I was one of those Geeks that watched and wondered as Steve Jobs announced the new Apple iPad (worst name of what looks to be a nice product ever). I am an early adopter Tech geek. So I will be wanting one of these devices as soon as they are released.

As I watched, the first thought that I had was what a valuable tool for Bible study out and around this will be. Currently, I have a very heavy HP laptop. It has a huge 12 cell batter which allows me to sit in a coffee shop or the bread place near me for five or more areas not tethered to the power company. It is nice, but also heavy. I’d love to go lighter and though about a netbook. But those tiny keyboards are horrible for a ham fisted guy like me. But an iPad (ugh! – I hate that name) might do the trick. I don’t know yet.

But while my favorite Bible study apps will run on it out of the box, there are going to have to be some improvements to allow me to do full-time Bible study on it. Maybe these will never take place. But here is what I see as the most important improvements needed.

 
Logos iPhone App Running in Ipad

1. Since there is no multi-tasking (the ability to switch from the Bible study app to a word processor and back without closing one to open the other) there needs to be two things. First, there needs to be a good word processor in the app. I’m not talk MS Word quality but MS Works quality or even less. Maybe something as good as Notes with formatting and styles and footnoting.  I won’t likely leave my content there, but I want to be able to write my sermon or Bible study in the app. When I am done, I can export it or copy/paste it into something like Docs To Go or the word processor Apple has created for the iPad. Second, there must be the option to open the app exactly as I left it. This is not a big deal for most of the current Bible study apps for iPhone/iPod Touch. But one or two do not remember your lost location. The Logos iPhone app always loads to what I call there ad page. It contains your Reading Plan as well as announcements from the company. But if I am studying in a commentary and have to exit Logos to write in my word processor, I want to quickly go back to that spot I was studying before.
2. Split Screen view at least. With more screen real estate to work with, there is no good reason not to have a split screen view with one book open in one half and the other open in the other half. This is already possible in some apps, but not many.

I would love to hear other ideas. I will add good ones to this list.

I used my iPhone to surf over to Microsoft’s web site and it had an allergic reaction. Look what happened…

Laridian has produced what it calls an eTract for the iPhone. The concept is that this is a witnessing guide for use on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You open the app and follow it as you are sharing the Gospel with someone. It follows, for the most part, what is traditionally called the Roman’s Road. This witnessing presentation usually uses four scriptures from the book of Romans.

Romans 3:23

Romans 6:23

Romans 5:8

Romans 10:9

The tract is pretty good and strays a little from the traditional Roman’s Road. But in a good way. While I kind of wish it was a little more colorful and I also wish there was a way to give it away, it is a good little app. For only 99 cents in the App Store how can you go wrong?

There is a possibility that there might be future eTracts using the same framework but with different content. I would love to be able to submit my favorite witnessing format and have them create an app.

Gizmodo had this posted today.

I thought it was funny.

Here is a before after satellite photo. It has two locations in Haiti juxtaposed next to each other showing the destruction of the earthquake that hit a few days ago.

Remember, that you can help the victims of Haiti by going to Baptist Global Relief. 100% of the funds will go to Haiti since our Baptist Churches pay for all the administrative costs.

Baptist Global Response is raising funds for disaster relief in Haiti. All Southern Baptist relief is being organized by Florida Baptist who have an ongoing ministry in Haiti to help the people there. If you want to help click the link.

Dave Dunkin, a developer of the Logos iPhone app, created a very nice and very fair comparison chart of all the major iPhone Bible apps. The reason this is significant is that he is extremely honest and fair when judging his own app. He don’t just glow about the Logos app. The extensive chart compares Logos, BibleReader from OliveTree, PocketBible from Laridian, YouVersion, Paul Avery Bible and Mantis.

Check it out at Dave’s Blog over at the rabble.rule blog.

Here is this Sunday’s worship service stream from my church, High Peak.

The sermon was on Psalm 127 – Unless the Lord Builds It…

Brit Hume used to be the anchor of the Fox News Channel’s nightly news broadcast. He still takes part in the network as an analyst and probably other things.  He was on one of their programs Sunday and said Tiger Wood should become a Christian to restore himself and his life. In the face of some conflict, you might have expected him to back down and retract his words. Instead he offered these words of wisdom on Bill O’Reilly’s program.