Mobile Ministry Magazine

Olive Tree's BibleReader for the BlackBerry has been updated recently. This beta version adds some features present in other editions of Olive Tree's product, and brings a few software and usability enhancements.

Some of the new features in BibleReader 4.0 for BlackBerry include:

• A redesigned verse-chooser screen
• A redesigned and optimized library screen
• A history feature which enables the viewing of past read content
• And, the ability to store Bibles on a memory card

BibleReader for the BlackBerry is currently available via the Olive Tree's beta software page.

A non-beta version of BibleReader is available from Olive Tree's website for other PDAs and smartphones in addition to BlackBerry models.

Labels: Bible, BlackBerry, Olivetree, software

My bro had pointed me to the Logos blog and a post where they are speaking on an upcoming version of Logos for the Mac. From a usability and user experience aspect, it looks just great and really looks that it will make studying on the desktop a bit easier for those that prefer to do studies electronically.

This got me thinking (again) about using electronic devices for study, and what really is effective about it. For example, one can have a lot of resources at their disposal, but unless used correctly, you will not get much good out of it.

In looking at the Internet Tablet and how I want to use it for reading and study, I've settled on only wanting two Bible versions: one for casual reading (the ESV) and another for more indepth studies and discussions (the NET Bible). Because of the connected nature of the IT, anything else that I'd need would be accessible though websites such as CARM, eBible, YouVersion, etc.

I'd like to be in the position of studying effectively more often than not. Using a few materials as a gateway that have solid user interfaces and resources makes that possible. After that its just a matter of using it. I'd like to get to the point of linking within my notes to verses, bookmarking/tagging sections of the Bible for easy retrieval, and then effective search capabilities that go beyond just looking for a verse - but all the tags, bookmarks, and verses that correspond to the search term. Its my hope that such will enhance and make reading more like there being a slew of offline documents right in front of me.

Lately also, I've been looking into the resources at the Sword Project website. Besides being open and mostly free; the development there is just on the content, not on an application in particular. This means that instead of worrying about whether I will be able to use the content again, I can just concentrate on reading (on most devices) and go from there. Notes, tags, and bookmarks are another story, but that'll come.

If I can get Rapier installed on my tablet, I'm pretty sure that I can get there. But with products like OliveTree, Laridian, Logos, Wordsearch, and others, its pretty cool to know that there's some means to use electronic resources effectively. Its just a matter of studying on the tools and methods that would work best.

Labels: Apple, Bible, Bible+, internet tablet, Laridian, Logos, Olivetree, software, Sword Project, WordSearch

This week Olive Tree Bible Software announces the release of 11 new software collections, specifically designed to meet a variety of Bible reading and study needs. These new bundles group together different types of related products into packages that are easy to download, install, and use on many different handheld mobile devices. The collections include groupings of eBooks, Bible commentaries, devotionals, study tools, biographies, and sermons. For a full list of new collections, visit the Collections section on Olive Tree's website, at http://www.olivetree.com/resources/collections/. Olive Tree offers a total of 33 different collections available for download, as well as 14 collections that are available on CD. Collection prices range from free to several hundred dollars, depending on the amount and type of material.

Olive Tree's customizable BibleReader(TM) application makes it easy to use these resources. With an intuitive feature called the "verse chooser" all versified material such as Bibles and commentaries can be easily navigated by selecting the book/chapter/verse of the specific reference location. Many resources also support searching and bookmarks; and on Palm and Pocket PC, personal notes can be written on each verse of the Bible. The text is easy to navigate, with 5-way support, scrollbars, and a toolbar and shortcut keys that can be customized. The BibleReader is a full-featured eBook reader that is designed to make Bible reading and study an excellent experience on the mobile handheld platform.

About Olive Tree Bible Software
Olive Tree Bible Software provides Bible versions and study tools for Palm OS, Pocket PC, Smartphone and Symbian cell phones, iPods, and BlackBerry devices. Web and online Bible search engines are also available. The BibleReader(TM) application enables users to read Bibles and other resources, quickly navigate to new references, search documents, bookmark passages, create personalized notes, and much more. The company publishes over 450 electronic resources, including commentaries, dictionaries, devotionals, Christian eBooks, and over 100 translations of the Bible. The Bible is offered in many languages, including Chinese, English, French, German, and Spanish. Original Hebrew and Greek texts with parsing tools are also available. Visit www.OliveTree.com.

