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.
I join many who have posted their comments on this page in asking (again) for a native iPhone version of your PocketBible / MyBible software. We have corresponded before via email on this. I have been using your software for years, adding many modules along the way.
I have read your replies very carefully, and would wait for further developments on this product from Laridian. For the moment, I am holding back further module add-on purchases. I hope you’d understand. I plan to switch to using iPhone as soon as it is available in my country (Singapore), and would have to make do with whatever Bible software is available for that platform then, if Laridian does not have one. Thank you.
Craig and others…
I’ve just been reading all the stuff and am surprised at the latent animosity (anger?) in some. I’ve been a PocketBible user for several years on HP then Toshiba devices, then went to an ATT 8525 over a year ago to consolidate what I was carrying on my belt. I will be purchasing an iPhone as soon as PocketBible is available as an application (my key, deal-making app). I will not be subscribing to the web-based app, because the nature of the web is too inconsistent and speed–even 3G–is spotty, at best (witness my HTC/ATT 8525). Matter of fact, I’m not a fan of 3G browsing, period; and that is the primary reason I have not subscribed to a full Internet package with ATT (still using MediaNet).
I’m at ease with and currently use Windows XP (my desktop), Windows Vista (wife’s tablet) and OS X.4.8+ (my G4 Titanium), so whatever I use will be–indeed must be–consistent on all platforms. We’ll be purchasing PocketBible for wife’s tablet–she likes ***** for its breadth of material and tabbed interface, but I’ve been working on her (sigh).
Just wanted to give you a full picture of how we use PocketBible. Looking forward to a new iPhone, but as I said, PocketBible as an app is an absolute deal-maker/breaker.
rpb
————
San Bernardino
Longtime user.
iPhone Comment:
What I read into much of the comments made was a general frustration in that we who have adopted the iPhone, have truly no decent choice in Bible programs as of yet. We also are mostly converts who had been longtime Palm users who knew of, purchased and supported your products for years. I’m one.
We are just saying that we need you you to get something for us so we can have the volume of Bible versions you make available, for us and at the full features expected from the new iPhone.
Thanks!
John,
I agree that there aren’t any good alternatives for iPhone at this point. Ironically, with all the begging for a native app that’s been going on, the features of our Web-based app still exceed those of the native apps. I’ve received some testy emails from customers who say “well I’m just going to go buy xyz from iTunes”. I don’t think they’re thinking about the fact that the available programs are all very limited in features and resources. Even those that have modern translations only have a few, and there are no supplementary materials (commentaries, dictionaries, atlases, devotionals) to speak of. These are all available on our Web-based iPhone app today, which works great on iPhone 2.0 — IF you can get your new iPhone activated.
Craig,
I use a totally different Bible program for my Mac, but on the original iPhone your program is hands down the best of any native or web app Bible program. That having been said, I would be delighted with the native app, but if you don’t plan to do one in the near future, I’ll be back for my subscription.
I totally agree with you on this issue. iPocketBible DOES far exceed any native app out there. I’ve been using the subscription model for a few months now and honestly for those who have held off doing so at about $1.63 per month are missing out. I mean really, we can’t let go of one Starbucks coffee to get two months worth iPocketBible or whatever indulgences we may justify on a regular basis?
I love the PocketBible web-based app, but I will add that as soon as there is a native app, I’ll buy it on day 1. Simply put, I would like to have a bible that does not require ANY network connection to function. I’ve been with Laridian for over 6 years and had several bibles on my old Dell PDA. While I am a current iPockeBible subscriber, I’m delighted with the prospect of a native app bible.
I am a long time user on a Palm, and a subscriber to the web-based iPhone software. Sadly only my Palm device is fast enough in church. So I have to carry to carry the Palm device to church or Bible studies where navigating among a number of passages quickly may be important. I have 4 translations including the NASEC which I love. I have loved the convenience of the ability to navigate quickly on the Palm. I know you had no choice, but to deliver a web based program for the iPhone originally, but loading web pages slows the program too much for practical use in a Bible study environment. I have been nursing my ancient Palm awaiting the native Iphone app. My Palm is DYING. I don’t want to buy another. Please look at the iPhone sales and don’t judge the advisablility of producing the native app on the number of people who subscribed to the web based app. Most of us knew it would be lame, but as one other writer said, we voted with our wallets anyway.
