Monday iPhone App Review - Datacase
Sep 1, 2008 iPhone Ap Review
People often ask me what is on my computer screen when I teach at Riv. Well, that has recently changed. It used to be that I had my entire message manuscript in a PDF file and I would flip from screen to screen as I taught. The manuscript averaged 22 pages at 14 point type and I really didn’t use the manuscript often. I memorize my messages for the most part, I just like the comfort of having the notes right there.
It’s like a blankie.
So this summer I have been playing around with a new idea which a lot of other pastors use: a mindmap that illustrates the manuscript. Using this method, I have been able to reduce my notes to 2 pages. Click on the thumbnail to see the first page of notes from this week’s teaching:
What does this have to do with my iPhone App review? Simple. Now that I am using a mindmap instead of a manuscript, I need a place to store the quotes and other stuff I like read during my message. Enter my iPhone.
Unfortunately, the iPhone notes program doesn’t sync with the computer and I don’t like typing the quotes into my phone. For awhile, I was placing them on a private blog and surfing to them during the services. That was sorta clunky.
Then I tried MobileFinder and absolutely hated it! Sure, it was easy to get files off the phone, but you had to use an FTP program to get files onto the phone. And since your IP address changes all the time, you had to re-enter it into your program each time. What a pain.
So last week I reviewed a bunch of other options and settled on Datacase.
The bottom line: it is very easy to use. And with the exception of a really dorky unMac like opening screen, it is pretty Macesque.
When you run the program on your phone, it shows up as a shared drive on your mac. No crazy FTPing, just drag and drop like any other harddrive.
Here are some screenshots:
First, here’s the goofy opening screen:
But when you click on “Documents,” it looks very clean and Maclike. The Drop Box is cool because you can let people access it without seeing your files.
This weekend I had one quote I was sharing so I put it into the documents folder and when the time came, I clicked on it and I was good to go:
Very cool. Who knows, maybe I’ll eventually scrap my computer and paper Bible and just teach with my iPhone. One step at a time, though.
Monday iPhone App Review - ??
Aug 25, 2008 iPhone Ap Review
OK, so I have tons of Apps to review but I’m still pooped from last week and Riv’s amazing weekend.
I promise to review something next week…but I need your help, first
My friend Pat hooked me up with $10 to spend at the Apple Ap Store. So, what should I buy? Leave me a comment with your recommendation on what App I should buy and I will buy it and review it next week.
Cool?
Thanks.
Monday iPhone App Review - Facebook
Aug 11, 2008 iPhone Ap Review
OK, being the Facebook junky I am, I was super stoked to download the Facebook ap for my shiny new iPhone.
Unfortunately, I find I hardly ever use it.
The reason is simple. No really, it’s “simple.” The problem is it is too simple.
Let’s take a look at this baby. Here’s the opening screen:
What do we see? My friend’s most recent status. That’s it. It lacks everything that makes Facebook “facebooky.” It doesn’t show me my friends’ birthdays, what they have changed on their page, or how many notifications I have. And on that front, this is my biggest pet peeve: there is no way to add friends or see who wants to add you as a friend.
Crazy.
When I tap on “Noel” at the bottom, what do I get? More info? No…just my wall.
How about “Friends”? A list of my friends that feels very “iPhone.” Tap on a friend and you get access to their wall, mini-feed, photos, etc. That’s kinda cool. I also like the “iPhone” feel of the photos, you scroll through them the same way you do with the photos on your iPhone. That’s cool.
OK…now I tap on “Inbox.” (I skipped “Chat” because homey don’t play dat.) Arg. Now I’m reminded again that all this give me is messages, but no notifications.
Overall, I like the “feel” of the Facebook ap, but because of a few things I just never find a reason to use it.
Oh and I can take a picture with the little camera icon in the corner. Whatever.
Monday iPhone App Review - Shazam
Aug 4, 2008 iPhone Ap Review
Because I have nothing better to do with my time (ahem), I have decided to review some of my favorite iPhone aps. For the time being, I plan on posting these reviews on Mondays, but it may go the way of my “Site of the Week” and just disappear after awhile.
Today, I start the reviewpalooza with Shazam which is quickly becoming one of my favorite aps.
Let me lay it out there for you.
You’re riding in the car with your wife and an old song pops up on the radio.
You: “I haven’t heard this song in…like…forever. It used to be one of my favorites!”
Your Wife: “Do you know who sings this?”
**SILENCE**
“You don’t know?”
“Uh…”
“Idiot.”
And then just to screw with you, your wife won’t tell you who sings the song and it plagues you for the rest of the day. But not anymore!
Enter “Shazam!”
With this fancy ap, you literally hold your phone up to the speaker for a few seconds and a few seconds later it reminds you who sings your favorite song:
Now if that isn’t cool enough for you, you have more options, including:
- Downloading the song on iTunes
- Taking a picture of your wife being amazed with this technology to add as a tag
- Jumping over to YouTube to watch the video for the song you are listening to
I have been trying to trick Shazam for the last couple days and I am super impressed with the songs it knows. Here’s the last few I searched for:
About the only thing I have been able trick it with so far is Korean rap. Apparently, the program is racist. Other than that unseemly quality, Shazam is amazing.
