Run with God

APPS that aren't CRAP (now there's an endorsement for you!)

Within the past week, I've really benefited from a couple apps, and felt like I needed to give a recommendation to my readers.

#1 Screen Flow by Vara Software
Having spent way too many hours training people on ProPresenter, Planning Center, and Google Apps (CF+G)... I long for an easier way to teach staff and volunteers how to effectively use the software they have available to them. Thank you Screen Flow. Screen Flow records the computer monitor video/audio AND a separate video/audio feed from a camera so your voice (and face) can be viewable to those doing the training. Software includes a relatively powerful video editor (I was surprised how powerful... considering the price).

$99 for this software is CHEAP considering the features included! However, it wasn't enough to make me jump... until I realized that I can record YouTube videos through the software. I no longer have to worry about whether TubeSock has hacked YouTube's current algorithm, and whether both are compatible with the most recent release of QuickTime (which it CURRENTLY IS NOT). Instead, I just play the video fullscreen on my computer monitor and use Screen Flow to record the screen. GENIUS! You're welcome, Tony.

#2 Ringtone Studio by Pocket Mac

Having gained some notoriety off Berch's Gesundheit ringtone I thought I would share how I pulled it off. This software is a breeze to use. Drag in the audio/video file from iTunes (unsecured MP3 or AAC). Select the section you want to rip. Rip it and Sync it with your iPhone. Gotta love simplicity.

Even I in the past have struggled with how to create ringtones from Audio Tracks burned from a CD (as opposed to bought from the iTunes Music Store). Thank you, PocketMac, for making life simpler. Ringtone Studio is $14.95, which is money well spent... how else can you hear "Gesundheit" as a ringtone?

- - - - -

Have other apps you want to recommend? Think you have a better option? Let me know.

DELL: not quite as light as AIR

Thanks to Cult of Mac for the find.

iPhone: Early Adopter Tax ($$$ well spent?)

My tongue in cheek tirade against Apple (I'm really not upset, people) is actually echoed through the blogosphere.

This one is cool (it has graphs on it)...

Evidently, if I had not bought the first generation iPhone in June 2007, INSTEAD invested that $$$ in Apple Stock (AAPL)... today my ROI would have gotten me the new iPhone G3 version AND kept the $599 assets in AAPL stock.

That "Early Adopter Tax" gets me every time.

Thanks to Jon Sampson for the link.

ROI, or why I HAVE to upgrade my iPhone

Apple announced earlier this Monday the iPhone 3G. It was pretty much a foregone conclusion. The tech rumor mill had this one nailed. 3G speed, GPS, Application Store, Enterprise... not much surprise in this one.

What I had heard, but didn't believe, was the price... $199 for an 8gig phone and $299 for the 16gig phone.

What the?

I'm an Apple fanboy. Sometimes an Apple apologist... but this is crazy. One year ago Apple releases iPhone v1, and I shell out $599 for the 8gig version. Apple doesn't sell them like hotcakes, and they drop the price. I'm fine with that. Apple releases the 3G version, and drops the price again! I paid $600 for less than 12 month old technology, and the new version of the phone with the same memory capacity (8gigs) is now $400 less? You gotta be kidding me.

On that note, I'm selling my phone. I have to, in order to get any return on my investment (ROI). The value of my less-than-one-year-old-iPhone bottomed out. You can buy a new one for $200, which means my old one is less than $200.

How much less? Here's my problem. If someone is going to spend $150 on an old phone, they might as well spend $200 on a new phone with more features. How low can it go? $125? $100? $75? Uh oh...

And just like that, my $600 iPhone drops 80% in value... mandating that I get out now in order to get something out of my investment... before it's too late and my iPhone depreciates any more...

I've already got one buyer (thanks Berch), but I may sell off Amy's iPhone too... if you're a potential buyer, let me know...

Thank you, Steve Jobs, for once again screwing over your early adopters. If I didn't love your products so much, I'd probably be upset. For now though, I'm just pumped because I'M GETTING THE NEW IPHONE!

Planning Center: Is it wrong to love software?

Planning Center, I love you.

I went through my blistory (read: "blog" "history") earlier today, and I cannot believe I have NEVER blogged about PlanningCenterOnline.com (PCO). For that I truly am sorry.

PCO is a web-based organizational, scheduling, communication software that is written from the ground up for planning church services. We could not function on a weekly basis without this software. Straight up, next to Gmail and Typepad, I cannot think of another website I spend more time in (or find more useful)... (Sorry Facebook, you're #4).

