zach pippin

I have a Droid. Not R2D2. The phone [it was a gift]. It’s an awesome phone that does about everything. I would venture to say it’s probably the most advanced phone out there at the time of this writing. Do I absolutely need such an extravagant phone? Probably not. I’d like to mention  a few of the benefits it has to others.

Yes, people that have fancy gadgets can be the target of attacks from humanitarian groups. “The money spent on that [fill in the blank] could have fed [X number of =orphans]”  True, but I see another side of the coin. By buying gadgets and supporting the companies that make them, one eventually helps those in need. As companies sell more products, the old ones become cheaper. What was state of the art technology 20 years ago is now something that is cheaply produced and spread globally.

Today, mobile phones are becoming ubiquitous around the globe. We were able to hear and see of the events in Iran thanks to video captured on mobiles and texts and tweets sent out. Even war torn Somalia has a thriving mobile phone market.  As history has shown, the ability to  send information quickly tends to lead towards greater freedom and prosperity. [How would the protests at Tiananmen Square been different if the victims had phones?]

Phones are just one example of this benefit. Remember when flat panel TVs were $10,000? I know I didn’t buy one then, but some people did. Now they’re just a fraction of that price. We are beginning to see the spread of many affordable technologies [think One Laptop Per Child campaign] that are going to help the less fortunate. All of this is possible thanks to the companies that produce them and the early adopters that are willing to drop the big bucks.

Perhaps in a meager attempt at an excuse for lavishing myself with the latest tech toys, I’m going to use the next few posts to extoll many of the benefits of technology in our modern world. My focus will be on the church, philanthropy, and political freedom.

Today I’ll start with something that has definitely become vital in the past week.  Texting.

The infamous dominant form of communication for tweens that is destroying the English language. Bane of safe driving advocates. Texting has evolved from just a new way to say hello to an integral facet of society. At first critics asked why text a person when you could just as easily call them with the phone you’re using.  Answer? It allows people to easily and quickly communicate a short message to multiple recipients. Coupled with services like Twitter, a message can quickly spread from one person to all over the world. We saw this last summer when it was ordinary citizens with mobiles, not mainstream media, that brought us the news from within Iran [there will be more on that later]

Another obvious and beneficial use it fundraising. I’ve had this article planned for over a month. Two weeks ago I was at Passion 2010 conference in Atlanta. One of the charity projects supported there had a goal of raising $25,000. During one of the main sessions Louis Giglio gave everyone a number to text in order to donate $5. We ended up raising over $75,000. I was excited at such an awesome use of technology for good. Little did I know just two weeks later that would be blown out of the water. After the earthquake in Haiti, the Red Cross asked people to text HAITI to  90999 to donate $10. As of the writing of this article, more than $8 million has been donated in just 5 days.

Wireless Google device (but not a cell phone)

Check out the things that already exist. Amazon Kindle, Barnes&Noble Nook, Peek.

They run over existing wireless networks. The e-books don’t have a monthly fee to access it, Peek is $20/month or $300 for lifetime service. The e-books download over the wireless signal, and the Peek gives you unlimited email service on up to 5 accounts.

So, here’s the thought. Google releases a device that allows connection to Gmail & Google Voice only. Not to make calls, but to check emails, text messages, and voicemails. I could see there being a market for that. I’m someone that would consider it. I really don’t use voice services much, most of my communication is text, email, twitter, etc. It would also be something marketable to parents of tweens. It would be a very affordable device for send text messages, somethings for which today’s youth are infamous.

Oh, and the Nook already runs on Google’s Android OS. So this could very well be something in their future.

Thoughts? Would you consider one?

After telling yall about the services I already use [Gmail, Google Docs, Calendar, Chrome] I figured I’d tell you about where I see my use of Google in the future.

1. Chrome OS

I alluded to Chrome OS in my Chrome browser review. It is supposed to be released sometime next year. It will be based on the browser build. It will run primarily web apps, suitable for cloud computing. Except for video editing, 99% of my time on my computer is spent in my web browser anyways. I will probably purchase a netbook, convenient for my many travels, with Chrome OS. Google is releasing Chrome OS for free, so the computers will be cheaper than Windows netbooks due to lack of licensing fees. Not to mention the fact that it is open source and should be faster, more stable, and have more potential than any PC ever could.

2. Android OS

Yes, that means just what you think. If you know me, then you know that I’ve wanted an iPhone since it came out. That has changed recently however. There are several reasons. There are plenty of choices in phones and carriers for the Android OS. Since they’re powered by Google, Android phones integrate much better with Google services; it’s a bit of a hassle to sync most of my Google information with my iPod Touch [iPhone OS]. This integration includes the increasingly popular Google Voice. Android gladly accepts Google Voice apps, something that Apple has famously rejected.  Finally, it’s open source. Google and the Android market seem much more open the developers than the restrictive and ambiguous iPhone App approval process.  Yes, I am now planning on getting an Android phone, possibly Droid, Eris, of the rumoured gPhone,  rather than the iPhone. Apple and AT&T better get with the program. If they rest on their laurels Google will dethrone the “invincible” iPhone before too long.

3. Mobile Phone Service?

This one is pure speculation.  Google has been providing MuniFi, city wide WiFi for free for several years in Mountain View , CA. Google also recently announced free WiFi in 47 airports around the US. I can only see the services growing. Google, along with other companies, will eventually blanket the US with free[ or cheap] WiFi. I predict we will then see a migration from traditional cell phones to WiFi enabled devices [such as iPod Touch, or dedicated WiFi phones] utilizing free VoIP  services  such as Skype. I also believe that Google Voice will eventually morph into a VoIP service to compete with Skype. Individuals will no longer have separate internet and mobile phone bills, instead we will probably pay at most a subscription fee to a nationwide WiFi signal that will power all of our devices. Just wishful thinking for now, but in 2012 when it all happens, I told you so.

Today is my final day of exams ever for college, so I’m taking a break from my Google Conversion posts. I do, however, want to share Google Goggles.

Just last week I was looking at a logo and thought “I wish you could take a picture of a logo and Google would tell you what it was.” Not three days later Google released the GoogleGoggles beta. It allows users of Android powered mobile phones to do just that and more. Check it out.

I am continually amazed by Google every day.

This next step has been, perhaps, my most hesitant. I’m still not 100% satisfied with the Google solution, but am doing my best to get used to it. I have replaced iCal use with Google Calendar.

The good:

Like iCal, Google allows me to have different calandars, with different colors. I can share events or whole calendars with other Google users. As with all things Google, it’s web based, therefore accesible on any computer with an internet connection. Again, however, I am also able to access my calendar  offline via Google Gears plugin and the new offline feature in GoogleCalendar Labs[again with a dock icon].

The Bad:

I don’t have a smartphone, but use iPod touch. The calendar feature on this can only sync with iCal. I must sync my GoogleCalendar with iCal to view all of my events on my iPod. I’m can only sync one calendar with iCal and keep it viewable on my iPod, therefore limiting me to one calendar on Google. Also, I am not able to add or edit events to my GoogleCalendar via iPod. I’m forced to create a second calendar specifically for iPod adding, then sync the iPod update to iCal, then drag them to my GoogleCalendar. This would not be a problem if I wasn’t using and iPhone OS device, but I’ll save that for another post.

Final Verdict:

I’ll stick with the Gcal. It’s a bit of a pain with the iPod restrictions, but I don’t do enough updates for it to be prohibitive, mostly just use it to view events. With nearly identical in app use, web based advantage, and integration with other Google products, I’d recommend using Google Calendar for you calendar needs.