoney, on both the desktop and the handheld (with online access), has the ability to go online and retrieve complete banking information from some major banks. This is a very useful feature for a few reasons. If you bank with an institution on the list, you can set up the account automatically over-the air if you know your weblogin information. Also, with the view transactions feature, you can balance every transaction from these banks, and check them against entries you made yourself. To expand a bit, I seamlessly converted all my banking information to the electonic sheet, and I was good to go in minutes.

When I say complete, I do mean complete. The Budget feature allows you to create and maintain your budget within the device. The budget utility is integrated with the transactions, so you can easily keep track of your overall financial picture. The Reports feature allows you to summarize all the info in easy-to-understand textual information or pie charts (I really loved this). These reports and color-coordinated pie-charts can be printed.

Syncing the handheld with the desktop is independent of the Blackberry Desktop Manager.

I'd love to see the list of online banks increase, even though the list does arguably include every major bank there is. The ability to share databases in a seamless manner between, say, a couple would be a nice enhancement.

All in all, despite my experience with this software on another platform, I was just as impressed. I am an unabashed fan. The features can be expanded beyond just personal finance; I used it to create a mock ministry budget that I could have with me at all times.

SplashMoney is available on every major mobile platform (and for Windows ) at the SplashWallet site. Of course, there is a 30-day trial and a 60-day money back guarantee.

Labels: BlackBerry, review, software, SplashData

Olive Tree brings name recognition and a reputation for reliability to the game. One of the things I first looked for when I initially considered the jump from Palm to BlackBerry was the presence of Bible programs.

The fact that Olive Tree had a BlackBerry port helped make the decision easy.

Olive Tree BibleReader for BlackBerry Version 4.0 is an impressive Bible study program that provides access to an entire suite of inspirational resources.

What makes this software compelling is the ability to store bible translations and related material on the user's expansion card. This removes the natural fear BB users have when it comes to device memory. Now, with this software, the only restriction on how much resources one can carry is based on device OS and memory card size.

Genius.

I am finicky. OTBR accommodated- me. Option-wise, I had numerous options: the ability to adjust font size, font color, background colors and more. The search function was snappy; I found it to be very responsive, even to multiple words.

Of particular interest to potential users will be the Bookmarking feature. It does just that: it keeps the selected verse in memory. This is great for when you are at service or such and have a list of scriptural references, you can save them in the program before-hand. I found it very useful.

Olive Tree has a library of dozens of bible translations and related reference resources that can be stored on card. Of these, a few are free (like ASV and BBE); the rest are for sale at the Olive Tree site. The reader itself is free.

My biggest issue with OTBR is admittedly somewhat unfair; it is based on the fact that I was such a huge fan of the features on the Palm port. To be specific, I was dismayed with the inability to add notes directly into the program while studying the bible. As said early, I loved this feature on my Palm. At the risk of sounding overly whimsical, I missed the ability to "split" screens with different versions. Again, that feature enhanced bible study a great deal

Simply put, this is an excellent program. It is well-made, feature-rich and has the potential to be a valuable tool in the lives of the familiars and the curious. If anything, try out the free translations. Support is quick, updates are frequently put out, and the developer clearly aims to please.

This software is rated for devices running OS 4.2 and up.

It is also available for Palm, iPhone, Symbian, and Windows Mobile.

This software was tested (and its review written) on an 8320 running OS 4.5 on T-Mobile.

Labels: BibleTech, BlackBerry, Olivetree, review

I've been playing with the Nokia N96 for the past few weeks, even going as far to having it replaced with a model with a later software update, and its been pretty cool. So much so in fact that if the battery were more efficient, and it had 3G (I am using the Euro spec one), I would give up my N95 for it.

Here's a rundown of the specs of the N96:

• 320x240 pixel color screen
• 16 GB of built-in internal memory
• microSDHC card slot supporting up to 16GB microSDHC cards
• 5 megapixel digial camera with LED Flash
• VGA video camera for video calling in supported markets
• Quad-band GSM, regional support for UMTS/HSDPA (the model I have supports European 3G, though there is a North American 3G supported version)
• Accelerometer
• Built-in GPS
• Wi-Fi via 802.11b
• Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and Stereo Bluetooth
• DVB-H digital TV tuner
• MicroUSB cable connection to PC

Now, before your eyes glaze over and say that this is way too much for a phone, let me emphasize that the N96 (and other Nokia N-series devices) are more than just simple phones. These mobiles are designed to facilitate the kind of interactive computing that you cannot get from just voice, nor from just sitting on a table in the corner of a room. Its a "get out and see the world" kind of device. This one just happens to make video a significant part of the experience.

The long and short of things with the N96 though center around the fact that it is indeed feature packed, but there are some limitations. For example, it has already seen some major software updates to address issues such as device speed and battery life. Its not (yet) as fast as my N95 in terms of most tasks. Nokia has a tradition of tweaking and tuning things over the course of the life of a mobile device, and so hopefully the N96 will see some of this attention.

The one area though that cannot really be helped is battery life. The battery is a small one (950mAh) compared to the on in my N95, and before the end of the day (with my usage patterns) its pretty much done. Most people should not have a problem though, and get a full day out of the N96 unless they are having a media heavy day (camera, video, Wi-Fi are big drains on the battery).

All is not bad with the N96 though. I found it easily able to replace my N800 Internet Tablet because of the 16GB of internal memory space. With the memory card slot, if I were to add an 8GB card, I would have as much space as my N800 right now. Also, there is more polish on the Symbian S60 software than on the Maemo that the N800 uses. That made it easier to live with the device, and pretty much do whatever I wanted to do.

Other positives included compatibility with most of the software that I usually use. I'm looking forward towards playing more with Nokia viNe as that seems specifically tuned to the N96 as well. Doing TV-Out was also more pleasurable than the N95 with crisper video and less lagging when using the web.

