5 Huge iOS 18 Weaknesses on iPad that Apple Doesn't Want You to Know
When Apple introduced the new iPad Pro with M4 processors, the iOS 18 weaknesses became more glaring because this new iPad sports so much power it's now faster than any Mac you can buy. However, Apple’s decisions about iOS and iPadOS limit these fantastic new iPads in 10 glaring ways. Here’s my list of 10 of the most glaring iOS weaknesses currently in iPadOS.
We hoped Apple might improve with iPadOS 18, which will be released this fall after Apple introduced it at WWDC 2024 on June 10. We did see significant improvements, like the better placement of home screen widgets and app icons and an incredible new Calculator App with Apple Pencil and Apple Intelligence built in. Yet, we still want to see more.
iOS 18 Weaknesses: We Need Preview App for iPad
I moved towards macOS about the 2nd generation MacBook Air introduced on October 20, 2010, by Steve Jobs. I remember calling it "drool-worthy" to one friend. It's funny how it feels like a tank today compared to modern MacBook Air models.
Now that Apple offers several iPads with processors that blow away the MacBook Air from just a few years ago, Apple should rethink iPadOS for those who use it as a laptop or MacBook Air replacement. After all, you can buy a 15-inch MacBook Air today with a fantastic screen, excellent keyboard, plenty of storage and memory, and fits where a light laptop used to fit thanks to the Smart Keyboard Cover.
We Need Preview in iOS 18
Preview comes preinstalled on every Mac and has become my constant companion. It handles...
- Screenshots
- Previews of PDF files
- Previews of image files
- Markup
- Signatures
- Basic photo editing
- Scanning
- File conversions
I'm indeed leaving out some features that you use. Comment below what I missed.
Why can't we have such a helpful app on the iPad? Other apps give users most of the features in Preview, but it's such a friendly, simple, and complete app that the omission of Preview on Apple iPadOS 18 seems baffling.
Bring Journal to iPad Soon Please
I don't use Journal on my iPhone much, but it's an excellent app. I'd love to journal using my iPad's keyboard or Apple Pencil. Why didn't Apple include this in Journal and put it on the iPad?
Including it on the iPhone makes perfect sense. The Journal App will keep track of photos or videos you've taken. It also watches your location and puts a map in a Journal entry. Gathering photos and a map and then typing on my iPad keyboard cover or drawing using the Apple Pencil would be very nice.
Finder and Files Should Merge - One of the Worst iOS 18 Weaknesses on iPad
I don't necessarily want all that macOS Finder offers on my iPad, but I'd love a lot of it.
Apple didn't want users to access the file system on their iOS devices. However, now that we can use the iPad as a computer replacement, we need a more robust Finder app in iPadOS 18. Give me the following, and I'll jump for joy.
- Make folders wherever I want a new folder. Not just in the places they say I can now. Using Finder to organize apps would be easier.
- Let me put a shortcut to a folder on my iPad home screen that opens to that folder in Files.
- Show me a Finder-style progress bar for copying.
What I'm asking for is greater control over the file system. I don't necessarily want full control like we get on macOS. Keep apps, the operating system, and
Mousing on iPad Not Quite There
I hate the little circle you get instead of a familiar arrow. Better yet, let me choose what my cursor looks like. An iPad with a Magic Keyboard has a trackpad, but mousing is not quite there yet. While we're talking about it, can I say that I hate the descriptor "Magic" that Apple uses?
We need a right click menu but can't do that in the OS. Press and hold doesn't work as efficiently and only works in some places. Imagine right-clicking the Home Screen to add a new folder or paste a file (see previous section).
iPhone 14: Should You Upgrade?
Apple released the new iPhone 14 with a few new features. Should you upgrade? We advise you from a Christian perspective. So be sure to read to the end.
No!
Okay, that's not entirely accurate for everyone, but for most, it's that simple. Keep your current iPhone or Android phone. However, if you fit one of the following situations, it might be worth an upgrade.
iPhone 14 Replacing a Broken Phone
My wife uses an iPhone 8 Plus, and she's happy with it except for two problems. First, the fingerprint reader doesn't seem to work consistently, and her battery only lasts about 8 hours before she must recharge it.
Because her phone doesn't work great, she will get my iPhone 13 Pro Max, and I'll get the iPhone 14 Pro Max. She's happy with that, so don't complain that I'm giving her the leftovers. We do technology-hand-me-down all the time because I love having the latest and greatest, and she loves having devices that work.
Subscribe to iPhone Upgrade Program
Some of us love owning the latest and greatest technology. Apple caters to us with what they call the iPhone Upgrade Program. I joined this upgrade program this year. Here's what I'm getting...
- Get a new phone every year - 14 this year and the 15 next year and so on
- Apple Care+ is included
- Pay monthly with no interest and trade it in after 12 payments
- Use the phone with your carrier so long as it's one of the big four (AT&T, Sprint/T-Mobile, T-Moble, and Verizon
You don't have to upgrade if you entered the program last year or the previous year, but you might as well since you're getting the new phone for the same basic monthly payment.
How much does the Apple iPhone Upgrade Program cost? Here's the breakdown based on which model of iPhone 14 you buy.
- iPhone 14 - 128GB - $39.50, 256GB - $43.66, 512GB - $52.00
- iPhone 14 Plus - 128GB - $44.91, 256GB - $57.41, 512GB - $52.00
- iPhone 14 Pro - 128GB - $49.91, 256GB - $54.08, 512GB - $62.41, 1TB - $70.75
- iPhone 14 Pro Max - 128GB - $54.08, 256GB - $58.25, 512GB - $66.58, 1TB - $74.91
iPhone 14 Features Make Upgrading Worth It
The iPhone 14 doesn't add many new features, but you will get a few. Here's a list of what's new. You might want to upgrade if one of these looks compelling enough.
- Dynamic Island - instead of a notch or a hole where the camera would go, Apple created a wide pill shaped black part that encapsulates the front camera and sensors, but also dynamically changes to show notifications. It looks cool and you have to see it to understand what it really is.
- Longer battery life - Apple promises a little bit longer battery life with iPhone 14.
- Emergency SOS using Satellite Tech - send a brief text message to emergency services when you're out of coverage, and it will connect over Satellite. If you're often outside a cellular coverage area, this might make an upgrade to the iPhone 14 worth it.
- Improved Camera Features - iPhone buyers count on camera improvements each year. You'll get a number of improvements like better low-light images and more colorful pics. A 48-megapixel sensor potentially brings more detail and lets the camera stabilize shots better as it can zoom.
- The front selfie camera now has autofocus - people who take a lot of selfies or just use the front camera will love this.
- Faster processor - this matters most to gamers or people who edit photos and videos on the phone.
- Always on Display - the new iPhone 14 has a display that stays on but still doesn't use up too much battery life since it lowers the refresh rate to almost nothing.
- Widgets on the Lock Screen - you can get widgets on your lock screen, most from built-in Apple apps like their Weather app or activity apps.
You'll get a few more features, but we've touched on the highlights above. That's not a lot, so most people shouldn't bother with an upgrade. However, you might see something on the list that will improve your quality of life or work, making the upgrade worth the expense and effort.
You Give More than Ten Percent to Church and Charity
You won't see church and charity listed on any other tech enthusiast site. However, we need to consider this as Christians or people of faith. If you are a follower of Jesus or even a member of another faith, then you likely have an expectation that you give to help those in need or support your church.
Too many people spend too much money on themselves before giving to others. Traditional Christian churches believe in what's called tithing. I know not all believe this, but we should believe in being generous because of what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:7-8:
7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:7-8, NKJV
God Wants to Bless You
Give and God will bless you. We're not saying he'll make you rich like the prosperity Gospel crowd who lie to con you out of your money. We're talking about God's promise to help you take care of your needs, shower you with his blessing of pleasure in your good works, and storing up treasures in heaven where moths and rust won't destroy.
I don't know if moths can destroy an iPhone 14, but I do know falls from 6 feet or higher, extreme heat, and general wear and tear can destroy any of Apple's products. Resist the temptation to upgrade if you're not giving generously. Then only upgrade if one of the above reasons applies to you.
It would be interesting to see a study done to find out how many people upgrade every year do so out of any kind of need or just out of want.
Which Apple iPad is Best for Bible Study?
The Apple iPad in whatever form factor destroys the Android competition for great Bible study on a tablet. Windows comes in a close second because you can install a desktop-class Bible study program on it if you have the storage.
Even if you assume I’m correct about the iPad, which is a big assumption, what iPad should Bible students choose and why?
To just get the conclusion, jump to the end for my Conclusion at the end of the page.
The 4 Apple iPad Form Factors
All four Apple iPads include a slab of glass housed in a rectangular case. They come with varying qualities of screens, speakers, and speed. However, users will not see a huge difference in running the most popular Bible study apps from Logos, Olive Tree, Accordance, and more on any of the four current-generation Apple iPad. Still, let's take a look at each starting from smallest to largest.
The smallest iPad also gives users the most mobile experience. The iPad mini feels more like reading a book than the other iPads. It comes with an 8.3-inch liquid retina screen when measured diagonally. That's 7.69-inches tall and 5.3-inches wide, about the same size as a small Bible but capable of carrying an entire theological library.
The iPad Air has Touch ID on the power button, a convenient security feature. You will also get some pretty decent speakers on the two shorter edges and USB-C for connecting chargers or accessories.
If you want to carry your whole theological library, then you’ll likely also want one with 256GB of storage. Unfortunately Apple stubbornly only offers two storage options. You can get a meager 64GB or too much for Bible students with the larger 256GB option. Most people need more than 64 and less than 256.
The two storage options cost $499 for the base model iPad mini 6 with Wi-Fi only. With 256GB you add $150. That's ridiculous, but necessary because after you own the mini for a while, you'll want to use it more and more because it's so convenient to carry out. So plan to pay the extra coin.
I personally chose to add Cellular as well making it cost $$800. I like that I can just open the cover and start working no matter where I am, almost since there are some areas without coverage in my semi-rural community.
Throw in an Apple Pencil 2 and a cover and you're over $900. That's a lot of money, but you can get it on a 0% interest payment plan with your wireless carrier or with an Apple Card.
The newer Apple Pencil 2 connects and charges while connected to the side of the iPad. It's a great stylus but costs. More on that below.
Some people call the basic model the iPad 9 or iPad nothing because it doesn't include a descriptive name like the mini, Air, or Pro. It's the cheapest option at only $329 for 64GB of storage and no Cellular.
It includes a larger screen at 10.2-inches diagonally or 9.8-inches by 6.8-inches when measuring the long and wide sizes of the entire device.
The iPad doesn't support Face ID but you can unlock it by touching the Home button, which has Touch ID built-in. It uses older technology than the Air or even the mini. However, it's a great starter iPad for most people. And if you only plan to study the Bible, strongly consider it since it costs less than any other device. Users can use the Smart Keyboard.
The iPad 9 comes with the same problems as the iPad mini with only two storage options - 64 and 256 GB. So you really want the larger storage option which brings the price to $479. If you want Cellular, then add $130 bringing your total to $609. Most looking for this budget model won't want Cellular, but get the 256 because 64 isn't enough.
The other problems with the regular iPad include...
- Lightning connector is slower and makes accessories more expensive since creators have to pay Apple for the right to include Lightning.
- Lower resolution screen that's not as good as the mini and much worse than the Air or Pro models.
- Slower A13 Bionic Chip compared to the A15 in the mini and the M1 Chips in the Air and Pro models
- Uses the older first-generation Apple Pencil that charges by sticking it into the Lightning port making it easier to break off the connector or lose the cap.
Apple offers the iPad as the budget option and that makes it a great tool for people who want a device for basic needs, including Bible study, reading, and Bible app research. You can also pair it with a Bluetooth keyboard for writing. Just don't expect the latest and greatest. Those tech specs aren't included.
