Apps for iPod Touch/iPhone

Here are a few Apps you might want to check out from Apple's new App Store. To find these apps, simply type in the bolded/italicized terms in the search field and it should be the first item in the results list:

• The aforementioned BibleXpress will soon have version 1.1 update available with many improvements in the user interface. BTW, ignore the negative reviews on the iTunes store; it basically boils down to a bunch of Christians whining that the program is too expensive. On the contrary, I believe that for the number of translations being made available (eventually), the price is very reasonable. The biggest disappointment so far is that the program is buggy, but that is apparently being rectified.
  
• AcroBible is selling individual translations. So far just the ESV ($17.99) and KJV ($9.99) are available. This program makes these translations available offline. While the interface is more polished than BibleXpress' (I've only purchased the ESV and am quite pleased with it), I'd still go with BibleXpress since it will offer many more translations for only $29.99 (ESV, NASB, NRSV, ASV, and several others), and the interface is undergoing many improvements and refinements (none of whom are yet available, unfortunately). BTW, the fact that AcroBible is selling individual translations for as high as $17.99 should give some Christians a clue that it's not cheap to produce these apps, especially given licensing fees.
• If you're interested in original language texts for the iPhone/iPod Touch, go to Olive Tree's website and fill out the questionnaire.
• All of Shakespeare's plays are available in a free offline app. It's very buggy at the moment (scrolling works only intermittently), but it's rather cool to have the bard's works at your fingertips whenever you want.
  
• There are a number of books available for purchase at $0.99 a pop, but these can all be obtained for free if you know where to look. There's a great little program called Stanza, through which you can download most if not all these 99 cent titles for free.

Finally, you should check out Rick Mansfield's post lamenting the lack of decent bible apps.

Logos for Mac

Logos has had an alpha release of a Mac version of their bible software for some time now. Here's a video of the program in action.

For the last couple of years, I've toyed with the idea of switching over to a Mac. However, I have several thousand dollars tied up in my Logos Bible Software and hundreds of dollars in BibleWorks, which would be rendered essentially useless if I switched.

However, if this Mac version is all its cracked up to be, this obstacle might well be removed (at least with regards to Logos, which is more important to me, as I have much more money invested in this program). It looks as if the licences from the PC version of Libronix' electronic texts can be transferred over to the Mac version. Once the life cycle of my PC laptop is over (probably another year or so), I may very well make the switch.

The idea of having access to Accordance in its native environment (in addition to Logos) is definitely a plus. I could have the best of both worlds.

If you have any suggestions with regard to laptop models and word processing programs (along with tips on any other useful software) I would appreciate it if you'd leave them in the comments.

BibleXpress 1.0 [Updated]

I've finally got the iPod Touch 2.0 update and I've purchased BibleXpress.

This is a very preliminary look (I don't even consider it a review) at this app, which puts various translations (ESV, NRSV, NASB, among others) on your iPhone or iPod Touch so you can access them offline.

All I have so far is the ASV and the NRSV (the 1.0.1 update hasn't made it to the App Store yet I guess). As you might expect in a first edition, the program itself is a little rough around the edges. Even so, I think the program is worth the cost ($29.99).

These are a list of issues/suggestions for improvement that I've found after fiddling with it for a half hour [Update: I emailed Ben Spratling, the author of the program, and he responded to each of these points. I'll simply cut and paste his response--the blue text--under each of the points. I've appended a few responses to his comments in purple.]:

1. The NRSV includes the Apocrypha (thumbs way, way up) but is missing 4 Maccabees 4--yes the entire chapter (thumbs down). It appears that this might represent a wider issue since Colossians 4 is also missing in the NRSV. Looks like the issue has been addressed though. [#1 This is actually a systematic error that affected a few other chapters. It has been fixed in version 1.0.1.]
   
2. There doesn't appear to be any paragraph breaks within the chapters of the NRSV, which is a real shame. I view proper paragraphing as a huge issue. Ever try reading a huge block of text without paragraph breaks in a blog? Not much fun. [#2 The missing paragraphs are a format confusion, they *should* have been fixed in version 1.0.1.
   The poetry formatting is another concern entirely. The iPhone's small screen and the ability to resize text makes most of the poetry formatting just use up valuable screen space. I'll take note that you mentioned it.] [My response: perhaps once landscape mode is included, the space issue will no longer be a problem in terms of line length.]
   