Not only are all five multisite locations using it for our Adult Worship service, but our Age Graded venues are moving to it as well. By June I believe we'll have ten worship venues tied into Planning Center.

PCO just released some updates to their web-based software, and one of them made me very, very happy. Planning Center, meet iPhone.

So wait, I can access any plan, any schedule, any song, any person, any position, anything... easily from the palm of my hand anytime I want. Wow, sounds exactly like something a organizational control freak like me would want.

Thank you, Planning Center, for keeping my sanity.

Obama is like a Mac (no wonder I want to vote for him)

We're all familiar with Apple's Mac vs. PC ad campaign that's been running for three years now. Wow. Great times. Remember that one where PC was dressed like that dork...

Enter the New York Times (gotta love the Times) that recently parodies the Mac vs PC campaign with that of the Democratic Presidential Race... pinning the "Mac" title on Obama, and of course Hillary Clinton gets the always lovable but not that useful title of "PC".

The NY Times article focuses on what each candidate is trying to portray through their online presence. And while the impact of their website may be downplayed, I believe in this 2.0 society the implication is huge.

Obama understands communication, and how sometimes simpler is in fact better. Clinton tries to hammer in too many points, therefore causing Information Overload...

Wow, almost like real life...

Learning with Steve Jobs

BusinessWeek recently published article, Deliver a Presentation like Steve Jobs, gave a ton of insight into why Jobs' keynote speeches are, well, legendary. Simple. Elegant. Clear. Precise. Hyped. If you've never watched one of Job's keynotes, you really should take a look at his most recent keynote where he announced Apple's Macbook Air, Time Capsule, and other devices.

Phenomenal.

Moving on... At CFPBay every week, four times a week, we try to achieve the same results. Every week we have lessons, items, goals, scriptures that need to be communicated... and for kicks, I read this article from CF's perspective... wondering where we are strong, and what we can work on...

Great article.

Thanks to Engadget for the link.

Possible Apple SubLaptop

Wiping drool from chin...

The Apple Underground is freaking out right now, not about iPhones, not about iPods... but about a rumored MacBook Nano.

Let's set the table:

1) Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster predicts an ultra-portable Macbook is 85% guaranteed to be released in January 2008.

2) CNBC Tech Analyst Jim Goldman is quoting Asian manufacturing analysts as saying the ultra portable laptop will be released during Apple's Macworld Trade Show in January.

Pretty cool, huh? Only Apple could design a 12", Flash-based (no hard drive) laptop/tablet computer that would actually be useful. Imagine a super-thin laptop (thin because there's no hard drive). It could fit in any purse or backpack. Because there's no hard drive, the power consumption would be minimal. And if they could work in the iPhone's touch screen into a 12" Laptop Monitor...

"Wait," you say, "didn't Jeff predict months ago that Apple would come out with a SubLaptop in 2008?" Yes, yes he did. Check the post "Seth Godin's iPhone Challenge" dated May 1, 2007 that predicts Apple's subLaptop release in November 2008. Got the year right (hopefully). Even I didn't think the hype of the iPhone would be as well received across the board (domestically and internationally) as it has been.

So yes, if you are wondering what to get Jeff for Christmas this year, Cash or Apple Giftcards is completely acceptable. I gotta be ready for the release. And finally, if necessary, I'm camping out for this one too.

Anyone going to join me?

Fake iPhones: From Russia with Love?

Meet the fake iPhones taking Russia by storm... The "genuine" article is on the right of each photo, with the OBVIOUS fake on the left.

I really do give these guys credit for trying. I mean, the fake phone has an Apple on it and everything...

For more info on getting Russia's favorite knock-off, check out iFastNet for the story (and some Russian language that only my wife can read).

Thanks to the one and only Fake Steve Jobs for the heads up.

The "Dark" Days of Apple

Ran across some historical views of Apple, and I wanted to share...

Wired.com posts "The 15 Dumbest Apple Predictions of All Time". Highlights include:

"I'd shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders." — Michael Dell in October 1997

"Apple as we know it is cooked. It's so classic. It's so sad." — Stan Dolberg of Forrester Research, quoted by the New York Times in 1996.

"[Apple] seems to have two options. The first is to break itself up, selling the hardware side. The second is to sell the company outright." — The Economist, Feb. 1995

While we're talking about the rejuvenation of Apple, check out Wired's 101 Ways to save Apple. Written over 10 years ago, Wired back then were one of the first (and the few) to dream a bigger, better Apple.