Some call this the best deal on an iPad today. You get the most bang for your buck. However, it will cost you more than the iPad and iPad mini. It has a much better screen and a super fast and efficient M1 chip. Plus it records 4K video with the back camera and has a front camera that follows you when you're video conferencing. They call that Center Stage because it centers the camera on the subject.
The Air speakers sound great and the screen looks amazing. You can use the awesome iPad Magic Keyboard case or the awesome Smart Keyboard Folio with the trackpad. I love this keyboard. Also, the newer Apple Pencil 2 connects and charges while connected to the side of the iPad.
However, we still see the annoying storage issue with only 64GB or 256GB. Plus Cellular swells the price by another $150. That brings the total with 256GB and Cellular to $899. For Wi-Fi alone, you pay $749. Why does Cellular cost more on the Air than on the mini or the basic iPad?
The iPad Air is the prettiest coming in one of five colors including Space Gray, Pink, Purple, Blue, and Starlight.
The iPad Pro below comes in two sizes, 12.9 inches, and 11 inches. Don't get the 11-inch iPad Pro. Instead, get the iPad Air.
The most expensive, powerful, and feature-rich iPad seems more like a mobile computer than a tablet. The iPad Pro which you can get in 11-inch or 12.9-inch screen sizes offers the most power of the four sizes. It costs $799 for the 11-inch and $1099 for the 12.9-inch.
Apple offers 128GB for the base price. That's the sweet spot and should be the lowest storage offered on any device made by Apple. It's the perfect storage for most buyers. However, you can get 256, 512, 1TB, or 2TB. You don't need anything more than 128 for Bible study. However, you may want to choose higher storage if you plan to use this iPad for much more than Bible studies, like video and photo editing, gaming, and more complex uses.
Users may want the large 12.9-inch screen because they want more screen real estate for Bible study.
Other specs to excite buyers include:
- Liquid Retina XDR Display
- ProMotion
- M1 Chip with more memory than the others
- Face ID and Center Stage camera
- 5G Cellular optional along with Wi-Fi 6
- LiDar support for things like 3D modeling
- Thunderbolt USB-C port that's fast and will connect to a Thunderbolt monitor or incredible docks with a lot of ports
Recommendation for Bible Study Only
If you only want to study the Bible then you have to ask yourself a few questions. Do you want something small and easy to carry around like a small Bible? Then get the iPad mini. If you need a bigger screen then get the iPad Air. It's the most future-proof and with all the tech inside it will last for a long time. However, budget-conscious buyers should go with yesterday's technology in the basic Apple iPad.
Just remember this. I've never met anyone who actually used a tablet only for Bible study. So, you can see yourself possibly needing a little more power, a good typing experience, or some screen real estate to edit your photos or make video masterpieces, then get the Apple iPad Air.
Recommendation for Bible Study and High-End Multimedia
If you just read the above paragraph, then you know I recommend the Apple iPad Air for people who want to study their Bible with Logos, Accordance, Olive Tree, or some other Bible app and work with multimedia. But which iPad Air should you get?
The 256 is, unfortunately, the best option until Apple gets its head out of the sand and starts offering a 128GB option.
Recommendation for Those Needing a Large Screen
Buy the Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch model with 128 GB if you only want to study the Bible or 256GB or more if you want to do high-end work like multimedia creation.
I bought the 12.9 Pro because I teach and preach from my iPad and due to my aging eyes the mini's just not big enough. The iPad Pro 12.9 means typing on a keyboard that's wide enough to enjoy. The Air was too narrow for my big hands. I spent more than I needed to. Until Apple offers a larger Air with 128GB, I'll happily keep my Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch.
Recommendation for Buyers on a Budget
This one's simple. Get the basic Apple iPad for $329 if you don't own a large Bible library or pay more for the 256GB model. You won't get all the power and specs and it may feel old in a shorter time since it's not as fast, but for buyers on a budget, it's the best way to go.
The only other budget option is to buy a used device or get an older one. Look at your budget and something that fits in your budget that also fits your preferred form factor.
You can check out Apple's Refurbished store. For example, they offer the iPad mini 5 for the same price as the newest base model iPad. For slightly more than the base model you can get an Air with Wi-Fi for just $419.
Check out eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Swappa as other options for used and refurbished products. You can get a great deal.
Must-Have Accessories
When you buy an iPad, you also have to factor in buying accessories. Other tables like the Samsung Galaxy Tabs come with at least a writing device. You can use the tablet alone, but I wouldn't. You'll need the following accessories.
- Cover or Case - you will want to protect your device.
- Keyboard or Keyboard Cover - you can study the Bible on your iPad more efficiently with a keyboard connected.
- Apple Pencil - you may want a Pencil to write or take handwritten notes in apps that you can use alongside your Bible apps.
- Screen Protector - I used to not protect the screens on my tablets, but when you carry it around naked you should.
- Headphones - many Bible apps include audiobooks or videos.
Let me offer my top recommendation for each category above.
- The Apple covers or cases work best, but if you want to save money go with cases from Moko, Spigen, or Moshi.
- Apple's Keyboards or Keyboard Covers are the best options for the Air or Pro. The Magic Keyboard is $300 and the Smart Keyboard Folio costs $180. I love typing on my Magic Keyboard cover connected to my iPad Pro 12.9. However, Logitech makes great keyboards too if you want to use your iPad at a desktop. I have the Logitech MX Keys and MX Keys mini. You can also buy Apple's Magic Keyboards with or without Touch ID.
- Apple Pencil is the best writing device and I wouldn't buy another one. However, the Logitech Crayon is a $70 alternative.
- Screen Protectors are a budget item. They shouldn't cost a lot of money. Just get a glass screen protector. However, here's one alternative that some people really like. Get a Paperlike screen protector, which does two things. It protects the screen and gives users a paper-like experience for drawing and writing.
- Get the Apple Airpods or Beats to use for Headphones. They work best with Apple products and sound really good. However, not everyone wants to pay that much. Be careful which ones you buy, because sub-$100 Bluetooth earbuds usually sound like junk. To save money get Apple's USB-C to stereo adapter and plug-in wired headphones.
Conclusion
To do only Bible study, then get the iPad mini. You'll enjoy using it for hand-held study. If you want to put it on a table and need more screen real estate, then buy the iPad Air with an Apple Magic Keyboard. Add an Apple Pencil to either device if you plan to take notes in your own handwriting or want to write. Add a handwriting keyboard replacement app like Handwriting Keyboard ($3.99). Throw in a great note-taking app like Notability or Good Notes. This way you can have the Bible app on one side and the note-taking app on the other while holding the tablet.
Get Logos Legacy Library for 25% Off
If you need to buy a good Bible software package, consider using my affiliate link to get Logos Bible Software. You can get what they call "Legacy Libraries" for a nice discount of 25% off. A legacy library is a collection of books that they sold when they released previous versions of Logos from versions 5 through 8.
iPad Mini 6 Review for Ministers and Everyone Else
One of the best tablets for pastors is the iPad mini 6. Here's why I love it so much for ministry and general use.
The Apple iPad mini 6 came out and I couldn't resist getting one. In fact, I sold my 12.9-inch iPad Pro and my iPad mini 5 so I could get the 256GB model. Here's my iPad mini 6 review for ministers and everyone else.
Let's start with how the iPad mini 6 ($499 for base, $649 as reviewed) fits in my life. I use it as my primary tablet and, for a little while, my only iOS device because a couple of months ago I switched from using an iPhone 12 Pro Max to a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G. I moved back to the iPhone after that failed experiment. I shared thoughts on that transition in another post. The iPad mini 6 handles...
- Reading my Bible and others books in Bible apps and the Kindle app.
- A complement to my phone for checking email, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
- Watching videos or listening to podcasts using YouTube, YouTube TV, Pocket Casts, and other streaming video services.
- Playing casual games.
- Quick photo editing for posting online.
- Quick video editing - mostly trimming videos, combining clips, color correcting, adding titles, and music but not complex edits.
- Flying my DJI Mini 2 drone.
- Taking notes in meetings with Notability and the Apple Pencil.
- Preaching from my tablet with Word or using Keynote for presentations.
We'll look at the uses listed above and then the hardware. If you just want to see what I think without the detailed iPad mini 6 Review, then jump to the bottom to get my recommendation.
iPad mini 6 Review: Bible Study and Reading Books
The screen on the iPad mini 6 looks pretty nice while reading books. The iPad mini 6 works well for studying the Bible in several Bible study apps and the Kindle app for reading books. Read magazines using the Apple News app.
I like reading on a screen. My wife prefers the Kindle Paperwhite and won't read books on a tablet, but I love using the iPad mini thanks to the sharp and clear display. If you hate reading on a screen and prefer e-ink or real paper, then don't buy the iPad mini 6 for reading. You won't enjoy it. However, I would recommend trying it out. Borrow a friend’s mini or spend some time at an Apple Store or Best Buy reading to see if you could use it. It’s nice caring only one tablet for reading.
All the Bible apps that run nicely on an iPhone look great on the mini 6. The screen's just big enough to open 2 books at once time or open a book and a note screen. The new window management in the iPad mini 6 or any of Apple's iPad thanks to iPadOS 15 makes it easier than ever to open two apps at once. You can...
- Open one Bible app and take notes in another
- Open your Bible app and a word processor like Word, Pages, or Notes
- Use your inking app, like Notability, and take handwritten notes while also studying the Bible in your favorite Bible app.
- Research topics on the Internet while and studying the Bible in your chosen Bible app.
The Kindle app and Apple News app look great. Reading other text in a browser, email, or social media also looks sharp and crisp.
Margins Notes or Highlighting like a Paper Book
Most of the Bible apps and the Kindle app won't let you take handwritten notes inside the app. iPadOS 15 added a new feature where you can grab your Apple Pencil 2 (sorry, but the first-gen Pencil doesn't work) and swipe from the lower right corner. Apple Notes opens a note and you can take what they call Quick Notes. These Quick Notes are attached to the content on screen. You can type or draw and write in your own penmanship.
While I would not use this for really important Bible study and research notes, it's great for a quick note that you can save and later add to the notes feature. I type faster than I can write with the Pencil, but Quick Notes works great for those instant observations in another app outside your main Bible app, hence the name Apple gave the feature.
If you love to write in the margins of your books, then convert them to PDF and get an app like Notability, Liquid Text, or Good Notes. You can find others, but make sure they support importing PDF files. I use Liquid Text for this. It supports PDFs and Word docs. By the way, the OneNote app also supports handwriting with the Apple Pencil.
You could always highlight the Bible in the best Bible apps. This also works great on the iPad mini 6.
iPad mini 6 Review: Preaching from Digital Notes
When I preach, I always bring my iPad into the pulpit and view my sermon notes in Microsoft Word. It worked great on my 12.9 iPad Pro. Young people or those with great eyesight will love using the iPad mini 6, but it's a little too small to lay down on the pulpit. Word will enlarge the text, but then you don't see enough of the outline at one time. So, going forward I will not use my iPad mini 6. However, if you want to, open the document, put it in reader mode by tapping the icon on the toolbar (see the GIF above), and then pinch to zoom text.
You'll need to decide if your eyes see well enough to use the smaller iPad mini 6 for preaching notes. If you used an older iPad mini, then you'll like the new one. The screen measures slightly larger than the old version with an 8.3-inch display versus the older 7.9-inch on the 5.
Presenting Using the iPad mini 6
Presenting suffers the same problem for my older eyes as reading my preaching notes. However, I can use it and if you've used a small display for presentations before, then the iPad mini 6 will work for you.
If you simply plug in and swipe or tap to advance slides, the iPad mini 6 will work great. If you like to write or draw on the screen as I do (see above GIF), then the size might limit you. It's harder to present on the smaller screen compared to the 12.9-inch Pro display or the 10-11-inch display on the basic iPad, iPad Air, or smaller iPad pro.
