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.

I decided to purchase the album this month after listening to the 30-second clips on the iTunes Store.  I have not been disappointed; Starfield has done an outstanding job yet again.  I highly recomend the album to anyone who appreciates Christian music with a bit of an edge.