BibleXpress: on-device Bible application for the iPhone
I've downloaded a couple of free Bible programs
and I've recently gotten BibleXpress. It's features are illustrated in
the video below.
A key feature of the BibleXpress vs many other
iPhone Bibles is that the Bible is resident on the iPhone. This was standards
on my Treo and my iPaq, but the iPhone started out as primarily a web-interface
device. (See my previous gripes; I still think Apple views the
iPhone primarily as a source of income rather than as a practical, useful device
for its users.)
A second useful feature
of BibleExpress is the large number of copyrighted translations that are (and
will be) made available to the reader. The developer says that copyright
permissions for others are in the works. Currently only English translations
are included. It is a convenient program. The search feature is very nice,
scrolling from chapter to chapter is easy (similar to eBooks), and there are
many useful translations in there already. Click on the BibleXpress link above
to see the current list.
"The iPhone
is a lot smaller than a Bible."
"Note
taking is just like writing in the margins of your Bible, except that the
margins get bigger as you
write."
When
done taking notes, you can email them including the scripture references and
text. An example is at the end of this
note.
Things that I might like to see
in future releases (I've sent them to the developer by
email):
1) When a verse note is
written, (a) it would be helpful to
have an icon that indicates a note is
there. (b) it would be convenient, though not
essential, for that icon to be "tappable." (There's already a button to
switch to notes, so that's not so
critical.) (c) Alternatively,
include notes in the footnotes
window.
2) It would be nice to be able
to split a window between two translations. (I often read french/english
this way on my treo and iPaq.)
3) It
would be nice to be able to put tappable verse references in the booknotes.
(I suspect this would be more difficult, since the booknotes are currently
just plain text.)
4) Highlighting (in
different colors, if possible) would also be
useful.
5) Tappable cross-references
(perhaps like 3 above except in verse notes). As a cross-reference
fanatic, I've used a wide-margin Bible for several years now. In fact,
references are about 90% or more of my marginal
notes.
6) Should text-to-speech become
available on the iPhone, the ability to listen to scripture from BibleXpress
would be good too. (I've purchased two audio Bibles and I've used my Mac's
text-to-speech to generate a few chapters of audio Bible to help me in
memorization. It's dispassionate in tone of voice, obviously, and it
mispronounces a few words here and there, but it's my favorite of the three
audio versions I have.)
Thank you for
this program. As I travel, this program allows me to take one less large,
heavy object (my Bible) with me, and instead use my iPhone. Very
nice.
Update I got a (very!)
prompt reply from the developer: some of these are already in the works, some
are just not (reasonably) feasible on the iPhone with the current programmer's
interface. Version 1.3 should be
interesting!
Example of
emailed
notes/bookmarks:
Note: In
reference to the question below, it's important not to fall into the error
described here
by John Calvin.
IV. Questions
A. Led by the Spirit?
So how does a
believer know they are led by the Spirit? There some simple offensive
answers, but I suspect that there is a missing part of our US practice.
B. Gal 6 led by the Spirit
16
But I say,
walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
17
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit,
and the desires of the Spirit are
against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from
doing the things you want to do.
18
But if you are led by
the Spirit, you are not under the law.
-Galatians 5:16-18, ESV
C. Led by the spirit
25
If we live by the Spirit,
let us also walk by the Spirit.
-Galatians 5:25, ESV
25
what does this mean?
The implication in this chapter and in chapter 3 is
that live by/led by the Spirit has a much more tangible meaning than I usually
consider.
D. Led by the spirit
2Let me ask you only this: Did
you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
3
Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit,
are you now being perfected by the flesh?
-Galatians 3:2-3, ESV
E. Led by the spirit
5Does he who
supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works
of the law, or by hearing with faithE28094
-Galatians 3:5, ESV
Scripture quotations are
from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright C2A92001 by
Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by
permission. All rights
reserved.
Posted: Mon - October 6, 2008 at 08:11 PM |
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BibleXpress: on-device Bible application for the iPhone
