For those of you who have written expressing some confusion about a product called “pocket-bible” for the iPhone 2, no, that isn’t our product.
Yes, we do have a registered trademark on the term “PocketBible”. Our version of PocketBible for iPhone and iPod Touch is called iPocketBible but the trademark covers any software that is used to display the Bible text, regardless of platform.
We’ve had to deal with a number of trademark infringements over the years and so far they’ve all been handled very reasonably. We hope this one will be no exception.
Regardless, how about a native app for the Iphone. I did not see one from you guys so POCKET-BIBLE WILL BE GETTING MY MONEY AND MANY OTHERS SOON. I know you wanted to see how many people used you web site(it is not software) ipocketbible. But that was not even close to a solution, i never signed up. Why would I pay for a bible I couldn’t use in church?(no edge or WiFI. Please, Please tell me you are developing a iphone software solution.
Speaking of the iPhone version, I anxiously downloaded iTunes 7.7 this morning and began searching the AppStore for an application I just NEW would be present. Obviously, my assumption was wrong. No Laridian PocketBible native iPhone application yet!
So, is one forthcoming? This is kind of a big deal for me, since I don’t really want to pay a subscription fee for the online version, want the speed of a native app, and want to retain the near $100 investment in my Palm version and various texts.
Once this application is available, I’ll be able to “ditch” my palm pilot and carry one device!
So, is an iPhone native version of PocketBible on the way?
I’m sure that if Laridian chooses to release a version it will be just what I’m looking for, but I’m tempted to go ahead and purchase another program vs. waiting an indefinite amount of time.
No doubt there will be a bunch of KJV-only Bible programs for the iPhone. The particular one in question has no features. It’s just the text. Is that what you want? I wish I would’ve known that — we could ship the KJV text with a fancy table of contents tomorrow.
I said in a previous post that if we did PocketBible for the iPhone it probably wouldn’t be available on day one. So there should be no surprises there.
We’ll have more to say about our iPhone plans soon.
There are other native iPhone Bible apps available. Rather tempting in the absence of any theoretical release date on the undoubtedly superior future laridian iphone app. Are we talking days or weeks or months for some news? You guys are great, I have used your software for many years.
Hi, I am one of the people who paid for an iPocketBible subscription, but I never use it because it does not have the performance I need. I knew that it wouldn’t, but at the time, it seemed like the only way to communicate my interest in an iPhone Bible app, so I voted with my wallet. (actually purchased two yearly subscriptions for me and my wife). We’ve both continued to use our palms or paper Bibles though because the online version is just not usable for us.
So I too anxiously browsed the new app store this morning hoping to be surprised with a native version. There are several Bibles listed, including ones with versions that I use, but I’m not sure how user friendly they are, and I’d like to leverage my investment in Laridian books.
I will almost certainly be buying one of the competing products tomorrow when the latest firmware is released. I hope it is just an interim solution until the quality product from Laridian is available. I don’t require too many features though (fast look-up, and decent search; switching between versions would be a plus), so maybe I’ll be happy enough with one of the other products.
I really like Laridian’s MyBible products, and have been a loyal customer for many years, encouraging others to use MyBible on their Palms as well. I want to continue to be a loyal customer, and can’t wait to purchase a native iPhone version. I’m certain it will be excellent.
I just noticed that there was another “Josh” posting in this thread.
Just to be clear, I’m the second Josh. We’re two different people.
Thanks.
Hey Guys,
Add me to the list of people that downloaded iTunes 7.7 just so I could “search out” the App store, since it’s not yet published on the front of the iTunes store until tomorrow. Like Craig made reference to, I didn’t expect to see Laridian on there yet since he spoke previously that any potential releases wouldn’t be right at launch.
I don’t have an iPhone and don’t plan on having one since I feel the plan is way too expensive compared to my Sprint Sero plan ($30 a month, unlimited data, great voice plan, etc). My wife, however, does have an iPod Touch. She’ll also be purchasing a new MacBook within the next week or two. Since she’s doing an educational purchase, she’s eligible for a free iPod Touch, so that’ll be mine.
I look forward to downloading many apps to play around with, maybe take a few notes, or whatever else with my Touch. Many of my “gotta have ‘em” apps are on my Windows Mobile phone (HTC Mogul) and yes, one of my most essential apps is PocketBible 4.
