We’ve been notified by Apple that PocketBible has been approved for sale in the App Store. It was fun hearing that it was available in different countries as each local App Store enabled it for their users around the world.
Now that it’s approved I can tell you what the original problem was. It seems the testers at Apple chose not to register the app and download the 39 free books that are included. As a result, when they went to the “Open Book” dialog to open a new book, they saw that only the “Bibles” and “Other Books” categories were active (the former contains the KJV and the latter the help files). They assumed that meant that PocketBible was a “lite” version that did not include the ability to view commentaries, dictionaries, and devotionals, because those categories were grayed out. If true, that would be a violation of the rules of the App Store. We explained that those categories were grayed out because they hadn’t downloaded any commentaries, dictionaries, or devotionals. That must’ve been sufficient because they later approved the app.
If you can give us some positive reviews at the App Store that would be great. If you can’t think of anything nice to say, send your negative comments to me by email so I can fix the program to your satisfaction.
It’s getting hard to pick out our answers to your questions in the comments below. It might be best to send them to Tech Support. Select the Help Desk link on our site.
Well I’ve downloaded the program, installed my books and I think it’s absolutely great!
Thank you all so much for this. Words fail to describe how happy with this I am!
I have left a positive review via the on-phone app store, but it hasn’t appeared so far.
One question (it may be something needed for a later version/update) but how do I go from the NIV to my NIVStudy Notes without having to page through all my open books? Going through the menu system seems a little long winded for this too? Not a complaint you understand!
Hi Craig my phone is syncing as I type and I am very excited. At one point you talked about having a version with a book that came with it on the itunes store for a cost, are you still planning on this at some time? I have a bunch of itunes gift cards I would love to spend on bibles.
Congrats on finally getting this out.
I join with everyone in thinking that this is brilliant and I hugely appreciate your work in getting this developed and released…FOR FREE!!! I’ve bought a shiny new study bible from you to contribute to your work.
I was initially slightly disappointed by the lack of nice scrolling. The iPhone/iPod touch user gets used to that little upwards-flick gesture and I found myself changing books accidentally! Of course, having read the blog I was expecting this and I know that you’ve had challenges getting scrolling to work. Is this something you’re still looking into?
However, after using it a bit more I’m really impressed with the speed, quality and thoughtfulness that’s gone into the app…what more should we expect from you guys?!
I specifically like:
– Nice page turns/fades/transitions
– Nice use of typefaces
– Simple menus/interface
– Brilliant search functionality
– Simple set-up and download of books
Don’t let the fact that there is room for improvement detract from how great I think this app is. Well done!
Great product – no complaints. A couple of suggestions if I may: Can we get a font between 18 and 24 ? I sound a bit like the baby bear in Goldilocks, but the 18 is just a little too small and the 24 is just a little too big. Also, with Strongs numbers, seeing the number is a pain. Can the word simply be highlighted or underlined or in a different colour ? Apologies if it does it already and I am missing the setting.
Congrats Craig ad Jeff. The fruit of much labor and may it be rewarded here and eternally.
Stunning! Woke up at 3:30am PDT and just fired up the iPhone just to see by chance if PocketBible had been approved..downloaded my titles…read your Welcome and Help Guide. What an implementation! Fabulous! Enjoyed your MyBible on my Palm for many years and am thrilled to have this on my iPhone. Many thanks.
On a fluke this morning, I typed “Laridian” into AppStore search, and voila, there it was!
Previously purchased Bibles and books downloaded without issue. I can’t wait to put it through its paces.
Thanks!!!!!!!!
Adam: Hitchcock’s BIble Name Dictionary is tagged pretty “flat”. Sorry about that. It works fine if you’re looking up a name, but not well for browsing.
Robin: Tap the title bar to bring up a list of open books. Select the book you want to go to. This is faster than scrolling through all of them or going to the Open Book dialog.
Josh: We haven’t announced any plans for future App Store products. Not that there won’t be any; we just haven’t announced any plans.
Richard: You can type any number between 8 and 72 in the font size. The presets are just that — presets. Just enter a different value in the top line.
Strong’s numbers can be turned off. Tap and hold to bring up the context menu and de-select “Show Strong’s Numbers”.
While you can’t select a number when the numbers are turned off, you can do Strong-based searches and view results. So a search for G26 with Strong’s numbers off will still show you all the verses in which “agapao” appears, and will highlight the English word in each case.
TO ALL: It’s very difficult for you to find answers to your questions buried in blog comments. Send your questions to tech support and your suggestions and criticisms directly to me at craigr@laridian.com. That way they can be more quickly and easily addressed.
I forgot to ask: I notice that the “continuous scrolling from one chapter to another” concept in early betas didn’t make the final cut. Instead, it’s page-by-page turning. I’m not yet used to this as almost every other Bible reader and document reader app uses scrolling at least within a chapter, but it is presented elegantly and smoothly.
One other suggestion:
I’m a sucker for glitz. How about providing a setting to let us apply the “curl” effect when turning from page to page like the effect used when moving from book to book? That would be very cool!
To say this is a great version 1 effort is a gross understatement! Love the navigation and speed. Currently have 5 books open and no problem switching between them and moving through them. Scrolling definitely smoother than WM version.
I know synching of notes and highlights is on the list as well as split screen so I’ll patiently wait for these features. As it is, the program exceeds every expectation that I had for a version 1 release and I am grateful for your efforts in putting out such an excellent program. Thank you and God bless!
Jim, that’s actually not true. All the major ebook readers use a page-by-page method, not continuous scrolling. We looked at several before committing to this method, which was also strongly recommended by our beta testers. It requires significantly less interaction for reading the text.
Excellent… I’m installing my Bibles and books even now as I wipe a tear from my eye. Thanks for all the hard work you and the team did. God be praised.
Been using your product for years and so glad it’s now on the iphone. One question…a while back you talked about having a sale when it launched. Any news on that Craig?
when I log in it takes a long time then gets to a page that just says Customer ID (null) . how can I put my customer ID in?
My new favorite app… and it’s not close! I have only had this on my phone for a few minutes, and it already feels like the experience that I enjoyed in my WinMo phone for years and have so missed after moving to the iPhone. Thank you for taking the time to do it right! God’s blessings!
I have been waiting patiently for this application since Apple announced third party application development. I am overjoyed to see that it is here. It will be a great blessing when I am in those areas with weak wireless coverage.
Thank you for all your hard work!
Re the easy switch between books via the top menu bar.
And I read that in the help file too! Sorry to have asked such a silly question. You guys are great and I think it’s safe to say that we are all so grateful. Am off to order the 2008 update of NIVBSN to celebrate.
Robin
Ps I didn’t use the discount code by way of a (small) donation to your development costs of this new program.
Thanks again.
Craig, thanks for getting this out to us. I have used your product since ’99. Quick question (sorry if this is the wrong forum) my Bible maps aren’t showing properly. Is there a way that I can adjust it, or is a fix needed. If you need any information from me, please advise. Again, thanks and God bless!