Look where they are now. Apple is being declared the winner of the MAC vs PC debate by Salon.com. Honestly, when is the last time you've heard someone say that Microsoft/PC is better?

And it's just not computers. Apple continues to reinvent itself. iTunes. iPod. Check out this article from Time Magazine, naming the iPhone the Invention of the Year. You tell me. Did it meet the hype? Now Apple is rumored to be going into the TabletPC market. (Honestly, I'm sure they are designing something, but I'd wager it never streets).

Okay, I'm an Apple guy. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to prove that one. But there was a time back in the late 90s and early 2000s that I debated switching. Really! The thing I admire most about Apple is there ability to reinvent themselves. In this technology-saturated market, that is not an easy thing to do. Seeing Apple do it with the iMac, the iPod, the iPhone... it's a great place to be. So much for the end of Apple.

Thanks, Steve, for coming back!

Leopard Now Available

Mac's newest OS, OS 10.5 - codenamed Leopard - released several hours ago. I decided to skip the party atmosphere at Apple, instead opting to wait for my NFR ("not for resale", read: FREE) copy to come in the mail. Thank you very much, Steve!

Speaking of Steve, I love his sound byte on Leopard. "Leopard will be the core of our Operating System over the next ten years." What's great is that if Bill Gates had a sound byte on a Windows Operating System, it would have been "We won't have an upgrade to our operating system in ten years... But we will have service pack upgrades!"

Alright, enough bashing.

I'd love some feedback. Who's using Leopard? Are the apps working? How are non-Intel laptops handling it? Lemme know!

iPhone: Medical Marvel

After the iPhone Surgery Hoax, I am always hesitant to post an unconfirmed story. This one, however, is worth the risk.

HANDLER, ARIZONA - Geoff Evila miraculously recovered from a four month coma after a near fatal car accident that took place in early June this year during a road trip to Las Vegas. Weeks after his amazing recovery Evila learned that the iPhone had been launched to overwhelming success. Before his accident Geoff had planned to camp out in line for his very own iPhone, but without any warning everything suddenly went black. Geoff realized that he had some catching up to do as he began to put the pieces of his life back together.

Geoff's closest friend Steve Denots asked the local Apple Store in Chandler, Arizona to create a huge scene for Geoff Evila when he arrived last week to purchase his iPhone, similar to the high energy scene that took place on June 29 when the iPhone was released. Denots told the Apple Store staff Geoff's harrowing story of recovery and carefully designed the event to be a surprise for Evila...

... Denots told The iPhone Savior that Geoff is enjoying his new phone despite his struggle with small motor movement which represents the final hurdle in Evila's recovery. For Geoff Evila, life has become a whole lot better waking up to the iPhone. You would have to be in a coma to believe otherwise.

Thanks to iPhone Savior for the story.

Apple Hype Continues...

(No, I'm not represented by the guy in the tent. I'm not doing "the line" again. He He. Oh, Leopard comes out in five days! WooHoo!)

Thanks to the Joy of Tech for the comic.

When in doubt... ask a 10 year old

I wasn't going to share this story due to it's embarrasing content.

My iPhone broke Saturday afternoon. Yes, the end of the world is upon us.

In my chaos of a life I have to have communication. I need to be available. Email. Txt messaging. IM. Phone. Web. If I'm disconnected, I truly am useless (once again, Amy, I apologize for that fact).

So my cell phone not working on a Saturday when I am light staffed at the bookstore, and we are expecting record attendence at Christ Fellowship Palmetto Bay Saturday night... yeah, that's a recipe for disaster.

12 missed calls. Not an exaggeration.

Evidently, when I would make and receive calls the earpiece speaker would be dead silent. I found out after 5 hours of no phone that my "speakerfone" option still worked, but who wants to have conversations with people in public on speakerfone so everyone can hear?

Sunday AM at CFH I run into Jonathan Concepcion, a new Apple Store: Falls Employee. After my gripe session, he makes an appointment for me to get the phone looked at. 5:30pm Sunday.

5:24pm. I show up at the Apple Store: Falls location. BTW, it's being redesigned, and the current Apple Store: Falls location is a closet maybe 500 square feet. It had 100-150 people packed in it today. No, not kidding.

5:25pm. I stumble to the Genius Bar and wait. I'm #2 on the appointment list. There's maybe 20 people between me and the bar. I have no idea who to talk to. So I wait.

