http://web.mac.com/vogelbusch/Site/Programs/Eintr%C3%A4ge/2009/7/22_Create_Booklet_1.1_support_Snow_Leopard.html

I’m not generally a fan of add-ons to the operating system or browser (it makes it confusing when switching from computer-to-computer), however one exception is the tool “CreateBooklet”. It’s simple, but brilliant, and I’ve used it extensively. Basically, it adds a menu option to the PDF dropdown box (when you print from any application on a Mac) to create a booklet automatically (in PDF) from whatever you are working on. Works perfectly and it is free.

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http://www.dur.ac.uk/codec/about/events/medialit/

A one week intensive course in Media Literacy for Christian Ministry at St John’s College, Durham.

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A good database system is really critical to the smooth running of any organisation, including a church. As we look at being more efficient as a church, I’ve been evaluating the various options currently available.

The key criteria include:

• A Hosted Third-Party Solution Online. I’m not looking for a system to integrate with our own website (e.g., via a WordPress plugin), a separate script to run on a webserver (for which there are a few good ones), or a local server based system. Basically, I don’t want to support the infrastructure of a server, and I want it to be accessible from anywhere.
• Reasonably Priced. Some systems are extremely expensive. I’m not a fan of the systems that scale features based upon your size or who have pricing scales so complex that you need to apply for a quote.
• Database Management (i.e., the Parish Roll). The system should be able to replace the current roll and have import/export capabilities so that we can move in the future. Thus it should also allow us to easily produce letters, emails, and even SMS’s to parishioners.
• Following-Up Newcomers. We want a system that helps us better follow-up new people in a personal way.
• Worship and Rostering. As we add more services of varying styles, rostering (and people’s availability) is becoming more complex. Similarly as we work more in teams, it is necessary to have a system that can help us to work together and readily assess who is available. Further, we want to ensure that as many people as possible are able to use their gifts in the ministry of the church. Such a system should also help us in our CCLI reporting.
• Ministry Groups. We have various types of groups that meet (e.g., the Small Group programme) and want leaders to be able to communicate with members as easily as possible.

There’s lots of other features that are usually part of these systems (e.g., ‘checking-in/out’ children, financial management, iPhone/Android applications etc), but the key ones for us are listed above. The systems that I narrowed down for consideration included:

• Planning Center Online (www.planningcenteronline.com)
• Church Community Builder (www.churchcommunitybuilder.com)
• Elvanto (www.elvanto.com)
• FellowshipOne (www.fellowshipone.com)

Immediately I ruled out Church Community Builder due to its significant complexity (and cost), and Planning Center Online because it is mainly focused on organising worship (not a church database). FellowshipOne has some extremely attractive features, however I was turned off by its cost and the way in which they scale features based upon the price you pay (i.e., they scale prices based upon both your size AND the ‘edition’ you select). They also require you to pay a setup fee and offer no free trial. This left me with one option – Elvanto – which I was warmly surprised to discover offered both a free trial and were Australian based (and QLD at that!).

Evaluating Elvanto – First Impressions

There’s a lot to like about Elvanto, including:

• Free trial and Australian-based.
• Reasonable costing (for a church sized up to 99 people, it’s only $30 per month AUD). They also don’t scale features  based upon how much you pay. Whatever your size, you get all the features. Simple.
• People Flows: This feature is extremely flexible and allows you to setup all sorts of processes to keep you on task. For example, when a newcomer is added, it can prompt you to get in contact (with a proforma that can be personalised each time) and then follow-up. You can really create a flow for almost any scenario.
• Departments: I’m not sure about the name of this area – but basically it helps you organise people in various areas of ministry. It really is extraordinarily flexible and looks to be amazing in helping enable people to participate more. It is fantastic when it comes to rostering.
• Groups: This feature allows you to group people for specific purposes: for example, you can setup all your small groups with custom roles (e.g., Leaders, Assistants, Members). You can then do a search (and save the search) so that you could easily contact everyone, or specific segments (e.g., just Small Group Leaders, or Small Group Members who have joined in the last 6 months).
• Messaging: When sending to a group or individuals, you can choose from email (with the ability to save templates), letter (for printing), or even SMS.

