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Free Worship Presentation Software

October 19th, 2011

Projecting words of songs and Bible verses is in church ministry about as common as wood pews were, 25 years ago. But while PowerPoint is ok for a Bible Class or board presentation, it does not have the horsepower that is needed for contemporary worship in a multi media world. But there has not been much choice between PowerPoint and high-end high-dollar software. Until now that is!

I just recently stumbled on a cross-platform projection interface, which is (*gasp*) free of charge! Introducing…. OpenLP! (wild applause)

OpenLP is a very nice little piece of software. It has a easy-to-use interface, featuring live and preview modes. With it you canqueue up not just songs, but Bible verses, PowerPoint presentations, images, videos and audio, allowing your entire service to run from the same interface.

The best part, in my opinion, is the ability to import song lyrics from SongSelect. This allows you to populate your database with the correct lyrics and correct copyright licensing information. Hey, the easier it is to be legal, the more likely we will. Read More→

Categories Computer, Free Stuff, Resource, UthGuyTech, video
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YouTube You Can Use (part 2)

by Craig McCourt

October 13th, 2011

YouTube – the broadcast yourself phenomena is a part of our culture, like it or not. While there is much on YouTube that we could debate, there are hidden treasures to help us teach and promote the Gospel.

But what is the best way to use YouTube?

1) You can use a YouTube App:

You can find apps for your smart phone, or ipad that make it easy (if you are online) to share and show your youtube videos.

2) You can embed your YouTube link directly into your presentation:

You can simply cut and paste the link for your video into your PowerPoint and then click the link to watch it. You could also use a great program like PREZI which makes using Youtube a snap. (again this only works if you are online.)

3) You can convert the YouTube video and download a format you can use with a website like ZAMZAR.

All you do is copy the video url and paste it into Zamzar, pick the format you want it in, give zamzar your email and wait….. and in a few minutes you will be sent a link to download your clip.

4) You can use a great Firefox add-on to make downloading as easy as one click!

This is my favorite option. If you are not a firefox user, start by getting a free copy of the latest version of their browser (GET IT HERE). The best addon that I have found is http://www.bestvideodownloader.com/ I would agree with the name. Once you install this you will see a new option below your youtube video to DOWNLOAD.

Before you go, repeat after me, “We don’t use video for video sake, but when they help us to make a point or advance the Gospel.” Enjoy your videos and rememebr… use them with care.

Categories Gadgets, Uncategorized, UthGuyTech, video
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YouTube You Can Use (part 1)

by Craig McCourt

October 11th, 2011

At my congregation many staff come to my office with a common question? “Can you think of a good video clip that would go with…?” I have become the media go to guy. I have collected a vast number of clips over the years that I use in ministry. Some of the clips are ones that I have purchased from various places like SermonSpice or WorshipHouse.

BUT if you know me at all you know my favorite clips are ones I have recorded myself or found for free from places like YouTube.

Not long ago I stumbled on a great free resource from our friends at The Youth Cartel. They have begun to look through the millions of clips on YouTube and put together a handy discussion guide, based on some great random clip they have found. Did I mention that this discussion guide is FREE? While it is not going to fill out your teaching schedule for the year, it will give you that quick devo in the back pocket that we as youth workers enjoy. You can sign up to get their free email derived to your inbox each week by CLICKING HERE or the Logo above.

Come back for YouTube You Can Use (part 2) as we look as some handy tools to help using YouTube video a snap, even when you are off line!

Categories Free Stuff, Resource, UthGuyTech, video
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Spotify – Music on the cheap

by Craig McCourt

September 17th, 2011

As an ipod using youthguy (aka UthGuy) I like iTunes. As a UthGuy who like the easy music solution I like Pandora. As a really cheap, want to hear it NOW UthGuy I like the new Spotify.

Cnet calls Spotify, “the best free music option since stealing.” Yea, well we here at UthGuy Tech do not advocate stealing, but free…. we are all over that!