5:35pm. In line ahead of me there is an old man who is having problems with his iPhone. Maybe late 60s. The Apple Tech tries to talk to him in normal (read: non-techie) language, but it's obvious the old man doesn't understand. He turns around and belows this name, and this 10 year old kid comes flying through the store. He somehow manages to squeeze his way up to the bar. The old man points to the kid, and the Tech explains everything to the kid who nods. The kid translates to the grandfather who nods. They then wait at the bar, I guess for paperwork?

5:42pm. My name is called. I plunge in towards the bar, parting the crowd of people like Moses did the Red Sea. I hand my phone to the Apple Tech, and explain to him what is going on. I have to shout over the chaos of 30 people standing around the Genius Bar. "The earpiece doesn't work, but my phone works in speakerfone."

5:43pm. This little 10 year old brat/angel (you choose) that is standing in line next to "Grandpa" says to me, "Oh, your phone still thinks the headphones are plugged in. Just blow in the headphone jack and it'll work again."

5:44pm. So the Apple Tech, who still hasn't said anything to me, literally takes my phone, blows into the headphone jack twice, and hands me my phone saying "wanna give it a try?" Stupid phone worked.

5:45pm. I thank the tech, ask the brat/angel if he makes house calls. Pat Grandpa on the back, and walk out of the Apple Store.

Hilarious.

There was a time in my life when I was just like that brat/angel. Now I'm being bested by them. I blogged yesterday about being irrelevant. According to this 10 year old, I really am!

Marketshare, Macs, and Worship 2.0

Oh, I'm loving this. Don't know whether Mac is "trendy" or we're looking at a new generation of computer users that haven't been brainwashed by Microsoft...

According to recent surveys on college campuses, college freshmen are flocking to Macs in record numbers. Up to 55% of college users prefer Macs.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the future.
It's a beautiful sight.

Aside from that, though, it's amazing to me that that many college students have laptops they use in class. Honestly, I graduated from college in 1999. I took my laptop to class maybe a half-dozen times. Mind you my Macintosh Laptop back then weighed 16 lbs (not kidding) but times are changing... always changing.

A question has been batting around my head for a couple years now... how can we incorporate this laptop-driven society into a worship service? All those laptop screens offer another avenue for people to connect... Is it possible to create a worship experience that can reach the televisiophonernetting society, live? Can we create a live, multi-sensory worship experience that is interactive in addition to educational, informational, and spritual? (Note: Don't have an answer. Just talking...)

Thanks to Cult of Mac for the photo.

iPhone, Fourth Generation?

During the night, Apple had a press conference in England, where they announced they are releasing the iPhone in the UK. Here's the story from MacWorld. At the end of the news story, Steve shares some insight into the future of iPhone...

Jobs said the company is really focused on the iPhone and developing the device.

“We’re already working on the next iPhone, and the one after that,” Jobs said, adding, “and we’re already thinking about the one after that.”

I love the fact that Apple is physically "working" on iPhone v2, and iPhone v3. AND THEN they are dreaming of iPhone v4. While some are worried about the iPhone's impact, Steve's able to look ahead and see that the success will come, and is investing resources into making the future "v"s great...

Wow, wish I had that kind of faith...

iPhone Refund?

Apple came out with a complete refresh of every one of their iPod devices yesterday. New shuffle colors, new Nanos (called "the fatboy") that play video, new "iPod Classic" upto 160 gigs, and a iPhone minus the Phone device that Apple calls the "iPod Touch".

I love the lineup. If I didn't have the iPhone, I'd go for a "fatboy". Wait, that didn't sound right... The iPod Classic 160 gig for $349. Everything you own in the palm of your hand... very nice...

An asterisk to Job's Press Conference, oh, yeah, Apple's reducing the price of their prized iPhones $200. Instead of being $599, they're now $399. Thanks for coming everybody. Have a nice day!

Wwwaaaaaaaaaa?!?!?

I've gotten a dozen e-mails on this. What do you think, Jeff? How could Jobs do this to the faithful? The phone just came out two months ago, and already it's being reduced 33%? This is outrageous. I'll never trust Apple again!

Personally, I love the fact that Apple's working the biz model. New technology requires new ideas. Yeah, sure the iPhone was the #1 selling Smartphone in the month of July. But it wasn't going to change the world. Not at $599 anyway. So drop the price!

Do I feel bad that Apple "conned me", a faithful Apple Evangelist, out of $200? Nah. That's life. Early DVD players cost $600. Today, $29.95. Plasmas were $10,000 initially. Today they're almost a tenth of that price. Welcome to business people. You never want to buy technology until you absolutely have to, because as soon as you do, something better will be released! Or what you have will become cheaper.