Labels: Bible, mobile, mobile accessories, Olivetree

Was reading at the Olive Tree blog this weekend (via RSS) and they made a mention about BibleTech 2008. Its a "two-day conference is designed for publishers, programmers, webmasters, educators, bloggers and anyone interested in using technology to improve Bible study."

Olive Tree posted that they will have two speakers at BibleTech. The titles of their presentations will be Electronic Publishing and Bible Software in a Fast-Moving Mobile Landscape" and "The Challenges and Future of Bible Software in a Mobile World."

Logos has set up a page with all of the pertenant inforation including whom to contact for setting up a hotel room at a reduced rate. All in all, this looks like a great event to get out to.

Labels: BibleTech, mission, mobile, Olivetree, tech

Just sent in from M. Hudson:

I thought it might be worth posting that OliveTree.com has surpassed the 100 mark in both number of Bible translations available for your mobile device and in the number FREE resources available for download. If you've never used OliveTree's BibleReader, it is an amazing app that is a must have. In my opinion even those of a non-faith position would enjoy the use of the BibleReader to access historic documents and writings.

This is a pretty cool milestone and definitely cool to recognize.

Congrats Olive Tree.

Labels: Bible, Carnival of the Mobilists, Olivetree, tech

From Olive Tree:

Olive Tree Bible Software announces the release of dozens of new products for Windows Mobile Smartphone devices. Currently, several of the popular phone models that use the Windows Mobile Smartphone operating system are the Motorola Q9m, Motorola Q, T-Mobile Dash, and Cingular 3125.

Over 80 Bible translations, more than twenty Bible study tools, and dozens of Christian eBooks and daily devotionals are now available for Olive Tree's rapidly growing Windows Mobile Smartphone platform. Recent changes to the BibleReader application included more features and an increased number of available resources. Among the items offered are the following: NIV, KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESV and ASV Bibles; IVP's Bible Knowledge Commentary, NIV Study Notes, Robertson's Word Pictures, Matthew Henry's Commentary, and other study tools; Daily Light, Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening, and other devotionals; and eBooks by numerous authors such as Andrew Murray, Hannah Whitall Smtih, John Bunyan, and Charles Finney. Now you can carry the Bible, several study tools, a devotional, and your favorite eBooks with you on your smartphone.

Visit OliveTree's website to download their Bible reader and accompanying resources.

Labels: mobile, Olivetree

Normally speaking, when a company sets out an email talking about their entire software suite, its usually because there is a sale or something major is happening. Well, in Olive Tree's case, I am not sure that there is a sale, but there is a lot happening with the Bible Reader application across several devices that are worth taking note of.

For Palm and Pocket PC BibleReaders:
- Customizable toolbar
- Table of Contents Navigation
- Personal notes display on the main screen
- Autoscrolling
- Updated verse chooser
- Updated Search range options
- Bookmarks improved on Pocket PC
- 5-way navigation support has been enhanced on Palm
- Cascading Library list on Palm

For Windows Mobile Smartphone and Symbian Cell Phone BibleReaders:
- Updated Verse chooser
- Table of Contents Navigation enabled
- Topical bookmark support on Windows Mobile Smartphone
- Personalized Shortcuts
- More available resources

Olive Tree can also be downloaded on Blackberry smartphones, the Apple iPod (not iPhone), and any normal cell phone that has a Java client (meaning just about all of them). So, visit Olive Tree and get ta readin da Word ma'.

Labels: Bible, community, mobile, mobiles, Olivetree, phone

Here's something that I caught over at All About Symbian:

Olive Tree have updated their free Bible reading software for S60 3rd Edition to v3.67. New features include extra search options, two smaller font sizes, a new menu structure, a 5-way verse chooser and combined storage card and main memory locations into one library.

Visit Olive Tree's website to download their Bible reader and plenty of free and pay Bibles for your Palm OS, Symbian, Windows Mobile/PocketPC, or BlackBerry device.

Labels: Bible, mobile, Olivetree

Olive Tree Bible Software announces the publication of five new eBook biographies for your PDA or Smartphone written by F.B. Meyer, an outstanding author and dear man of God. Meyer has penned biographies of many of the most famous Biblical figures, including those below. Writing with his mighty prose, he quickly and easily brings these figures to life while presenting meaningful lessons to the reader's own heart. Now you can download and install these classic biographies to take with you on your Palm OS, Pocket PC, Windows Mobile Smartphone, or Symbian device.