Overall, my first impressions are that I like this product. I think it really has the potential to help us in ministry – particularly in the management of our roll, but also in the planning of worship. It ticks all the boxes for us in regards to features – but, I do wish it had a native iPhone Application (and Android), although the mobile version of the site is excellent (including a ‘live’ feature for running sheets during worship that even allows for the sending of messages between devices). I would also love to see an API that would allow linking with services like MailChimp that we use to send our weekly news update (automatically, from the RSS of our blog feed) and weekly Bible reading plan (also driven from an RSS feed on our website). It seems to be actively developed however, so I’m sure more good things are yet to come.

As I get to evaluate it more, I’ll share some further reflections later.

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Whilst I’ve discussed iPad software elsewhere, I regularly get asked what software I use on the Mac. Here’s my (almost) definitive list:

General Productivity

• Apple iCal and Mail: There’s many other applications that are more feature-laden, but I tend to stick with the default suite of Apple software including iCal and Mail. Largely this is because I appreciate their simplicity (although I’m not a fan of the new iCal interface) and tight integration with iCloud and Apple devices. Cost: Free with a Mac.
• The Hit List: I have a love/hate relationship with the Hit List. I LOVE its simplicity, elegance, fast synchronisation, keyboard shortcuts, iPhone app, and workflow. I DISLIKE the absence of an iPad application and the slow release of updates. Yet, I always come back to it because of its functionality and beauty (I think I own almost every other ‘GTD’ application on the Mac, but THL is the best, in my humble opinion). More Information: see the Potion Factory. Cost: $49.95 (+ $19.99/year for synchronisation).
• Evernote: I really love Evernote and use it extensively for just about everything. From everyday notes, to future possible sermon illustrations, Evernote is brilliant. It is also wonderful because it is accessible online and on almost every single mobile platform. I would love if they made the interface a little more elegant. More Information: see Evernote. Cost: Free (with a paid subscription option).
• NetNewsWire: I’ve been a NetNewsWire user for a long time – both on the Mac and iPhone/iPad. Very easy to use, and superb for handling all my RSS feeds (I’ve discussed this in detail here). More information: see NetNewsWire App. Cost: Free (with a paid option to remove ads, $14.95).
• Chrome: I use Chrome for internet browsing almost exclusively (except for testing). It’s light, simple, and robust. Cost: Free.
• Transmit: For all my FTP needs I use Transmit by Panic. Beautiful and robust. More Information: see Panic. Cost: $34.
• Dropbox: Everything except my photos and music is in Dropbox. Simply brilliant, along with the iPad and iPhone applications. (I’ve discussed how I use it with the iPad here.) More information: see Dropbox. Cost: Paid above 2GB.
• Skype: Not much to say about this! Cost: Free (with some optional paid services).

Writing

• TextEdit: I still use textedit for all my basic outlining and sometimes even short-form writing. I sometimes use the WriteRoom product for more elaborate text editing and TextWrangler for code related items. Cost: Bundled with OSX.
• Microsoft Office: Yeah – I use this! When it comes to complex documents, Pages just doesn’t cut it (unfortunately, because I prefer its simplicity and handling of styles). I mainly use Word and Excel. Cost: Varies greatly.
• iWork: I love KeyNote and sometimes also use Pages depending upon my writing needs. Cost: $20.99/product via the Mac AppStore.
• Endnote: I use EndNote as an article repository and for citation purposes in Word. It works well, but I do wish there was a more elegant alternative (and/or EndNote had an iPad companion). There are some alternatives, but they all seem to be let down by their lack of citation integration with word processors. More information: Endnote. Cost: $370 for full version (often available for free if enrolled in a University Degree).