Why would I buy a native iPhone/iPod Touch bible app if I already have it for my Windows Mobile phone? Experience. Interface. The iPhone/iPod Touch interface is hands down better than anything else out there… still, a year after the iPhone’s release. Many have tried to copy but no one has duplicated the look/feel/experience.
I know the argument has been made before about internet access not being ubiquitous, I’m not going to rehash that. I often do bible reading on the NYC subway, where there’s no reception of any kind. If a native iPhone/iPod Touch ap for PocketBible comes out, count me in as an immediate customer!
For those of you wondering why your comments aren’t showing up here: Unless there’s some strongly compelling reason to the contrary, I don’t approve comments that advertise a competing product. I’ve edited a couple of posts and just deleted the ones that are no more than essentially a link to another product.
This business is tough enough (i.e. “with friends like these….”) without advertising the competition in your blog.
I also purchased the iPocketBible subscription but found it to be awful! Terrible design and interface. Two finger scrolling is so lame! My impression is that the only reason Laridian has been pushing the web version over a native version was for the continuous income stream of the subscription model instead of the normal release/upgrade model.
MyBible for the Treo is the best software Laridian has sold (I’m not even sure they developed it). I’ve kept holding out hope that if I ‘invested’ in the iPocketBible a native version would be produced.
Honestly, I’m tired of what I perceive as Craig Laridian’s continued arrogance and antagonism about if/when they will produce a native iPhone app, how much it costs to develop, and how really big the iPhone market is compared to blah, blah, blah! Anyway I’m giving my money to one of the first native iPhone Bible apps.
BTW, there isn’t a pocket-bible on the AppStore. PocketBible is not unique enough for a trademark anyway.
Hopefully OliveTree Software, who has been taking an iPhone survey for several months, will produce a native app that supports their product line.
Marion,
Two-finger scrolling is a built-in Apple-designed multi-touch behavior. Don’t blame us for that. I’m sure you saw that with a couple taps you can turn two-finger scrolling off by getting rid of the toolbar and going to a floating toolbar instead.
Your perception that we’re “pushing the Web version over a native version … for the continuous income stream” is incorrect. We’re not pushing our Web version over a native version. We’re pushing an existing version, period. If we do a native version (and we haven’t said we won’t) it won’t be a subscription. None of our other products, including those that came out after the iPocketBible.com launch, are subscription products. Only iPocketBible.com, and that’s because it’s a Web app that requires ongoing costs on our end to host.
I’m glad to hear you are enjoying MyBible on your Treo. A large portion of that product was developed in-house.
My name is Craig Rairdin, not Craig Laridian. Laridian is a made-up word that is derived from the Greek “biblaridion”, which means “little scroll”.
I’m sorry to hear you tire of our iPhone comments. We haven’t said anything about it for about 3-4 months. I explained exactly what was going on and why. We stopped talking about it because, like you, we tired of it.
I can tell you right now why we haven’t said anything about our iPhone plans, and I can tell you very clearly. There are two reasons:
1) As soon as we say we’re developing for the iPhone (or confirm that we’re not) we’re going to be inundated with email. If we say we’re developing for iPhone, there will be a constant stream of questions about when it will ship, why didn’t it ship on July 11, why didn’t it ship yesterday, why didn’t it ship last week, why didn’t it ship last month, when will it ship? Will it ship tomorrow? Will it ship next week? Will it ship next month? Will there be free upgrades? Will it be free for existing customers? How much will it cost? Will my existing Bibles work on it? Can I be a beta tester? Etc.
2) If we make our plans known, competitors will have more information upon which to base a decision regarding their own product development plans. If we looked at the market and decided it wasn’t worth investing the time in a native app, then our competitors might be encouraged to stop their own plans, thus freeing them up to work in areas that directly compete with us. If we say we think there’s an opportunity there, then a competitor who previously wasn’t working on an iPhone app might be emboldened to launch their own efforts.
We have to take these factors into account. If we pre-announce a product, we’re inviting emails and giving the competition time to react. If we don’t announce until the product is ready we reduce emails and surprise the competition, but we also lose business to early adopters who go somewhere else.