The N96 is not for everyone though. At a retail price of $800, its not exactly the most ministry friendly tool to just go out and get. And at the same time, its value in a ministry context, as with most smartphones, is just hard to measure. You can duplicate just about anything that you do with a phone, mp3 player, laptop, video camera, Internet terminal, cable box, etc. And then you can share it. The only limits are your imagination and the battery.

As stated earlier, I really enjoyed the N96. In some respects, its better than I expected. The down points are really down though. Nothing that cannot be overcome, but definitely takes some of the shine off of this top of the line device.

Makes me wonder what's next, and if there's another type of application of mobile tech like this that I've not yet explored.

Thanks to Nokia Blogger Relations for sending this device.

Labels: N800, N96, Nokia, review, smartphone

So the big question is... "Brian, are you happy that you shelled out the cash for this device?" My answer is of course... yes! I can see you scratching your head already so I'll go ahead and preemptively address your questions and confusion (because I'm a prophet and can read thoughts. Duh). I purchased this device for $200, which is way less than the current asking price of about $400. I think for what I paid, I'm getting a good amount of usability for my money. I work with spreadsheets all day long, in an emergency I have a perfect way to email edits to word and excel documents while out and about. While the browsing is less than satisfactory, at least it's there, and if you sign up for LogMeIn (which is free) you can take advantage of a full computing experience, including browsing, whenever you need one with some obvious rendering speed drawbacks, but they're not significant with the right settings.

The real benefit to me is the larger screen and keyboard with portability. This IS available with netbooks, but I don't want a 3rd computer to have to sync my data with. I want to take my notes, bring them home and have OneNote import them without me thinking about it. I want to be able to have all the files on all my computers synchronized without any extra steps. A third computer would likely draw me to abandon using one of them eventually because of this. Also, a netbook is $400 vs. the $200 I paid. Extra features like USB and VGA-Out ports are very nice, but not likely to see much use from me save for the occasional emergency file transfer or mouse usage. For me, the idea was to get something that would allow me to type faster and more accurately, rendering apps and data on a larger screen making them easier to use, while not creating an additional place to store data. For those of us who are tech savvy, one thing we will always be if we keep multiple devices, is tech redundant (i.e. Always having more than one device that can play mp3s, videos, store files, type documents, browse the web, or clean your shoes…. Ok... I'm wishing with the last one).

What I needed, was a cheap way to do my emails, blogging, note taking, and reading. While leaving some things to aspire to, the Redfly fit the bill… quite literally.

Labels: ceilo redfly, Hardware, review, smartphone, software, wireless application

Check out Part One of the MMM Celio Redfly Review to get up to speed.

There isn't any software on the Redfly itself to speak of, so what I want to address here, is how the software on the smartphone takes advantage of the hardware. Things like resolution, video playback, keyboard response times, sound emulation, and the like are all issues that books can be written on. Some things work perfectly, and others, way less than stellar.

First I'll talk about video playback. At the present time, there isn't any. In my limited experience with this, it seems that once the Smartphone is attached to the Redfly, all video processing is done via the onboard processor, which no developer has written anything for. This unfortunately isn't limited to just videos. Most of the games I play (Warfare Inc. for example) will not render on the device, or even boot up for that matter. All video players that I've tried will boot and render sound, which by the way only renders via your smartphone's speakers as the Redfly doesn't have any built in, but the players don't render any video. To its credit, most of the other applications take full advantage of the increased resolution. All of the Microsoft Pocket Office applications, Palringo IM, EReader, Pocket e-Sword, Olive Tree Bible Reader, the picture applications, and the file explorer for example, all worked without problems.

Internet browsing does leave something to be desired, unfortunately. While Pocket Internet Explorer does take advantage of the full screen, it doesn't improve the page rendering very well at all, and because of the video processing issue already mentioned, currently, alternative browsers like Opera and Skyfire also do not work. This is very unfortunate as most of what users will be doing will involve internet browsing.

The current version of the Opera browser (8.65) does, however, work very well. Web pages were snappy and rendered nicely as if this were a full fledged desktop browser. I love the Opera browser and hope issues with the 9.5beta version are resolved quickly as this is the version being included with a lot of the newer HTC devices like the HTC Diamond and Diamond Touch Pro.

I also tried the device with remote desktop services like LogMeIn, and it performed above and beyond what I thought my cell phone was capable of. I was even able to set the color and screen resolutions up so that it was optimal and fit pretty snugly on the screen with great readability. Now there's a great use for that 3G connection! The web page rendering speed really doesn't have much to do with the Redfly itself because it's all done on the phone, so tests on how fast web pages load won't be much different than if you were using the phone on it's own.

Speed, however, is a factor in typing. Even using the Bluetooth connection, there is no noticeable lag behind keystrokes and letters on the screen, unless you're typing a text message. I have used the Redfly every Sunday to take notes in both the new members' classes and sermon notes for the last 3 weeks. I've used applications like MS OneNote Mobile, Pocket E-Sword, and Pocket Word with much success and satisfaction.

One thing I dread using it for is typing text messages. Emails type fine however, but text messages are another story. At first I thought it may be a problem with the threading (I use Windows Mobile 6.1), so I deactivated threading and tested again to no avail. It's quite an annoying issue. I type at about 60-70 wpm (I'm sooo sloooow), and the rate the words appear on screen is utterly ridiculous. Imagine typing a message, let's say around 100 characters long, completing your thought, and ready to send… but you have to wait to see if you made any typing errors for up to a full 10-13 seconds after you finished typing (I actually counted… and it was only 82 characters.). As I said, this can be quite annoying.

As I mentioned, the reading tools I use (Pocket E-Sword, Olive Tree Bible Reader, and EReader) all work wonderfully. For consuming electronic reading material, the Redfly really does a great job with its larger screen. And with a rated 8 hour battery life, that's a lot of reading for me! I have yet to have this thing die on me when I really need it. I don't use it for long periods of time most of the time (except if I'm in a bind and really need to get some web browsing done), so I always have plenty of juice to get done what I need. On average I'd say I end up charging this device maybe two or three times a week. And mostly to top it off if I know I'm going to be using it the next day. I love to be able to listen to a sermon while tabbing between programs like pocket word and E-Sword while reading and keeping notes.