Graphics & Desktop Publishing

• Adobe Suite: I use the Adobe suite extensively for anything DeskTop Publishing related. This work centres on three applications: InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. Adobe are one of those companies that frustrate me (along with SPSS and MYOB), but it really does work well (when it’s not trying to tell me that my license is corrupted). More information: Adobe. Cost: varies, but the Standard suite ~ $1900 (with cheaper versions available for education licenses and upgrades).
• OmniGraffle: Whilst I use it less frquently, I love OmniGraffle for simple diagrams and flow charts. More information: see the OmniGroup. Cost: $49.99.
• TimeLine3D: I use this mainly for lecturing – it produces beautifully animated timelines that can be easily integrated with KeyNote. More information: see BeeDocs. Cost: $65.

Bible Software

• Accordance: I really love Accordance and use it for anything technical to do with the Bible (for reading, I use BibleReader, see the next point). I mainly use it for various translations (mainly: NRSV, NIV, NJB) and any work in original languages. I also purchase commentaries exclusively on Accordance now, and typically use the Word Biblical Commentary and Hermeneia. The IVP collection as well as other dictionaries are also very handy. The iPad and iPhone applications are also brilliant. More information: see Accordance. Cost: varies according to the package you select.
• Bible Reader: Strangely, I find that for personal reading and devotion Accordance is too bulky and unattractive. This is when I typically use Olive Tree’s Bible Reader which is very elegant and has nice synchronisation of bookmarks and notes. More information: see OliveTree. Cost: Base application is free, but then cost varies per translation.

Entertainment

• iLife: There’s no real comparison, especially to iPhoto (unless you’re a professional). Cost: per app on Mac App Store. Cost: $19.99.
• iTunes: I like its integration and ecosystem (especially how it works with the iPod/iPhone/iPad and Apple TV), but it really does need some redevelopment for speed. Cost: Free.
• Fission: For any simple audio editing, I love Fission. More information: see Rogue Amoeba. Cost: $39.
• RadioShift: Also by Rogue Amoeba, I use RadioShift to listen to online radio stations etc. More information: see Rogue Amoeba. Cost: $39.
• ILoveStars: A simple little app (by the makers of the Hit List) to alert you when music you are playing hasn’t been rated. More information: see the Potion Factory. Cost: Free.
• DeliciousLibrary: I love Delicious Library and use it as a definitive list of all my books and DVDs etc. It’s a shame that it doesn’t have an iPhone Application (it did, but had to be withdrawn), but I still love it. More information: see Delicious Library. Cost: $35 (on sale).

Other

• SPSS: Any statistical analysis I do is in SPSS. I do quite like SPSS, although it has its issues. I’ve considered switching across to alternatives, but often the thought of learning another language of syntax prevents me! Cost: Thousands, depending upon modules etc.
• MYOB: I still use MYOB for some business interests, but are gradually switching everything to Xero (which is brilliant). Cost: Varies, but $300-500.
• Growl: Brilliant utility for handling notifications in OSX. More information: see Growl. Cost: Free.

Cloud Services

I won’t go into detail (most are discussed above), but the key online services I use are:

• iCloud (www.icloud.com) (Free)
• Dropbox (www.dropbox.com) (Paid above 2GB)
• Xero (www.xero.com) ($49/year for person, $79/year for business)
• Evernote (www.evernote.com) (Free, but go for the paid option)
• Flickr (www.flickr.com) (Free, with paid options)
• Vimeo (www.vimeo.com) (Free, with paid options)
• Facebook (www.facebook.com) (Free, except for your privacy)
• Twitter (www.twitter.com) (Free)
• Google Reader (part of Google’s mail services etc) (Free, except for your content being scanned for advertising)

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This is a brief presentation that considers a range of software tools that can help theological students.  It covers six broad areas: a) Backing Up & Files; b) Note-Taking; c) Writing; d) Research; e) Using the Bible; and f) Referencing.  Whilst brief in detail, it might draw your attention to a few tools of value.  Some of the topics (e.g., RSS, the iPad, eBooks, and Bible Applications) are covered more extensively in other posts.  Download the PDF or click read more to view it in your browser.

