Tuesday, August 31, 2010 @ 7:17 pm by Josh Burcham

Jobs lays down the values for marketing right. Enjoy

Tuesday, June 15, 2010 @ 8:55 pm by Josh Burcham

Apple started accepting iPhone 4 reservations today. Now I normally don’t post on Apple stuff for a couple of different reasons, but this phone was too perfect to not post.





Now I will have the phone on the 24th, so FaceTime me with you’re going to get it right away! Here a link to Apple.com and below is the Keynote of the announcement.

Take away one thing… attention to the details is what make your product or ministry stand out among the rest.

Saturday, April 10, 2010 @ 10:33 am by Josh Burcham

Seth Godin is a man we ministry leaders can learn from. If you don’t follow his blog, you need to. The best part…his posts are short! Right to the point leadership and marketing principles. He recently posted some thoughts on the iPad launch that Apple recently had and I couldn’t pass up sharing them as a great ministry/church lesson. Here is an excerpt:

1. Don’t try to please everyone. There are countless people who don’t want one, haven’t heard of one or actively hate it. So what? (Please don’t gloss over this one just because it’s short. In fact, it’s the biggest challenge on this list).
2. Make a product worth talking about. Sounds obvious. If it’s so obvious, then why don’t the other big companies ship stuff like this? Most of them are paralyzed going to meetings where they sand off the rough edges.
3. Make it easy for people to talk about you. Steve doesn’t have a blog. He doesn’t tweet and you can’t friend him on Facebook. That’s okay. The tribe loves to talk, and the iPad gave them something to talk about.
4. Be willing to fail. Bold bets succeed–and sometimes they don’t. Is that okay with you? Launching the iPad had to be even more frightening than launching a book…
5. Don’t worry so much about conventional wisdom. The iPad is a closed system (not like the web) because so many Apple users like closed systems.

Read the rest of his points, Secrets to the Biggest Selling Launch Ever.

Saturday, June 13, 2009 @ 11:26 am by Josh Burcham

With the WWDC keynote buzz starting to die down and the iPhone 3.0 software being released this coming Wednesday. iPhone users are starting to focus on the 100 features being added to the iPhones operating system, but with the announcement of 3.0 came major disappointments for AT&T customers.

MMS not till the end of the summer and no tethering support right now. Two major features to iPhone 3.0 not being able to be used in the US. AT&T you’re going to have some pissed off customers.

I’ve been satisfied with AT&T service. No, they don’t have coverage like Verizon in Phoenix, but I been nothing short of thrilled with their customer service. If you have ever dealt with Verizon’s customer service, you would know that you aren’t a valued customer. I’ve had hundreds of dollars removed from my bill, money I should of had to pay due to the terms in my contract. But the lady on the other side of the phone said and I’ll quote her here, “don’t worry about it, it wasn’t your fault. I’ll just remove those charges.” I’ll stay with AT&T because of that one “wow” experience.

But with all that nice stuff said, AT&T you completely dropped the ball on iPhone 3.0 and I think you are going to pay a major price in the long run. A lot of your customers aren’t happy as it is, due to coverage issues and now adding this. Apple might start looking somewhere else to sell their phones and if that is Verizon, you might see a mass exodus.

Hesseldahl from Business Week spoke with AT&T about the missing support for 3.0 features:

AT&T expects to support MMS and video sharing by “late summer,” AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel told me. The delay is related to some internal system upgrades to the network. He added that tethering will be offered at some time in the future, but he couldn’t give me a date.

Read the entire article here: Apple-AT&T: Hints of Strain.

If I was AT&T and I wanted to avoid a riot,  I might be busting my butt to get the “internal system upgrades” done this week for the 3.0 launch. If not, I believe you just sealed your coffin. That exclusivity that Apple is offering you, might be going bye bye. Apple builds it’s software for it’s hardware and it’s hardware for it’s software to give their customers the best experience. They went with one carrier to do the same, give their customers the best experience with the iPhone, iPhone 3G and the new iPhone 3Gs. Now that experience isn’t happening due to your inability to keep up. I’m just putting two and two together, but I think you already know it. Apple has checked out.

Monday, June 8, 2009 @ 9:00 am by Josh Burcham

Apple has been known to release new product at this Keynote and we are crossing our fingers that they keep up the tradition. Excited to see what they have up their sleeve. Things we know they are going to talk about are iPhone 3.0 software and Snow Leopard (New Operating System). We all are hoping for other things too, but I’ll leave the rumors sites to tell you about those.

Watch the Live Coverage Here:

MacRumors Live

Engadget Live

AppleInisder

Thursday, May 14, 2009 @ 5:23 pm by Josh Burcham

Here is some dumb humor for your for your day. If you haven’t heard Microsoft is opening it’s own retail store to try and take on Apple Retail. Note to Mircosoft: being innovative doesn’t mean copying another companies product and approach.

Here is are 10 Ways Microsoft Stores will Differe from the Apple Store:

1. Instead of Apple’s sheer walls of glass, Microsoft’s stores will have brushed steel walls dotted with holes — reminiscent of Windows security.
2. The store will have six different entrances: Starter, Basic, Premium, Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate. While all six doors will lead into the same store, the Ultimate door requires a fee of $100 for no apparent reason.
3. Instead of a “Genius Bar” (as Apple provides) Microsoft will offer an Excuse Bar. It will be staffed by Microsofties trained in the art of evading questions, directing you to complicated and obscure fixes, and explaining it’s a problem with the hardware — not a software bug.
4. The Windows Genuine Advantage team will run storefront security, assuming everybody is a thief until they can prove otherwise.
5. Store hours are undetermined. At any given time the store mysteriously shuts down instantaneously for no apparent reason. (No word yet on what happens to customers inside).
6. Stores will be named Microsoft Live Retail Store with PC Services for Digital Lifestyle Enthusiasts.
7. Fashioned after Microsoft’s User Account Control (UAC) in Vista, sales personnel will ask you whether you’re positive you want to purchase something at least twice.
8. Xbox 360 section of the store will be organized in a ring — which will inexplicably go red occasionally.
9. DreamWorks will design a scary in-store theme park ride called “blue screen of death.”
10. Store emergency exits will be unlocked at all times so people can get in anytime they want even if the front doors are locked.