This device has taken typing to a whole new level. I didn't use Pocket word much until I got the Redfly. OneNote was another useless application to me until the Redfly showed me how useful the app could be, especially when paired with OneNote syncing. I'll save my doting over OneNote for another time and just say that I love that program, both on the Tilt and the PC. Yet, even with all of these great uses, if you're ever side by side with someone on an Asus (as I was on a recent trip to a conference with a friend who uses an Asus 1000H), you'll find that your experience in comparison with theirs… is less. While I am happy that the Redfly does in fact make using a smartphone better, it does not make it better or equivalent to the experience of using a full fledged computing platform.

While not an exhaustive list of issues I have with the Redfly, it's definitely a list of my big concerns. Given that they're promoting this device (at least on their site) to IT groups as a replacement for work laptops, I would definitely throw a fit if I was handed one of these by my local IT guy and told that this was the device I had to work from. For spreadsheets and word documents, it's excellent, but not for much beyond that.

There's still more to come! Come back tomorrow to get Brian's final thoughts on the device and get info on how he uses it in his day to day life.

Labels: ceilo redfly, Hardware, performance, review, software

For the past few weeks, I've had the opportunity to live "life on life" with the Celio Redfly. For the uninitiated, the Redfly is much like the defunct Palm Foleo. It is a mobile companion that simply seeks to enhance the users Smartphone experience by adding a few luxuries. In the case of the Redfly, those would be a nice 8 inch screen that doesn't just zoom in or blow the devices screen up to an ugly pixilated blur, it actually changes the resolution! So those spreadsheets or word documents become easier to edit and create on the run, but it does have its limits, but more on that later. It also adds a larger keyboard, a VGA-Out port for monitors or projectors, and 2 USB ports which are very useful!

The hardware itself doesn't do any of the processing work. In fact, as far as I can tell, the only thing it runs on its own is the video processing. So apart from using this with a Windows Mobile device (which at the time of writing this was the only device supported), this thing is utterly useless unless you like to stare at the nicely portrayed "Redfly" logo.

Which is not a bad thing! Say you're at your local Starbucks and someone decides to swipe it... the thief actually makes off with an expensive paperweight, because all of the data and processing power comes from the Smartphone. So to make it perfectly clear, the device itself does absolutely nothing, but when used in conjunction with a Windows Mobile Smartphone, it makes that Smartphone look pretty nice.

The Hardware

The hardware itself, I have to say is very attractive. From the decorative raised curves on the top, the prominently displayed "Redfly" logo, the sharp looking reflective burgundy coloring and matching track pad, to the lovely screen, this thing doesn't look like a simple cell phone add on. In fact, anytime I've been seen in public with this thing I get quite a few comments/questions/curious looks. The most common responses I get are "that's cute" and "it's a WHAT-'fly?". Let me tell you... trying to explain what it is and what it does to the "less than tech savvy" is a task. For most, the curiosity tapers and thins when I tell them that it isn't actually a laptop. That says a lot about who is buying this thing.

For the average consumer, a netbook or a laptop could probably be best. Even when shopping for a case in a computer store, I was stopped when comparing the carrying options to the device. "What is that?" the store rep asked (two of them). I tried explaining what it was and they pressed me for more information. "Is it a Windows machine? No... That must be Linux..." the other rep added. I pulled out my AT&T Tilt and said, "nope... it's neither. It's my cell phone". At that, they both quickly lost interest. So cosmetically at least, this thing has been a big success with others, myself included!

The two features I was the most curious about before ordering, were the VGA and the USB ports. My mind raced with USB possibilities. The first thing I did once I got it back to my office was plug my 60GB USB drive up to see if it would work. It was a no-go. However, every USB Flash drive I tried has worked flawlessly. The day I bought my case I also picked up a 4GB flash drive. It worked perfectly! The next day I took the flash drive back to exchange for a 4GB micro SD to replace the 2GB micro SD I currently used. I got home, swapped the cards, put the 2GB card into a USB flashcard reader and plugged it in. The Tilt picked up both cards perfectly. I even transferred some of the data from the 2 GB card over to the 4GB card with Resco Explorer. It took a little while but it did the job!

I also tried out a wireless keyboard and mouse I have laying around the house, and they both worked flawlessly. I also attached my computer monitor which worked expectedly. So all in all, the hardware itself does exactly what it’s supposed to.

Stay tuned for the next section of this review when we talk about the Softare and Performance of using the Redfly as a day-to-day tool.

Labels: ceilo redfly, Hardware, review

This is just a bit of a summary look at a few mobiles that have been in my pocket recently. Feel free to ask questions on any of them, and concerning the Nokia devices, stay tuned for feature articles about them.

HTC Diamond from Sprint

This is a model that I just finished reviewing for Brighthand. Its designed similar to the iPhone, Sprint Instinct, and LG Prada, but offers a smaller design than all of those. It has Windows Mobile and a custom user interface called TouchFlo3D. This custom interface, combines with the Opera Mobile browser, VGA (640x480 pixel) screen, and several pieces of additional software to make for a solid device. Some of my knocks on it were the battery life and polish of some of the software, but overall, its not a bad device to have.

Nokia N96 (Euro version)

The N96 is a newer Nokia model that I have received from Nokia Blogger Relations to review. It features 16GB of internal memory, a digital TV-Tuner, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, TV-Out, GPS... (breathe) ...a 2.8in screen, and Symbian S60 3.2 as the operating system. I've actually been swapped out to a different model since initially getting it due to some missing software and an update. So far, its not been too bad, but this newly updated model hasn't yet seen much time in the pocket due to the Diamond review taking priority. I have taken a slew of pictures of it though :)

Nokia N95 (North American version)

The N95 is the model that I received as the prize for the Mobile Web Server competition. Given the applications that I have for it, memory, system stability, and what is not out yet that could be better, this has been pretty solid. As usual, I wish that I could get more battery life out of it, but that's only because I really do everything with it. I'm not looking for a new model though, this one really meets the needs I have, the explorations that I've been wanting to do with mobiles in ministry.