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St John’s College, Durham (Monday 20th – Friday 24th June 2011)

The Week

Projects

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Using RSSUsing RSSWhen deciding on which Bible software to use, the cost of resources should be a significant consideration.  Following on from my discussion of Bible software on the iPad/iPhone, I have made a quick comparison of resource cost for two of the major Bible applications on the mac (which synchronise to the iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch).  For some further context, I have also included a comparison with that offered from Olivetree (remember: whilst cheaper, you can’t use it on the mac and there are only limited resources available).

	Logos	Accordance	Olivetree
NIV	$64.95*~	$30.00	$15.39*
NRSV-A	$39.95	$30.00	$11.90*
NJB	$39.95	$30.00	$14.00*
Tanakh	$39.95	$30.00	n/a
Septuagint	$99.95	$80.00	$55.88*
GNT (NA27)	$99.95	$50.00	$74.99
Metzger Textual Commentary	$34.95	$35.00	n/a
Word Biblical Commentary	$699.95*	$399.00*	n/a
Hermeneia	$1200.00*`	$699.00*	n/a

As can be seen from the costs tabled, Olivetree is typically cheaper than both the desktop counterparts, however there are only limited resources (and remember you can’t access these on your mac).  Accordance is typically cheaper for most Biblical texts – but the savings are most significant in regards to commentaries.  In fact, I would suggest that the savings are so significant for these commentaries, that it is a critical differentiator when choosing between Logos and Accordance.

This is of course a very limited comparison of some common resources, but hopefully still of value.  In an additional post I’ll make a detailed comparison of the various packages available from Logos and Accordance.

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Whilst there are a plethora of iPhone and iPad Bible applications, there are only a few worth consideration. Making this choice depends upon your personal needs and if you already own any existing Bible software packages (e.g., on your mac/pc or other mobile devices). With the release of Accordance for iOS, I thought it was an ideal opportunity to review the options currently available.  However, to limit these, I have generally focused on applications that have desktop counterparts. I also haven’t included apps that require a live connection to the Internet to access resources (except for the first time the resource is downloaded).

Summary of Features

Whatever your specific needs, there are a few important features to consider. Whilst the various features are implemented differently by each application (refer to the detailed analysis that follows the table), a general comparison is tabled below.

	Name & Price	Split-Pane	Notes	Highlight	Search	Resources
	Accordance (v 1.02) Reader free (pay for resources)	Yes (2)	Yes	No	Advanced word and verse (including extensive commands, tags, & options)	Extensive
	Olive Tree Bible Reader (v 5.0.1) Reader free (pay for resources)	Yes (2)	Yes (Evernote)	Yes	Advanced word and verse (including terms, morphology, limiters, commands, and options)	Extensive
	Logos (v 1.6.1) Reader free (pay for resources)	Yes (2)	Yes	No	Good (+ word study and text comparison)	Extensive
	BibleXPress (v 1.6.1) $36.99	No	Yes	No	Basic	Limited

As evident, BibleXPress differs notably from the other three apps. Where Accordance, Logos, and OliveTree provide access to paid resources (or resources already owned), BibleXPress has access to only a particular set of translations. This means that this app is not really a contender for consideration – especially due to the lack of a good Greek NT. That said, the analysis below includes discussion of this app for those who only want a limited resource set.

It should be noted that all of these are universal apps, so one purchase enables use on both the iPad and iPhone.

Analysis

In order to review the available options, discussion is separated into four main categories: Readability, Search, Notetaking, and Available Resources.

a) Readability (Winner: Olive Tree, although Logos is also very good)

The ease at which resources can be read is an obvious, but critical, factor when evaluating iOS Bible applications (I’ve discussed readability in regards to eBooks here). Olive Tree and Logos are strong within this category – providing elegant solutions that are mindful of font, layout, line spacing, and colours. Olive Tree really excels (so long as you switch off the ‘book background’ which is a clumsy attempt to copy Apple’s iBooks) with a page layout that is highly customisable (but by default uses good colours for reading). BibleXPress is quite awkward (due to the use of a side margin) and Accordance needs some work with fonts (the line spacing and colours make it particularly hard visually – although this could be easily resolved with some further refinement beyond the first version). Accordance also uses a continuous page paradigm (i.e., you scroll vertically to read) which I think would be improved by a more conventional approach that involves a swipe to access the next page horizontally (i.e., akin to page turning). Accordance also need to add a paragraph view of text, instead of displaying each verse on a new line (although, as noted in their forums, this is on the ‘to-do’ list).

