The One S is a classy looking device, even if it does not sport the advanced finish of the International version. The fit and finish is great, the aluminum body is a departure from what most companies are using on “flagship” phones. It it’s a very thin, but substantial enough to hold.

The OS is solid. Android 4.0 with HTC Sense 4.0 is a workable combo. Coming from Samsung’s TouchWiz skin, it is refreshing. There are some changes, but not so many that you wonder where android went.

The hardware is fast. The Snapdragon S3 was fast in TMO’s Galaxy SII. But the new S4 chip is even faster. A typical quadrant score was in the 3500 range for the Galaxy SII. The One S was close to 5000!!

I have not had the unit long enough to test battery life. It seems to be at least as good as the SII.

Amazing is not enough to describe the camera. You can shoot stills and video.at the same time!

Overall it is a great device. I highly recommend it.

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There are many tools available now for use in homeschooling that were simply not available just a few years ago. One of those tools is the iPad. We were blessed to be able to get ours free (If you’d like to know more about that, go here..)

Ages and stages…

The iPad is a “shared” device in our house. Everyone has their folder, with apps (most free, some paid) for their developmental stage.

Our youngest (3) has her folder full of apps that teach shapes, colors, letters, etc.

Our middle child is finishing up kindergarten (5), so his apps are reading words, basic math, and grammar/sentence construction.

Our oldest (7) is finishing up 2nd grade, so apps involving science, more advanced grammar, cursive handwriting (even though it is no longer required to teach it in Indiana!…), geography, and etc.

We have one more collection of apps that is the “everybody” folder. It has some educational games and items like the PBS Kids app that allows you to see video on demand of many of their shows. These are very “free time friendly” apps that can be used to fill time when one child is done with their work well before the others. It is a nice incentive for getting work completeted correctly.

We do not have a ton of money invested in the apps, as most are free and the rest were largely under $3. It is probably around $20 total. The hardware is by far the largest expense.

A nedded expense is also a case that gives better grips to little hands. We use the Griffin/Crayola Trace and Draw ($30 – includes screen protector), largely because I got it free in a contest. If i were to buy one that works with Pre-K to Early Elementary, I would look at a Zagg Screen Protector and one of the cases from Gumdrop. The cost is far below relplacing an iPad…

I am sure that if you do some looking around, there are even apps that handle the progress reporting and recording that is required in some states. We have a great paper-based form that works for us, so we have not done a lot of research on it.

If there are particular apps here you’d like to know more about, leave a comment below.

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If you ever wondered, here is your answer. The phone on the left is a Sprint Galaxy S II, which is the same size as T-Mobile version and the ATT Skyrocket. Wonder no more.

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I am looking to get one of these. (A Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 – 7.0) to replace my original nook. I would prefer to do it with as little out of pocket as possible (I did an iPad 2 and accessories for less than $50 out of pocket this way, so pay close attention!)

I made an account with YourFreeTabletPC.com. The short version of how this works is that you do one trial offer (Free or Cheap) and get a few friends to complete an offer, they get paid by the advertisers, you get your reward (gift card or tablet) – and everyone is happy. I have a more detailed explanation here…

It is legit.

They have paid out for me 3 times already (iPod Touch, iPhone 4, and iPad 2).

The iPad2 was really a blessing. My wife and kids are making great use of it in homeschooling . I am amazed what is now available to them on a slab of glass, aluminum and silicon.

If you want to know more about how this works or have questions, visit the explanation, comment below, or click here to get started!

You can watch my progress below…

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I won a Griffin/Crayola Trace and Draw case for the iPad 2 from iMore. I received it about 2 weeks ago, and my kids love it! It is large and gives them good grips. Here are some of my other thoughts about the product in no particular order:

•  I am leery of the idea of a child using a marker on an iPad, period. An iPad 2 is a rather large chunk of change in my book, so we “failed to tell” my kids about that app/feature
•  It does offer a decent amount of protection, but it is not an Otterbox/Gumdrop grade case. But the price is also substantially lower.
•  They made the ports fairly accessible, once you realize that the pull-out trays at each end give you more clearance
•  Be careful sliding on and off. you can peel up a thick screen protector like a ZAGG Shield…
•  I love the ease of removing the case to shift to a more “Adult-Friendly” case. (Almost makes me want to walk into a meeting with it on, and see what happens… But don’t try it!)
• It really is a kid-appealing design. It looks very nice with a white iPad2.

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More stuff tomorrow!

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Xclip – great tool for iPads. Teaching tool that you can use with an iPad.
Woot.com – good deals every day
1saleaday.com
Cowboom.com

Apple tv + iPad 2 = really cool screen mirroring stuff… Airplay mirroring That you can use.

Iprizewheel app for iPad
Zen point.org jukebox software

Catalyst Filter – quarterly leadership pack. Online articles, video training, and discount codes. $99/year

Cuponk – strategy game for challenges.
Portable scrabble, Yahtzee, Simon says, etc.

Zagg.com – mobile accessories.