Labels: Hardware, HTC, HTC Diamond, mobiles, N95, N96, Nokia, review

I've been asked a good bit about this phone, but nothing that I can say at this point will compare to what Matt Miller (aka Palmsolo) has put together over at his Smartphones and Cell Phones ZDNet Blog. Simply stated, this review is huge, and should answer near any question you have about the G1, except for when you can get it - its seems to be quite the fast seller.

As seen in one of the 5 videos contained in this review, this is a feature-packed device. But don't take my word for it, check out the T-Mobile G1 review and see for yourself.

Labels: Android, G1, Google, Matt Miller, Palmsolo, review

A good friend shot me an email about some coming updates for Olive Tree's iPhone/iPod Touch Bible Reader detailed in a post at Painfully Hopeful. Here's a snippet of what's coming:

...Well, I can happily say that personal libraries are now present beta release, and I was privileged to be shown a screen shot of what Hebrew support is going to look like on the iPhone/iTouch. Folks, you will be pleased, I am literally drooling over how Hebrew looks in the screenshot. The new version's UI differs some from the current release in the App Store, apparently from some work the gang at Olive Tree did with Apple's "UI Evangelist." The browser-like bar is gone from the top of the screen, which has been replaced by two buttons - one for selecting a book out of your library and the other to open the verse chooser (which has remained unchanged from earlier releases)...

Check out the rest of the post at Painfully Hopeful and then download Olive Tree's iPhone/iPod Touch Bible Reader and see the updates for yourself.

Image via Olive Tree

Labels: Bible, iPhone, iPod Touch, Olivetree, review, software

A post from the website Every Square Inch reviews a few Bible applications for the iPhone and offers some solid insights. Here's a snippet:

One of the best reasons I love having an iPhone is that it provides a quick, easy way to read the Bible. It's amazing when you stop to think about it. I always have the entire Bible right in my pocket! I can take 10 minutes to read a chapter any time I have the opportunity. I can search for a word or phrase in the Bible whenever I have need. All right there with me at all times—carrying nothing more than the iPhone I'm already carrying.

Personally, my favorite time and place to read my Bible is early in the morning on my front porch (while my dog Tucker walks around looking for rabbit droppings). An important morning custom for both of us. And often at that time, especially this time of year, it's still dark outside. That's when reading the Bible on my lighted iPhone screen is particularly handy...

Check out the rest of the post at Every Square Inch (link via Palm Addict).

Labels: Bible, iPhone, iPod Touch, review, software

Rocking through RSS feeds, Bible Softwrae Review linked to a Olive Tree BibleReader Beta Review at Touch Rundown. Pretty neat to see what Olive Tree has done. Check out this snippet of the review:

...One more feature that makes this a well-rounded app is the powerful search capability. You can perform a standard search, specifying where to search in the Bible, how to match your query, and how to display results. There is also an advanced search syntax that allows you to get very, very specific. You can match partial words and specify “ANDs”, “ORs”, or even get as detailed as to tell it how close to each other you want your search terms to be. You can also nest searches (create searches within searches). And that only scratches the surface. The bottom line is that the search capabilities of BibleReader for iPhone rival that of even desktop software...

Read the rest of the Olive Tree BibleReader Beta Review at Touch Rundown, then take a trip to Olive Tree to download it and try for yourself.

Labels: Bible, BSReview, iPhone, iPod Touch, Olivetree, review, software

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

I thought that it would be good to give something of an update as to how I am getting along with the Nokia E71 smartphone from Nokia Blogger Relations. As I stated before, this is the European variant - E71-1 - and so any 3G action I'd not be able to do here in the US.

About the Design
Litereally anyone who has seen this mobile as said that its the best looking BlackBerry that they have ever seen. Of course, after correcting them that it is not a BB but a Nokia, they got more impressed.

The device is smaller than just about any mobile phone out there with this much power and ability. Its just over a centimeter in thickness and not much more than that wider than the Palm Centro.

Made of metal, its heavy. But not ungainly so. I am starting to forget that its in my pocket and having to adjust my pat-down routing to account for the weight of the device.

The keys are taking me a bit longer to get used to than I expected. I had various Treos for nearly a year and a half and so I expected similar in respect to the keyboard, but I am doing more aiming to get to the letters. There's also an issue with one of my application buttons where it seems depressed and so I have to press extra hard for it to register the button press to the contacts application.

Overall though, this is a heck of a well designed device. Despite having a metal body, wireless of all kinds, and a battery of the same size as the one in my Internet Tablet, this baby s slick. Its a nicely made device.

Something About Use
In terms of software, the E71 uses the Symbian S60 operating system; the same one that was in the N95 that we had last year, albeit with several tweaks and enhancements, its solid and just gets the job done. Here are a few highlights of things I've noticed.

- This is the first Nokia mobile that I've reviewed that does a contact lookup just by dialing from the Active Standby (Today) screen without 3rd party software. Thank you!

- The browser is F-A-S-T. Whether on EDGE (cellular) or Wi-Fi (via coffeeshops and the like), pages load fast and cleanly with the Nokia Web browser. This browser, based on the same Webkit engine as Safari, also shows the Flash content of many websites. For that I was impressed as well. There's also an auto-complete option that makes it easier to revisit sites that require logging in.

- I downloaded the Mobile Web Server, Nokia Email, and Nokia Chat applications and there is still over 85MB of memory left to install more stuff. Yea!

- I've crashed it one time, and that was due to software, other than that, its been as rock solid in the software as it is in the design.

- Battery life is absoutely incredible. I get more than one day's use with it. That's crazy impressive.