Thank you for this great software.
light
I have been using iPocketBible since it launched. Although I prefer MyBible, My palm is rather old and I don’t want to carry around 2 devices – but that is my choice, even though there is no WiFi or Edge coverage at my church – very slow.
I have been using it on 3G this morning for the first time in church which is very fast compared to normal O2 speeds.
I bet you guys are working on a native app. There have been no updates for iPocketBible since April. I am hoping you have switched all development time to a native app because I am sure you guys will come up with a fantastic native app.
Keep up the good work Craig.
Hi all
Also keen for a native version of PocketBible for iPhone. Love the WM version I’ve been using. It’s a great product – hence the yearning for a native iPhone version (there’s no reception in my church either).
As others have said, continue with the good work.
Steve
Craig, I have loved using iPocketBible due to the integrated daily reading plans. They are awesome and make it easy to read and study each day. Some people have commented on the two-finger scrolling. I simply opt to use the one-finger scrolling. Tapping the side bar to bring up the navigation menu is very easy to get used to. I hope that you do decide to develop a native app, as you will be able to incorporate much better interface features than the web-only version now provides. God bless and thanks!
Al
Dear Craig:
I am deeply saddened by the lack of `agape’ in this blog. I promise to pray more diligently for you and your staff in the future; it would seem you are under attack from The Accuser.
To those who have spoken harshly to Craig, I encourage you to: “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Love in Christ’s Name,
Barrie Brown
I think we are all just fustrated. If there was one company you could count on showing up on the iTunes App sotre, it would be Laridian. I as others will wait patiently for a release of local Bibles via Laridian. This is critical because once you are on a jet, wi-fi, 3G, Edge go out the window. Loooking forward to a ocal version sooner than later. Come on guys.. the kit has been out forever (in tech years). Yous are better than this.
Anthony,
Yours is an interesting comment. Why would you expect us to show up on day one at the App Store? We didn’t have the first Windows CE Bible app. We didn’t have the first Palm Bible app. We didn’t have the first BlackBerry Bible app. We didn’t have the first iPhone Web-based Bible app. We didn’t have the first Windows desktop Bible app.
We don’t have a Nokia app at all. We don’t have Bible apps for BREW or any of the Java-based phones. We don’t have a Mac Bible app.
We actually came out and said that you shouldn’t expect us to announce our plans until we have a product ready for release. We also directly said we probably wouldn’t have one “a week, a month, or even six months” after the SDK becomes available. I think the final SDK was just released within the last week — it’s just now out of beta. (That’s hardly “forever in tech years”.)
I think what’s going on here is that we have some expectations out there that just don’t track with reality. While we’ve been secretive about our plans, I can say with no doubt whatsoever that we’ve never given the impression that we thought if we did this it was going to be a quick and easy task that we could crank out within a week of the final SDK.
Sure, there are some other Bible products already available for the iPhone, but look at them! A handful of Bibles, mostly public domain, and no reference materials or even devotionals to speak of. Very few features — most have rudimentary searching, if any, and most have no annotation, cross-referencing, or any other significant features. They’re all newbies — no support for an existing customer base who already own content that they expect to transfer (free, mind you) to the iPhone.
Is that what you’re looking for, oh ye who bought Web-enabled phones with no third-party app support, then complained about the speed of your Web access and lack of third-party apps? Do you want us to post the NIV as an HTML file so you can download it and browse it with Safari? Is that what you’re waiting to pay for?
Anthony, I don’t mean to pick on you personally. We’ve heard the arguments. Some are better than others. Some are funny. Some are dumb. Some are very wise. Remember that while you think about Bible software once a week or once a month or once a year, we think about it 24/7.
Let not your hearts be troubled. Let the peace of Christ dwell in you richly. Take no thought for tomorrow. All things work together for good. Be of good cheer.
And with that I close the comments on this post.
Craig