Props to Steve Jobs. In an open letter to the iPhone faithful, he announced that every current iPhone owner will get $100 in store credit as a way of apologizing. Keeping in mind that $100 in store credit is really like $30 in cost of goods sold to him, and really, what can you buy for under $100 at the Apple Store... it's a nice thought. Thanks Steve. Don't think it's necessary, but when hearing the hundreds of thousands of iPhone users crying in one accord... I guess even the King of Technology Jobs has to throw some chicken feed to silence the cries... Thanks Steve. Really.

BTW, several credit card companies (American Express included) have technology waivers on their credit card purchases allowing rebates on "overpriced technology". Check with your credit card company and see if you can get the money rebated to you.

Not everybody agrees with me. See Wired's "Four Mistakes Apple Made with the iPhone Price Drop."

Or enjoy "Joy of Tech's" four reasons... they're a little more humorous.

Hacking the iPhone

Yes, someone has unlocked the iPhone. Some 17 year old kid did it before anyone else. Good for him. See YouTube below...

Do I have any thoughts? Apple stock just went up as I'm sure a ton of more iPhones will be bought by people wanting to unlock phones and sell them... there are whole new untapped revenue stream coming soon. Good for Apple! Good for T-Mobile users, who luck out that T-Mobile and AT&T use the same network. Bad for AT&T. I'm not that upset, either. It's AT&T. At the heart of AT&T, it's really MA Bell... If they had kept their name as "Cingular" I would care a little more...

UPDATE (082607): I wanted to post an update on this. Evidently the kid's got a blog online where he talks about the sale/trade of his unlocked iPod.

ZunePhone

You know I'm an Apple guy, and I couldn't resist taking a shot like this.

Please find below a homemade (totally fake, but hilarious) mockup of Microsoft's attempt to copy the iPhone... America, meet the ZunePhone, or as Bill will undoubtedly call it, the zPhone...

And yes, I'm almost two months into owning the real iPhone, and it is really worth the hype.

iPhone Surgery, Revisited

I bit. I'm sorry. The iPhone Surgery DID NOT HAPPEN, AND WAS A WEB HOAX. North Denver News, I don't even know if you're legit or what, but AWESOME!

Evidently I'm a sucker. They lobbed up a softball at me and I hit it out of the park (and I did it w/o steroids too!) Honestly, I verified the story with several "more established" news websites, but they bit too! The whole thing felt a little freakish, and honestly I'll "try" to sleep better at night knowing it wasn't true. In typical Jeff fashion, though, if I'm going to crash better to crash hard!

What's worse is I found it was a hoax when I was searching the Internet trying to find a picture of the freak's freakish thumbs when I was surfing the net at 2:45am...

I retract the iPhone Surgery blog post, but will leave it online as a testimony that I was beat by satirical geniuses... Congrats to you guys for working many bloggers into a frenzy. To Barry Bonds: I retract nothing and still look forward to a baseball season where I do not have to hear your name.

Thanks again to Anthony Kirchner for feeding me mis-information. HA! That's what I get for getting on Facebook. I get caught up with an old college buddy from an freshman Bible Study I taught years ago, and next thing I know I'm writting a formal apology on my blog... now if I find out (however unlikely) that Anthony was in on the prank...

Man has "iPhone Surgery"

UPDATE AUGUST 13, 2007: I formally retract this blog. Find out why.

There are very few things in life that truly disturb me. This is one of them:

To quote CBNNews.com...

Man Has Thumbs Altered to Use iPhone

CBNNews.com - A Colorado man recently had radical surgery on his thumbs to use his apple iPhone more easily.

Thomas Martel was having a hard time using the tiny features on his new iPhone with his large hands, The North Denver News reports.

"From my old Treo, to my Blackberry, to this new iPhone, I had a hard time hitting the right buttons, and I always lost those little styluses," The North Denver News quoted Martel.

So he had his thumbs scaled down with a new technique called whittling.

Doctors made a small cut in both thumbs and then shaved the bones. Afterwards they adjusted the muscles and fingernails.

"Sure, the procedure was expensive," he said. "But when I think of all the time I save by being able to use modern handhelds so much faster, I really think the surgery will pay for itself in ten to fifteen years. And what it's saving me in frustration - that's priceless."

Uh, yeah. Is anyone else mortified? He hacked up his hands and shaved bone away so he can type on an iPhone! Listen, I'm Apple's #1 fan. I've got more gadgets than I know what to do with. I'm as wired as they get. I've also got huge hands. I'm a former football player (Offensive Line) that can palm a basketball no problem... But I'm not going to shave bone off my fingers so I can use an iPhone quicker than normal.