Initial Conclusions
Only initial conclusions as this is just a piece until the full review gets to Brighthand. The Nokia E71 is a very impressive mobile device. The design, the battery life, and the software make it easily the best device Nokia could offer to those who wish to remain communicative to their audiences. The design will take knocks and drops, and the software is mature enough to do more because its seen some time in the oven.

At this point, I have very few reservations in recommending this device. You can also find it well under $500, making it a very smart choice as a purchase when you are not in a contract, or ending a contract, and want to keep the rates but update the mobile device. And its really one of the smallest, thinnest, most powerful devices of its kind.

Stay tuned for more about the E71 later on. If you have any questions, do ask and I will answer what I can.

Labels: E71, Nokia, review, smartphone

Pouring on the reviews of Nokia devices these days, here's one about the Nokia N82 smartphone. This device has a 5Mpx digital camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, and more, all in a candybar shell that is not much larger than the Sony Ericsson T616 that I was carrying when MMM got started. Amazing where technology has gone.

Here's a snippet of the review posted at Space and Time:

...However, once I got my eclectic taste of music on the phone, I plugged in the Nokia headset that was included and set off for a walk. I hate the Nokia earplugs. They are uncomfortable, cumbersome and that is just putting them on the neck. The quality of the music is great, and the sitting in my ears is horrible. I pulled out my Sennheiser earphones so I could listen in comfort. This made my music consuming much more enjoyable...

Labels: multimedia, N82, Nokia, review, smartphone

Now, I know that I said a few days ago that I've got a review of the E71 coming, but I wanted to prep things along with a review that I did a few weeks ago that was recently posted at Mobile Burn.

The Nokia N78 is a pretty slick little handset. Like the E71, its has Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, and a memory card slot. Frankly speaking, its an amazing little device with a ton of battery life to spare.

In addition, this is one of the first models from Nokia which feature their latest operating system. Think like an update from Windows 95 to Windows 98, this is major and minor. The biggest aspect of this update is that you don't have to always connect to a host PC in order to download software updates. Other things like screen transistions and performance tweaks really tack on the value for it.

So in preparing you for the E71 review, check out the N78 review at Mobile Burn. And I'll have to try to remember to highlight more of these devices as I am writing about them on the internet. There's a lot out there to choose from.

Labels: E71, mobiles, N78, Nokia, review

Here is some good news for MMM readers and those who just like technology that reaches a bit more than just out there.

I was approached by Jukka from Nokia's Mobile Web Server team (and I'm sure he's on several others), to write a guest post for Nokia's Mobile Web Server blog. The following is a snippet of the published post:

...In finishing with the MWS Experiement at Mobile Ministry Magazine, I knew for sure that moving my personal website to the MWS was something that I wanted to do. Besides the ability for complete content control, I began growing used to replacing going to MS Exchange when on a full computer to going to my moible via my MWS website. It was not just an issue of replacing a website that excited me, but replacing that entire middle man of syncing that made the MWS an attractive pursuit. However, I was not confident in my mobile device. Battery and memory concerns meant that I would have to modify usage patterns to carry a charger of some sort around often...

Read the rest of the post Replacing a Community-Reaching Website with the Mobile Web Server at the Nokia's Mobile Web Server Blog.

In addition to the post at Nokia's Mobile Web Server Blog, there is now a compiled version of the MMM Mobile Experiment Report in PDF format for your reading pleasure. This is the inital non-styled version, there will be an updated version of this PDF in the coming weeks.

Labels: Mobile Web Server, Nokia, review, software, tech

A bit late on mentioning this, but it should still hopefully catch you in a good mood. Laridian has released PocketBible 4. This is a major update to the PocketBible franchise and includes several improvements in performance and user interface and a host of new features. Here's a rundown on what's new:

• Open multiple windows/books then maximize any window for full screen reading.
• Flick Gestures while Maximized
• Auto-Scroll Reading
• View a verse in all Bibles.
• Enhanced Searching (with last 20 searches saved)
• Customizable Toolbars
• Save/Restore Layouts
• Synchronize Notes, Bookmarks and Highlights with PocketBible for Windows (sold separately) /li>

In addition, there are a few news features for Windows Mobile 6 Standard (non-touchscreen) users such as the ability to view Commentaries, Dictionaries, Devotionals, and other titles; create and edit notes/highlighting; and synchronize Notes, Bookmarks and Highlights with PocketBible for Windows (sold separately).

How to Get PocketBible 4

Quoting this from the Laridian website:

PocketBible 3 owners can upgrade to PocketBible 4 for a limited time for only $7. Check your email for a special offer from Laridian. When placing your order enter the priority code from the email to receive 30% off PocketBible 4, plus 20% off of any additional Bibles or books you order at the same time.

PocketBible 4 is available via several bundles from Laridian. Since you need to have some Bibles and other resources in order to use it, this would a good thing to take advantage of. See this page for a list of Bibles and bundles for use with PocketBible 4.

PocketBible 4 Review

Ed Hansberry has been a popular user and reviewer for PocketBible in the past and has already done a full and detailed review of the new PocketBible 4 application. Here is a snippet:

...There are other nice features like the ability to save and restore preferred layouts if you have different screen layout preferences for reading versus studying, etc. The Find feature has also been beefed up a bit including a "NEAR" search term, allowing you to find two words within so many versus of each other. For example, if the Near setting is at 3, searching for Moses NEAR Aaron will yield 409 results. This new search parameter can be combined with the existing AND, OR, XOR and NOT to make some pretty complex searches. The NEAR term only works in bibles, not other books...

Read the rest of Ed Hansberry's PocketBible 4 Review.

There's Already Been An Update

And if that isn't enough, Laridian has already released an update to PocketBible 4. This update just fixes some issues with syncing highlights and restoring history from a previous session. More details on this update are stated on the Laridian Blog.

So...

