It is hard to keep up with the latest and greatest in the world of technology, from the latest and greatest online social media networks to the newest and flashiest gadgets, you always have something coming out. We have a list of the five things today that your church should be considering to get in the next few months. Even better, we have included a short blurb on why your church needs to invest in some of these devices for ministry so you can simply submit the idea to your financial committee.
What you will not find here is reasons to get the new clumsy made MacBook Pros, the over priced iPad 3, or any other ridiculous tech gear out there that is just not practical for churches and ministries. We want this guide to be perfect for you.
- iPhone 5
The iPhone has grown a reputation of being the hot ticket item that is worth waiting for five days in line while it rains and snows on you. The iPhone 5 is suppose to only dramatize this even more. The power and usability have improved, the display even better than before, and with the App Store behind it, it cannot be beat. For ministers who work a lot out of the office, this device is perfect when a meeting runs late, you are waiting for a small group to show up, or want to have everything very well organized and accessible in their digital lives. Easily the best purchase you could make for ministry for 2013. - XBox 720
This may be geared to youth groups more than anything else, but it is so amazing that all generations love it. In fact, the Kinect has been a huge hit for retired generations as well as stay-at-home moms and their kids, so do not just put the label on this and ignore it. The new system will include Xbox SmartGlass, Blu-ray support, 3D glasses, cloud-based gaming and an improved Kinect system. And the list of uses goes way beyond just video games to include apps to Netflix, Pandora, and a variety of other ministry uses, making this a need to get next year. - Surface Tablet
The iPad 3 may be part of a great line of Apple products, but the new Microsoft Surface Tablet is doing what laptops and ordinary tablets cannot. The convenience of a touch-screen tablet mixed with the portability and usability of a laptop, the Surface Tablet is the first of its kind. If you are in the market for a new computer, this should be at the front of your list to purchase, especially for the staff person who cannot sit in an office for 40 hours a week. Mac boys beware, you might convert back to Windows soon! - .church URL
ICANN just released a massive list of recently applied for gTLD’s (generic Top-Level Domains) and one of the latest URL domains is the .church. A .church domain creates a clearly identified namespace for churches and religious organizations, making it easier for people to discover, connect with, and share those ministries. Of course, if you do not purchase yourchurchname.church early enough, you will either miss out altogether or have to pay a very sizable price for it later. The new domain will not be available before 2013, but you may want to have a new website design in place, content, and social media lined up if you plan to go all in with your church’s new website address. - Adobe Creative Cloud
For those that know the power of great visual displays, whether that is marketing and advertisements of events or the different mediums of paper flyers or videos to be played on Sunday morning, we all know that Adobe is the premiere company in design. From there famous Photoshop app that revolutionized images to Premiere and After Effects that is doing the same for videos, you need to invest in these to create great visuals. The problem has always been the cost, but now with Adobe Creative Cloud, you can get the same access, but on a monthly subscription and save hundreds of dollars in the process. For the churches that are on the cutting edge, you need to get access to this.
What other tech purchases would you add to this list for ministries to purchase this year?
kolby milton says
I heard that the xbox 720 isn’t coming out until Christmas 2013. I was also surprised to see the surface tablet on there. I would add mountain lion OSX, and iOS 6.
seventy8Productions says
The XBox 720 does have a late release, but the surface tablet should be at the beginning of the year. As for the OS, I agree, but typically that comes with the device if you buy it new, so I left those off. iOS 6 looks amazing!
kolby milton says
Mountain Lion is coming out in July. I think the cost is $20. Definitely an amazing resource.
Steve Steiner says
The surface love is a great lead-in to my win8 posts next week. Nice article Jeremy.
seventy8Productions says
Thanks! You know anyone that will be getting one and will you try it out yourself?
Steve Steiner says
Well, I mean I would love for us to get it so I can try it out for 78P :D. Oh that’s not realistic? Why don’t we have MS send us a review unit?
Really though, before they announced it I got the Series 7 Slate from Sammy, it is one of the best on the market now. I would like to get it, and if we can swing it then I will and Karen will the the Sammy Slate. It all comes down to if they are able to deliver on what they showed us as the preview and if our budget can swing it by the time the pro version comes out (can’t afford to get the RT version at this point just to play with it, maybe some day).
seventy8Productions says
That’s why you go to a Microsoft store! 🙂 I’ll be visiting one very soon, I foresee.
Steve Steiner says
True, but I can still dream :).