So what is Spotify? In a nut shell, you tell your spotify what you want to hear, and it plays it for you. Yea that’s it oh and did I mention…for free, and without limitations for up to six months. Unlike Pandora, it doesn’t play something similar to the song you want, it plays the song. Unlike iTunes, it’s not just a 30- to 60-second clip of the song you want it plays you the whole song or album, just as if it were in your personal music collection.

So do you want to stay current on what top his and underground music yur youth are listening to, but your board was not to keen on a $300 line in the budget for “iTunes?” Then you need to check out Spotify. They also have a premium version that you can subscribe to which allows you to store your music to listen to latter “off line.”

Right now Spotify is by invite only! If you were lucky enough to get in invite, you know what I am talking about. If you didn’t get an invite, but want one, I can help you out. Just leave your contact information in the comment below, along with how you found us and I will send you an invite.

They also have great apps for all your mobil devices!

Categories App, Free Stuff, Resource, UthGuyTech
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Great new Ministry App – Giveaway! Clips

by Craig McCourt

August 10th, 2011

Lets be honest we like to take everything with us, we like to work on our Youth Talks from Starbucks, and we like to find things fast! There is a great new app, filled with fantastic promise… Clips

Clips will help you find illustrations from great films that will help your audience engage with the Bible. This is a must have app for pastors, small group leaders, and youth ministers.

Clips doesn’t just tell you what movies have great “clips” in them it tells you exactly what scenes to use, what topics to teach, the verses you could use, and even some possible discussion questions.

You can browse the movie library, look up topics you’d like to teach, or even search for a scene based on a particular verse. Once you find the movie you want to use, Clips makes it easy for you to have exactly what you need to lead a discussion. Read More→

Categories App, Free Stuff, Gadgets, Ideas, Mobile, Resource, UthGuyTech, video
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Even you can take Credit Cards

by Craig McCourt

August 5th, 2011

This has to be my pick for gadget of the year. Next time a youth shows up at an event with only a credit card…. Take it and swipe it yourself with Square. Square is the easy and no-hassle POS essential. You get everything pretty much for free. Square will send you a free credit card reader, the app is free, and the service is low cost.
You even have the option of adding items to a quick charge or inventory list. Along with receipts that are emailed to the swipee, you can also use the same app or program to record and receipt Cash payments.
For swiped transactions there is a flat 2.75% taken out and for manual entries it is a flat 3.5% plus $0.15 per transaction. No monthly bills or service charges besides the flat rate charges.
Did I mention that the app was FREE the plug in reader is FREE.
Check it out in the Apple or Android apps or at https://squareup.com/

Categories App, Free Stuff, Mobile, Resource, UthGuyTech, Utility
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UthGuy gets an iPad.

by Craig McCourt

July 31st, 2011

Many saw this as a huge step for the long time PC User. I am the one that has said “Don’t rely on fruit, when what you need is a computer.” But I am not to big to say – this iPad thing it is a winner. It also is a great tool for ministry.

I loooked at the new iPad 2 and my budget and decided on a iPad 1 via Craig’s List. I got a good deal and must admit I’m not sure what all the fuss is about the iPad 2, since the Camera is not that great and I would not exactly say that the iPad one is to heavy to carry around.

I must admit I am a gadget guy, I carried a palm device, when they first came out, I went to a pocket PC and even to a Google smart phone. I have a 2nd generation iPod and a iTouch that I use all the time.

So the real question now is… What apps are you running and is it useful or just a toy.

Categories App, Computer, Gadgets, UthGuyTech
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iCloud coming soon Dropbox is here now

by Craig McCourt

June 7th, 2011

With a fare amount of fanfare Steve Jobs returned to work as Apple announced yesterday the creation of iCloud. I must admin that it has some nice features, their music match feature will be really great, but most of the rests of what they are bragging about is already something I have been enjoying thanks to two different websites.

Google has been synchronizing my contacts and email between my devices for free for years. They never charged me like the former “mobileMe” from Apple. My files have been sycronized between devices (between my ipod touch, my laptop, my home desktop, and my office laptop) through a wonderful little program called Dropbox.

I know this is not the first time I have told you about Dropbox before so rather than bore you with a new blog check out my description of a tool I use everyday – all day.

Read About DropBox Here!