We've already recommended Laridian's PocketBible software as a sold investment for your mobile reading needs. Just jump on over to Laridian's website and see for yourself. There's a trial version available, but I can say that many of you will be very convinced that it would be worth the purchase.

Labels: annotating, Bible, Laridian, mobile, reading, review, software, updates

There have been a few items sitting starred in Google Reader that I've been meaning to post. Sharing some of those, and hopig to spark something that will get you and I to think a bit more as the week goes on the place of mobile and tech in faith.

• ESV and NJKV for MS One Note (Bible Studies nad Technological Tools)
• When Should Parents Purchase a Mobile for their Children (Just Another Mobile Phone Blog)
• Research and Note Taking Tools, and the follow-up article Bonus Items for Research and Note Taking (Bible Studies and Technological Tools)
• Mission Field Money Crisis (Chruch Relevance, Charlotte Observer)
• Blogging Ministries (Church Communications Pro)

Got any news that would be of value to the Mobile Ministry Magazine community? Use our Contact page to send it to us.

Labels: annotating, Bible, church, device, education, mission, reading, review, software

This is the meat of the MMM Mobile Experiment Report, and also where it makes the transition from being just a review of software and online services to one of looking beyond the offering to the ability that it lends. Here's an outline of what is covered in this, Part Two, of the MMM Mobile Experiment Report:

• Additional Setup Items
• Day to Day Use
• Immediate Challenges
• Accessibility versus Versatility

Given the length of this, section of the report, it will be an extra day before publishing the third and final section. This report will also be made available as a singular download (debating on the format of that now). Enjoy Part Two, and please do not hesitate to give any comments to this or Part One.

Part Two:

Having set up the Mobile Web Server application on my device, and creating the Mobile Web Server website, I had to set up some initial pages so that in coming to the site, Mobile Ministry Magazine readers would be greeting with more than just a blank page. There are two parts to setting things up for day to day use; one part is on the mobile device and the other is through a browser (that can be on the mobile device or not; but most might choose not to go that route and just use a separate computer).

Setup on the Mobile Device

On the mobile device, one navigates to the Web Server application and is presented with a series of screens. First, you are asked to insert your user name and password that was set up on the MWS website. There are a few easy to figure out section of the application that is always shown when it is opened from here: Users, Status Message, Statistics, Access Log, Folders, and Settings.

The Users section was probably the one that I spent the most time with initially. There is a default Guest account where one can set Guest access to the MWS; and then from contacts in one's address book, you can set specific users to have ability with a user name based on their name in your address book and a password that you have set for them. I quickly abandoned doing this for a lot of people and just settled on making sure that I had a user group for my family to special sections of the MWS site, and everyone else just got the Guest account.

Truth be told, I spent a lot of time looking at the Access Log. I wanted to see how many people were hitting the site, and it was kind of neat the first few days of the experiment. We averaged about 10 unique users per day and for the most part people did not have issues with logging in (user names are case-sensitive; found that out halfway through the project).

Setup through the Web Browser

There is a setup wizard that one has to access from a device that has a suitable web browser while the mobile web server (MWS) is running. On my end, I used my Nokia N800 Internet Tablet connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot at a local coffeehouse while the MWS was running on my N75.

Two parts of this allow you to set up things like the welcome screen, offline page and message, and get a badge that can be displayed on several websites. After this wizard, there is a control panel that keeps the latter items, and allows for presence updates on the status page. One can change the theme to several types; however they are nothing more than color and banner changes. Unless you want to dig in the mobile device and play, there is no way to create custom layouts or fiddle with the CSS for more customization.

From the web browser one is able to set all types of options and create content and points of contact.

• Home
• Blog
• Camera
• Gallery
• Guestbook
• Contact Me
• Presence
• Web Chat
• Calendar
• Messaging
• Phone Log
• Contacts

By default, guests only see the Home, Blog, Presence, and Contact Me sections. The Gallery has to be setup to either show (share) pictures that are shared from the phone's internal memory, memory card, or both. I found that the Guestbook was a bit of a redundant feature, but it could prove beneficial in some applications. The Web Chat section is interesting as when someone starts a web chat, there is notification on the mobile device of the chat and then an IM-like interface is given. From there chat happens just as it would in any other chat room. The Calendar, Phone Log, and Contacts are pulled right from the mobile device and gives a browser-accessible means to see and edit content. I liked this feature, but wished that there was more granularities so that some users could see "Busy" instead of the specific event. Presence tells the state of the mobile phone such as how long it has been idle, battery life, and a status message. And finally Messaging allows one to send an email or SMS message directly to you as well as see all the SMS and MMS messages that are stored on your mobile device (Inbox and those sent).

One neat feature that is present throughout is the fact that all contacts that appear in various applications such as Calendar and Messaging are linked to their contact card. This contact card shows the last call as well as links to the address book entry. Simple, but really neat.

From registration to setting up the welcome page and basic access rights it took about 30 minutes to get rolling. After that it was just a matter of running the MWS on my device and engaging with people as they visited MMM Mobile.

Day to Day Use

The Mobile Web Server is pretty much a set it and forget it type of application. I let it run most of the day, taking it down in the AM in order to use my mobile device as a modem for my Internet Tablet and desktop. During this time, I updated the status message to point visitors to the MMM Jaiku channel. In pointing people to the MMM Jaiku channel, it was my hope to engage the usual readers of MMM, and the new visitors of the breadth of content related to Mobile Ministry Magazine, as well as engage in some discussions across a social network in a slightly different function than what is normally done in blog-driven websites.

On the downside of the day to day use, the MWS was an inconvenience in terms of the other connectivity that I aspire to have on my mobile device. Usually, I run the Emoze email client and the Jaiku Mobile client. Because of the MWS, I was not able to run these and have a long functioning device. Either the MWS would take over the connections, or the applications would consume too much memory and cause one or all of them to shut down. During the experiment, I only suffered one total device crash, but this was an instance where the hardware specifications of my N75 (which has about 15MB of memory free for running programs at boot) was at the very bottom of what is needed to run the MWS.