Come on! The thing has built in spellcheck! Really! You type wurhim and it knows the word you meant to type is "within". How much of a freak are you that you would rather go through physical pain than mistype a word in your phone!

I'm besides myself. Can you tell?

Get's better: Evidently the guy is now walking around with big fingers, tiny thumbs... To quote the North Denver News...

While Martel's new thumbs now appear small and effeminate in comparison to his otherwise very large hands, he says he can still lift "pretty much anything I could lift before the surgery - though opening spaghetti sauce jars has been a problem. That was a big surprise."

I cannot believe we live in a culture where people are driven to succeed, to get ahead no matter the cost, even if it will cost them physical damage in the future. Or, for that matter, the ability to upen spaghetti sauce jars!

In other news (totally unrelated, of course), congratulations to Barry Bonds for his record breaking 756th Home Run. Now that Barry has finally hit the long ball, maybe he'll fade into his steroid-ridden, HGH-obsessed oblivion and us baseball purists can get back to a game where we're not obsessing over cheaters and other illegal-medical marvels. Barry, I hope the title you carry is worth the damages your body goes through.

Thanks to Anthony Kirchner, Facebook Friend and CBN employee, for tipping me off on the thin-thumbed iPhone fanatic.

Original Thought vs. FakeShuffles

What you are seeing above is a series of iPod Shuffle FAKES that are being distributed. Fakes meaning they look like the real thing, but not distributed by Apple, Inc. These counterfeits are made by a company called MANNdigital. You need to notice that they are GOOD fakes. How good? You tell me.

Other than a missing Apple Logo on the packaging, and the reversing of the volume/track change on the FakeShuffle, there is no distinction between the two. I could even argue that once the fake shuffle is out of the packaging the average user would not be able to tell the difference between FakeShuffle and Apple's iPod Shuffle.

Come to find out that MANNdigital does more than just FakeShuffles. They also do FakeNanos.

Let me get to my point. I love the fact that someone has the guts to go toe to toe with the Apple Legal Department. Knowing their track record, Apple's lawyers will have these guys for breakfast. What angers me, though, is all the effort that with all the effort that goes into reverse engineering the Shuffle or Nano, couldn't MANNdigital have come out with something original on their own.

Original thought is so rare these days. We work so hard to make ourselves just like those we look up to (some would say envy) when in the end if we focused that energy into reinventing ourselves, how far could we have gotten?

Don't settle for a re-hash of someone else's idea. Don't think because it worked in another situation on the other side of the country it will work for you. See the big picture. Modify it. Make changes. Question it. And once you work out the kinks run full steam ahead.

MANNdigital, don't settle to continue to be in Apple's (Legal) shadow. Strive to be better, more creative. On a side note, Good Luck with those fake iPhones. Let me know how that works out for you.

Thanks to Pete Mortensen and Cult of Mac for finding the FakeShuffles.

Jeff's History of Apple

Apple has come a long way. Graphic Artist Edwin Tofslie assembled this visual tribute to Apple, tracing their start (with the original Apple I) and going all the way to the iPhone that everyone seems to be talking about so much these days....

In case you're curious, let me share with you what my personal Apple History is (I'll spare you on the iPod history... I'll just stick with computers).

iPhone: Will it blend?

What happens when you put an iPhone in a blender? Watch the embedded YouTube video below.

Top Ten: I [heart] iPhone

I had so much fun with my "Tranformers: The Movie" Top Ten, I decided to do another one...

Top Ten Reasons I love my iPhone
10. Apple, Inc.: I'll get the obvious one out of the way. Steve Jobs can do no wrong in my book. With that being said, I would still love this thing.

9. 3" Video iPod Screen: As much as I [heart] my green shuffle, not having video (for movies/vid podcasting) was a serious drag for me. The screen is huge, easily watchable, and builtin speakers are decent for a phone. Earbuds sound great. This REALLY is the best iPod ever created.

8. Durability: PC World did some field tests on the iPhone, intentionally trying to damage their iPhone. It survived. Check out the video. The most common comment I get is "Heavier than I thought it would be". To which I ask "Is it too heavy?" The comments I get back typically are "No, I like it." "It's just different." "I wasn't expecting it, but it feels good in the hand."