With iPadOS 15 and macOS Monterey on a Mac, you can send the display of your iPad to the Mac using screen sharing (see GIF above). This would let you connect to a Mac hooked up to a projector or TV. Then screen share your iPad screen to the Mac.
iPad mini 6 Review: Screen and Input
Pick up the small and light iPad mini 6 and type on the screen with your fingers or write using Scribble, the new Pencil-based input system in iPadOS 15. The mini 6 handles this kind of input. However, I don’t really like Scribble, so I’ve installed a keyboard that lets me draw text and it converts it to printed text on the screen. It’s called Handwriting and handles handwritten text input better than Scribble.
iPad mini 6 Review: Performance
I'm not going to run benchmarks or battery tests. You can find those on more technical reviews elsewhere. Rene Ritchie does a great job of these kinds of reviews on his YouTube channel.
If you plan to use the iPad mini 6 as a tool in ministry, it performs efficiently and offers a nice improvement over the 5. It's snappier, scrolls through websites and books faster, and the inking smoothly displays your handwriting and drawing.
Some people report seeing a strange effect while scrolling. It's the great "Jelly Scrolling" controversy of 2021. See the effect in the video below.
The jelly scrolling issue clearly shows up in the video above. But, I don't see it on mine. It seems like you have to really look for it to see it. And if you do, then you may not see it again. If you get one that looks more noticeable, then get return it and get a replacement.
Since I don't notice the problem, I can't complain about it here.
Other than the Jelly Scroll issue, the iPad mini 6 performs well. I played videos, games, and read on it a lot over the first couple of weeks, and loved the experience. It feels like a good improvement over the 5, which I owned.
iPad mini 6: Video and Photo Samples
Most people will still use their phone or a dedicated camera to take pictures or shoot videos. However, I use my iPad mini to scan documents and the rear-facing camera works great. I import documents into my note-taking apps or scan them for storage in my OneDrive folder. After worship, I scan all the guest cards to contact them. I also scan new member cards to add them to our church role.
More people will use the front-facing camera to stream themselves on social media or for FaceTime, Skype, or Zoom calls. The camera works fine for these situations.
A new feature on the iPad mini 6 enables ultra-wide video so that the camera will follow you around your room even if the iPad remains stationary. The software will zoom in and focus on your face so you can get up and move left or right and then back to the center frame.
In a pinch, the camera does a nice job of taking photos and videos. Here's a sample of photos taken on the iPad mini 6 camera. They are all without edits and exported from Photos to JPG. The one of me in my orange shirt is taken with the front-facing camera. The other four are taken with the rear camera.
The colors look nice. Each photo seems sharp enough for snapshots. I wouldn't try to get high-art photographs with the camera. All of that said, the camera impressed me. Until this model, I wouldn't even consider taking this much time in a review to discuss the quality. But this camera works better than any previous iPad camera.
iPad mini 6 Review: Flying My DJI Mini 2 Drone
Flying a drone usually starts with connecting a phone to the drone controller. However, I never really liked using the small screen of the flown. There's too much on the screen for even a large screen like the one you get with the iPhone 13 Pro Max. So, flying a drone with an iPad mini 6 makes drone pilots happy.
The above set of screenshots shows the interface of the DJI Fly app, used to control the DJI Mini 2 drone. All the controls show up with plenty of room to see the images from the drone's camera.
To fly a DJI drone with the iPad mini 6, you'll need a special attachment like the Drone Valley Gear Tablet Mount ($18.95) that I bought on Amazon. It fits an iPhone, iPad mini 6, or another tablet of similar or even larger size.
If you want to learn more about the mount, see Drone Valley's video below.
iPad mini 6 Accessories
I bought the official Apple Smart Folio in Electric Orange for $59. I also accidentally got the Dark Cherry, but it showed smudges too much, so I stuck with the bright orange Smart Folio and I'm glad I did.
The case covers the back of the iPad mini 6 then wraps around the left side of the device to cover the front. The back snaps into place thanks to magnets that reliably hold it on the iPad.
The front part of the Smart Folio folds up into a triangle to turn into a stand. It will hold the iPad up in an angle best for watching a video and a lower angle for drawing.
The magnets in the front part of the Smart Folio snap onto the front part of the iPad and this turns the screen off until you open the case and it turns the screen back on. It also folds onto the back and snaps into place so you can hold it and read or do other things.
The Apple Smart Folio case feels like it will hold up, but for $59 it seems like it should feel more premium. It has a bit of a cheap feel to it. You can find cheaper cases, but I like Apple’s because they’re designed better even if the raw materials aren’t as premium.
The Folio also comes off easily making the iPad mini 6 lighter and therefore easier to read on it.
The Apple Pencil 2 snaps onto the right side (in portrait orientation) and automatically pairs with the iPad. It also charges while connected. The magnets seem stronger this time than my old 2020 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
The Apple Pencil costs $129, a little steep for a stylus. However, it's one of the best you can get especially for artists.
I don't use the iPad mini for typing very often, but Logitech makes the best keyboard you can pair with the iPad mini 6 or any tablet. The new Logitech Mx Keys Mini costs $99, a lot for an iPad mini keyboard. I use it with other devices so it's worth the price. You get a great keyboard that's small enough to carry in a bag but small enough that it doesn't take up too much space.
Add to the Mx Keys Mini, Logitech's great MX Anywhere 3 mouse, also pricey at $79.99, and you get a mini-computer on the go.
The above image shows a pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, but the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds are the Apple Airpods Pro. They automatically switch to the iPad mini 6 when you put them in your ears and start playing media.
iPad mini 6 Review: Specs
- Screen
- 8.3-inch display with 2266x1488 pixels and 327 pixels per inch
- IPS LCD with 60Hz refresh rate
- 500 nits brightness
- System Hardware
- Apple's A15 Bionic processor
- Hexa-core 64-big
- 64 or 256GB storage
- Battery
- 5078 mAh LI-Polymer battery
- Runs over 10 hours in most tests
- Cameras
- Rear camera - single 12MP with F1.8 aperture
- Video recording at 4K 60fps and 1080P at 240fps
- Front camera - single 12MP with 1080P video
- Connectivity
- 5G, LTE Celular with dual sim support
- Wi-Fi 6
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Physical Size and Details
- 7.69 x 5.31 x .25 inches
- 10.34 ounces
- Volume up/down and power button with integrated fingerprint reader
- USB-C charging port with cable and brink included
- Comes in Space Gray, Pink, Purple, and Startlight
Recommendation
I love my iPad mini 6. It was nearly the perfect update over the 5 with a better camera, USB-C, faster processor, and just an overall better experience. If you own an old iPad mini, then seriously consider upgrading, especially if it’s a 4 or older. If you own an Android tablet or. Kindle, then the iPad mini 6 will cost more, but it’s worth it. Android phones might compete well with the iPhone, but I’ve never used an Android tablet that meets my needs as well as the iPad.
5 Ways of Using Apple TV in Church
The new Apple TV is a great tool for fun, but you can also use Apple TV in church. We've got 5 uses for Apple TV in church or ministry.
Apple just shipped the new Apple TV and I got one because I love the little black box but hated the old remote. It got me thinking about using Apple TV in church and I came up with 5 ways you can use the new Apple TV in church or in ministry.
What Is the New Apple TV?
Apple first produced a set-top box way back in September 2006, but it didn't really take off till the company updated it 4 years later. Now it's a small black box that looks like an oversized hockey puck. It now comes with a metal remote that's tiny and useful for watching streamed content and even playing some casual games. You can connect a keyboard or a game controller via Bluetooth. You can also connect Bluetooth headphones, Apple AirPods, or a speaker.
Apple added a streaming service called Apple TV+ that includes content made for the service and gathers content from other streaming apps that run on the Apple TV like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and more.
Apple added a streaming service called Apple TV+ that includes content made for the service and gathers content from other streaming apps that run on the Apple TV like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and more.
This week (May 2021) Apple starting shipping the 6th version of the Apple TV. The following list shows the specs of the latest version, also called the Apple TV 4K 2nd Generation...
- Fast A12 Bionic processor
- High frame rate 60fps HDR
- HDMI 2.1
- Wi-Fi 6
- New color optimization using the iPhone camera
- tvOS 14.5 or higher
- AirPlay
- New and improved remote replacing the horrifically bad touch remote from previous generations
Most people probably think of Apple TV as a way to consume content for entertainment or maybe education. It's also a gaming system for casual gamers. However, you can use it in ministry or the church. So, we've got some tips for using Apple TV in Church.
The new Apple TV costs $179 for a 32GB model and $199 for a 64 GB model. Unless you think you'll install a lot of games or apps, you can get the 32GB model. However, I'd recommend buying the 64GB model since it only costs $20.
Using Apple TV in Church for Presentations
This tip seems obvious. Use an Apple TV in Church for wireless presentations from either your Mac, iPad, or iPhone. If you have an Android device, you can find apps that work with Apple's AirPlay.
Start with traditional presentation apps like Keynote, PowerPoint, or a lesser-known presentation app. Use AirPlay to connect to the Apple TV and fire up the app. It will allow you to mirror the screen or display your slides on the Apple TV and the presenter's view on the iPad, iPhone, or Mac.
If you need the details about how to connect over Airplay, use the tips on Apple's support site. Here's the support page for using a Mac to present.
Set Up a Foyer Information or Announcement Kiosk
You can display photo slideshows on an Apple TV. That's a great use for an Apple TV in Church. Get a TV in the foyer or in any room where you need to display announcements or informational slides. Hook up an Apple TV and set it to play the slideshow.
Put all your photos or slides in an album in the Photos app for the account connected to the Apple TV. Then follow the steps on this Apple Support page for setting up the Photos App to display the slides or photos.
You can use it for...
- Announcements
- Informational slides - for visitors, families, etc.
- Slideshows of events from recent activities in the church - consider putting these in the midst of the announcements or info slides.
- Play a video message - you can also place this in the slideshow of photos or announcements and info slides.
Play Music to Set Tone of a Room or Worship Event
Sometimes I fire up the Apple TV in our church's fellowship room and play some background music. It's great at holiday events or a supper for the church or groups in the church. I also occasionally play music to set the tone for a Bible study or worship event. Then after the event's over, I might fire up the music again with a playlist that sets the tone of how we want to send people on their way.
Stream Video Content
Of course you can stream video content on an Apple TV in church, but why would you?
- Show videos of past events
- Share a video message from a shut-in shot on an iPhone and stored in Photos
- Use one of the many Christian and Bible-centered apps like the Life.Church Bible, Faithlife TV, or RightNow Media Media.
- YouTube videos
- Facebook Watch videos
- Plex to stream your own videos
- Hold a movie party for a small group
That's just a handful of useful ways to use the streaming capabilities of the Apple TV in Church. You can watch any video that you want, so long as you're not breaking copyright laws.
Educate People on Using Software and Websites
If your church just got a new Church app, then use the Apple TV to demonstrate how to use the new app. AirPlay the screen on your iPhone or iPad. You could create a video and stream it.
Use AirPlay to show off your church's new website. Maybe you want your people to use another website. Demo it using Apple TV.
If you have a group of people who want to learn more about studying their Bible with Bible study software or an app, then you can teach them by opening the app or software and then use AirPlay to connect the computer, iPad, or iPhone.
Conclusion
The Apple TV can help save money and make you more successful in communicating with your church. Instead of a long cable run, connect an Apple TV to a projector. Also, it's cheaper a whole computer hooked up to a display.
While the new Apple TV is a great box for using an Apple TV in church, you might want to consider an older 1080P Apple TV. They're cheaper and will still work great. If you're getting one of the new 4K models for home, then maybe you can re-purpose an old 1080P model for the church.
How to Subscribe to Podcasts in Your Favorite App
If you want to enjoy the new Theotek podcast, we'll show you how to subscribe to podcasts in various apps or with an RSS link.
You hear a lot about podcasts, but how do you listen to them easily without going to the podcast's website? We'll look at how to subscribe to podcasts in your favorite app, like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or my favorite, Pocket Casts.