Digitalstache.com – spin that wheel $25 app
Igniter media – coupon code symc2012 20% off in March

Things to take on a retreat
1 xclip
2 Panasonic digital cameras
3. Guitar pic maker – pickpunch.com
If you buy user Symcfreelargesandingblock in notes if you were at symc
4. Hand presso – portable espresso maker from importica
5. Printer. Portable one
6. ITV – Mac or pc to television plus powered antenna also has dvr function
7.
freebies.
Quickshot app – iPhone/iPad 1.99
(or upload to dropbox ) use with crowdcontrolgames.com – Head Games
3 modes :singles mode , logo mode, team mode
Group everyday youth ministries book.

Crowdcontrolgames.com one arm two arm none -$25
Roadrace New version in beta

Thinkgeek.com
Shocking hot potato
Lightning reaction

iPhone apps
Attendance app iOS -.99 app
Receipts pro. iOS
Image blender- merges two images. $1.99
Clips – .99 app on sale for normally 2.99
Library of video illustrations with discussion starters

Boxwave styra stylus for iPad -$23 pen/rubber stylus

Free Graphic resources:
Stufficanuse.com –> free stuff
Seeds.churchonthemove.com
Open.lifechurch.tv
Creationswap.com
Resources.elevationchurch.org
Newspring.cc/resources
Vintage church.cc
Videohive.net

It takes a video designer:
3 hours per second of video design

Bible apps:
you version
Logos iPad app

groupon for churches
Only144.com

Squareup.com – can take credit cards with 3% charge

Remote control
Join.me
Logmein

Pinnacle studiohd – smart movie that edits video with music
Animoto.com – free account for non-profits slideshows regularly $300/year that allows downloads

Dexim portable iPhone battery

Free countdown clocks
D.me/symctech
List of notes

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1. Dropbox (Sign up here I and I get more free space. Woohoo!!..) – its a hard one to beat. I am not tied to a specific machine, and It moves to files I need to multiple machines for me.

2. SugarSync. Yes this may seem redundant, but its not. There is one feature I use in SugarSync that makes it a “must-have”. The auto-sync of photos in the Android app is like the photostream in iCloud, but more easily accessible…

3. Hootsuite. It is a great tool for planning and scheduling the content you share, and managing the online interactions you have.

4. Chrome to Phone (Android App) (Chrome Extension) . I can send Web links directly to my phone to read later (like for example in the waiting room at the mechanic shop) when I have time. Quick set up and very seamless when active.

5. Google Chrome. What would it be like to have the same bdowser interface, bookmarks. And extensions, no matter which of your machines (Mac or PC ) you were using? Yes. Its like that.

6. Gimp. Gimp is a free open source image editor that allows you to open and edit most graphic file formats out there. It has about 80% of the tools that Adobe Photoshop has, but for free.

7. Teamviewer. Teamviewer is a great piece of software that makes remote access a breeze. Free for presonal use too. what a nice bonus feature…

8. Plantronics Voyager 835 Bluetooth Headset. No I am not “Mr walks around everywhere with his headset on to look important”. I am “Mr tries to keep safe on the road”. I use my headset while on trips to return phone calls and answer calls safely. Don’t let the MSRP of $119.95 scare you. I purchased both mine and my wife’s headsets for less than $20 each on eBay new in “white box packaging”…Shop around.

9. Vlingo / Samsung Voice Talk. This software allows #8 to happen much more safely. Voice talk is Samsung’s licensed version they use on their smartphones. A little more refined than the typical app store version (although it is now free instead of $19.99!)

10. Samsung Galaxy S II (Tmobile). We had a bit of a service issue that resulted in us leaving AT&T for another service provider. This resulted in me going back to T-Mobile during the “free smartphone” weekend a couple weeks ago. My choice was the Galaxy S II. At one point I had an ATT version of the original Galaxy S (Captivate), which was a nice unit, save for a few minor irritations. Those are gone, and the S II is a much improved unit. I will do a full review in the future, but this is one of the best smartphones I have had my hands on. It’s that good.

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There was one segment that was very interesting to me… 

The reporter described the process one goes though before you can enter the production floor. You put on the static free suit (like the Intel “bunny suit”), then you go down a long corridor with air jets that blow on you removing all dust, because just one small speck will contaminate the whole line. Sounds intense.

Here is the spiritual application:
What is God’s standard of purity? Perfection. We cannot attain that on our own, so we must accept the invitation that God extends to us. We “put on the new man” as Paul writes about in Romans, and we strive to let the Holy Spirit cleanse and convict us of sin as we live our lives in preparation for eternity in Heaven with God. God cannot allow one sin into Heaven, or it would be corrupted. When man sinned, it broke that relationship with God. Only through Jesus living a perfect life, dying on the cross, and raising again three days later (Romans 10:9-10) could that brokenness be restored. Purity is an all or nothing deal. We have nothing, Christ offers us all we need. We just have to accept it and Trust in Him.

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“It looks like it is designed for teenagers and guys whose wives think they work waay too much..”

Ouch.

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