7. Spellcheck: I've always tried to place faith in technology. To type on this thing you really have to. It spellchecks everything automatically, and if you "mispell" a word by pressing the wrong key, it will correct itself automatically. For instance, when I type "wurhim", it automatically recommends the word be changed to "within". Even though I typed 50% of the letters correctly (thus 50% incorrectly), iPhone gathered that the mistaken letters were "mispressed keys" and created the actual word by scanning what letters are physically on the keyboard surrounding the letters... It knows I meant to press "i" instead of "u". Dang!

6. Poke and Pinch: My wife's joke, not mine. Want to zoom in? Press the area you want to zoom in on, or try a pinch method. Honestly, you really need to go to an Apple Store and pinch this thing. It really is unbelievable.

5. Syncing: I have synced my phone to my computer via bluetooth for years. I was syncing my Sony Ericsson phone (TI-80 I think... it was the first Sony Ericsson phone made after the merger). What I love about this is the data gets there correctly. Addresses go in the address fields. Multiple e-mail addresses go correctly. Notes get synced without miscellaneous data getting dumped over. Bookmarks. Photos. Groups. It is all structured exactly like it is on my computer.

4. Real Web Browser: When I searched for movie times for Transformers the Movie, I went to the "real" Google.com, not some hacked up version.

3. UI: What makes Apple different is their User Interface. Most devices become so complex and feature loaded that they cease being usable. Or they have so few features they have no usefulness. Apple has done a phenominal job of creating a simpe interface that is easy to adapt to. I've had non-technology people tell me they have adopted/felt comfortable with the phone in less than 24 hours. Honestly, it's not that difficult.

2. Bye Bye Laptop: Sadly, Other than blogging and remote accessing work, there's very little I use my laptop for anymore at home. Now, when I break out Photoshop at work, that's another story.

1. Updates: The best news I have heard is Apple's announcement that they will be updating the iPhone through iTunes/Software Update Application. What you see now will not be the final product. But the thing that makes Apple unique is they continue to build on a product, from the firmware up!

It's not all "peaches and cream" for Apple (pun intended) in iPhoneland. I could probably put together a Top Ten: I [don't heart] iPhone list, but if I do that will certainly be for another day.

The "Apple" Experience

"So, how did you feel waiting in line 13 hours when I just walked right in and got mine?"

I've heard the question several times. It's a valid question. Apple Stores had a ton of stock (although I was getting reports they were sold out within 48 hours). AT&T Stores, for the most part, sold out in 2 hours.

You know why I loved sitting in a borrowed lawn chair for thirteen hours? I got the Apple Experience.

1) Observers. People came by wondering why we were in lawn chairs. Hundreds (literally, hundreds) of people came up to start a conversation. And, of course, they always came to the front of the line... it was so bad we made a sign answering the questions, and when people asked we just pointed to the sign. Most at least heard of an iPhone, although some people didn't quite get it. We sat there mocking the passerbys. They mocked us. We mocked Apple Employees. They mocked us. All around it was a mocking experience!

2) Free stuff. Vendors in the mall handed out flyers/coupons/meals. I got bottled water, two chicken sandwiches, Starbucks coffee, and a couple bags of popcorn, totally gratis.

3) A day off. Sure, I could have sat at the beach, but with those pesky cancer-causing sun rays it's much safer to sit indoors.

4) Oops.

5) Community. Out of the 250 people in line, I communicated with the first 20 on a semi-regular basis. The great thing is we didn't use names, we used numbers. Since I was second in line, I was "Number 2". Please, no childhood bathroom humor. It was great to learn about what made these people think/tick. What were they going to do wit the phone, what they did for a living, how they lived... kids, marriage, etc...

Number 1, before I said anything about what I did, declared that he did not want to talk about "politics or religion". Several times during the day he started talking politics. When I reminded him and asked if I could start "talking about religion", he recanted his political views (although I agreed with him on most of his views).

Number 3 and his family are new Christians, and I enjoyed talking with them about their growing faith. They asked many questions that fledgling Christians would ask. I found myself smiling because we were discussing Christianity at its roots in the middle of a public area with 200+ people packed in like sardines. It was great.

Sometimes the "easiest/quickest" way is not the most beneficial. It's not the result - but the journey, right? Sure, I could have ordered the phone on-line and waited two to four weeks for it's delivery, but what would I have lost had I not done that.

The irony is that while I was stuck in line to buy a "communication device" I feel like for the first time in months I actually got to communicate with people.

Oops

"Oops"

Apple Employee at the Mall at Wellington Green when trying to ring up an iPhone to the first person (who waited close to fourteen hours) in line on iDay. After 5 minute slowdown and two managers looking at computer, it worked again.