Listeners can easily subscribe to podcasts by opening their podcast app of choice and search for it. If you own an iPhone you have an accept podcast app already. Apple Podcasts come installed on your iPhone. If you removed it or it's not there, just search the App Store on your iPhone or iPad and download it.
How to Subscribe to Podcasts in Apple Podcasts
Fire up the app, hit the Search tab in the lower right corner, and type in the Podcast title. If you type in Theotek, it should be the first one on the list, but the jerks at Apple prioritize other shows not named Theotek, so slide right to find it. Tap the cover art as seen above and then hit the three little dots menu button in the upper right. Choose Subscribe.
How to Subscribe to Podcasts in Pocket Casts
My favorite podcast app works so much better than Apple's app. Pocket Casts finds the right Theotek podcast when you search the title. Open it up and tap on Discover instead of Search like you did in Apple Podcasts. Type in the tame Theotek or another podcast title. Tap on the cover art that shows our faces and hit Subscribe.
I don't use Google Podcasts or Spotify, the other most popular apps. Unfortunately, the Google Podcast app doesn't find the right Theotek podcast. It finds the old one that we used to host on our website. So you'll need to use this link to subscribe to Google Podcasts from the web. Here's a link for the podcast on Spotify.
How to Subscribe to Podcasts Using the RSS Feed Link
If you want to subscribe to the Theotek podcast or any other podcast using an RSS feed, then you'll need to find the feed link for the podcasts. For example, here's Theotek's RSS feed link.
https://anchor.fm/s/4739b4e8/podcast/rss
You can also go to the Anchor.fm website to find links to your favorite Podcast service.
Every podcast has a unique URL called an RSS feed. A URL is a website address like www.kevinpurcell.org for this site. However, an RSS feed tells a Podcast app or an RSS reader important information to find a new episode of a podcast and tell your podcast or newsreader to get the new episode.
I use an app called Pocket Casts. The app finds every episode each time the app sends a message to the website asking if there's new content. If there's new content, the RSS feed replies saying, "Yes. We have a great new episode, and you can download it at this address."
Using Pocket Casts, users can add a new RSS feed by going to the Search tab and paste the RSS feed into the search field. Hit the Search button, and it will show you the Podcast. Tap it to go to the page. Tap the Subscribe button in the upper right corner.
Other apps or services have similar methods of subscribing to a podcast. For example, Google Podcasts allows you to add them on the website - podcast.google.com.
In the upper left corner of Google Podcasts website, you will see a link that reads + Add by RSS Feed. Click it to add the podcast RSS feed URL manually.
How to Add a Podcast RSS Feed Link to Apple Podcasts
Using Apple Podcasts, you can subscribe with an RSS feed too. Tap on the Library tab at the bottom of the page. Then find the Edit button in the upper right corner. Tap it and select Add a Show by URL... at the bottom of the list.
5 Ways the M1 MacBook Makes Ministers More Productive and 1 Way It Doesn’t
The new Apple M1 MacBook Pro boosted my productivity in the weeks I've used it. It's not perfect and won't save you hours of time, but will help make you a little more efficient. Find out how with these 5 productivity boosters.
I bought the new M1 MacBook Pro and over the last week, it made me more productive. Here are 5 ways that this new M1 MacBook Pro can help make ministers more productive in ministry and at the end, I'll offer one reason that it's not all perfect.
In case you didn’t know, Apple released a significant update to its MacBook Air and MacBook Pro line. They replaced the Intel processors with Apple Silicon, which streamlined interconnection between the brain of the computer (processor) with the memory and graphics processor to make the computer faster and more efficient. It runs a lot of things faster and the battery lasts longer, up to 20 hours long depending on how the user sets their preferences and what software they’re using. That's Apple's figure not mine.
How does a computer make someone more productive? I’ve got 5 ways the M1 MacBook Pro makes me more productive. This applies to the M1 MacBook Air and M1 Mac mini too, since the internal hardware of the new Apple M1 MacBook Air and Pro perform similarly.
M1 MacBook Battery Lasts a Long Time
When I first opened and set up my new Apple M1 MacBook Pro, I plugged it in because that's the popular wisdom - charge your tech to 100% right away. After doing that I didn't plug it in for a couple of days of heavy use. I didn't time it so I don't know how long it lasted. But it lasts a long time.
My friend who also got an M1 MacBook Pro took his computer to a coffee shop. He worked with it untethered to power all day long and reported in the early evening that it still had 63% battery life left at 4:07 in the afternoon. That's stellar battery life.
I typically use mine for about 3-5 hours per day on battery power and I don't charge it for two or three days at a time. Even then, I only do it to be safe. I could probably go 4-5 days easily.
This kind of battery life makes you more efficient because you don't have to worry about finding your charger. Leave the charger at your desk, nightstand, or wherever you top off the battery. It may not save hours a day, but every five-minute saving helps. You’re not worried about battery life so you can work anywhere instead of seeking out a table or booth at the coffee shop near the power outlet.
M1 MacBook Keyboard Enters Text More Accurately
Apple customers have a checkered history with Apple's recent keyboards. Until a few years ago, they made the best mobile keyboards around. My first Mac was a 2nd generation MacBook Air and I loved that computer because of the keyboard, the trackpad, and the operating system.
Apple kept the stellar trackpad but wanted to make their computers thinner so the designers at Apple crippled their amazing keyboards making them nearly unusable. Fortunately, this changed with the newest MacBooks released in 2019 and 2020. The new M1 MacBooks also sport the new keyboards that actually work great, feel great and type accurately if you're a quick touch typist.
Not everyone agrees that the newer keyboards work better, but most do. I hated the previous versions and feel like these latest keyboards work more like that first MacBook Air I received nearly 10 years ago.
M1 MacBook Screen's Brighter and Easier to Read
Do you know what 400 or 500 nits mean? Neither do I. Practically, it means a bright monitor that you can keep at about 50% most of the time. A nit is a measurement of brightness. The word comes from the Latin term nitere meaning to shine.
A bright screen saves battery life and stays crisp and bright enough to see text, view video, and enjoy using your MacBook. I can read my M1 MacBook Pro screen easily while out and about keeping it at 50%. Most computers I've used or tested had to be set at about 70-80% in most bright rooms for me to view them comfortably.
The M1 MacBook Air is 20% darker than the M1 MacBook Pro officially. The Air offers 400 nits of brightness while the Pro has 500 nits. When my son and I placed our two M1 MacBooks together, we didn't notice as much a difference as I expected. See that in our unboxing of his new M1 MacBook Air in which we put my M1 MacBook Pro next to his Air to compare the two.
M1 MacBook Always Stays On So No Waiting to Boot
My old MacBook started up pretty quickly. It took a few seconds from sleep mode and less than 20 seconds from off. However, opening the lid on the new M1 MacBook Pro turns on the screen and the computer snaps to attention instantly ready for your input.
Instant-on displays won't save you hours a day or a week, but it does make you more efficient.
Consider this scenario. You have an idea, so you pop open the computer and start typing within a few seconds. With older MacBooks or a PC, you open the screen and often you have to wait for the computer to boot up or wake from sleep. It takes 5-30 seconds or some Macs and longer on old systems, maybe 5 minutes.
You wanted to quickly get an idea written in your sermon notes or the Bible study notes, but the slower computer means you're waiting. In the interim, you get interrupted by someone and you forget to write down that idea. That perfect ending to your sermon or the excellent illustration of your third point is gone into the recesses of your aging mind. I hate when that happens. It's less likely to with an instant on display that pops up the moment you lift the lid. How often does this happen? Not very! But one time makes this a nice added benefit of a faster computer.
Bonus Benefit: iOS Apps on Your M1 MacBook
Did I say five benefits? Well, here's a bonus sixth benefit of the new M1 MacBook Pro and Air - iOS Apps on your Mac. You read that right. You can install some of the apps you love using on your iPad or iPhone on your Mac.
It's too simplistic to say that the new M1 MacBook is just a glorified iPads, but they do run Apple Silicon just like an iPad or iPhone. For that reason, Apple designed the new macOS 11 Big Sur with the ability to install iOS apps, if the developer makes that option available.
Not all developers flipped the switch to turn on iOS app installation on the Mac. For example, I edit my sermon podcast on the Ferrite iPad app. It's quick and easy to use and I'd love to edit my sermon podcast with Ferrite my new M1 MacBook Pro too. Ferrite won't let me do that right now. But they'd be insane not to offer a version. This would give them a large number of potential customers. I'm guessing they will make it available in the Mac App Store, but they'll charge an added fee. Ferrite's so good I'll pay extra if it's not too expensive.
A few Bible app developers flipped that switch already. You can install a few great Bible apps for iPad on your Mac.
M1 MacBook Performs Some Tasks Faster
The video above exported from Final Cut Pro, a video editor from Apple that Apple updated to take advantage of the power of the new processors. It exported in under three minutes. On my old MacBook from 2017 that would take about 15-20 minutes depending on how complicated I made the edit with tracks and transitions.
If you use Apple's iWork apps like Pages, Keynote, or Numbers you'll seem excellent responsiveness. iMovie or GarageBand run quickly too.
Any application made to run natively on the M1 Apple Silicon Processors will run more efficiently than the previous generations of those programs. Here's one example. I created a twelve-minute video about how Bible software runs on my new MacBook. See it below. Microsoft released new versions of their Office apps with M1 Mac optimization support.
1 Way an M1 MacBook Doesn’t Boost Minister Productivity
Notice the previous section heading says "some". Not all macOS software runs screaming fast. Traditional software that developers failed to update to an M1 optimized system require something Apple calls Rosetta 2. Rosetta 2 takes the software coded to run on the old Intel-based systems and helps them work on the new Apple Silicon processors. Think of it like a translator who listens to you speaking English and translates your message to Sign Language for a hearing impaired person.
All Bible software that I'm familiar with requires Rosetta 2 to run on an M1 MacBook at this point. The previous video shows you how well most of the Bible software runs, but it's not perfect. I experienced some slow performance in both Logos and Accordance. It's minor, but worth mentioning. You can use these programs, but you will not see an increase in productivity till Faithlife and Accordance or the other developers update their programs. I'm told Logos is looking at 6 months to 18 months depending on how they attempt the update. Accordance isn't saying anything publicly, but I hope it will be sometime in the next year.
M1 MacBook Pro and Bible Study Apps
How well do the top five Mac Bible study apps run on the new M1 MacBook Pro? We ran five of the best programs and share our results.
Are you curious how the new M1 MacBook Pro handles Bible study apps and programs? I was too and couldn't wait to test this out. You can find the results as I tested Logos 9, Accordance 13, Olive Tree, Laridian Pocket Bible, and e-Sword X on the new M1 MacBook Pro.
UPDATE: Added a video under the Logos 9 on M1 MacBook Pro section below.
Why I Bought the M1 MacBook Pro
For the past year, I actually transitioned to a Windows-centric computer experience by giving my 2018 MacBook Pro to my son, a videographer and photographer who really wanted to go Mac. I bought an excellent HP Spectre x360 13 2-in-1, but then reluctantly decided to go back to Apple after my office PC failed and I got a Mac mini from a friend.
I bought the 2020 MacBook Pro that Apple released earlier this year based on Intel's processor. That was in late October and then Apple released the new M1 MacBook Air, M1 MacBook Pro, and M1 Mac mini. Fortunately, I got mine at Best Buy and I could return so I did and picked the M1 MacBook Pro with 8GB of RAM and 500. It's not the highest-end M1 MacBook, but it's what could get in exchange without paying too much more.
Best Buy shocked me and told me I could get the new computer the next day, but that was wrong. It showed up the Monday before Thanksgiving instead of one week before Thanksgiving. That's not bad considering Apple shows a date in mid-December before you can get one directly from them.