In navigating around a single resource, BibleXPress and Accordance share similar mechanisms (i.e., the use of the wheel device) that are very efficient. Olive Tree is quite simple (and thankfully has reinstated a design layout from a previous version). The scroll device in Logos is quite good, and the verse mechanism (which is very similar to Olive Tree’s method prior to version 5) enables quick movement throughout the resource.

Access to text notes (not user notes) and cross-references is very simple in Olive Tree and Logos. These applications utilise a pop-up dialogue accessed by clicking on the text reference. Logos seems a little slow in accessing cross references.

Only three applications allow split-pane views (i.e., Accordance, Olive Tree, and Logos) – which really is essential for using resources together. Olive Tree has the most elegant solution (Logos is also nice, albeit difficult to find).

Only one application – Olive Tree – has highlighting (and it has been implemented elegantly). I personally find this feature very useful. Accordance has the significant benefit of instant parsing of the greek.

b) Search (Winners: All except BibleXPress)

Both Accordance and Olive Tree implement search in a similar way that enables very advanced features (both of which are very easy to use). Logos is also powerful, but slightly different in its approach (i.e., via word study tools etc.). If you are familiar with Logos on the desktop, then you will love the iPad version (I suspect). If you want more direct control, then Accordance and Olive Tree will probably be more appropriate. BibleXPress has the simplest search.

c) Notes (Winner: Olive Tree)

Whilst all apps allow notes in some form, Olive Tree is the only one that really gets it right. To make a note you simply click the verse, select ‘note’, and then enter the text on the little notepad page that appears (floating above the Bible text). Once made, a small note icon is shown ‘in text’ so that it is completely obvious to discover in the future (nb. you can access the note by clicking on the small icon). The key feature is that notes synchronise with Evernote (if anyone is going to invest time making notes, it essential that they are exportable in a standardised way – Olive Tree has made the right decision).

d) Resources (Winners: Accordance and Logos, followed by Olive Tree closely)

All applications (except for BibleXPress) allow access to an extensive range of resources. Olive Tree achieves this quite elegantly, although the Accordance “easy install” is very good. Generally, you will be able to get most resources from these three, and share licenses across devices (Accordance and Logos will share resources to their desktop applications as well). Olive Tree is only slightly limited in that they focus upon mobile devices and have no way of displaying licensed material on the mac (but, it is available on numerous devices out of the Apple ecosystem, including Windows).

Conclusion

Whether or not you own existing resources (e.g., via Logos or Accordance) will be an important determining factor when choosing the best iPad Bible application for you. That said, right now, I think that Olive Tree is the most elegant solution that enables me to use it as an alternative to a physical book. This choice is at a premium (i.e., I have had to purchase additional licenses for resources I already own through Accordance), but it really is the leader of the pack (at the moment). This said, Accordance have a plan in place, are communicating with their users, and I think will keep refining their product quickly (they have stated publicly that this version was more focused on iPhone/iPod Touch, and an UI overhaul will come specifically for the iPad). So the bottom line is: if you already own licenses for Logos, Accordance, or Olive Tree – then go with that application (it’s free after all). However, one caveat: if readability is important to you, then you might consider purchasing licenses for essential resources and use Olive Tree as well.