Quest for iPhone, Finale

I am hyped out. My manager @ C28 recently wrote a post on being on Inspiration Overload. This, today, is me.

Long story short (like I've ever done that) I acquired three iPhones today. One for me. One for Amy. One for my mom (who's vacationing in Alaska). Things got a little hairy towards the end of the show. Big guys with big money came around trying to buy their way into the front. Some people gladly accepted. Not me. He He.

By the time we got to the release, Wellington Green Mall had 200-250 people in line. The Apple Store probably had 600-1000 iPhones on the floor (no idea how many in the back). Amy and I were supposed to be the "second" group in line, but due to some shifty work and creative counting by the first guy (who profited from earlier stated big guys with big bills) I ended up the fourth "group" to go in. I didn't care. I was getting an iPhone! Besides, he knew I owned C28 and I didn't want to look like a jerk.

The experience inside the Apple Store, for me, was anti-climactic. Honestly, the Wellington Green Apple Store is not one of the best, which is why I went there (less busy). We got the phones. We got some cheap cases until we get better cases. And I got a new bluetooth headset called Jawbone (check out their online demo... incredible. (Above, Amy and I went to Smokey Bones Barbecue with her mom and John (who are in town for the Ukraine mission trip leaving Sunday.))

I'll review the iPhone features and Jawbone later. (I'm actually pretty tired). Hooking up the phone(s) took 10 minutes. Merging iPod files is a no brainer. Moving my calendar/contacts was not a problem either. Moving Amy's over (since she NEVER synced with a computer before... keeping everything on her RAZR) is a little more difficult. It'll work itself out in the AM.

All the hype, and we go the weekend services coming up (I gotta set up CFHomestead tomorrow at 8:30am.) No rest for the weary. No pity for Jeff, though, HE'S GOT AN IPHONE!

Quest for iPhone, Part 3

Returning the love, Matt Mehaffey (The Miami Pursuit) is in an iPhone line as well. He's #25, so I will still beat him in. HA HA HA.

I've had numerous people call me to see if I can get them a phone. Tough noogies! You heard me, noogies! I'm buying one, and Amy's getting one as well. So, if you want to convince my wife to give up her phone, more power to you. Good luck while you're doing it, too!

FYI, Wellington Green's iPhone is like 45 people long (as of 11:33am).

Six and a half hours to iPhone.
390 minutes to iPhone.
23400 seconds to iPhone.
(yes, I am that bored)

Quest for iPhone, Part 2

Okay, I've bought the hype. Long story short, I'm sitting in front of the Apple store at the Mall at Wellington Green. I am #2 in line. #1 in line is buying 2 (or 3) phones. So unless Apple only has 3 phones, I am walking away with an iPhone.

As of 8:20am, there are about 25 people in line.

How'd I get here?

I was debating sleeping in the C28 location, and casually walking outside a little before the mall doors opened. That was the plan, except I really didn't want to sleep on concrete flooring. So, I altered my plan at the last second. I conned Amy into driving up with me. We had a nice dinner, slept in a comfy bed last night at a nearby Hilton, and I got in line this morning.

Here's my day so far:
12:10am - Set alarm for 4:50am
4:10am - Woke up before alarm
4:50am - Head up to mall
4:55am - Get in line (#1 got here at 4:30am)
5:30am - #3 showed up
7:00am - we freak out because we're still locked outside the mall, but we see old people "walking" inside the mall
7:10am - Mall doors open, we wait in front of Apple Store
8:15am - they set up stanctions, and we wait behind black velvet ropes

I doubt I'll be doing too much updating, but I'M GETTING AN IPHONE! WOOHOO!

Quest for iPhone

Is it bad that I haven't been this excited, like, ever? Okay, first date with Amy. Wedding Day. First day @ Bookstore. Opening C28. Maybe that's not totally true. But it's close...

I have a plan, and short of Jesus coming back I'll have an iPhone in my hand by Friday night. (I thought the same thing about the Wii, though). It should make for a fun story... Look for updates on the blog over the next couple days.

So what's your plan? Or are you too cool for the hype?

Can anyone say "iPhone Shuffle?"

No, I have no inside info on this. This HAS NOT BEEN ANNOUNCED! But I thought the visual was hilarious. If Apple wants to take over the world, they're going to have to sell phones cheaper than $599. BUT this is the same biz model they did for the iPod...

I don't know about you, but I'd love an iPhone Shuffle...

Thanks to Engadget for the heads up (and creating the graphic).