3. The ASV does appear to preserve paragraph breaks but it depends to a large extent on the precise size of the font used (btw, the easy adjustability of font size is a real plus). At many font sizes the paragraph breaks are unrecognizable. In fact, the line breaks in the ASV are really odd depending on the font size, breaking in the middle of sentences and verses with plenty of space left on the line. Sometimes, depending on the font size, the line break will come after one word for no apparent reason (not the end of a sentence or end of a verse). [#3. The ASV data files I have do not include accurate paragraph information, those are the built-in linebreaks from the files. It will be very difficult for me to manually rewrite the entire ASV with corrected paragraphs. The currently copyrighted translations do include paragraph information, and that should be correctly displayed.] [My response: I don't think the ASV is a big deal; I wouldn't waste time, effort, and money on fixing this.]
   
4. There appears to be no simple way to browse text across chapters. Perhaps a side swipe could be programmed to flip between chapters in the same translation. [#4 this is a technical issue on Apple's end. In order to display formatted text, I have to use a "webview" which does not receive touch events that are visible to my proram. While they have suggested a fix, it is very difficult, and will take a lot of coding and testing to confirm it has no bugs. I have been working on that feature for 6 weeks.]
   
5. The line spacing is thrown off slightly whenever there's a verse number because the numbers are in superscript but not any smaller than the biblical text. This is a problem in both translations. [#5 this is actually an error in Apple's code. We're attempting to design a workatound.]
   
6. This isn't really a problem, but rather a missing feature I wish it had: there's no landscape view. This could be useful if for no other purpose than to include some context in search results rather than just a list of references, though they are linked to the texts themselves. [#6 This is another error in apple code that is suppossed to handle autorotation "automatically.". Unfortunately that automatic code assume certain designs that don't fit my application. I have spoken personally with the software engineer who wrote that code, he confirmed it is an error, and promised me he would personally see to it that it is corrected. Until that time, or I can design a workaround, let me assure you that that the errors it caused are much worse than not having landscape at all. Landscape is something I'm committed to for the future.]
   
7. I find it strange that the Apocrypha is placed after the book of Revelation, which is rather counterintuitive. I would have put it between the Old and New Testament. [# 7 this is the order in which the books are listed in their data file. Not being an avid reader of the apocrypha myself, the only oddity I noticed is that even the books within the apocrypha don't appear to be in order! Although it did strike me as odd that these books would be placed after the new testament, not all books in the Bible are arrange in chronological order.]
   

Ben appended this final summary comment as well:

While the first feature update will address certain contractual obligations, like italics, small caps, red lettering and footnotes, I think you'll find I am able to address many of your requests, but the time frame of overcoming bugs in Apple's code is always undetermined.

[It sounds as if Ben is working hard to fix the problems in the program. I look forward to the day when the major issues are addressed. I'd only ask that he make the red lettering a feature that can be turned on and off.]

The program does do many things well but at this point, I feel it's important to highlight some of the problems in the hopes that some of them will get addressed. When I've had more time with the program after its several updates, I'll have a proper review up. It'll contain a far more balanced accounting at that time.

Despite these shortcomings, I'm still pleased to have the program on the whole, since the price is fairly reasonable and it means I'll (eventually) have access to several fine bible translations even when I'm offline. Any of the major problems I expect will be addressed in time.

iTunes App Store

It's open right now. You have to download iTunes 7.7 first though. The iPhone 2.0 update is available right now, though if you're using the old iPhone I would be cautious. The iPod Touch 2.0 update is not available yet, and will cost $9.95 when it is [Update: It's now available, technically, but good luck getting access to it. Apple is really messing up the launch of the app store. People are having all sorts of problems accessing the 2.0 firmware update].

There are about 500 apps available right now, with approximately 125 of them free and most of the others priced under $10.

One is a promising bible app called BibleXpress created by Ben Spratling for $29.99. The translations available so far include the ESV, ASV, NASB (1995), and NRSV as well as a couple of Spanish translations (LBLA is available now; NBLH is slightly delayed).

Other translations will be added as free updates. Apparently, candidates for inclusion are the NIV, the Message, the KJV, and the NLT. The only other translation that I really wish it had is the JPS Tanakh, though the HCSB and the NET bible would be nice too.

You can do searches and write notes in it. Once I've purchased a copy I'll write a review.


Update: I emailed the author to suggest the JPS Tanakh as one of the translations he might add. He couldn't promise anything since he's got a limited number of slots. If you have any translation suggestions of your own, you can email him here: support@biblexpress.com.

He verified that this app doesn't require an internet connection to access the bible translations in question (i.e., the translations are directly on the iPod Touch/iPhone). I had been wondering why the program (version 1.0) was so small (4 MB as listed in iTunes) but apparently he has five updates in the pipeline, presumably waiting for the thumbs up from the App Store. The next update (1.0.1) increases the size of the program from 4MB to 9.3MB, which indicates that the size of the program will increase exponentially as translations are added. The 1.0.1 update includes the NASB, ESV, and a Spanish translation (LBLA). The NRSV and ASV are available in the initial version (1.0).

