Xtranormal is a digital animation company that allows you to create your own movies! Just think of the applications: camp rules, announcements, topic teaser, discussion starter, mid=week shout out. These are so easy to create and incredible versatile. Check em out at www.xtranormal.com
Xtranormal Video
Youth Specialties Black Friday Sale
I’m not sure if you did any shopping on Black Friday, but I’ve seen pictures of how crazy the malls were. In fact I saw people camping out at Best Buy 2 days ago. I like a deal as much as the next person, but that’s a little extreme. That’s why i prefer to do my shopping at home. So if you’re like me and you love a great deal on youth ministry resources check out the Youth Specialties Black Friday Sale. Great resources from the Skit Guys, Mark Matlock, Kara Powell and Brad Griffin, Lars Rood, Chuck Bomar, Zach Hunter and more.
I recommend checking it out, while you are eating your sandwich made out of the leftover turkey. It goes through Monday, don’t miss it.
Free iOS Course
Just the other day on twitter I saw the most interesting tweet. Stanford University was offering their iOS app building course for free through iTunes University. I have a few app ideas I want to develop so I have downloaded the videos in HD, and plan on working my way through the course this coming spring. Just figured I would share this with all you fellow geeks out there. You can find the link to the course on Stanford’s iTunes U page. I have only watched a few minutes of the first lecture but they look top-notch; which is what you would expect from SU. If you decide to watch these all the way through anytime soon let us know what you think!
Everyone knows it. Announcements are boring. So a few years back we decided to spice things up. We had just held a huge student conference and had brought in the improv comedy group CPR. The students went nuts over the improv. So why not combine the most boring part of the service, with something entertaining? Improv Announcements were born. The video is from a while back, and it combines 2 improv games. The first game is called The Alphabet Game. Contestants have to go in order giving sentences that start with letters of the alphabet (All I want is to get through this game. But first we have to talk about the upcoming event. Certainly don’t want students to miss the theme night. etc.) The Second game is called mouse traps. This one is self explanatory, so I will explain it anyways. Contestants have to make their way across a mousetrap minefield, barefoot and blindfolded. As you can see from the video, students now enjoy announcements.
Announcements are Boring
November 19, 2011 in
For Fun, Fun with
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Introducing: ym wiki
Are you one of those people who can spend an hour following internal links on Wikipedia? I am. This past March I was having coffee with our very own Chris Davis at SYMC. We began talking about new possibilities for combining technology with ministry. One of the ideas that sparked was creating a wiki for youth ministry. It’s never been done, until now. I am so excited to introduce ym wiki. It’s your personal database for gaining and sharing your youth ministry knowledge! Find the best games, restaurants, guest artists and speakers… it’s all HERE! What makes a wiki so great is that anyone can upload content. Just think, every youth worker in the world sharing their experience, and knowledge. Do you know a sweet restaurant in Duluth? Add it to the wiki. Is there a game that really worked for your group? Add it to the wiki! Wanna find a great guest speaker for your D-Now weekend? Find him or her on the wiki! This could grow into the largest database of youth ministry knowledge in the world; a virtual compendium of youth ministry knowledge. Don’t let all of your experience die with you! Leave it for other generations! Okay, maybe I’m a little too excited, but I don’t think so. Head over to the wiki and create an account, surf around, then share your own expertise! You can also follow @ymwiki on twitter to receive links to games, restaurants and other cool stuff on the wiki.
This was super cool seeing this kid talk about what he loves. It was a great reminder to me to encourage kids in their interests, you’ll never know where it will take them.
Sixth Grade iOS Developer Speaks at TED
November 10, 2011 in
iOS, Mac, Software with
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Wow, this could have been me.
Kids in 1984 Describe Computers
Guest Post: My Switch to iOS
A self-avowed Apple hater, I would never have thought I would be writing this post. Just this past week I gave up on Android, and went to iOS. I had owned a 1st generation iPod Touch in college, but ever since I have not used Apple technology (other than the iPod). For the past year I have carried the Android based Galaxy Tablet, and have truly enjoyed it as a close companion, but having made the switch back I wanted to point out a few differences between the two platforms, and a few reasons why iOS is such a great software.
- Keyboard- Say what you want, but this is my favorite thing about the iPhone. Whe you think about it, your digital keyboard is the most used input device on your phone/tablet. This means that the keyboard has to be stellar, because you will use it more than anything else (unless Siri takes over the world). I remember Steve Jobs bragging about the keyboard on the iPhone back in his 2007 unveiling speech. Every word he said was true. Having used an iPod Touch, then Android devices, then back to iOS I can confirm that Apple makes the best darn keyboard in the business. It truly is a dream to type on.
- Consistency- Although I do believe that Apple is anal about what gets on their devices and what doesn’t there’s no denying the consistency of user experience across the many apps available. With Apple, if you have used one app, you can figure out the rest of the 200,000+. Android apps each had their own unique feel, personality, and idiosyncrasies. Apple apps feel like one giant loving family.
- Flash-I originally bought the Android tablet because of its Flash capabilities. But, now with HTML 5, and newer language development, Flash will not be as crucial an element in web browsing. Boy, how I loved the times when I could view Flash intense pages while my buddies with iPads could not!
These are just a few reasons why I am falling in love with iOS again. I haven’t even mentioned the sheer volume of apps, the quality of the Retina display, or the the trinity of iMessage/Facetime/Twitter integration. The bottom line is that everyone wants to develop for Apple right now, and it is showing in the quality of their products.
Jon Homesley
Jon grew up around Charlotte, NC. He graduated from The College at Southeastern in 2010 with a BA doubling majoring in The History of Ideas and Biblical Studies. In 2008 he married his wife Chelsea. They currently live just north of Charlotte where Jon serves as the College Pastor, and Youth Ministry Geek (not his real title) at Christ Community Church. He prefers Windows 7 to OSX, Android to iOS, and Walkmans to iPods.
Jon’s church- www.ccchuntersville.com
Jon’s personal site- www.jonhomesley.com
One of the most intriguing features of the new iPhone 4s is undoubtedly Siri, and here’s a fun video that plays off the fun you can have with Siri’s responses. Enjoy!
Video Fun: A Duet with Siri
