What on earth is ‘Vyrso’ in the iTunes App Store?

I can’t for the life of me discern any use for it. It appears to be exactly the same as Logos 4 iOS, save that it can’t do anything at all but read books (no passage guide, etc.). If Logos 4 iOS were fairly resource intensive, like Logos 4 Mac currently is, I could understand, but it zips along just as quickly as Vyrso does. The internet doesn’t appear to know, either, as nothing whatever comes up in a Google search.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vyrso/id434558971?mt=8

http://www.vyrso.com/

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Paul Lund

Think Android?

Rev. Kelly Todd

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/246867#Comment_246867

you may want to think android, but it works with the iphone and ipad... looks like what we are using right now. it came out today and it is in Itunes not the android store.

Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/246868#Comment_246868

I can’t for the life of me discern any use for it. It appears to be exactly the same as Logos 4 iOS, save that it can’t do anything at all but read books (no passage guide, etc.). If Logos 4 iOS were fairly resource intensive, like Logos 4 Mac currently is, I could understand, but it zips along just as quickly as Vyrso does. The internet doesn’t appear to know, either, as nothing whatever comes up in a Google search.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vyrso/id434558971?mt=8
http://www.vyrso.com/

Observation: http://www.vyrso.com/ redirects to http://www.logos.com/mobile

Looking at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/logos-bible-software/id336400266?mt=8 noticed Vyrso icon (published by Logos Bible Software).

Share curiosity about what is "Vyrso" ? noted description: "Vyrso is a reader accessory for Logos Bible Software desktop application users."

Keep Smiling [:)]

Bob Pritchett

Vyrso is a variant of the Logos Bible Software iPhone app that's tailored for "trade books," as opposed to Bible study. It reads all the same books, but doesn't have a Passage Guide, will bring up an English dictionary instead of Greek/Hebrew reverse interlinear data when you tap on an English word, etc.

In short, Vyrso should be the right choice for reading a single "front to back" book -- or even a novel.

Vyrso isn't really launched yet, but we wanted to get the app store approval out of the way so it's ready when we are.

Jerry M

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/246873#Comment_246873

Vyrso

Wondering if the name is an acronym. Sounds like it will be helpful for those with large reading libraries. I might have to reconsider my use of Logos as more that a study tool :-)

Jacob Hantla

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/246873#Comment_246873

So what's the point? Just a slimmed down reader?

Floyd Johnson

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/246921#Comment_246921

So what's the point? Just a slimmed down reader?

See this discussion for one possibility:

http://community.logos.com/forums/t/32901.aspx

Paul Lund

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/246921#Comment_246921

So what's the point? Just a slimmed down reader?

As I mentioned above, and I should have expanded on my comment, "Think Android", I should have stated it as "think Android, and beyond."

More and more print book stores continue to fold and go out of business - think Borders, as well as all of the Mom & Pop book stores around the U.S. that have closed their doors. This even goes back to their regional distribution centers, as well as to the manufacturers of industrial printing equipment . Not a good time to be in the bank check printing business, ask my daughter who manages a large bank check printing operation for an international financial printing company, and continues to shut down plants around the U.S. laying off thousands of people.

I put Vyrso on my iPad last night, and it impressed me. As young Mr. Pritchett so elegantly stated, Vyrso was able to get Logos through the iTunes gateway, and into the Apple universe and beyond Bible study and trade books. Certainly it is a stripped down version of the Logos iPad application, but as a clean e-reader, it serves as the entry application into the global e-reader market. Think Kindle and Nook - as well as all of the other e-readers out there today, as well as the others coming.

I think Vyrso is a smart move for Logos into a massive and evolving market. Logos has brilliant experience and capability into this huge and evolving market. When they go public, I'd like to be at the front of the line to buy their stock.

Think Android and beyond!

Clifford B. Kvidahl

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/246954#Comment_246954

I wonder if this will program will be an outlet for publishers who want to have their books in ebook format (ala kindle) but not have it be required to be fully searchable and tagged (ala Logos). That is just a thought.

Cliff

JimTowler

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/247076#Comment_247076

Just guessing that maybe PBB could be a method that "Trade Books" could show up, with the vendor of the book doing the work themselves ...
Bring on PBB I say!

Bohuslav Wojnar

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/247126#Comment_247126

Bring on PBB I say!

Yes, good preaching! [Y]

Robert Pavich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/246873#Comment_246873

In short, Vyrso should be the right choice for reading a single "front to back" book -- or even a novel.

Hey...great....looking forward to the Android variant when it comes!

Rosie Perera

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/252261#Comment_252261

In short, Vyrso should be the right choice for reading a single "front to back" book -- or even a novel.

With a name like Vyrso, it should be the right choice for reading a book from back to front. [;)]

Matt Longhorn

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/252274#Comment_252274

I can actually see this as useful - having one app for my general reading and one for my on-the-go study. I know that we have bookmarks on the logos iphone app, but I spend so much time walking to work and bookmarking resources for future study that it would be and now is nice to have the ability to go straight back to my casual reading.

I guess what I am saying is that I am happy to have both apps for different purposes.