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A few months ago, I wrote a small post on using the iPad in academic theology.  Having had time to reflect, I thought I would cobble some of my thoughts together.  Much of my workflow (which entails a reliance upon Dropbox, iAnnotate, OliveTree Bible Reader, and Evernote) has remained the same, with the device being stellar for reading and marking-up text.  Surprisingly, I have been reading eBooks on an increasing basis, largely because of the ability to mark-up text (yes, I love marking-up text!) and carry my book collection with me.  Even more surprisingly, I have used the device for ‘easy-going’ productivity – so much so that I have been increasingly leaving the laptop at home, and just relying on the iPad.

The release of Accordance for iPad is also a great addition.

Hardware and Accessories

The key accessory that I purchased (a leather case by Piel Frama) has been very good.  Whilst it is a bit bulky, the main benefit is that I can use it in public without feeling like a complete nerd(!).  In fact, when preaching at church or using it as a Bible/book, most people assume that it is actually a book or diary (and not a piece of technology).  There is something about the social psychology of this which makes it far better experience.  The pogo stylus is fantastic for making notes in applications like Penultimate.

I would definitely buy the 3G version again, as wifi just isn’t pervasive enough.  If you want to use the device for anything other than media synced to it, I think constant connectivity is a must.

Unanticipated Uses

Some of the use-cases that I didn’t anticipate include:

• Preaching from the device (this is actually brilliant – accessing the file through Dropbox and displaying in the Dropbox preview works perfectly for me).
• Watching live television and recordings (combined with our mac-mini media centre, we can stream recordings and live TV over the home network).
• Showing photos to family and friends (an obvious one, not really an academic pursuit, but I didn’t somehow realise how fabulously this would work).

Lingering Issues

There are still some problems (although iOS 4.2 addressed many others), namely that:

• If it weren’t for Dropbox, the lack of an adequate approach to file management would make the device almost unsuable (to me).  That said, the iPad desperately needs an API for deep integration with services like Dropbox.  Whilst many apps now support Dropbox very well (e.g., downloading and uploading files), it needs to be more ubiquitous throughout the operating system.
• The browser is not yet a full browser – and I’m not referring to the lack of flash.  The main issue I encounter relates to how the iPad version of safari treats pop-ups.  For example, if I need to upload a file through an online system (e.g., moodle), the browser just won’t support it.  This partly relates to the lack of a file management system, and also a limitation of the browser itself.  If you are browsing journal articles, and want to save PDF’s from databases, it is also problematic (you can save it to Apple iBooks, which has been a very welcome update, but shifting the files around is clumsy).  I’m sure some of this will change overtime (as websites develop and the iOS matures).
• The hardware is a touch heavy.  I’m slightly embarrassed to admit that when reading in bed, I often receive a thump to the head as I fall asleep (i.e., I loose grip on the device and it tumbles towards me!).  The screen (which has remarkably not cracked despite the many thumps to my head) is nowhere near as good as the iPhone 4.  These things however, are only slight quibbles.  It is still amazing hardware for a first generation device, and the battery is outstanding (hence the weight).
• The version of keynote is really limited.  It’s restricted font set and slightly different features to the OSX version is quite annoying.  This is unfortunate, because the concept of the iPad for presentation is brilliant.  (Especially if it could be remote-controlled or use AirPlay.)  Similarly, the way that Pages handles most document files needs to be on par with the OSX version.
• Endnote, please come to iPad…(Papers is beautiful but, without the ability to make in-text citations, is limited).
• I also wish I could get copies of A Prayer Book for Australia and the Revised Common Lectionary (even in PDF!)… but that is unlikely due to their current publishing deals.

Final Thoughts

I’m amazed at how useful I find the iPad.  I was quite sceptical when I first purchased it, but I now find it increasingly useful.  I am also impressed with how easily people – of different backgrounds and ages – adapt to the interface.  As the operating system improves, I have no doubt that it will become a really practical device that will enable me to leave the laptop at home (almost always, except where I need to do a lot a writing).  I think that as applications become more sophisticated – being compatible/equivalent with their desktop counterparts but still different by design – it will also make it a very compelling solution.

In the meantime, I’ll try to resist purchasing an iPad 2…

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