Run with God

Apple responds to new Microsoft Ads: WE TOTALLY AGREE!

Well, you've seen the new Microsoft (M$) ads that tout Macs as overpriced pieces of "coolness", and proclaim Windows-based computers as computing bargains for the new economy.

Apple responds...

"A PC is no bargain when it doesn't do what you want," Apple spokesman Bill Evans says. "The one thing that both Apple and Microsoft can agree on is that everyone thinks the Mac is cool. With its great designs and advanced software, nothing matches it at any price."

Love it. Congrats, M$, for continuing to miss the mystique of Apple... or at least misrepresent it to America.

New Mac Mini: Affordable Mac for Worship Venue

In the "About friggin' time" section of this blog, today Apple updated their MacMini line of computers so that it can now handle DUAL MONITORS. Significance? For $600 churches can now have a Mac running in their worship center. Couple that with ProPresenter, and this is now a SWEET, INEXPENSIVE setup that will actually work.

Thank you, Apple, for FINALLY making something decent and affordable for venues!

When is the new iPhone coming out (or what is Apple's Product Cycles)

Probably the #1 Question I get asked is: "So, should I buy [an Apple device] today? Or is Apple coming out with new stuff soon?"

NYTimes writer David Pogue recently interviewed Phil Schiller, Apple's Marketing Guru... among other things, Phil gave us a peak at the future of Apple product development...

"[Phil] noted that Apple marches to certain annual product cycles: the holiday season (Novemberish), the educational buying season (late summer), the iPod product cycle (October), the iLife development cycle (usually March), the iPhone cycle (June)."

So there you have it... If you're getting ready to buy products during that time period, maybe you should wait... If you're no where near that season, you'll probably be okay...

Of course, if Apple breaks their own "policies" by releasing products in odd-seasons... don't come crying to me...

Macbook Wheel - NOT coming soon...

I love Apple spoofs!

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard

Seriously, Macworld Expo Keynote is this afternoon. Look for my 2cents tomorrow night (after small group).

Thanks to Nathan Hale for the find.

Couple Surprises on a Friday

Had a couple surprises today... first off was myBabyGirl(s) surprising me on Google VideoChat. That is, in case you're curious, a big 'ol honkin smile underneath my goatee. I love myBabyGirl(s) and would drop just about anything to talk with them. Beowulf even stopped by for a brief visit.

Secondly, (and not nearly as cool), saw a rumor that the new Mac Minis will gain support for Dual Displays. Instead of just having one DVI output, the Minis will have two... which means that, if true, this is an incredibly cheap option to run ProPresenter/ProVideoPlayer from.

Come on, Apple! Give us an economic option for Dual Displays!

Hopefully, more surprises like this will be coming soon...

Simpsons v. Apple Computers

This was on Simpsons last night...

Great shot at Apple. Love it... Thanks for referencing the hammer throw (circe 1980s Superbowl Commercial...)

"You have a Zune?"

M$ Apologists... enjoy.

Video clip taken from NBC's Chuck... a show that I do not watch, but am starting to be intrigued about. Glad it's now available on the iTunes Store.

Do you remember your first iPod?

So, when did you jump on the bandwagon? Seven years ago Apple released their revolutionary device. I remember it like it was yesterday. Ironically, news of the iPod was received with mixed emotions. Mac purists were upset that Apple was messing around with toys and gadgets, instead of pouring it's resources into the then-struggling Mac OSX.

Amazing what 7 years can do for a company...

Check out the video below. It's Job's keynote for the iPod. They've come a long way since October 23rd, 2001.

Now for the real question. How many iPods have you owned?

Nvidia + MacBook Pro = Reason I'm Bald

I cannot even start to tell you how many man-hours I've wasted on this problem. I've blogged it. I've twittered it. I've talked to multiple tech support people. I've yelled at people. I've been yelled at by my bosses... This is one of the two biggest technical guffaws Christ Fellowship has experienced this year.

Evidently several brand new MacBook Pros at CF Multisite venues would not connect to a brand new Samsung projector. Why? Because of the stupid friggin NVidia graphics card. To come to that conclusion took me 40-60 business hours and probably over 100 total man hours.

Well, months after I've resolved the situation on my end - the nice people at Nvidia finally got their act together and acknowledged the problem... which now allows for Apple to develop a system to fix the problem...

And here we are, Apple is finally offering a Nvidia graphics repair program. CFWK, CFDT, and CFR venues with a MacBook Pro - your laptop could be affected! If you are noticing or experiencing any issues with your laptop not working with your projector or screen, please let me know and we'll figure out how to get the problem resolved.

iPhone + Jeff = Virtually Producing A One Man Show

So tonight was the Christ Fellowship Academy open house, and there was a small, short program in the worship center. So, after a dozen calls to the cell phone, I commit to helping them produce it.

While setting up the show in ProVideoPlayer, I had a thought... this would be a great time to play around with some iPhone software.

What you are seeing here is a screen shot from my iPhone. The iPhone is VNCed (Remote Accessed) to my laptop, which is located in the studio control room.

Let me say this in layman's terms.... I can control software on my laptop from anywhere in the worship center, even though that laptop has to be tethered to projectors in the control room. Yeah, that makes me excited! I got to sit at the light console, able to mouse-click through a presentation file in a completely different room, and was able to hit the lights for the video when it came time. Plus, I could easily communicate with the sound person (since I wasn't stuck in the control room).

How'd I do this? Using iPhone software called Teleport. Teleport is the most expensive iPhone software I own (a whopping $25) but the ability to get into the control room while not in the control room... priceless.

Teleport is still buggy. It loses connection occasionally (especially while starting to connect), but the pros strongly outweigh the cons. There is another iPhone VNC software called Mocha, that comes in a free and ultra cheap ($6) version. Several features (graphics, limitations in typing) were worth me paying the extra $ for Teleport.

Thank you, Apple, for once again making my life easier.

But it's not always about Apple. Stay tuned this wknd for how Microsoft is making an impact at our Downtown campus. I guarantee, it's not what you think.