10 things you can do with YouVersion on your mobile device

YouVersion

I’ve been using YouVersion for some time, both online and on my mobile devices (first two BlackBerry’s and now on my G1).

It’s amazing how powerful a platform YouVersion is. And there’s a number of cool things you can do with the platform, both online and on your mobile device — all for FREE.

So here are the top 10 things you can do with YouVersion on your mobile device…

10. View comments and contributions from more than 6 million readers around the world.
9. Follow along with one of 22 different Bible reading plans.
8. Replace that 17 pound Bible you’ve been lugging back and forth to church.
7. Bookmark passages for later reference.
6. Tweet your tweeps with links to your favorite Bible passages.
5. Share your thoughts with others by responding to polls and leaving comments through YouVersion Live.
4. Put a massive Bible search engine to work, so you’re no longer left saying, “It’s somewhere in the back…”
3. Find 41 different ways to say “Jesus wept.”
2. Read the Bible, in your favorite translation, anywhere and everywhere.

So what about number 1? Well, that’s for you to tell me.

YouVersion is all about how you put it to use.

So let us know, in the comments below — What’s the #1 thing you do with YouVersion on your mobile device?

Don’t have YouVersion on your mobile device? You can get it for Android, BlackBerry, iPad, iPhone, Java, Mobile Web and Palm WebOS.

Ubertwitter does Twitter video!

Check this out!


(embedded video)

With their latest version, Ubertwitter now posts video directly to TwitVid – straight from my BlackBerry Curve 8900!

Greatness!

This video was 26 seconds long and I posted it over AT&Ts 2G (EDGE) network. It took roughly 20 minutes to upload – not too bad! I’ll have to take some more video and see what it does on a good Wi-Fi connection as well.

I’m sure this will open up some more fun on the mobile interwebs for sure.

The latest version does have ads in it (as I mention in the video) but they weren’t distracting and wouldn’t keep me from using the software.

However, as of this morning, Ubertwitter announced they would remove the ads from the application itself:

Ads Have Been Turned Off

We have been listening and have heard you loud and clear! We will not turn advertisements on again until we can offer a a paid option with no advertisements. The paid version will be less then $5 and will likely be a year long subscription model, i.e. all upgrades for a year. If you purchase during the beta period, the year won’t start until we release version 1.0. Thank you for your patience and your feedback!
-@CodeWarden

With the small ad I saw, I’d be happy to keep using it for free, but because its such a great software app (IMHO) I’ll gladly pay a couple bucks for a full version once it’s released.

Google makes new alliance with Motorola

Google makes new alliance with Motorola

Jonathan Blundell
Staff writer

Motorola Phone with Google
If you just thought Google was everywhere, get ready to add your cellphone to that list of mediums the information search giant is moving towards.

At the Consumer Electronics Show Las Vegas last week, Google, Inc. and Motorola, Inc. announced a joint venture between the two companies, allowing access to Google’s vast database of information on new Motorola handsets.

Motorola will add a new Google icon to select handsets, starting early this year.

The icon will allow users to connect directly to Google anytime, anywhere, at the click of a button.

“Many of our customers have been asking for mobile devices integrated with their consumers’ favorite online services. By featuring Google on Motorola handsets for these customers, we are making it easier for consumers to connect to the information they need when they need it,” Scott Durchslag, corporate vice-president and general manager of Global xProducts for Motorola’s Mobile Device business said. “Our relationship with Google provides an opportunity for us to offer a high quality mobile search experience – one familiar to and loved my millions of users across the globe.”

But merging Google with consumer cellphones is nothing new.

The search engine, founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, can be accessed from any cellphone with Internet access, allowing users to connect to Google’s web search features.

Just type www.google.com in the URL field of your phone’s Internet browser. If you get an error message, type www.google.com/xhtml instead.

From the basic web search, consumers can find recipes, sports scores, trivia answers and more. The search page works just like the online version of the site, which is used by millions of users everyday.

Need a definition of a word? Just type “define (word)” in the search field.

Want the correct spelling of a word? Just type the word and Google will give you a suggested spelling if the word entered is not found in its database.

Want movie times? Just type “movies” or “showtimes” followed by the location.

Want weather? You guessed it, just type weather and the location.

Finally, for those needing quick stock updates, just type the stock ticker symbol for the latest updates.

The company has also recently added options for Google Local and Mobile Web to their mobile page, which greatly expands the company’s offerings.

Google Local allows users to find maps, directions and phone numbers to businesses and places worldwide.

Simply select the local option on the search page and type your destination.

For example, McDonalds 75165 or McDonalds, Waxahachie, TX will give you a listing and directions to all the McDonalds in and around Waxahachie.

The Mobile Web option allows users the ability to filter search results to websites customized for viewing on mobile phones.

Google doesn’t charge consumers for access to any of its databases, but users may be required to pay access fees to their cellular provider, depending on their service plan.

For those without net access, the company also offers Google Local information via text messaging.

Simply text your queries to 46645 from any cellphone with text messaging support.

A text response will be sent to your phone, usually within seconds.

And for consumers who use Google’s blog service, Blogger.com can post text or photo updates to their blogs with text messaging from their cell phones as well. Information for mobile blogging is available at www.blogger.com/mobile-start.g.

So with all these features already available too most cellphone users, why the global alliance?

“Access to information is imperative for people on-the-go. Whether checking the local weather or locating the restaurant of their choice, consumers today require personalized services that are tailored to their needs,” Vice-President of Google’s European Operations said.

And with the quick, one-button access on cellphones, Google will be able to expand their user base and increase brand loyalty which will in turn help drive Google’s real moneymaking venture — advertising.

The alliance will also help increase Motorola’s plans for a seamless, flowing mobility experience.

The company announced part of its vision for the future in 2004, with phones that pay for parking without touching a key, cars that know where you’re supposed to be and how to get there, homes that record your favorite tunes and movies and share them with your friends and products and systems that carry intelligence into your life.

It’s all part of the future of converged devices bringing more and more information to our fingertips.