iPhone and NYC
Terry Storch and I are on a short trip in NYC meeting with several LifeChurch.tv members and developing some YouVersion-related relationships.
We waited until we got to the famous Apple Store on 5th Ave to buy an iPhone for the lab. We plan on developing some applications for iPhone in the coming weeks.
I’m sure some of you are already part of the 1 million+ new iPhone owners. If not, those of you in the US have probably seen an ad or two and know what the phone is all about. I also know it’s not for everyone (Terry and I remain blackberry users), but I figured you all might be able contribute to this question.
So here’s the question: If you could build any application for your church that uses the iPhone…what would it be?
…you don’t have to build it…I’m just curious about what you’d like to see.
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A good mini bible app would be nice, but since it can browse the internet, nvm :[
God Bless ‘_^
Bible app for sure.
What about ideas that incorporate the video capabilities and/or google map tool?
I’m sure you guys are on this, but streaming the internet campus to the iPhone in a version compatible to the mini-screen. This would probably be something useful for all internet phones. I guess this is available in vodcast form through iTunes, but what about the live streaming capability? That’d be cool.
Aside from the podcasts, blogs …. possibly a mobile internet campus with some touch screen online lifeGames
Example: iPong with Craigs Head… Also … how about a real time sermon outline that syncs with the live experience … flashy and interactive
well our church management software is web-based, so that is helpful, but a great shared calendar or some other office communication platform would be great.
BTW I’ve never had a SmartPhone so I love my iPhone, it is already helping my productivity.
I wish MindManager worked on the iPhone!
With Mapquest you could have every possible place to do missions. Whether that be local or global, and when you go to that location there is a brief 1 minute or so video describing the poeple of that area and what they believe. If you have had teams go to that location you can have a highlight video of what you did there and how it impacted you and the people you served. I really hope that makes sense.
How bout a daily “Two Minute Take,” a daily two minute message (could be a sermonette, “news” brief, conversation starter, “deep thought” starter, whatever) on various subjects accessible on the iPhone? Baisically, it would be a Video Blog. We Swerve subscribers just see what you guys type right now, but what if we saw you SPEAKING what you usually type. It would add a whole slew of elements to the communication and make it more effective. Plus, it would save typing time for you and CG.
I love my blackberry too, but the iPhone sure sounds fun.
Hey there
Out of curiosity, why did you remain a blackberry user? What went into that decision, knowing the abilities of the iphone…..
Signed
curious blackberry compatriot!
Good ideas…
Eric, Craig could pull the video podcast off…I’ve got more of a face and voice for blogging
Heredes, I like the follow-along message “companion” idea.
Ben, a streaming video/audio application is definitely something we are looking at.
Mike,
It was one primary factor and a couple of minor ones.
I use my phone 75% for email, 15% for media/web and 10% for phone calls. The iPhone is amazing for media/web and the phone call interface is great too. It does not come close to matching the blackberry on email, so email is my primary issue.
The secondary issues are the lack of ability to wirelessly sync contacts and calendar events (something that is a near must for me in traveling)
I think the iPhone (and I’ve had time to use it) is an amazing phone, but given the issues I mentioned…it won’t be my primary device.
For most churches, a single page of all info such as upcoming events, times, and news would do great. Having that in iPhone app form would be great. Even a “this week at your church” summary page would do well to inform the congregation. This isn’t a spiritual thing, but to the busy mother of three, I think they would cherish it.
On the spiritual side, the ol’ verse of the day app might be good. Even a devotional of the day/week would benefit some. There are a ton of online Bibles out, so I’m not sure a Bible app alone would pave any new paths. Making sure the YouVersion shined on the iPhone would be an area of severe impact. Especially if the iPhone version was completely tailored for it.
Bobby
I’m fairly new to the blackberry and also use a mac. I can sync with a usb cable, but what do you mean as far as wirelessly syncing those things?
As far as email goes, doesn’t the iphone have as much of a full service email on it as the blackberry? The push is nice, but maybe you can set it to check mail every 15 minutes anyway?
Who knows–my budget says no to the iphone and my blackberry pearl only cost $99.
I’ve got to learn how to maximize my blackberry I guess.
PEACE
How about an interactive concordance. Using clips from series sermons. Life Clips- for example purity/God Loves Sex.
Mike,
Sorry for the delay in responding…we’ve been in meetings today and are now flying back.
We use the Blackberry Enterprise server which gives us full integration with MS Exchange. Basically, any contact/calendar that I add or modify on my blackberry is instantly changed on our Exchange Server. I have never plugged my blackberry into my computer.
Regarding email…I guarantee I can run circles around any iPhone user when it comes to typing on my blackberry.
Hope that helps.
bobby, i was in the apple store in nyc at 1:30am this past sunday with my wife. we could of hooked up and lusted after all the incredible gadgets in the store.
the amazing thing about my experience there was the store was packed even at 1:30am. that store was very cool and i loved the fact that its open 24hours a day and underground. hope you had a great time.
Bobby
Are most of the guys at lifechurch.tv, obviously a tech savvy crowd, mac men or pc guys?
Sounds like Jobs and Apple created another tool/toy that’s an off-the-charts paradigm shifter in some areas but lacking in others.
It shouldn’t surprise us…that’s always the conundrum that Apple leaves us with…
I’m sure you guys at LC.tv already know more about iPhone capabilities/limitations than most of us but…
You gotta take advantage of the uber-interactive web/media capabilities…
ClickComments available during experiences;
Nifty user control of different camera angles/video feeds during live experiences;
As mentioned above- YouVersion specific capabilities.
BTW, I’ve had a Mac since mid-80’s. I currently love my MacBook & iPod — dreaming of Apple TV & iPhone……
Robert:
As you know, I am not a pastor and do not work in the church. In my view, the church membership does not need more content from the church. Don’t get me wrong, having great weekly messages are wonderful. And sure, watching messages on the I phone would be useful at times. Reading the You Version on the I phone would be better than not. All these apps and others would be cool. But I would challenge you to look at the church from an outsider and not as a staff member. With all respect, the last people in the world you should be asking this question to are other church staff.
What causes real heart level change? Is it cool content? Is it a slick app or being hip? I am more interested in how would Christ use the I Phone?
I only slept 30 minutes last night so please forgive any irrational thinking herein.
You know I love you…
Mike,
It’s a bit of a mixture. We are an Apple and Dell shop. Video, Graphics and Digerati teams are most all mac users and the rest of the team uses dell laptops.
I’m a mac user, but the rest of our Directional Leadership Team uses Dell
MikeF,
Can’t believe I missed you…would have loved to connect.
Tom,
I didn’t intend to limit the ideas to church staff members. Just looking for ideas that can assist churches in their mission.
Since you brought up the question…how do you think Jesus would use the iPhone?
Tom,
Count me as another “outside of the paid church staff” but still participates in this blog.
Keep pushing the envelope Bobby!
For me it would be a sermon back-up of some sort. A video segment from the sermon that could be sent on monday to remind people; a video blog from me maybe on wednesday briefly talking about how i was applying the sermon, and maybe a get-ready for sunday ad that would be compelling enough to show friends and co-workers on friday to get them to church.
For me this would integrate
1. using video already made from previous week as a practical reminder to apply sermon
2. a midrash eample of me actually doing it
3. the video stuff altready made for sunday could be used as a teaser for people to invite friends during the wknd
peace
ds