A great example of practical efficiency…
June 01, 2010
If you've ever read some of my stuff on making videos, or worked with me on a video project, you know how much I love the term "practical efficiency". Videos don't have to be expensive, fancy, or difficult, they just have to have a great clear concept. SOOOOO much time is wasted in churches trying to make a technically impressive video, when they could've cut their production time in half and conveyed the same (if not better message)
I ran across this video recently that is the perfect example of this. Even though this video is about iPads, imagine how you could do something like this to promote small groups, or an event for your church. Simple, simple, simple...
You’re thinking to hard!
May 13, 2010
I guarantee there is a simpler way to do what you are trying to do, You are just making it to difficult. Here is something I'm learning right now.
The degree of quality you want, will determine the degree of difficulty!
In other words if you want something to be 80% quality it's probably going to require 80% difficulty. There are obviously exceptions to the rule, but I think it's a good practice to always sit down before you start a project and decide how quality do you want it to be. Sure, you may want everything to be perfect, but by doing so you are limiting who can get involved, what equipment can be used, and the amount of time you could be doing something else. There are plenty of times that a 70% quality video is good enough. There are times when a 80% print design is good enough.
It's called practical efficiency, and my current working definition is "Getting what needs to be done, done at the quality that's needed as quickly as possible"
When you decide that everything doesn't have to be perfect, you can start accomplishing more, training more volunteers, and spending less on equipment.
My Initial Thoughts on the iPad
May 10, 2010
My wife Andrea is going back to school to get her masters, and since her computer got stolen over Christmas when our house got broken in to, I decided to buy her an iPad instead of replace a macbook. I did this for a few reasons:
1. Because by buying the 16GB wifi it would save me around $400
2. She will be using her iPad for typing papers, taking notes, checking email, and browsing the web
3. I thought she might be able to get her textbooks on her iPad making it easier to get to and from class
4. The iPad would be great to travel with (which we do alot)
Since she didn't start school for a few days I spent a good bit of time playing around on the iPad to figure it out and get her set up, and I thought I would share my initial thoughts.
I was wrong!
When Apple first announced the iPad my initial reaction was "I don't need nor can I afford another accessory, especially more monthly 3g costs." While I still see the iPad as an accessory for me, Apple has done a great job of making this device more than just a big iPod touch. Some of the critics will throw out that accusation right up front, but after spending a week with an iPad it's not just an iPod. I use my iPhone to do a few things that go beyond the scope of a smartphone, but it's still my phone first, and I use my MBP to do my computer work. the iPad allows me to do pretty much anything I could do on my MBP except video editing, and serious web development. We are still early in the game so as more apps come out specifically for the iPad it will get even better, but so far it is a perfect device for basic consumer computing.
The Screen is not just bigger it's better!
I can't really explain it to you, you're just going to have to experience it, but somehow Apple has made the screen more captivating than when I held an iPhone for the first time. And the apps that are built for the iPad do an unbelievable job of utilizing that space. I wish the iMail program on my MBP used the interface from the iPad because it really is a thing of beauty.
The movies are amazing!
With the Netflix App and the best app ever Air Video, watching movies on the iPad is really captivating. I have honestly enjoyed holding the iPad screen close to my face more than watching HD on my 52'. I know it's crazy but it's just that good. Obviously I wouldn't recommend buying an iPad as a $600 dvd player, but as an addition it is quite amazing.
I don't understand the fuss about USB ports.
I have tried to use my iPad for as many things as I can think of and not one time have I needed a USB port. With the Good Reader APP, and quick email it's quicker for me to transfer everything through the air.
There is no file structure
I must admit this has been very frustrating. Because the iPad is set up as a mobile device, and not a computer there is no file structure. In other words you don't have a "My Documents" folder. All your files are stored within your apps. This has been really frustrating for me in trying to setup the best word processor. You have to use iTunes to really see al your files available and that's just a headache. This is definitely an area where apple could have separated itself from the iPod model. A document created in Pages can only be found in Pages. Booo!!!!
You can't Print!
Well kind of. There are apps out there that allow you to print, but I don't understand for the life of me why Apple would not set up some printing capabilities. Using either GoogleDocs or MobileMe my wife will probably end up emailing her stuff to my MBP and printing them to our home printer. Booooo!!!!
All in all I must say the iPad is an amazing machine. It's no secret that I'm an Apple fan, and I know that other companies will have other machines that will have a few things that Apple didn't include but as long as it runs on some other platform it won't run as smooth as the iPad does (At least I haven't experienced one yet) I told my wife the other day that she will never own another laptop again, and I truly believe that the iPad will destroy the basic consumer level computer, because they just won't be necessary.
