The final beta version of PocketBible for Windows went to the testers last Wednesday and so far the reports are looking good. We’re on target for a release of the product in the middle of next week. iPocketBible for iPhone should follow shortly thereafter.
PocketBible for Windows
I’ve been running PocketBible for Windows 24/7 for the last few days. It’s quick and easy to use. Just today I was posting something on the Web and I was able to just type “copy acts 1:6-8″ into PocketBible, and it loads those verses into my clipboard, ready to paste into an email or a document. When pasting into Word, it retains formatting information, so I have my verse numbers configured to be small and superscripted. It really looks nice. It even handles pasting Greek and Hebrew text.
You may see the PocketBible program available at our site before you get your email announcement. Existing Laridian customers are entitled to a discount so don’t jump the gun. On the other hand if you don’t see an email by the end of the week (and if we haven’t announced a delay here) then contact us and we’ll see if we can figure out why you haven’t received your announcement.
Just to explain: If you already have Bibles and books that you use in PocketBible or MyBible (or one of our other readers) then you’ll be entitled to download those same books for use with PocketBible for Windows. The actual files you already have won’t work (without some effort) so you’ll probably want to download the setup programs that are specifically targeted to the Windows desktop.
One of the things we’re excited about is that we’re going to be offering you the opportunity to get your entire PocketBible for Windows library pre-loaded onto a USB “thumb drive” and shipped to you for a nominal charge (about $20, including shipping). You’ll be able to run PocketBible directly from the USB drive if you want, or install it to your hard drive. Either way you avoid the download time. Watch for details.
As we’ve been talking about, PocketBible for Windows is going to have the ability to synchronize user-created data with PocketBible for Pocket PC, PocketBible for Windows Mobile Smartphone, MyBible, and iPocketBible for iPhone. The important thing to note is that there are two halves of the synchronization process and while PocketBible for Windows will contain the synchronization engine, it will not include the “sync providers” that are specific to each platform. We’ll be releasing these over the next few weeks.
PocketBible for Windows will be a fully capable desktop Bible study solution as delivered this week. The only features missing will be the ability to sync your notes, bookmarks, and highlights with your PDA or phone. That’s the part that’s coming. When that software becomes available it will be distributed as a free update for users of each of our PDA/phone products.
iPhone Update
We’ve had to take a short break from iPhone development in order to get the Windows version out of the way. Sometime this week we should be able to pick up that activity and you’ll see the iPhone version become available very soon after that.
The cost is going to be $1.99/month and you’ll have access to all the content you’ve purchased from us for any other platform at no additional cost. Of course you can purchase new books and Bibles and access them from your iPhone. If you also own PocketBible for Windows or one of our other readers you’ll be able to download the same books or Bibles for those platforms (assuming they are supported — not all books run on all platforms) at no additional cost.
To purchase iPocketBible you’ll submit your credit card information but you won’t be billed for the iPocketBible service for a month. This gives you time to check it out. If you don’t like it, just contact us before your month is up and we’ll cancel your account before that first bill is due. Otherwise, your card will be automatically charged every month until you tell us to stop.
I hope you appreciate the degree to which we’ve been sharing information about these new product releases this summer. This is very unusual for us. If you’ve known us for a while you know that even at Parsons Technology we were very tight-lipped about new releases. We invented the phrase “we can neither confirm nor deny any product that may or may not be under development” and used it frequently. After neither confirming nor denying anything we’ve done for the last two decades, it feels weird to be talking to you about products you can’t buy yet.
That’s the latest. PocketBible for Windows is just a couple days away. iPocketBible for iPhone will follow shortly thereafter, along with a PocketBible for Pocket PC update and a bunch of sync providers for the PDA and phone platforms. Enjoy.
Craig,
With the price drop on the iPhone, your market may expand. As an owner of PocketBible for WM, the predecessor of PocketBible , and WinCe2000, Windows, and Palm OS; I can’t wait to try the version for iPhone! One day I’ll quit changing and stick with one OS. But that would not be fun!
Thanks for you excellent software. Mine’s been used all over the World in missions work.
Bill
John, we like the iPod Touch idea. It would be better if it had a data-only cell plan for those times when you’re not in WiFi coverage. OTOH getting the carrier out of the loop is a good idea any time you can do it.
Yes, we’re having a problem with iPocketBible. It’s not related to the iPhone, but rather my programming skills. I’ve managed to create a bug that has been eluding me for two months. We’re now at the point where we need to get this product out the door and it’s essential that I find and kill it. I haven’t done anything for the last couple of weeks but pursue it (it’s running on my other machine while I catch up with email and blog comments on this one). I’ve backed it in a corner a couple times only to have it pop up somewhere else. I haven’t seen anything like it in 25 years of programming.
Anyway the problem is in the code that reads our LBK files and converts them into a format we can import into the database on the Web site for use on the iPhone. So the iPocketBible site itself is ready to go but there aren’t any books for it!
Thanks also for your suggestion about annual and life-time subscriptions. That’s the same line of thinking we’ve been on. The only issue is that there’d be no refunds on either of those options (if we decide to implement them).
Craig:
I trust you will find & kill the bug soon.
The “no refunds” is expected (assuming the price is reasonable). The advantages to customers are less hassle and the good feeling of a type of ownership with no open-ended commitment. For you, less administrative burden and the ability to more quickly recapture your up front investment. BTW could Bibles (text only) be downloaded through itunes and used with a book reader? Just as a kind of backup when internet access is not available. Or is itunes audio only? BTW I did something I said I wouldn’t do at another of your blogs–I sold my G4 powerbook and am getting one with the INTEL processors–I need the study helps I miss desperately since i quit using my pda. The PockeBible for Windows will be a real help and I have just started a series in Ephesians. I have good commentaries, but there is nothing like hypertext for efficient study and prep.
In short PocketBible has spoiled me. Isn’t that pathetic?