Installing Bible Programs on the M1 MacBook Pro
The new M1 MacBook Pro showed up and I unboxed it and starting setting things up. Soon I was installing my Bible study programs. I use three Bible apps but for this test, I installed five of the best Mac Bible study programs you can buy today.
- Accordance 13
- e-Sword X
- Laridian Pocket Bible
- Logos 9
- Olive Tree Bible Study
For the most part, these apps installed without much concern. It's interesting that the first time you install a program that's not optimized for the M1 chip, macOS 11 Big Sur will ask you if you want to install something called Rosetta 2. It didn't take long to download and install, but it stops you from launching your app. I had to launch Logos 9 again after Rosetta 2 finished installing.
The other apps installed quickly. Accordance takes a little while to download your books if you have a large library. Olive Tree Bible Reader, Laridian PocketBible and e-Sword X don't take as long. In fact PocketBible has the best installation process of the group. It takes little time at all.
Logos 9 on M1 MacBook Pro
Let's first talk about Logos 9 because it's the most demanding of the five programs. It Typically, I start the installation, plug in my laptop, and leave for hours. When I come overnight or after a full day away, it finishes and we're ready to study the Bible.
As you can see from the video above showing the installation and indexing process, it took 3 hours and 47 minutes to install, download my 27GB library, and index the library. The download seemed faster than normal. Then indexing went quickly.
My friend LaRosa compared the indexing process to taking a long trip on an Interstate. It takes a little while to get on the road, but once you do and get up to speed, it runs quickly. Then, the off-ramp time slows down. That's how things went with the M1 MacBook Pro. It starts slow, speeds up, and then finishes slowly.
Normally, when Logos 9 indexes the library it takes up a lot of resources and you can't really use your computer much. You can, but it's infuriating because Logos takes up all the memory and processor. However, with the M1 MacBook Pro, Logos 9 ran slowly, but the rest of the system ran smoothly. For example, I hit the Home button in Logos 9 and scrolled through the Home page. It stuttered running haltingly. It's not smooth at all.
In spite of how slowly Logos 9 itself performs, the rest of the system runs smoothly during the indexing. That's abnormal with Intel or AMD based computers. They usually don't run smoothly.
Battery Life for Running Bible Study Apps on M1 MacBook Pro
The battery life stood out on my new M1 MacBook Pro. The process of installing Logos 9 on laptops usually kills a battery. On my previous HP x360 13 and my older 2018 MacBook Pro, I would never attempt to install Logos without plugging in. I didn't have to on this computer.
Add the wonderfully bright screen and crisp text, you get a fantastic experience writing and reading. I put the screen at 50 percent and it looks like other computers I'm used to using when they are set to 75-80 percent.
After I killed the battery installing Logos I used it for a couple hours and went to bed with it at 40 percent. This morning, after running on battery at 50% for about 4 hours, my battery reads 76% left. That's fantastic. My 2020 12.9-inch iPad Pro doesn't last as long in real-world use.
Hard to Tell Difference on M1 MacBook Pro
What's the final takeaway for running Bible study apps on the M1 MacBook Pro? For four out of our five apps, there's little to no different. I couldn't tell the difference between running Accordance, e-Sword X, Olive Tree Bible, or PocketBible on this computer.
Logos 9 is a little different. Installation was a slightly better experience. You can set it to download and index your library and get some other work done while it happens in the background. That's a huge improvement compared to running the program's installation on other computers.
Once you install Logos 9, it runs well. There's one issue that's more a Big Sur problem than an M1 MacBook Pro problem. Over in the Logos 9 forum, there's a post listing one issue as follows:
The Logos Desktop Team has tested Logos 9 and Logos 8 on macOS 11 "Big Sur." So far we discovered some minor styling issues (see below), but have not encountered any major issues.
Known Issue: Table of Contents arrows are duplicated.From Logos 9 forum
The above issue with arrows is an extremely minor issue. You may find others, but right now that's all.
In another Logos forum post, Phil Gons from Faithlife said the company has no definite plans to make Logos 9 run as an M1 Mac application. That's not saying they won't do it, but they are not announcing anything publicly. I'd expect this to take a long time since the current version of the software works so well. I look forward to the time when these five all run as a native app.
There's one thing that you can say about running Bible study applications on the new M1 MacBook Pro. Launching these apps takes a lot less time than they used to. Of our five, Laridian PocketBible and e-Sword X jump onto the screen instantly. Olive Tree Bible Reader loads in a couple of seconds and Accordance launches in a few seconds. Sadly, Logos 9 still takes longer than the others. But it loads faster than it did on Intel Macs. Running the programs speeds up on these new M1 chips too.
iPhone 11 Pro Max Review for Pastors and Ministers
I bought an iPhone 11 Pro Max. Find out how well it works in a minister's life and why a minister might want to consider the upgrade.
A lot of my pastor friends love Apple products. I thought I'd write up a review focused on what the new Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max brings to the table for those of us serving in ministry. Is there anything here to make you want to upgrade or replace another phone running Android? Find out below.
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Camera
If you're like me, you take a lot of photos of your church ministry activities. In addition, I've started a YouTube channel focused on my ministry activity as a small church pastor that I call Behind the Pulpit.
I was really excited to get the new iPhone 11 Pro Max for the camera alone. Here's what Apple put in this new version...
- 3 cameras on the Pro Max for an ultra wide 13mm f2.4 lens, regular 26mm f1.8mm lens and a 2x 52mm f2.0 telephotos telephoto lens (see a comparison of 3 shots plus the camera interface above). These camera lenses give three options for focal lengths so you can get shots close up that won't cut off the edges of the scene while also grabbing a shot of something further away.
- Smooth zoom between the .5, 1 and 2x lenses with up to 10x zoom, but above the 2X images start to look really bad. See the sccreenshot above.
- Amazing 4K video with up to 60fps and excellent slow motion video on the front and back cameras. The front camera slow motion they called a "slofie" which the Internet erupted in ridicule over.
- Night mode that helps you take pictures at night that look like you had a bright flash on your camera.
- Better portrait mode, which you can use to take photos of people and even objects with the background all blurred out.
- New shooting modes where you can take a video by holding down the camera button in the camera app while you're set to take a photo and drag to the right to keep the camera video recording or release to stop. You can also press and drag left to get a burst of many quick shots in a row. See Apple's support demo video below.
- Thanks to the 3 cameras you can actually take photos of more than what you see on the screen.
- Object image stabilization which results in videos without as much shake.
All of the above translates to a great camera. You may not fully understand everything listed above, but head over to Apple's website to learn more. You can also find out more by watching the video below by one of my favorite YouTubers, Matti Haapoja.
So why should a pastor or minister care about the iPhone 11 Pro camera? First, if you already have an X or Xs, you don't. This phone doesn't offer enough to upgrade and I probably shouldn't have (see my video - the first one on this post above). However, if you have an older phone and think you're phone's getting a little long in the tooth, has some problems like a battery that's no longer getting you through the day or the camera creates ridiculously bad video, then consider it.
We ministers can do a lot to further our ministry by taking photos and videos and sharing them online via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and more. This helps us reach a more plugged-in audience like the younger crowd. If you do this, do it with excellence.
I took a class about using the vlogg format to boost your ministry reach. Trey VanCamp taught the course and inspired me to start my channel. Check out my article about the course on ChurchTechToday.com.
A vlogg shares parts of your day in a kind of "behind-the-scenes" or "reality-TV" format. This helps your church or ministry participants see a different side of your life. It also opens the door for prospective people to learn more about you or your church. Finally, it extends your reach beyond your local region.
In addition to social media, a good website will include a lot of media like video and photos. Shoot both and upload them so people can see what your church is like.
You can also use these photos and videos in your worship services. I took video of my family walking near a local park and used it in my YouTube channel video and showed a clip of it in my worship service as part of a sermon illustration. Why not do the same with the amazing iPhone 11 Pro Max camera?
Faster iPhone 11 Pro Max A13 Bionic Chip Speeds Up Apps
You may not notice the faster processor (the part that works like the brain of your phone). However, it will speed up some things. If you use an app that needs more power, this will help. Most Bible apps don't, but the Logos/Faithlife Bible apps on iPhone do need more power. Also, encoding video on your phone as you edit in the mobile version of iMovie or LumaFusion, the best video editor on iOS.
Extra Hours of Battery Life for Long Ministry Days
The A13 chip will mostly benefit users by giving them longer battery life. Apple says it lasts about 5 hours longer than the previous generation iPhone Xs Max. In other words, if your previous phone lasted until supper time, this one will take you to bedtime. My phone would get me through the day, but you never know when you might get called away to the emergency room at 9:45 p.m. because a Sunday school teacher had a car accident. With the extra battery life, you won't need to look for an outlet to charge your phone when you most need it to just work and you need to focus on your church members facing a crisis.
Super Retina XDR Screen Makes Bible Apps Text Easier to Read
You probably use your phone for a lot of reading, including a Bible app, the Amazon Kindle app, checking email or reading websites. Thanks to the awesome new screen, you get better text crispness that's easier to read. Also, your photos and videos look better. Watching TV as you wait for something to happen looks better on this beautiful screen.
Stronger iPhone 11 Pro Max Glass Survives Bumps and Drops Sort Of
Have you ever dropped your phone? I hope you had a case and even a tempered glass screen protector on it. If you didn't you probably at least ended up with some scratches or dents.
The new iPhone 11 Pro Max has a tougher body and screen. Apple promises it will break less often during drops of six feet or fewer.
One popular Apple fan girl who goes by the name iJustine dropped her iPhone 11 Pro while testing out the front facing slow motion camera.
In spite of the stronger glass, I still recommend getting a case. Don't pay for the expensive Apple branded cases. Get one off Amazon for under $20 unless you're a phone punisher. Then pay extra for a good rugged case like those you get from Amazon.
iPhone 11 Pro Max is More Water Resistant, They Say
Like drops, water can destroy a phone unless it comes with iP68 certification. That term means that it meets an objective third party standard that says it should survive dropping it into some water that's up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1.5 meters (nearly 5 feet).
I'm not going to test the water resistance of my phone. I don't trust it, but I have accidentally splashed water on it and it works fine.
Sounds Better With or Without Headphones
People who listen to music, videos and more on their phone will want good speakers. I recommend Apple's own AirPods. I love mine. However, you can listen to the sound right out of the phone. Thanks to Dolby Atmos certification, the speakers should sound better.
Apple also advertised something called Audio Sharing. If you have AirPods you can connect two sets of AirPods (two pairs) to one phone and listen to the same thing at the same time. That's great for letting people listen to a video of a recent church event. Audio Sharing works in iOS 13 on some older phones too. See how to do this in the video below.
Shoot your video of a worship event, fellowship, or other activity at church. Then head over to a shut-in's house or the hospital and let the person hear the video, either on the phone or if they also have AirPods on those.
Dual Sim Support for International Mission Trips
Do you travel outside the country for mission trips or other reasons? Maybe you're a missionary and you want a phone plan for the United States and another country. Apple now supports dual sims. You can actually have two lines on one phone.
Some churches don't have an office. Maybe you're a small church pastor or a church planter without a building yet. You can have your church phone number and your home number on the same phone.
Consider Apple Watch Series 5 with WatchOS 6
I already mentioned the AirPods above. There was another new accessory released with the new iPhone 11 Pro Max. The Apple Watch update didn't add enough for people to upgrade from a Series 3 or 4 Apple Watch. However, if you don't own one or have one of the first generations, then consider the upgrade.
I love that now I can actually see the time all the time. That's right, the previous generations of the watch turned off the screen. You had to lift it and look at it to get it to show up. Sometimes you had to actually wiggle your wrist. That's unconscionably bad. However, that problem no longer exists. You can glance down at your watch during meetings or a worship service without it being noticeable. See the two images above (left is fully on and the right is dimmed "always-on" low power mode).
Face it! We pastors are often fat! I'm tired of it and so I've started to work at losing weight. As of the day I 'm writing this, I'm down over 80 lbs. in about 3.5 mounts.
