Mobile Ministry Magazine

There has a been a number of happenings in the area of mobile bible applications. Here are the highlights of what's come in the past week+:

OliveTree Releases Symbian S60v5 Beta and updated BlackBerry and Android applications

The folks over at OliveTree have been kicking it into high gear with mobile application updates. They've released an early beta of their OliveTree Reader for Symbian S60v5 devices (Nokia 5800XM and N97, Samsung i8910, and Sony Ericsson Saito). Testing is happening in this very public beta to get feedback before making this official. So jump in by downloading the reader and giving your feedback in the OliveTree forums.

There has also been an update to the BlackBerry and Android versions of the OliveTree application. Those too can be downloaded from the mobile-enabled download page.

Maemo 5 Bible App (Katana) Development Moving Forward

The topic of a new Bible application for Nokia's Mameo5 platform has continued with some really solid success. Already, there has been some movement by a number of developers to port the existing Rapier application to Maemo5 (testing on a live device only remains there). And then for the newer application - tentitvely named Katana - there's some work being done in a basic UI, and discussions about a plug-in approach that would enable the use of paid Bibles from folks such as OliveTree, in addition to the already planned for support for Sword and Palm Bible+ bibles.

If you'd like to learn more or join the development efforts, throw your eyes and prayers into the discussion.

Logos' Bible Software App for the iPhone

Logos has also jumped into the mobile application world with its Bible software application for the iPhone. This is a free application which allows its users to read, search, cross reference, compare versions, and even set up reading plans, all from an iPhone or iPod Touch device. As with many mobile Bible applications, this one requires a wireless connection as it connects to the Bibles featured at bible.logos.com. There's tap-and-hold functionality for viewing Hebrew/Greek, verse/text comparison, and linked cross references.

If you are looking at a Bible app to compliement your Logos library, this would probably be your best bet. For more information, visit Logos' iPhone software webpage or iTunes.

Got News?

Got news about a Bible application - new application, text, or public beta programs, shoot us a note about it so that we can help you spread the word.

Labels: Bible, iPhone, iPod Touch, Katana, Logos, Maemo, Nokia, Olivetree, Rapier, Samsung, software, sony ericsson

Here's part two of one user's experience with mobile devices and its intersection with their life. Check out Part One of this story and then submit yours.

Then I heard about the upcoming [Nokia] N95. And I wanted it. That wasn't ideal as I found that Orange had sneakily locked me in for an extra 6 months (actually, they've gone and done that again this time, now I think about it, by a different method). I bought out of the contract and got me a new Nokia N95 on the day of release. Some people had all sorts of problems with the device, but mine has been going strong with regular daily use for over two and a half years. There's no silver left on some of the buttons (and hasn't been for a long time). But it's still up and running.

The N95 uses the Symbian operating system, which brought me back into the realm of available software: Olive Tree Bible means I can always turn up a reference when requested. E-Reader saves me taking a case full of books when I travel (or it did – these days everything I want seems to require a US credit card). A card full of MP3 files means I am never without a range of music (and I have a cable to connect it to the car radio). I don't carry files - data protection is a hot topic within my circles.

Then last autumn, I invested in a netbook. In conjunction with a phone dongle, I now have the full internet anywhere there's a signal. I chose the netbook with windows on because of the dongle plug and play, and it has given me access to anything I can possibly need: Open Office, Firefox browser, email, and I can run the Methodist liturgy programme and such things. I even use it as a music player for dance practice. On holiday, I carry a camera cable, and turn my blog into a travelogue. The netbook nicely fits into my handbag.

And these days my primary phone is a c905. (The N95 has my work sim-card). I have to say I am not impressed. It has all the limitations of the k750i but has none of the advantages: the build quality extremely poor, and the camera, while boasting a wealth of megapixels lacks either the excellent software of the k750i or the optical lens of the N95.

Which brings me to where I am now... looking for something to replace the c905 as my primary phone (because the case it broken, the earpiece doesn't work and it's now having problems charging). I've looked at the Sony Ericsson Satio (but I'm wary of SE after the c905), I've looked at the HTC HD2 (But I actively dislike the capacitive screen, and the camera is weak). So I've almost settled on a Nokia N900. If I could just get the nerve up to click that 'buy now' button.

As for using devices for 'my ministry', I suppose I'm not sure how that works for two reasons. Firstly because I'm nervous of pretending that my history of gadgets is anything other than a closet materialism that just enjoys toys. It can be easy to make 'holy' noises to cover up the bits of our humanity we're less proud of, and I wouldn't want to do that. And secondly, I'm not sure I make a distinction between my 'ministry' and other aspects of my life. If I support someone who's having a tough time over Twitter or Skype, is that 'ministry'?

If my teddy bear chats to children struggling with understanding a death in the family, or offers his stories free for worship leaders and teachers on his website, is that ministry? Is my presence in various communities 'ministry'? To me, it's all just me, being the person I am called to be wherever I am, online or off. Loving people and God to the best of my (limited) ability in whatever environment. And enjoying playing with the tools God has blessed me with. ;-)

Labels: communication, community, HTC, minister, N95, Olivetree, sony ericsson

I think I started with something called a Velo by Philips. It was a little pocket pc, running a version of windows. It came with a very expensive modem which could connect at tiny speeds. But I loved it. I had two of those (they had quite a short lifespan) and an HP PDA of some sort. It enabled me to collect email when I wasn't at home, to carry the odd document, and to keep a synched diary on the desktop.

Then came my first real 'converged' device: a treo600 running palmOS. It was my first experience of Palm, and I can understand the love for it. I was bowled over by what it could do - Bible, book reader, music player, diary, email, I had a programme that told me what the lectionary was and somewhere to make notes on thoughts if I had a moment to spare somewhere. I had programmes for prayer and a whole host of things. I joined a community (My Treo.net) who were all as excited as I was, got to know some of the developers, and even spent a bit of time as a moderator there. I still have the T shirt (literally!) Sadly, my Treo died. The Treo600 didn't have a removable battery, so when the battery stopped holding charge out of sheer over-use, it was time to give it a decent burial. I deeply regretted that – and would never buy a device without a replaceable battery as a result.

The Treo died at an inconvenient moment, leaving me little choice but to rush into the nearest orange store and get a phone, quick. I walked out with a Sony Ericsson k750i. Compared with the Treo, it was a helpless creature. I managed to squeeze a bible on to it (using java) and my shopping list (Smart Shopper). I could sync my diary with outlook, but that tended to goof, so I used a little programme called My Sony Ericsson, from the people at Kyocera.

What I DID gain from it was a decent camera. The k750i boasted a 2mp camera – which for a phone was quite some beast at the time. And it was a cracking little camera. I found myself taking photos in the oddest places. Living in Cornwall, it was not at all unknown for me to pull up the car, leap out and grab a photo. I took to posting them on my blog. I guess that's the nearest I got to a truly 'theological' use of the device. I live in a glorious part of the creation, and I have no-one with whom to share the beauty around me. By always carrying a decent camera phone, I can share the loveliness with friends online. That's important to me: the thankfulness I feel is seldom put into words, but think people realise why I keep taking photos. And people seem to follow my blog for the pics among other things, because it makes them smile.

This is a reader submitted post; well, more like a person I asked about their experience with mobile devices and this was the result. Part one anyways. Stay tuned for part two. To submit your story, use the Contact page.

Labels: camera, Palm Treo, sony ericsson, user contribution