Because of this limitation, I was not able to use programs such as widgets to keep me abreast of what was going on at the MWS without opening the application. That being said, it was quite nice to have the server running and not have to think about it unless I needed some kind of functionality that was a bit more than normal.

A small note: the Nokia N75 is a 3G phone, meaning that it has the ability to use a high speed data network called HSDPA. Because of the specifications of this network, the device is able to use applications that connect to the Internet at the same time as using voice functions. While running the MWS, there was no drop off in voice quality or phone functions except for occasional slowness for MMS message processing.

Immediate Challenges

While there were those hardware challenges, the large and more pertinent challenges to using the MWS was trying to keep the same kind of communicative presence that had been done at Mobile Ministry Magazine. Essentially, opportunities to post to the blog, upload pictures, and engage the reading community were all things that seemed a lot easier when connectivity was spread across devices instead of being centered on one device.

For example, whenever I needed to use the web browser on the N75, I had to shut down the MWS because the two applications were too large to run at the same time. This meant that I would have to create a status message saying that the server was down and point people to the MMM Jaiku channel; then initiate a discussion at the MMM Jaiku channel; and then I would be able to continue with using the web browser. Certainly, having a device with later hardware (more memory and processor speed) would have been great here.

Another issue that I found was that in order to publish to the blog, I needed some type of dual connection. Using the MWS made situations of traveling to WI-Fi hotspots a bit of an adventure as now instead of using them just as a rest place, I wanted to be strategic in making sure that I could create a conversation piece around the use of the technology. It was not until later in the experiment that I realized that there would be times that I would be able to use the web browser on the N75 in order to populate the blog. This stretched the mobile device, but creating a blog post where I was able to live blog a sermon and have my notes created on the N75 instantly appear online was quite exciting (mental note: taking a T9 typing class before doing this should be a prerequisite).

Accessibility versus Versatility

This challenge of balancing multiple devices, multiple input methods, and then just the plan fact that a web server can really go with you anytime makes one feel more accessible than ever. The granular level of being able to assign contacts or groups of contacts to various parts of one's mobile device presents a solution that is present already in some enterprise applications such as SharePoint and even commercial ones like Movable Type. But those are PC-focused solutions. Nothing wrong with that, but as mobile devices become more versatile, one should not just assume, but see that a lot more of what we do can be driven from a mobile platform.

The Mobile Web Server is an answer to a question that is not yet asked so loudly yet though. Its not so much an issue of how does one stay accessible, as many connected devices open to you; but it allows you to determine how you want people to connect to you based on the social network that you have built - your phone book. This is more powerful and empowering when combined with a communications strategy and a personality that invites people to want to connect to you. That being said, its not accessibility that is the focus of using the MWS, its versatility. Versatility meaning that you are empowered to take your social network with you, and how they connect to you is determined by you, not by the service that you subscribe to.

This is if you where using the software and service makes a change from being just a piece of software or just another online service. It would be easy to just put the MWS into one of those categories and then judge it based on its benchmarks; but there is nothing to just it against. Nokia's Mobile Web Server is a canvas that if given the network and the hardware (and economies) becomes a canvas that enable the kind of personal computing that was dreamed about in the 1950s when the foundations of the Internet began, and now realized with the fast and (nearly) open wireless networks that most of the world has access to.

Flash Sideshow of MWS Screens, via Share on Ovi

Labels: accessiblity, browser, community, device, internet tablet, Jaiku, mobile, Mobile Web Server, mobiles, mobility, N75, Nokia, review, SMS, software, tech, usability

The MMM Mobile Experiment was one part a technological look at what is possible with mobile devices today, and a look at what is possible/can be done now with mobiles as part of a social strategy for inreach and outreach initiatives.

Just a review of what Part One of this report will contain:

• Reasons and Goals of Experiment
• Explanation of Nokia's Mobile Web Server and my Device
• Social Networking Component

As stated in our previous post, the experiment is looking at the technology as something doable now. But also why software and usage has relevance in this highly connected world. Part One of the MMM Mobile Experiment Report gives an overview of the technology used in this experiment and how it was set up for use.

Part One:

For eight days in April 2008, Mobile Ministry Magazine's Antoine RJ Wright conducted an experiment where the Mobile Ministry Magazine website was hosted completely on a mobile device using Nokia's Mobile Web Server. The goal of this experiment was to test the viability of such a mobile platform as a solution for running a community website, to investigate the capabilities of mid-range mobile phones and smartphones as a communications hub, and to investigate possible uses for such technology in various social and economic environments.

Backing up this software, Mobile Ministry Magazine used the Jaiku social networking service as an offline community component. The reason for this is that limitations in the phone hardware would mean that the mobile web server (MWS) would be offline, yet there needed to be some means for consistent with the MMM reading community. This channel of the Jaiku network contains aggregated RSS feeds of several websites that speak towards life and technology in Christian circles.

With these two aspects set, the MWS server was activated, and MMM Mobile began to live. In this section of the report, we will talk in detail about the technical and physical look of this MWS, and then how these worked in real-life.

Nokia's Mobile Web Server

Nokia released software based on the Python programming language called the Mobile Web Server (MWS). Expanding the methodology of their N-Series mobile devices being the "next stage of computers," the MWS is a project to demonstrate the ability of mobile phones today, and to explore the use of a server, or data and application hosting platform, on a connected and mobile device.

Setting up the MWS requires the registration of a user name at the MWS website (http://mymoobilesite.net). This user name will become the address of the website (username.mmymobilesite.net). After setting up the user name, you then set up information such as a profile, offline page, and then download the software.

The MWS software is compatible only with Symbian S60 mobile devices. While there are a few devices by Samsung and Motorola, only Nokia devices with Symbian S60 have been tested to work with MWS. Unfortunately, not all Nokia S60 devices will work, and many will have limitations based on their hardware. This limitation will show up later as a reason where a solution for its use is limited technologically and economically.

