Gadgets
OK, I have a friend I call the gadget guru. I don’t see him that often, in fact not often enough, but he, like me is somewhat of a gadget nut. I don’t really fancy myself any kind of guru (I picture someone like a Melvin with a magic hat or deep mystical powers when I think of gurus) but I do like to learn about new tools that are helpful or that can make ministry more streamlined or effective.
I know gadgets won’t save the world (one site, Gizmodo, claims “So much in love with shiny new toys, it's unnatural”) and I know some people of past generations were much more productive than I am without them but I can only imagine how they would have done WITH some of these tools. I also know that most of this year’s “hot new products” will be outdated before they make it into my hands and even some of those I do get will end up in a junk pile within a year or less, but I do tend to get a lot of use out of my gadgets.
So in light of that here’s a “Top Ten” list for today. My top ten gadgets that I either have or want. As far as the want list, I need to be careful, I don’t covet these things, just want them. So if you want to help me keep from ever coveting them, you might want to just purchase some of them for me :).
I’ve found a lot of you who follow this blog like to keep up with gadgets type stuff so I thought you might enjoy learning about my favorite gadgets. What’s on yours?
- My MacBook Air - I’ve had this a little over a year and it is sweet. It allowed me to created my webpage, it introduced me to garageband which allowed me to start podcasting (have you checked out iPreach), it showed me “keynotes” (Apples version of Powerpoint with amazing features PowerPoint only dreams of), Mobile ME and cloud computing. I do like it’s portability. I don’t like it’s “footprint” - it’s the largest computer I’ve had in several years. I don’t like it’s hard drive, who could have dreamt (hmm, that’s the fifth time I’ve used that word in the last two weeks) that 80 gigs would be small. http://www.apple.com/macbookair/
- I love the iPhone. Fact is I’ve met probably 50 or 60 other folks who have one and I have yet to meet an iPhone owner who did not say it was the best cell phone they have ever had. The third version of it is supposed to be coming out sometime this summer and I can only imagine the new features it will add. The iPhone has introduced me to podcasts and if you haven’t learned the value of these in learning and listening you will be blown away. They are free and amazing!
- GPS (Global Positioning System). May be old school but I like being able to put in a location and just go. No stopping and asking directions, no getting lost 100 times. I have no internal map so this has been a must. The downfall in a growing area like Spring Hill is that they never keep up with the new streets so at least 4 out of 10 times I still depend on a Papa John’s driver to tell me where a street it (Spring Hillers, support them, they are amazing!). I’ve wondered about one with a satellite hookup, anybody know? http://www.gpsmagazine.com/buyers_guide.php
- The Zoom. I like this toy but so far it has fallen short of my expectations. It allows for recording and the style is very neat. I like the older H2 more than the H4: http://www.google.com/products?client=safari&rls=en-us&q=the+zoom+h2+recorder&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=hWQBSqTCNYnUyQWk192dCA&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title
- A simple flashdrive - who’d of thunk it? These mini wonders get my vote for the genius invention of the last ten years. Mine is smaller than a quarter and carried two gig of info. I’ve seem some that hold 8-16 gig and am amazed! The ease of transferring data will only be outdated when all computing is “cloud computing”. http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/the-worlds-smallest-8gb-flash-drive-from-super-talent-the-pico-c/
- The Flip. I finally got this digital video recorder. It looks like a winner but we will see. It records and allows for very simple uploading of the recorded videos. It is very compact and stylish (I blame Tom for introing me to this one. http://www.theflip.com/index.shtml?gclid=CMW5sdq7p5oCFQE0xgodiWEf0g
Now for the want list:
- The Kendle: This is Amazon’s “reader”. It allows you to download books, magazines and newspapers and “carry” them around on this very sleek and easy to use screen. It is small and lightweight. When I first saw the Kendle I wasn’t too impressed but I got to hold and play with the second generation Kendle recently and, wow! http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Amazons-Wireless-Reading-Generation/dp/B00154JDAI/ref=amb_link_84249051_1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=04MEF0JRSP1NX7S5VQC0&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=475983311&pf_rd_i=507846
- Netbook computer: These little 9 inch by 6 or 7 inch wonders are amazing. I think one would allow me to do pretty much everything I want to be able to do. Only thing is I don’t want to go back to Windows and Apple hasn’t introduced one yet. Rumor is Apple will jump into this market fairly soon AND the Apple version will have a touch screen - how neat would that be? If you haven’t seen a netbook just pick one up sometime at Staples or Bestbuy and you’ll be amazed. And the cost of 3 or 4 hundred dollars is sharp too. Most people use the netbook as a second computer, I’m not sure but I think it could be my only one. Here’s ONE: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4187748&CatId=4013
- Document Camera: I’m not exactly sure but I’m looking for something here. This is a very neat toy that will allow what you put on a board to go straight to people’s computer. It would be great in a classroom setting. http://www.samsungpresenterusa.com/Portal.aspx
- My final want isn’t out yet. I’ve been wanting this one for about a year or two now. As amazing as my iPhone is I cannot use the wireless earpiece, i.e. Jawbone, for talking and for listening to podcasts or songs. So I have to have a wired feature to do this. I’m not wearing two earbuds (one wired for listening and one for bluetooth) and I’m not adding a dongle to my iPhone. Rumor is in the next generation of software they have fixed this. I hope so, it seems pretty simple.
So that’s my list. I am content with what I have but these will someday make it into my tool bag of helpful gadgets. What’s on your list?