The Apple watch offer some nice activity tracking to help you get active and fit. You can track workouts. It reminds you to move every hour on the 50th minute if you haven't already moved that hour. And you can track how much you walk and how many calories you burn in a day.
For all the reasons above, the iPhone 11 Pro Max offers a nice upgrade for people who own an iPhone 7 or older. iPhone 8 users will even see a nice bump, but people who own an iPhone X or Xs should probably not bother unless you just want to or need to due to problems with your phone.
Apple-Pages Presenter Mode for Preaching is Awesome
Apple Pages Presenter Mode works great for teaching and preaching. Here's how to set it up.
I recently discovered the Pages Presenter Mode in Apple's iWork app for the iPad. It's awesome! So, here's how to turn on it on on your iPad so you can use it every time you teach or preach from your iPad.
The Pages Presenter Mode changes the way your document looks in Pages. You can use it on both iPhone and iPad. However, it works great on an iPad. The look of the document changes depending not he settings you choose in the mode.
Turn on Pages Presenter Mode
Turning on Pages Presenter Mode is easy. Open your document in Pages on our iPad or iPhone. In the upper right corner you'll see the menu button. It looks like three dots. It shows the Pages menu, which includes a slew of options. In the third section of the menu you'll see the Presenter Mode menu option. Tap it to turn it on.
The look of your Pages document changes. By default it gives the user a black background with text white, unless you've given it a different color in your formatting. So, red text stays red or yellow text stays yellow. But the black text turns white.
If you like the way the text and formatting looks and don't want the text to scroll automatically, then you're done. Just scroll through your text while you preach as you might if you preached from the Pages document.
Pages Presenter Mode Settings
Preachers or teachers that want to change the look of Pages Presenter Mode can tap on the Aa icon in the upper right corner of the screen. A menu pops up with six options as follows:
- Text size (smaller to larger)
- Background color (white, gold, dark gray, black)
- Font face - tap to show the available font faces that work in Presenter Mode
- Text Options
- Auto Scroll
- Scroll speed (slower to faster)
The Text Options item includes three settings. You can change the text to All Caps, if you think that's easier to read. Traditional prompters use all capital letters, so those used to this in traditional teleprompters. There's also an option to change the Line Spacing. I prefer to use single Line Spacing, but some want wider Line Spacing. Finally, you can change the Margins from smaller to larger Margins. Tap the plus or minus icons in the Line Spacing and Margins options.
The Auto Scroll settings will turn on this feature. With it turned on the text will slowly scroll up the screen as you speak. This works great for people who read their text as they speak. I don't believe preachers or teachers should preach that way. It's difficult for listens to pay attention to a preacher reading text unless the preacher possesses an extreme level of reading skill. Few do.
When a person turns on Auto Scroll, they can control the spread. The last option has a bar that you can drag from slow to fast. The slow end on the left shows a turtle with a rabbit on the right. That's a fun touch.
My Recommendations
I discovered Pages Presenter Mode only a week ago because Apple highlighted it in the App Store. This past Sunday I used it to preach my Sunday morning sermon and it was fantastic. I love this newly discovered feature in Pages.
Here's how I set up my Presenter Mode settings.
- Black background
- Helvetica font
- All Caps turned off in Text Options
- Line Spacing set and single space in Text Options
- Margins set to 5% on iPhone in Text Options or 10% on iPad, the device I use 95% of the time
- Auto Scroll turned off
Best Screen Mirroring Software for Each Platform
What's the best screen mirroring option for Apple, Android and even a few other platforms? We'll look at the options and how to do it.
Do you project or mirror your screen on a display, like a projector or TV screen? A reader asked me what's the best screen mirroring software for use on a Windows PC, and a Samsung Galaxy phone. I'll add a Mac, Chromebook and iPhone/iPad as well. So what is the best screen mirroring software or solution for each major platform?
What is Screen Mirroring Software?
In case you're not aware, it's possible to show the contents of your mobile device's screen on a TV or projector if you have the right connection, hardware or software. Wireless screen mirroring produces the most convenient results, depending on the source. A hardware connection produces the most reliable results. In a lot of cases you'll need a piece of software or an operating system that includes screen mirroring or screen casting built into the OS.
The source is the phone or computer where you can see what you want to show on the other display. The client devices is the TV, projector or an external monitor of some kind.
In rare cases, you can do this with another mobile device, like another tablet, phone or laptop. Since the reader asking the question asked about using their laptop or phone mirroring to a TV, we'll focus on that instead of on another mobile device. Why would you want to mirror to another mobile device. Let's say a teacher wants to share their screen to students or a salesperson wants to let a customer view a presentation. Since we're all about church and ministry, we'll assume the source is a presentation or something that a crowd will want to see.
Best Screen Mirroring Options for Android Phones and Tablets
The best option for Android devices includes the Android operating system's screen casting feature and a Google Chromecast or another device that support Chromecasting, like a Roku You can follow Google's support tutorial steps in their user help page for Chromecasting. Below you'll see Google's support video from YouTube.
The Google Chromecast connects to an HDMI port and needs USB for power. You can use your TV or projector's USB port or connect to AC with an adapter. They cost $35 for the basic model or pay $69 for the Chromecast Ultra, which supports 4K and wired networking.
Both of the Chromecast devices will work with a Google Home on the same network. You can ask Google to play YouTube videos, watch YouTube TV shows or play some music. It also supports third party apps like streaming TV services from HBO and others.
Many apps will support casting to a Chromecast. You can run presentations with the Google Slides app.
If you already own a Roku device, it will most likely let you cast to the Roku connected to your TV or projector. To test this, go into your Roku Settings and choose System. Find Screen Mirroring and select Always Allow ot make it work all the time.
The Chromecast Ultra wins this category. It's fast and reliable with a wired Ethernet connection, but versatile enough to use over Wi-Fi if wired networking isn't convenient. The Chromecast works with every Android phone or tablet out there and even interfaces with a Google Home or Home Mini.
A lot of Android phones or tablets will also let the user hook up to a TV or projector with an HDMI cable. You'll hae to check your device to see if it supports a wired HDMI signal from the micro-USB or USB-C port on the phone or tablet.
Best Screen Mirroring Options for iPhone and iPad - AirPlay
An iPhone or iPad runs iOS which includes screen mirroring built into the operating system. You can display the entire screen or, from within an app, you can send a video. This works with the Apple Videos app or Keynote for presentations. The iOS version of PowerPoint also works. Apple calls this AirPlay.
See my tips for making presentations on your mobile device.
The Apple version of the Chromecast costs a lot more but also does a lot more. The Apple TV costs $149 for the low end 32GB model that only supports 1080P. The 4K versions with 32GB or 64GB of storage cost $179 or $199. In other words, they cost many times what the cheapest Chromecast costs. The more expensive models come with a faster processor and HDR10 support.
The use AirPlay you'll need an iPhone or iPad and an Apple TV. There are some third-party options, but I don't recommend them. Apple does plan to let TV makers put AirPlay into their TVs. Samsung, Sony, LG and Vizio are the first brands to support this.
You can mirror the screen on your iPhone or iPad easily. Swipe down from the top of the screen on iPhone or the top right part of the iPad. This shows the Control Center in iOS. Find the Screen mirroring button. Tap it and it will show your options.
Inside apps you will look for the same Screen Mirroring icon like we see on the button in the Control Center. Tap it to show the options to mirror the screen to.
Apps that let you use AirPlay from with the app include Netflix, HBO, and other video apps. Some audio apps offer this option as well.
The Chromecast also lets you cast the screen from certain supported apps on iPhone and iOS. For example, Netflix supports this. So do Google's apps.. Look for the Chromecast icon (see image above - upper left corner). Tap it and you'll see the devices on your network that will let you cast your screen (see image below).
Like Android, you can always choose to connect to a TV or projector with a wired connection. To do this from iPhone and most iPads, you'll need a dongle from Apple or a third party to make it work. These cost anywhere from $30 to $50 depending on which one you need. You can find cheaper dongles form other companies, but I don't recommend them because they seem to work intermittently.
The dongle you need will depend on the devices you plan to use. Does your iOS device have a Lightning port or USB-C. Apple offers a Lightning to HDMI, VGA or DVI dongle. Notice the image above shows the HDMI out port next to a Lightning connector. Plug the HDMI cable into your TV or projector and the Lightning cable from a power source to keep your iPad or iPhone charging while playing the video or doing the presentation. You can also find dongles to connect a USB-C iPad Pro HDMI. If you own a display with USB-C inputs, then use it. It must support Thunderbolt 3 to work.
I use this last method to present at church during Bible studies. It works all the time and is more reliable than wireless AirPlay screen mirroring.
Other Options
If you need something that will connect a tablet to a computer , which you then connect to a display, look at AirParrot 2. This works great if you already have a computer connected to a projector in a sanctuary or classroom. You want to use your iPad or iPhone to show a video or present. Install AirParrot 2 on the computer and use the iPhone, iPad or Android device to connect to the computer. The software supports Apple AirPlay, Google Chromecast and even Windows Miracast.
Speaking of Windows Miracast, that's another option. It's not a common option, so we won't cover it here. Check out the Wi-Fi Alliance page to learn more.
Another option includes using a Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire TV. You could also connect a computer to the display and install screen mirroring
New 2018 Apple iPad Pro for Bible Study
The new 2018 Apple iPad Pro is getting a lot of love from reviewers. How well does it handle Bible study? We’ll look at it from a pastor’s perspective.
The new 2018 Apple iPad Pro is a beautiful piece of hardware and works great for Bible study, sermon prep and general use for pastors and ministers. In fact, I'm really tempted to make it my primary computer for 90% of what I do.
Is the New iPad Pro Better for Bible Study?
Not really! The major difference between the older iPad Pro and the new 2018 Apple iPad Pro comes from the speed and size and the new Pencil. Apple gave it a little facelift to modernize the look.https://youtu.be/HoLs0V8T5AAAn Apple A12X Bionic CPU powers the new 2018 iPad Pro, or as some say it over powers it. That's sounds really cool and gives me memories of Steve Austin, the Bionic Man (see video above) running really slowly as that wonderful music plays behind him. However, there's nothing slow about this chip. I did a review of Olive Tree Bible Study for all the platforms they support. I edited the video on my new 2018 Apple iPad Pro with Luma Fusion, a great video editing app. The video ran about ten minutes and took about a minute to render on the iPad. That's half the time it used to take. It's also faster than Premiere Pro can render a ten minute 1080p video on my 2017 MacBook Pro.In spite of the great speed, the Bible app makers don't exactly require that much power. Few digital Bible students own the new iPad so they can't make their apps to take advantage of the power. However, the faster CPU will help with the initial start-up of apps like Faithlife's Logos Bible app, which does some data crunching in the background after you first start it up.In addition to speed we get a nice looking design with a new keyboard and Apple Pencil. The physical redesign means two things. First, the screen covers more of the front with smaller bezels. That means you'll need to hold it more carefully, however, the accidental touch detection keeps you from accidentally tapping as you hold it and your thumb or fingers accidentally touch the screen. The iPad weighs a little less and takes up less space in your computer bag, if you use one. However, you wont notice that unless you hold them side-by-side. I like that the new Apple Smart Keyboard now covers the back as well as the screen.
The screen's beautiful, which makes it a great tool for Bible study. Reading text on a screen for long periods of time requires a high quality screen with great resolution and excellent contrast.
Apple Pencil and Bible Study
Why won't Bible study creators integrate the Apple Pencil or any stylus in their apps? It would feel so natural to add a handwritten note or highlight with the Pencil. I would love it if the Bible apps would recognize the Apple Pencil and put the app in a special mode where anything the Pencil writes would get saved as a vector drawing attached to the verse or the paragraph with an indicator icon, like they do with text notes now.Developers working at some of the Bible app makers tell me that adding drawing is not a simple thing. Do they spend limited development time on something that a small fraction of the population can take advantage of or on features in great demand that a large percentage of users want? However, I think that the first Bible app maker who figures this out will really stand out and could easily demand a nice premium for this.Until some app maker puts my inking dream into reality, we'll have to use the Pencil as a glorified finger, pointing and selecting. The tip is finer than my man paw fingers. So, I can get more fine pointing with it than I can with my massive digits.