My device is the Nokia N75. This S60 smartphone is one of three 3G devices that Nokia currently has made available in the US. This device was featured on the Cingular/AT&T wireless carrier a little over a year ago and for most purposes is about at the end of its marketing life. This doesn't mean that it is incapable, only that better is here and coming. I purchased this device in December of 2007 in order to better learn about the S60 operating system and have something that would have ample value to my usage as a person who enjoys and lives on the web and mobile devices/applications.

The Social Networking Component

As a nearly-30 adult, much of my online time is spent on email and within social networks. While I do not have a presence on MySpace or Facebook, I do have one with Jaiku. A recent Google acquisition, Jaiku found favor with me because of its mobile client application, the ability to consolidate RSS feeds into one singular area, and a community of people from multiple background, faiths, and locations. In terms of social network services, Jaiku belongs to a subsection called lifestreaming applications. Lifestreaming meaning one can have several streams of their life appear in this service. From microblogging to sharing photos on services such as Flickr, to community channels, Jaiku is one part a community and another part a gate where you can allow people to come in and out of your life.

For Mobile Ministry Magazine, Jaiku is used as an RSS feed aggregator and community window. Through discussion and the RSS feeds, our community focus is seen and shared. Because of this ability to be a window made it a suitable back-chatter component for this experiment.

In Part Two, we cover the day to day use of the Mobile Web Server, some initial and lasting challenges, and the difference between accessibility and versatility as I began to dig into using MMM Mobile.

Labels: community, device, mission, mobile, Mobile Web Server, mobility, N75, Nokia, review, software

The website Help My Unbelief has done an excellent review on the Amazon Kindle eBook device. While we've touched on it in bits and pieces here, this is the first review that I recall taking the device totally from the viewpoint of an aide to Bible study. Here's a snippet of that review:

...I have two versions of the Bible on my Kindle, the NASB and the ESV. Both of them have very awkward navigation methods. When you open the Bible, you start on whatever page you last left off on. This is difficult because if you are in the middle of a chapter, you will have no idea what chapter you are in or what book you are in. The book/chapter reference is not displayed anywhere on the screen except at the beginning of a chapter. The way around this is to change your habits a little and make full use of the search feature. When you want to read Ephesians 3, simply hit search then type in eph 3 and hit enter. You probably won’t be as fast jumping around the Bible on the Kindle as you would with a paper Bible but once you get the hang of it you won’t have any problem keeping up with sermons or Bible studies where the leaders jump from passage to passage. If you know you are going to be in three or four passages and want to flip back and forth between them, you can bookmark each one and jump between bookmarks easily...

Read the entire post at Help My Unbelief.

Labels: Bible, Kindle, review, software, tech

In keeping with speaking about those things Symbian and Nokia related, a review of the N81 8GB that was given to me by Nokia Blogger Relations has been published at Brighthand. Here's a snippet of that review:

...The N81 8GB is a mobile that sometimes let me down, and others times delightfully faded into the background. Just the design of the device screams of something needing a touchscreen and touch-sensitive controls, and I was let down where I could not do so. Even still, the buttons and controls were well placed and for the most part easy to figure out...

Read the entire review at Brighthand.

One of the more impressive aspects of the N81 8GB is the battery life. For example, I use it in the office all day as a music player and email device, and at the end of the day there is more than enough energy to go to the gym and use it still as a aide to running, and a point of learning (podcasts and music). Its nice when tech is suitable and fades just enough to the background to allow one to carry on the business of life.

Update: I have a few pics of the N81 8GB on my Flickr account here. I'll post more as I play a lot more with it and explore other ways to use it as a backend towards ministry endavors here.

Labels: N81, Nokia, review

I've recently received a Nokia N81 8GB from Nokia Blogger Relations and have begun putting it through its paces. I've detailed a first impressions review over at Brighthand and have more to come soon. Here's a snippet of that review:

...Build quality is generally impressive. The N81 8GB is the same thickness as my N75 when the slider is closed, and not much longer when opened. It's a heavy handset, but not ungainly so. It feels like it was crafted from a brick of metal, even though it's entirely plastic. The only noticeable creaks after a few days use are with the slider when the N81 8GB is pressed against my head while talking on the phone. There was some wobble there that can be a cause for concern for some...

Read the rest of the Nokia N81 8GB First Impressions Review at Brighthand.

Labels: N81, Nokia, review

The nice folks at WMExperts have done a compairson (with video) of some popular Bluetooth keyboards. Here is a snippet:

Really, we're pretty big fans of folding keyboards, we just wish that the drivers for them were a little more standardized. All three worked with our Motorola Q9h "out of the box" without any drivers ....except for the "enter" key. The enter key, it's kind of important, it turns out. So downloading drivers from the manufacturers is a must. Fortunately, the drivers work pretty well.

While this article is slanted towards Windows Mobile devices, the keyboards can work with a variety of mobiles, laptops, and even desktops in some cases. As a mobile option, you cannot beat pulling out one of these and getting a good deal of work done.

Labels: mobile accessories, review

As some of you know, I have a pretty intiamte relationship with Bible+ as it is one of the first Bible readers that I used on a PDA and that I am also the person who's responsible for the current site's design and upkeep. One of the things that I had just kinda fell into today was redesigning the Bible+ front page (it's not done yet) but upon checking the links to one of the reviews that we had listed for Bible+, I saw that one had been recently updated (well, recent as in December of last year).

Bible Software Review (BSR) took a look at Bible+ and updated its findings on the program after version 3.2 was released late last year. If you are looking for a solid review of this free software, its worth taking a read.

In addition, there was a recently published review of Logos 3 (June of this year) at BSR. I wanted to quote from the article, but its really a deep and impressive piece to read. I encourage you to read the Logos 3 review, and other software reviews, feature articles, and blog at BSR.

Labels: Bible+, Logos, review