The author of the program is also very interested in any feedback on the program itself. If you do purchase it and have thoughts on how it can be improved, please either respond to him directly through his website (email: support@biblexpress.com) or leave a note in the comment section of this or any other relevant post I make on this program and I'll pass it along to him.


Update II: There's also another program available on iTunes called YouVersion.com by LifeChurch.tv which boasts an impressive lineup of translations (many more than BibleXpress), but it's an online program (check comment #68) which means you need a wireless connection of some sort.

On the other hand, it's free. They are looking into making the translations available offline, but they'll start with the public domain translations first and then try to get licences for the others. Unless the organization underwrites the costs, though, I doubt they'll be able to keep this program free when it starts adding translations that require licensing fees.

My Top Five Bible Translations: #5 TNIV (2004)

In the recent past, I've actually encouraged my fairly conservative students and fellow parishioners to burn their NIVs. They usually laugh, and then I tell them I'm only half-joking.

So why is this heir to the NIV on my list? To tell the truth, mostly to round out my top five; generally speaking, I only use the other four translations on the list. I do like this translation somewhat better than its predecessor (maybe only because I've mellowed with age) but obviously that isn't saying very much.

Cons
Almost from the moment I started learning Greek and Hebrew as an undergrad, I've felt that the NIV was a paraphrase, albeit restrained, masquerading as a real translation. It does succeed in being readable but sacrifices far too much in doing so for my taste.

I have nothing against paraphrases, mind you, and have occasionally recommended them to those whose reading skills are challenged. For instance, I think this is a good translation for children since it's written at a grade 7 or 8 level. I was given an NIV as a child and found that much easier to read than the KJV I had been using. I also increasingly come across English-as-a-second-language students nowadays and I think the TNIV is a fine compromise between readability and "accuracy" for such students. However, do the rest of us really need such a dumbed-down translation? I really don't think so.

The issue of gender-neutrality is part and parcel of the theory of translation that lies behind the TNIV. Given its translation philosophy, it makes sense for the TNIV to employ gender neutrality. However, since I prefer literal translations, I dislike the gender-neutrality of the TNIV, but it's just part of my overall dislike of dynamic equivalent translations, rather than anything particular against gender-neutrality (the NRSV is also on this list).

Then there's the theologically tendentious translations that plague all evangelical editions (e.g., Red Sea instead of Sea of Reeds in Exodus 13-15; virgin instead of young woman in Isa 7:14). Thankfully, the alternative translations are typically footnoted. I simply privilege the footnotes above the main text in such situations.

Pros
There are two basic reasons why this translation has made this list:

1. R. Mansfield's arguments about catering to the audience. I occasionally preach. Since the bibles in the pews at my church are almost invariably the NIV, and the TNIV is reasonably close to the NIV, I've resolved to use the TNIV on such occasions. It's really a matter of convenience for the congregation, more than anything else. For teaching situations, I'd always insist on a more literal translation. As for my own personal use, I do try to work my way through the bible in a different translation each time, so if I start running out of translations, I may give this one a try some day, but it's doubtful, given the plethora of new/revised translations produced in the last 10 years.
   
2. It doesn't hurt that they published quite a nice edition recently, and an even nicer edition of the TNIV Reference Bible is on the way. I appreciate publishers who go the extra mile to produce a bible in an attractive format. The folks at Zondervan have definitely been listening to what a significant segment of the customer base wants and have responded admirably. In my book, that is reason enough to purchase a copy of this translation.
   

Editions Worth Having
Of the various (cheap) editions that have been published, the TNIV Reference edition is the only one really worth having. If you don't already own it, and don't mind spending extra for a nice edition, I'd wait for the new deluxe leather edition that is due out in December.
TNIV Reference Bible, bonded leather ($23.09 at Amazon)
TNIV Reference Bible, renaissance leather ($62.99 at Amazon, available in December)

TNIV Reference in a New Premium Cover

Rick Mansfield has some information, including photos, on a new edition of the TNIV Reference (see also this earlier post by TC Robinson). The basic difference appears to be an extra ribbon marker, and a premium leather cover for the MSRP of $99 and is due out this November.

I'm not a huge fan of the TNIV translation, and since I already own the original TNIV Reference and am generally happy with it, I doubt I'll splurge for this deluxe edition; though if the reviews rave about how supple the leather is, I may break down.

Addendum: Here's a link to Zondervan's page detailing information about this edition. It states that the release date is this December.

Addendum II: Amazon has it available for pre-order at a price of $62.99. For that price, I really might go for it. I'll still wait for some reviews to come in though.

Addendum III: Rick at This Lamp is teaming up with Zondervan to give away 10 of these deluxe editions. It's only available to gatekeepers (pastors and teachers) in the USA who use the TNIV as their main translation. That rules me out on all three counts.