I note that despite the comments on the pocket-bible Web site, there’s no pocket-bible product on the AppStore. It’s possible Apple already pulled it. It’s also possible it’s vaporware. I’m just going from what I read in the blogs. We’re in touch with the developer so we’ll see how it goes. We’ve been through this several times before and it has always worked out. We’re not worried about it.
As far as PocketBible being too generic to register, that’s just false. Do a USPTO trademark search and you’ll find both PocketBible and MyBible are registered. We’ve successfully defended the marks against other infringers, and none quite so blatant as this one (which will make it easier).
Thanks for your comments. Again, don’t interpret our silence on this topic over the last several months to mean anything one way or another.
Craig
Craig,
I have an iPhone and an N95 8G. I would like an application for either of these phones. I have a good many useless Laridian PocketBible(s) I have purchased that I can no longer use since I have left the Windows camp. If you do create an iPhone/Symbian app, please consider letting us bear the burden of a slightly more expensive PocketBible app that we can “import” our purchased Bibles into so that we don’t incur the additional cost of repurchasing what we already own of your products. It’s not worth the investment.
Thank you,
Ray
It think it speaks very highly of you to reply to our comments. I absolutely loved your programs on my palm and my Windows Mobile machines. I think you guys are the best and don’t want to go to one of the other Bible programs from the iTunes store. I know you are not saying you are or are not developing for the iphone so I will not say I am or are not going to buy another solution…but actually…I will wait. And please if you do or do not please let us use or use not our Bibles purchased for previous platforms….or not.
Thanks for replying…or not
All your Bibles work on all our platforms (almost).
The way it works is if you buy a Bible for one platform then switch devices, you can download the same Bibles for the new platform assuming they’re available for that platform.
So if we do PocketBible for iPhone, any Bibles you already own will be accessible. Not sure how that would work since iTunes adds another layer of complication to getting content to you, but you wouldn’t have to buy everything again.
I was pleased that when I purchased the iPocketBible subscription, all of the PocketBible books I purchased on my old PocketPC were still available to use. If anything, that helps to create brand loyalty…
I will wait for a native app from you guys for a short while. I have used your products on Palm OS and Windows Mobile and absolutely love them. I did not purchase a subscription to iPocketBible because I can’t get a signal in my church. As a result, an online application is worthless to me. If you provide a native application, I would buy it in an instant.
Hi Craig,
Just want to let you know that both myself and my wife would be two people interested in purchasing a native iPhone Bible application from Laridian. I can also say I know of another two people that would most likely buy it. So there’s four customers already.
Seriously, I’m not saying I might buy it. I’m saying I -would- buy it. Unless Laridian broke its trend (and said iPhone app was complete garbage), but given your track record for quality software, it’s more or less a done deal for me.
Craig, sorry for the pesty and testy responses you’re getting. I do feel the same way as the other posts (PocketBible doesn’t work well for me, I want a native app, etc…). But you guys are doing a good job.
I’ve invested/purchased from you for years with the Palm/Treo products and have gotten great use out of these. As a Pastor I’ve really loved having multiple translations available right when I need them.
That said, I am another one of those who will jump to the first “Real” company that introduces a viable, native product for the iPhone. Just the basics for me (NIV, NASB, NLT). That’s what I use daily in my reading, preparation, and counseling.
I started with Laridian in Palm, moved to Windows Mobile (i think i have that right…) and so I bought the ipocketbible for iphone assuming that since web apps were the only way to do apps on the 1st iphone, Laridian was building a bridge to the future. I assumed there would be a native app and still assume so since the iphone market is likely going to grow. So just take this as another vote for a native iphone app! As a fellow business traveler, I’ll leave your business decisions to you with a thanks for your fine products.
Craig,
I have been waiting patiently, and will continue to do so, for a native iPhone app. While I’m not getting an iPhone (I don’t use AT&T), I am wanting to get an iPod Touch. The ONLY thing holding me back is a native PocketBible app. I love the product so much that I will not be able to have a device without it. I recently switched to a Mac, and the only reason I have Parallels on my Mac is for PocketBible. I also have a Windows Mobile device that is several years old and am going to hang on to it until I know for certain if you are producing a native app for the Touch. I am well aware of your policy regarding spreading news of upcoming products, so I’m not looking for any new word, I’m just posting so you have one more vote in your basket towards producing a native app for the iPhone. Thank you for all that you have done and please keep up the good work!!