I love that the Pencil snaps into place on the edge of the iPad Pro when not in use. it also charges wirelessly so that it's always ready to go. The old Pencil would use battery power even while not in use. You had to charge it by plugging into the Lightning port on the bottom/side fo the iPad. This was awkward.I use my iPad for presentations during Bible studies. The Pencil lets me ink on the slides of Bible verses. Sometimes I would plug in my cable to send the video signal over a Lightning to HDMI adapter to our projector. The old Pencil would lose it's connection and if I forgot to plug it in before each Bible study I often had to do without or unplug the video cable, something not ideal while a room of 20-30 people are staring at the screen.The new 2018 iPad Pro and Apple Pencil solves most of these problems. However, carrying it around with the Pencil along the edge makes me nervous. I hit the iPad in just the right way with a hand or my side while carrying it and the iPad goes flying off. Today it landed in a puddle and scared me to death. I can share that a puddle won't destroy the Pencil immediately. We'll see if it has an effects over time.
Writing on the Apple Smart Keyboard
The new Apple Smart Keyboard is both smaller and heavier at the same time. The old keyboard felt like folding origami at time, especially if you tried to use it as a stand with the keyboard on the back. The new Smart Keyboard's simpler. The special connector sits on the back of the iPad. The new keyboard has two grooves that the long edge of the iPad sit in. This gives the user two angles.
Since the new 2018 iPad Pro measures less width than the old one, the keyboard does too. However, the keys go edge-to-edge so you still get a comfortably sized keyboard for touch-typing. I can work on it for a long time without problem. The keys give you enough travel to feel nice while typing. I actually type more accurately on my iPad than on my MacBook with its terrible butterfly keyboard.
Conclusion
Using the new 2018 iPad Pro for my work as a pastor is an improvement for a few reasons.
- Smaller size
- Better Apple Pencil
- Nice keyboard
- Excellent display
- Super fast processor
If you own the most recent iPad Pro, then I don't think this thing's enough of an upgrade to make the jump. It is a big change, but can you justify the expense when your "old" iPad will last you for many years to come. I upgraded, but I'm crazy about having the latest greatest.People who own an older iPad or who don't have one now and want and iPad for doing a lot of their work can with this iPad. Here's a few things I enjoy more on my iPad Pro than on another device:
- Editing video
- Typing
- Playing games
- Casual web surfing
- Short stints of reading
- Checking email and social media
However, I'll still prefer my MacBook Pro over my iPad for the following:
- Serious Bible study with desktop class Bible software instead of mobile apps
- Creating slides for my sermons/Bible study presentations
I don't use it for long stints reading. The Kindle Paperwhite works best for reading for extended periods of time. The TV is my choice for watching movies and videos; call me old-fashioned.What would it take to use the iPad Pro 100% of the day? The Bible apps have to get better. Mobile apps do a better job today than they did when I bought my first iPad back in April 2010. I'm not very good at creating my slides on the iPad, but I hope to get there. I could if I was better with using Affinity Photo, which is good enough. But using Adobe Photoshop on my desktop is easy because I have a decade of muscle memory that helps me do things quickly.
iPhone Xs Not Enough to Get My Cash
Apple announced some new phones on September 12 with the Apple iPhone Xs. They also shared their new super iPhone, the iPhone Xs Max and a colorful iPhone Xr. None of these new devices inspired me to open up my wallet or reach for my credit card to pre-order this week. And I will likely skip this round altogether.
iPhone Xs Not Revolutionary Enough for Me
Last year the iPhone X came out and it looked kind of cool, except for the stupid notch. It still left out the headphone jack, which surprised no one. This time around we get the same design with minor changes. Another notched design without a stereo jack. Rounded corners and no fingerprint reader.
See last year's Apple iPhone launch post and podcast from KevinPurcell.org
I waited to buy one till my youngest son broke his Samsun Galaxy S7 and decided he wanted to jump back on the Apple bandwagon. I didn't plan to buy the X at all, at least not the first generation. But, he needed a phone and we do the tech hand-me-down thing where dad gets the cool new tech and mom or the younguns get last year's tech. So Daniel got my iPhone 7 Plus and I bought a black 256GB iPhone X.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m_K2Yg7wGQHere's what I didn't like and do like about the new design...
- Notches are stupid - why is this a thing? It doesn't really add much screen real estate. One developer I spoke to said the usable space for his app is actually slightly less on the iPhone X. It's a minor thing, but I still don't like it.
- Lightning to stereo dongles - Uggh!! I really hate dongles. I bought five of these so far because I need one for my car, one for my backup ear buds and one for a device I use that plugs into the headphone jack, or used to. Plus I lost two, so that makes 5. That's over $50 of dongles when you add tax. I could use the ear buds that came with the phone, but I hate those too.
- Design - the phone just looks cool! That doesn't matter as much to me as function, but I like how it feels and looks in my hand.
- FaceID v. Fingerprint Reader - I like how fast I can open my phone and don't mind the new gestures, which did take getting used to. However, I miss the fingerprint when I'm in the car waiting for my wife to get out of a store. I tap the screen and have to enter my password because my dock sits at an angle where the camera can't see my face. We get the same problem when it's laying on a table or desk next to my computer.
- It's an iPhone - I love Android, but I also love iOS. I'm a weird one. It's like cheering for the Packers and the Bears. I don't do that, but some people see my Android and iOS fandom as the same way.
- Great camera - the iPhone camera's great. I quit carrying a Sony Nex6 and eventually sold it. I gave my DSLR to my son who's now a photography student in college. Besides my DJI Spark drone, the only camera I own is on my phone.
- AirPods - These are the best thing Apple shipped in the last ten years. They're not the most comfortable, but I got used to them. They generally stay in my ears, unless I'm moving around a lot. They sound very good and last long enough to get through my morning. I plug them back into the battery carrying case and get enough to get through half the afternoon while I'm eating lunch. The case is awesome. They magnetically snap into the case so they won't fall out even if I accidentally open them. The lid snaps into place with magnets too. The case charges with the same lightning connector that charges he iPhone or iPad. Did I say I love my AirPods? At $159 they're expensive, but the design, sound quality and battery makes them worth it.
- Apple Watch - I used to carry a Samsung Galaxy phone and wore a Gear S3 watch. I love that watch, but I equally love the Apple Watch. I wish it showed the time all the time, but I like the way I can tap or draw to respond to text messages. It has pretty accurate movement tracking. Plus it looks better than the Samsung watch.
- Apps - While Android app developers nearly caught up, the same apps in iOS usually run better with more stability. And I beta test a number of Bible apps and the iOS beta testing works better with Testflight, an app you can use to install beta apps instead of always installing the latest beta from the App Store, which you have to do with Android.
The iPhone Xs or Xs Max comes with some new features. We get a better screen, upgraded camera that's also faster, a new 6.5-inch model on the Max, a cool new gold color that looks amazing, and of course faster stuff. The processor and wireless runs faster and so does the video processor. The dumbed down the iPhone to come with a cheaper iPhone Xr with lower quality screen and colorful options.Unfortunately, none of these new features makes this a compelling upgrade. I'd love the larger display for running Bible study apps, but I can wait till I need a new phone in a year to 18 months when my phone hits the 2 to 2.5 year-old mark.A new Apple Watch looks compelling, but not enough to jump from my Series 3 Apple Watch. I like the idea of a ECG built-in. What if my heart starts acting up? Maybe the watch would save my life some day? But not yet since I'm not going to pay $400-$500 for a new heart monitoring feature plus a new slightly larger display and rounder design. Again, maybe in a year and half I'll jump.They are stills selling the iPhone 8, but who wants to go backwards? I don't hate the notch and lightning only audio that much.
What Apple Could Do to Take My Cash?
Here's what it would take for Apple to take my cash before fall 2019 or later?
- An iPad mini with Apple Pencil Support - I'd love a small 8.9-inch iPad that works like the new iPads. The $329 iPad supports the Apple Pencil. It doesn't come with the same pressure sensitivity. We also don't get the magnetic connector that snaps into the Apple Smart Keyboard cover. That's okay. I'd love for a smaller $329 iPad that has all the same specs as that iPad but smaller.
- iPhone with Apple Pencil Support - Can you tell I like the Apple Pencil. I wish the iPhone Xs Max had support for the Apple Pencil too. If they did that in addition to the new stuff in the Xs and Xs Max, then I'd sell my current phone and buy the new one.
- iPhone with TouchID and headphone jack - It's not going to happen, but if it did...
- Great new revolutionary design that I can't imagine but wish Apple could - I'm not sure what this would be, but I also couldn't imagine they'd come up with the iPad and they did. That design changed tablets forever in a very positive way. So, wow me Johnny Ive!
- Mac mini update - I would love a new Mac mini with a 500+ GB SSD and faster current processor that's smaller and has USB C all for about $700.
iPhone X First Look: Theotek Extra
Rick Mansfield got in line early on launch day and snagged an iPhone X. We wanted to get a look, so we recorded this Theotek Extra. Here it is for your enjoyment.
Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone X Announced: Theotek Podcast #101
Apple announced all their new gear a couple of weeks ago. Our team talked about the new iPhone 8 and iPhone X. We'll also talked about Apple TV and Apple Watch. Watch below or listen at the bottom of this post.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMlSkcDIFEQ
Apple Products Pricing and Availability
- Apple iPhone 8 and 8 Plus - starting at $699 and $799
- Apple Watch Series 3 - starting at $329 or $399 with LTE
- 4K Apple TV - $179 with 32GB or $199 with 64GB
- Apple iPhone X - preorders go live on October 31 and ship November 3 for $999
Should You Upgrade?
Should you upgrade? That's the big question that people should answer. Here what our team recommends.From LaRosa Johnson...
Upgrade only if you can afford to buy it outright and your current phone is no longer working.
From Wes Allen...
If your phone is still functioning and allowing your workflow without getting in the way then, there is no need to upgrade. If you want to push the limits and want to pass on an older phone to someone while it’s still useful, then an upgrade can be a good idea.I have a 4K tv and am not getting the new unit. Also, I’m very happy with my 6s plus
From Rick Mansfield...
I can only speak for myself. I won’t upgrade to the new AppleTV because I don’t have a 4K television. If my current gen 1 Apple Watch ever gets lost or if the battery does not last the full day for multiple days in a week, I will get the new one with LTE. I’m getting the iPhone X because I’m in the Apple Upgrade program (so why not?), and I can legitimately write it off on my taxes because I use it for work extensively.
From Mark Allison (the new guy) ...
I had an Apple Watch Series 1 and liked it a lot, but sold it to buy a Garmin Fenix 3, that was a more capable watch for the things I like to do - hiking, mountain biking and other outdoor activities. The new Apple Watch includes an altimeter, which means it can record elevation accurately. It’s also water-resistant, a feature added in the last version of the watch, which makes it a more compelling upgrade for outdoor enthusiasts. I’m not happy about paying $10/month for the LTE version. Paying $120 a year for a watch adds up. Still, it’s nice to be able to make a call without a phone, and the call quality is supposed to be excellent.I have an iPhone 7, and I’m not planning on upgrading. iPhone 8 doesn’t have enough compelling features (in my mind). The iPhone X looks nice, but I’m more inclined to wait a year until they have all the kinks worked out. That’s saying a lot, because I typically get any new phone that Apple introduces. I guess I’m just happy with the iPhone 7 and don’t feel a strong compulsion to spend the money for features I’m not excited about.I have the original AppleTV and the newer one too (not the 4K version). I don’t have a 4K television, so it wouldn’t make much sense for me. If I had a 4K TV (and when I purchase one, it will have HDR, which I’m more excited about than 4K) I’d certainly get the latest version of the AppleTV.