This seems like something perfectly suited for mobile devices -- short literature about something simply taken from the Word that can edify and be a point of conversation to Christians and non-Christians alike.

You need Olive Tree's Bible Reader to read these biographies. Download and purchase from the Olive Tree website.

Labels: Bible, mobile, Olivetree

Israel Anderson wrote in on the previous article about the Bible on the iPhone to let us know that he has created the website/web applicaiton God's iPhone (the Bible for iPhone).

According to the website/web app:

This is a minimalist site for iPhone users, like me, who are looking for a Bible application for the iPhone. I will be developing this site LIVE so that you can use it right away and send me feedback. That also means things may break or not work right. Let me know if something isn't working for you or if you think there's a better way. This site will look plain weird on anything but an iPhone. I am a missionary with YWAM. If you would like to support my efforts through your prayer or financial support, I will be very blessed.

I'll be trying this really soon on the N800, but it looks pretty solid and a neat resource for using the Word online.

Ok, enough from me, go to http://www.godsiphone.com and get in the Word via whatever browser you have :)

Perosnally, I would love to see a company like Laridian, Olive Tree, eBible, Logo, or another get behind Israel and help with the support, content, and development of this web app. It's really got potential to bless folks on more than just iPhones.

Labels: Bible, eBible, GMPSoft, iPhone, Laridian, Logos, mobile, N800, Olivetree, usablity

From the Olive Tree blog:
C.A. Coates Commentary and Articles
Available for Palm OS, Pocket PC, Windows Mobile Smartphone, and Symbian phones!
This collection of C.A. Coates’ ministry contains 37 volumes of his commentary and articles. We made this excellent resource smiple and easy to use by adding in the Table of Contents Chooser, which makes navigation to a particular location in these 37 volumes easy and quick.

NET Bible® First Edition, free version
Available with limited notes for Palm OS and Pocket PC.
Available with no notes for Windows Mobile Smartphone and Symbian phones.

How Biblical Languages Work
Available for Palm OS and Pocket PC.
This eBook is an excellent resource for study of Greek and Hebrew. It serves as an engaging introduction to these languages, and makes learning Greek and Hebrew much easier.

MMM Approaches the 1000th Post
Also, the next post on MMM will be the 1000th post (according to Blogger). I can honestly say that I am shocked that MMM has made it this far. I've really wanted to be much more focused on the magazine aspect of MMM. But in some ways, the fact that the blog is here and you can read it by RSS, online, or print (sorta) does make it a bit of a different run of things.

I know that I've wanted to do something for you readers as a thanks for sticking with MMM for 1000 posts. And really, I have no idea what would be good to do, or what would make for something that would be a blessing for you who have stuck around this long with MMM. I don't know even the effect this site has had on many of you, but I do hope that the mobile and faith ramblings have at least challenged you to think a bit differently about the place of tech in your lives.

But enough of the reminiscing kind of post. 1000 marks quite a number of things for myself personally, and not just MMM. Here's hoping that 1000 can be the restart of something good, and the continuance of those things that seek to edify at the intersection of faith and tech.

Labels: 1000th post, Olivetree

...I like to keep my bible software on my palm, because for me it’s the best way to have God’s Word with me at all times without the bulk. I had a bible on a PDA even back when I had a 512MB Sharp Wizard. I need daily scripture spiritually about as much as my body needs food physically. It keeps me going in the right direction as I make daily decisions and respond to day to day pressures. It helps me see things from God’s perspective. I like to get a full understanding of scripture by using a variety of translations. With a palm, I can have as many bible versions and other references as I want with me and still not add an ounce of extra weight to my purse. I have both a Treo 700p and a TX, and I use the bible on both. I mainly use the TX with its larger screen for in-depth reading, and the Treo when I’m running about and want to look up a quick verse...

Read the rest of this informative piece at Palm Addict and make sure to check out the Bible programs featured at the end of the piece.

Labels: Bible, Bible+, DailyReader, Devotions, GMPSoft, Laridian, Memorize, mobile, Olivetree, Palm Addict, Personal Prayer Assistant, SMS Advance