There has a been a number of happenings in the area of mobile bible applications. Here are the highlights of what’s come in the past week+:
OliveTree Releases Symbian S60v5 Beta and updated BlackBerry and Android applications
The folks over at OliveTree have been kicking it into high gear with mobile application updates. They’ve released an early beta of their OliveTree Reader for Symbian S60v5 devices (Nokia 5800XM and N97, Samsung i8910, and Sony Ericsson Saito). Testing is happening in this very public beta to get feedback before making this official. So jump in by downloading the reader and giving your feedback in the OliveTree forums.
There has also been an update to the BlackBerry and Android versions of the OliveTree application. Those too can be downloaded from the mobile-enabled download page.
Maemo 5 Bible App (Katana) Development Moving Forward
The topic of a new Bible application for Nokia’s Mameo5 platform has continued with some really solid success. Already, there has been some movement by a number of developers to port the existing Rapier application to Maemo5 (testing on a live device only remains there). And then for the newer application – tentitvely named Katana – there’s some work being done in a basic UI, and discussions about a plug-in approach that would enable the use of paid Bibles from folks such as OliveTree, in addition to the already planned for support for Sword and Palm Bible+ bibles.
If you’d like to learn more or join the development efforts, throw your eyes and prayers into the discussion.
Logos’ Bible Software App for the iPhone
Logos has also jumped into the mobile application world with its Bible software application for the iPhone. This is a free application which allows its users to read, search, cross reference, compare versions, and even set up reading plans, all from an iPhone or iPod Touch device. As with many mobile Bible applications, this one requires a wireless connection as it connects to the Bibles featured at bible.logos.com. There’s tap-and-hold functionality for viewing Hebrew/Greek, verse/text comparison, and linked cross references.
If you are looking at a Bible app to compliement your Logos library, this would probably be your best bet. For more information, visit Logos’ iPhone software webpage or iTunes.
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Got news about a Bible application – new application, text, or public beta programs, shoot us a note about it so that we can help you spread the word.