by Bret Capranica | Feb 3, 2014 | Featured Articles, Technology
This past weekend was one of “those” weekends. It used to happen to me so much more frequently. However, I have not experienced it in almost five years: the dreaded laptop crash. I saw it coming over the past few weeks. The reliable and beloved MacBook Pro (2009) was not only slowing down, it was beginning to crawl like an infant. Last weekend, I removed just under 100 gigs of material (apps, docs, pics, music, etc.). Nothing. In fact, the dreaded Mac beach-ball-of-death was showing up on a more frequent basis throughout the week – to the point that it was taking almost as long as a Windows machine to boot, and then with every app I opened, I would have to wait for some 2 to 5 minutes before I could work. Nope. That won’t work. So, instead of trying to relax on my one day off, I spent the afternoon and evening in a last ditch effort to bring back my Mac bliss. I researched articles (on my iPad) on how to speed things up. I purged, I cleared, I dumped, etc., etc. Nothing. No change. At all. I finally came to the conclusion that I would have to do what every Microsoft phone-assistant suggests as a first step: reinstall the OS. Sweat, anger, fear – it all rushed upon me. Honestly, I haven’t felt this in years. I used to go through a Windows laptop every 18 months for a number of years before my Mac conversion. I forgot what it felt like – but the memory was quickly engaged and old feelings flooded back. However,...
by Bret Capranica | Apr 19, 2011 | Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Personal, Technology
Last January, when Apple announced the introduction, I published a post about how I thought ordinary pastors might make use of this new category of computer. A follow-up post is long over due. In fact, when looking over which articles tend to be most perused, I find that previous article continually referenced. I purchased my iPad (the original version) just days after it was released. I immediately began to put it to use in my regular life and pastoral ministry. Before I chronicle how I currently use my iPad in ministry, let me give a few follow-up comments to the six reasons I proposed that ordinary pastors might benefit from the iPad. 1. Magazines/Newspapers can now survive. Newspapers have embraced the iPad in mass from what I can see. I have The Wall Street Journal, ABC News, USA Today, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico, CNN, and The Daily, all on my iPad. So far, most of these e-papers do not charge for their content. Some e-magazines do charge; those who do, have not received any of my cash. Even though most of the e-papers are free I rarely open up any of their stand-alone apps. Not that I don”™t consume massive amounts of news articles, I do. As of today, Time, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Politico, CNN, The Washington Post, and many more are making their content free through Twitter. Subscribing to their Twitter feeds and using the Flipboard app I can bring all of the e-papers and magazines I want into one place for me to read, takes notes from, and...
by Bret Capranica | Apr 3, 2010 | Technology
Do you have your iPad yet, or are you still saying it’s nothing more than a bigger iPod Touch? Here’s a few reviews from those who have been playing with it for a week before release. I get the sense that the naysayers may be taking back the criticisms. ABC News: PC Mag’s Overview: PCMag: Apple iPad video review from PCMag.com Reviews on Vimeo. Walt Mossberg at the Wall Street Journal Andy Ithnako at the Chicago Sun Times Andy Ithnako reveals the iPad on TWiT: Free TV : Ustream Stephen Fry Unboxes an...
by Bret Capranica | Mar 8, 2010 | Technology
Here’s one coming out for sure: Will you be sporting a new iPad on April 3? Here’s one for the future. Now that’s pretty...
by Bret Capranica | Jan 28, 2010 | Featured Articles, Ordinary Pastor, Pastoral Ministry, Technology
I’ve been waiting for something like this – a handheld device that I could consume information very easily and most comfortably. Apple may have done it and I think it will have a number of benefits for those in pastoral ministry. If you missed it, here’s the video of the new Apple iPad: Will/Should ordinary pastors and people use the newly unveiled Apple iPad? This pastor probably will, and I think many, many will also. The Kindle has been a big draw among many in ministry and I can’t help but think that the iPad will be another Apple technological game-changer. Here’s a few reasons why I think so: 1. Magazines/Newspapers can now survive. The only reason I subscribe to a print newspaper right now, is because my wife wants the coupons from the Sunday paper. I NEVER read the print paper. But I do subscribe to a number of newspaper and magazine RSS feeds. In fact, I can subscribe to the sections of the paper I want and skip the rest. I noticed that my wife was already starting to clip coupons from the internet. Outisde of my wife’s coupon newspaper, I no longer have any subscriptions to any print publications – and I don’t miss the mess. However, I would be interested in reading papers and magazines on an electronic device that I could hold in my hand and was bigger than my iPhone. Especially if I could cut and paste quotes and sections into Evernote and tag them. That would help me in quickly clipping, filing, and finding quotes and illustrations for sermons and doing so...