Here's my take. I love the latest greatest and am often upgrading faster than I ever need to, but the iPhone 8 is so boring an upgrade that I have no interest in it. I'll stick with my iPhone 7 Plus. The iPhone X is a terrible design. I hate the "notch" and think it's a ridiculous mistake. It's a rip off of the Samsung Galaxy S8+ with the Apple logo and all the cachet that goes with that. For some, they want the latest greatest Apple phone and can afford it. That's Rick's stance above. For most of us we should probably not upgrade if we're being frugal and good money managers. LaRosa said only get it if you can pay outright for it. At $1,000 for the X and $700 or higher for the 8, that's few people.As for the Apple Watch, only get one if you're an iPhone user and want a smartwatch and don't already own the earlier generations of Apple Watch. Same for the Apple TV.Remember that if you have an old device, sell it yourself on eBay, Craigslist or Facebook. Don't sell to the device trade-in services like Gazelle. Selling yourself is a pain, but you'll get more money. You'll often get enough to buy the new phone for half or even one-third the cost using the money from the sale of your old device.
WWJD at Apple WWDC 2017: Theotek Podcast #100
Our team talked about the Apple WWDC 2017 in our 100th episode of the Theotek Podcast. WWDC stands for World Wide Developer Conference and at this event Apple reveals their new plans for iOS and macOS as well as other interesting tidbits. It's for developers, but a lot consumer-focused information often hits the newswire after the keynote event that opens the conference.
In this episode we talk about tvOS, which powers the Apple TV, as well as watchOS 4 for the Apple Watch. Then we discussed macOS High Sierra and MacBook Pros, iMacs and iMac Pros powered by the new updated operating system. Next, we discussed iOS 11, the new operating system that will run iPhones and iPads. Apple revealed a new iPad Pro with a 10.5-inch screen so we all discussed that as well. Finally, we covered the new HomePod Sierra speaker coming out this year just in time for Christmas.
Watch the video from YouTube and of course, subscribe to your YouTube channel if that's your preferred way to enjoy Theotek Podcast. You can also scroll to the bottom of this post to listen to the audio version or click on our link in the menu to find out how to subscribe to the audio version.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piOPv5vzMIIAlso, if you want to watch the full Apple WWDC 2017 Keynote address, here it is.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaqHdULqet0
Summer Hiatus
We're taking a summer hiatus. We might do some Theotek Extra Podcasts, but there won't be a regular Theotek Podcast with Wes, Rick, LaRosa, Antoine or Kevin until August. Our relaunch will likely take place in August or September.
Stop Killing Dead Trees: Theotek Podcast #091
The church uses a lot of paper to share its message, whether that message tells members and attendees what's happening this week, the order of worship that day, or asks them to sign up for activities. In this episode of the Theotek Podcast we talk about using digital alternatives to paper bulletins, newsletters and even sign-up sheets.Watch the podcast below from our YouTube Channel. The end includes a review of my Apple AirPods.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO626PB9kvE&feature=youtu.be
Digital Alternatives to Bulletins or Newsletters
In the episode above we talked about a few options for digital alternatives to paper communication tools. For example, if you want to text your entire congregation or even send up a voice mail over the Internet consider a service like CallEmAll.
I use CallEmAll at my church, High Peak Baptist Church. We only use it for emergencies, but it's reliable and easy to use. You could send weekly reminders about events, activities or worship times. You can also categorize members into groups like your choir, youth group, parents, seniors, or Sunday school teachers. Only contact them. The service isn't free, but it's also not expensive. It costs 9 cents for credits and a text message is a single credit while voicemail counts as two credits.Wes Allen said he used to create an eBook for his weekly church bulletin. People could download it from the website. They also put announcements on their WordPress Blog. Another alternative is SquareSpace, a web hosting and content management solution that a lot of people are using instead of WordPress.Two other services that include digital bulletin alternatives are YouVersion's Bible app and Logos/Proclaim from Faithlife. We've talked about this before on Theotek. You can put your bulletin, order or service, scriptures and more in these apps. If people install the mobile version, they can use open the bulletin on the phone. Some of the things these services handle include:
- Bible readings in the service
- Announcements
- Images
- Links to the website or other sites
- YouTube videos
- Giving
- Surveys
- Sign-ups
- And more
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNr7QwuAECUYouVersion's Bible app offers YouVersion events to the church. The church signs up and then someone from the church creates a weekly event for your worship service. The above video explains more about how it works.The Faithlife Bulletins service works with Proclaim and Logos. Users can join an online social media group at Faithlife's website where they're receive the bulletins. Also, Proclaim offers live signals which get sent to the mobile Logos app on a phone or tablet. See my recent review of Proclaim 2.0 at Church Tech Today.Don't forget services like Mail Chimp for sending out email newsletters. Also, consider using a Facebook Group as your primary way of getting news out about your church.
Digital Sign-ups
As mentioned above people can sign up for events or to volunteer in the mobile apps from YouVersion and Faithlife. We also talked about using a kiosk system where people sign up at a computer or tablet in the church. Set up a Google Form to do this and it sends the list to you automatically in a spreadsheet.WordPress and SquareSpace offer online forms for sign-ups. Search for a form plugin in WordPress or SquareSpace.
What About People Without Computers, Smartphones or Tablets?
The question arose in our discussion. What do you do for those in your congregation who don't use or own a computer, a tablet or a smartphone? Maybe they do, but don't feel comfortable using them for the above solutions. This is where community comes in.Announce occasionally that such people should pair up with someone who does use these tools. Maybe a senior adult can have their son or daughter or a good friend print the digital email newsletter or bulletin. Those with these tools can look out for things their non-technical friends or family would find interesting. They can share it when appropriate.Try to make a limited number of paper version available if possible. For example, you've already got the graphics and copy for a newsletter in email form or on a website. Why not just copy/paste to a document and print off just enough for this group?
Apple AirPods Review
At the end of the show, I reviewed my Apple AirPods. Here's my bullet list review:
- They sound great.
- Pairing with an iPhone is awesome and easy; just open the lid and a dialog box offers to pair.
- Once you pair with one Apple device iCloud syncs the pairing with others so you don't have to pair again to an iPad or Mac.
- They fit my ears better than the Apple earbuds in the iPhone box.
- The battery life is good.
- You can use one AirPod at a time to double your battery life if you don't mind forgoing stereo sound.
- Open the lid on the AirPods and a window pops up showing battery life.
- They're way too expensive at $159, but I'm sure glad I bought them.
Is Apple Ruining Bible Software: Theotek Podcast #087
It seems that Apple is moving away from macOS towards an iOS-centric future. If the iPhone and iPad replaces the Mac, what does that mean for the church, Bible software and companies that make tools and software to help the church and believers make disciples? That's our discussion as we focused on the question, "Is Apple moving in that direction? If they are does that affect Windows, Mobile devices, and other platforms? What is the future of church software and technology in light of this possibility?"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8EQKw7KXhM&feature=youtu.beThe conversation began, however, with our Christmas tech toys. The gifts we got for Christmas included some fun things like the following:
- Michael Purcell - my son joined us for this episode and got the Surface Pro 4, Type cover and Surface Pen. He explains why he loves his.
- Wes Allen - ThinkGeek toys like the BB8 Waffle Maker and the R2D2 Coffee Press. He also got an Apple Pencil.
- LaRosa Johnson - one of LaRosa's co-workers sold him the Blue Yeti mic.
- Antoine Wright - one of Antoine's Kickstarter campaign investments actually came through in a positive way. He got the Lumos Bike Helmet.
- Kevin Purcell - I got myself a Kindle Fire with the gift card for Amazon that my wife bought me.
You can always listen to the Theotek Podcast using the built-in player below or subsribe to us in iTunes and leave comments if you like us. We're also on other podcasting apps thanks to Stitcher Radio.
MacBook Pro vs Surface: Theotek Podcast 084
Last week Apple and Microsoft unveiled new computers. Apple showed off a newly designed MacBook Pro with Touch Bar and Touch ID while Microsoft refreshed their Surface Book and introduced a professional creativity focused all-in-one system called the Surface Studio. It will run the new Windows Creative Edition coming out next year. We talk about the two companies and their vision for what customers want in hardware. Watch the podcast below or listen at the bottom of this page.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rflTLj4uqpw
Microsoft Surface Studio and Windows Creative Edition
We took the two announcements events in the order they came, starting with Microsoft's unveiling of Windows Creative Edition. Most of what they covered focused on creating content using Windows. They were enamored with 3D since Paint gets an update to include 3D. My colleague Travis Pope of GottaBeMobile tells you all about the new version.
The SurfaceBook gets an update to the SurfaceBook 2 (starts at $2,399). It's a two-in-one mobile device that's mostly a laptop, but with a detachable screen. Microsoft first released it last year, but it was extremely buggy. They fixed the bugs and now they put in new processors and upped the video graphics chip for better overall performance and great battery life.
The biggest news of their event centered around the new desktop all-in-one. It's called the Surface Studio (starts at $2,999) and comes with a huge 28-inch touchscreen that the user can adjust to use upright like a traditional desktop system or fold it down to work on it like a drafting table. Again, check out the GottaBeMobile post about it.
2016 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar
The biggest controversy in our discussion centered around the gimmicky nature of the new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar. Apple unveiled this updated MacBook. I don't like that it comes with only USB-C ports. They're great ports and I love them, hoping that in a few years that's what everyone uses to sync and charge and connect peripherals, including the iPhone. However, we're not there yet and we need things like an HDMI port or SD card slots. The other guys disagreed with me because they're mostly Apple Fanboys (just kidding, sort of). Read more about it in my post for Notebooks.com.
Our Favorite Things
We ended with Our Favorite Things!
My favorite thing was an adapter for the iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus that lets users both charge and listen to their phone at the same time. The ALIWELL Lightning to 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapter ($18) has a Lightning connector on one end and on the other there's a place to plug both a Lightning charging or syncing cable in and 3.5mm headphone jack. It also has volume keys and a button for answering the phone or play/pause.
It's not perfect since it slows down fast charging adapters. I plugged my iPad charger that usually boosts the iPhone battery 10% in about 5 minutes. With this it takes longer.
Rick picked a nice iPad Pro case that comes with a sturdy secure Apple Pencil holder. The Poetic QuarterBack Case for iPad Pro 12.9 with Apple Pencil Holder ($15) covers the back of the iPad and holds your Apple Pencil in place. He loves it and convinced me to get one too. I ordered the Green and Gold version so I can run around with Green Bay Packer colors on my iPad.
It's compatible with the Apple Smart Keyboard Cover. It also includes all the other button and port cutouts or access.LaRosa ordered an Apple Watch 2 (starts at $369 for 38mm Series 2), so we'll hear more about that when he gets it.
Sia Later iPhone 7 Headphone Jack: Theotek Podcast #079
Apple announced the new iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2 on September 7. We talked about it because we can't help ourselves when it comes to Apple News.We also debated the value of removing the headphone jack in the iPhone 7. I'm certain Apple did it for one reason, profit. The others seem a little more favorable of the idea, and that's okay. What do you think? Post a comment below, on the video at YouTube or hit us up on Twitter.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btVvsFdPaUQSome of the highlights of Apple's accounement include...
- Updates to iWork suite for collaboration
- A new camera on the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus with a 2nd lens on the 7 Plus that does zoom and adds narrow depth of field like a DSLR
- No more headphone jack
- Faster processor
- Higher storage levels for the same prices starting at 32 instead of 16GB and now a 256GB offering
The Theotek Podcast covers technology for the church and Christians. We do it normally every Tuesday night at 9pm Eastern. Follow us @TheotekPodcast for more information and please subscribe on Youtube.