Enjoy.

Original Article: PC World

Friday, April 17, 2009 @ 10:00 am by Josh Burcham

I was a little surprised that I typed so quickly. I would of thought I would of been around the 40-50 words a minute range.  Not bad for not using my own keyboard. FYI really loving my Dad and Dane’s new iMac. We need more switchers in this word; stop “having to deal with Windows” and come to the dark side. Tedd, would be interested in your speed.

Test Your Fingers’ Speed

Sunday, February 8, 2009 @ 2:44 pm by Josh Burcham

There have been a lot of people posting 25 Random Things about themselves over at Facebook and I enjoyed reading friends posts. Hopefully they enjoy reading mine. LOL. But since I live here on my blog and not on Facebook I figured I would post here instead.

The only shows that I watch/follow are The Office, Lost, and House. Mainly due to the fact I don’t have cable at home and only being able to afford those three from iTunes.

I get to work a 1/2 hr. early so I don’t have to go to the floor right away and have time to just sit there are do nothing.

I’m headed back to school to finish off my degree at the end of the month. Should take me about a year. It will be nice to have that behind me.

I’m an introvert and I don’t like being around a lot of people. Hard to believe that I’m call to be a pastor with that trait, but it is true. People actually freak me out.

With Andrew out of the country for the next six months. I have no family in Arizona. Well, blood family. I have plenty of people I consider family that live here. I’m all by myself. You all should come visit.

Speaking of family. I have a great one! And I know you’re jealous of it. If you’re not, it’s because you haven’t met us yet. I don’t say this enough to them…Love you, guys! Mom & Ken, Dad & Dane, Steve, Tiffany & Nick, Wendy & Steve (& the boys), Kris & Laura, Andrew, Jeff, and Nathan. And the Horton’s didn’t forget you guys. Love ya! Damn, I have a big family. (That’s just my immediate family.)

I’m freaked about getting back into hockey. Last month my mom offered to pay for season and now that it could become a reality…I’m a little freaked. It’s been seven years since I’ve played.

I didn’t vote for President Obama (I had to add Obama to my spell check), nor do we see eye to eye on issues, but I’m excited to see what he will be able to accomplish. More interested in politics then when Bust was in office. It’s going to be tough. Our economy is dying right in front of our faces. But I’m eager to see what he can do. (And I might be burned at the stake of this one by some of my christian brothers and sisters.)

Anytime I set my alarm to wake me up. I wake up fifteen minutes, on the second, before my alarm is to go off. Like clock work. Happened this morning.

My view of God, the Church and ministry are completely different then they were a year ago and I praise God for that. Thank you, Jesus!

I’ve been a janitor, knife salesman, Starbucks’ barista, Apple specialist, print designer, church planter and a pastor. And I was only fired from one of those jobs…okay layed off, but fired makes it such a better story.

I love kids and can’t wait to have my own some day.

I have had a gun pulled on me, ran from the cops and been chased in my car. Those are all separate stories and non of them I’m proud of.

Judge me if you will, but I love plays, musical, big productions, etc. I always have. I still remember going to see Nutcracker & Romeo and Juliet at a young age. Probably why service/ministry programing interests me so much.

I keep track of 5 email addresses. Thank you Gmail for your great support. Without you I would have to login to five sperate places and that would suck!

I write people off too easily. If someone wrongs me or someone I care about or makes a poor decision in a place of leadership. I just write them off; not giving them a second chance. But I do expect the same response to my actions. Haven’t grasped the whole grace thing yet, but I’m working on it.

There is music on my iPod that I am ashamed to call mine, but yet I still don’t delete it. I guess I should say, I have music I’m ashamed to say I like.

I’ve never broken a bone or had stitches. I do have a scare on my cheek from my mom’s nail, though.

I attend church services online, but if they don’t air the entire service from start to finish; I get bored with them very quickly.

Made it through school never reading a single book and now I try to read 3-4 a month. Weird how things change. Actually, my mom used to make me do Hooked on Phonics and read into a tape recorder. I think it was more for her enjoyment to hear me try to read, then it was a tool to help me read. But I don’t hold that against her. I was in 6th grade by the way.

I’m inspired by Wendy and Steve (sister and brother-in-law). They probably don’t know that, but I’m always watching them. They have a healthy and godly marriage and are phenomenal godly parents! Thanks for be such a great example.

I always have music playing (or sermon, video, tv show, movie, etc). I might not be listening to it, but I work better with noise. For example, Marvelous Light by Charlie Hall is playing right now in iTunes.

I’m a Mac, not a PC. It hurts me actually to have to go back and work on PCs from time to time. iPhone (not 3G), and 17″ PowerBook G4 (time to upgrade to the new MacBook Pro; thinking another 17″; I’m liking the 8GB worth of RAM in the 17″).

Since traveling to Israel last April (? pretty sure it was April; actually I can’t remember for the life of me when it was and I don’t want to take the time to look it up in Google Calendar. I’m so close to finishing this list) I’ve wanted to travel more places oversees. If you’re planning a trip and wanted to pay my way. I would not decline your offer. No, really I wouldn’t.

For someone that considers himself pretty self aware. It took me freaking forever to write 25 things. I should of number them, because I probably spent more time counting to see how many I had than thinking of what to write next.

Now it’s your turn. 25 random things about you!