Bible App for iPhone
A couple of days ago the folks at YouVersion.com updated their Bible application for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
With my subscription to Laridian’s web-based Bible service expiring soon, I’ve started looking for alternatives. I like what Laridian offers: it’s full-featured, powerful, and includes previously purchased Bible translations so I’ve never had to re-purchase something I paid for while using my Palm PDA. But Laridian’s service has one caveat, it’s a web application that requires Mobile Safari. As great of a job as Laridian has done (I don’t want to make it sound like their product isn’t any good, it is), for my use I found it too slow and cumbersome. Especially considering I don’t have a data plan with my iPhone so I need to be near a wifi hot spot to use it.
The Bible app from YouVersion is available from the iTunes App Store and features a plethora of translations, including popular ones such as the NIV, NKJV, The Message, and the NLT.
Until Wednesday’s update the Bible app required an Internet connection (cellular data or wifi). The latest update removes this handicap and now features the ability to store several translation offline.
Considering the application is free, user-friendly, and fast it’s a tough product to compete with. The application does lack a couple of things that would come in handy. The ability to create bookmarks for one. Still, based on the frequency YouVersion updates this product, I have no doubt features like this will appear down the road.
The Bible app is a free download [iTunes link] for iPhone and iPod Touch users and I highly recommend it.
Glad to hear you enjoyed using iPocketBible.com for your Bible study.
You should visit our blog at http://blog.laridian.com. We’ve announced a native iPhone version to be released sometime soon. The advantage in your case is that all your Laridian Bibles and reference books you’ve purchased for any platform will be available to use on the iPhone at no additional charge, and no internet connection required (other than to install the software and download the books).
Thanks Craig.
I’ve actually signed up to Laridian’s e-mail list so I can find at as soon as your new software comes out.
I’m looking forward to seeing it has all the software I’ve used from you in the past has been outstanding.