Frank Sauer

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/252292#Comment_252292

Just another example of catering to the Mac crowd... Ugh! [:P

Jacob Hantla

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/246873#Comment_246873

Vyrso...will bring up an English dictionary instead of Greek/Hebrew reverse interlinear data when you tap on an English word

Why not also add the lookup in dictionary functionality to Logos iOS apps?

Frank Sauer

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/246873#Comment_246873

So Apple iOS users having a "trade book" reader even has precedence over Android... lol

Vyrso is a variant of the Logos Bible Software iPhone app that's tailored for "trade books," as opposed to Bible study. It reads all the same books, but doesn't have a Passage Guide, will bring up an English dictionary instead of Greek/Hebrew reverse interlinear data when you tap on an English word, etc.

In short, Vyrso should be the right choice for reading a single "front to back" book -- or even a novel.

Vyrso isn't really launched yet, but we wanted to get the app store approval out of the way so it's ready when we are.

Greg

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/252315#Comment_252315

So Apple iOS users having a "trade book" reader even has precedence over Android... lol

[:'(]

Jacob Hantla

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/252315#Comment_252315

So Apple iOS users having a "trade book" reader even has precedence over Android... lol

I believe there are separate programmers on each task. Developing one while developing another doesn't necessarily indicate a preference priority. My bet is that Logos would prioritize Android ahead of another app for iOS, but another very similar app for iOS (Vyrso is basically another version of Logos app) is easier to accomplish.

disclosure: My phone is Android. I will literally dance for joy the day I get Logos for my android.

Bob Pritchett

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/252315#Comment_252315

So Apple iOS users having a "trade book" reader even has precedence over Android... lol

No.

Vyrso is just a slimmed version of our iOS BIble app. There'll be an Android Vyrso, too. In both cases Vyrso adds very little work for the coders -- it becomes a "compile option" that strips out the more complex functionality and toggles in alternate graphics.

Greg

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/252374#Comment_252374

Vyrso is just a slimmed version of our iOS BIble app.

Bob,

So does this mean Logos' iOS apps will be fine with Apple's new rules for ebook readers?

Rev Chris

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/252398#Comment_252398

I thought I posted this, but apparently it didn't take. (if someone finds a similar post by me in a different thread, I apologize).

Vyrso is just a slimmed version of our iOS BIble app.

I'm not sure I understand the strategy with Vyrso. I looked at the first offering of books - the ones at 50% off - and I have to say I'm not impressed. I mean, I like the selection of books; I just am not sure about the prices. I looked up 4 or 5 of them on Amazon and the prices (at 50% off) are all considerably higher than their Kindle counterparts. Some are close to double Kindle's prices. If Vyrso is really supposed to be, simply, an ebook reader, then it is basically competing with Kindle, Nook and iBooks. If that is true, then I don't see how it can succeed if the prices are not also competitive. To me, the power of Logos is in the searching capabilities that happen when an ebook is integrated into the software. That is true for commentaries, dictionaries, and other resources that work well for textual studies. But for general ebooks - whether they are Christian or not - that I'm going to read on my iPad, I care about basic ereader functions and price. Vyrso seems to be okay on the functions - although I haven't tested out things such as search, highlighting, or cross-device syncing that the other readers are known for. But for price it clearly falls short.

The only strategy I see here is if Logos is anticipating Amazon and B&N pulling out of the iOS race once July 1 hits, and the markup on Vyrso books is such that they can make a profit and still give 30% to Apple. But it would seem iBooks would still be the cheapest and most logical option for these books. Also I think it's a big gamble to say Amazon and B&N are just going to pull out and give up on the entire iOS market when it has been so profitable to them up to this point. Something has to give in that growing tension.

There is, of course, one other strategy that I can see. That is if Logos is able to get some publishers to sign exclusivity contracts where you have to buy through Vyrsos if you want an ebook version. Let's hope for everyone's sake that that's not the case, though.

Maybe I'm overlooking a really good ereader function to Vyrsos that the other apps don't have. Or maybe someone sees an error in my logic here - if so, please feel free to share.

JT (alabama24)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/252404#Comment_252404

Rev Chris -

Some thoughts:

1. I hope that Logos is able to remain somewhat competitive with the other companies. As a consumer I love Amazon's prices. However, they will often use lost leaders to drive in traffic. For example: this week they had the new album from everyone's favorite "Lady Gaga." They were selling it for 99 cents. Not only that, but they were giving away 20 GB of online media storage with it to boot (trying to gain market share before Apple goes live with theirs [next month?]). It will be difficult for Logos to compete on price... but then again... I compared all of the current listings with Amazon, and I believe that Logos is competitive. Some titles were even lower on Vyrso.

2. One feature that is nice is that the Vyrso books are downloaded into Logos. Once in Logos, highlights, notes, and clippings are available. Verses are hyperlinked. Also, the book is searchable. I would rather have my books in Logos, even if I have to pay a little more, and be able to use them in a variety of ways. One of the strengths of Logos is its powerful search features. I may not remember that a particular book deals with a subject until Logos reminds me when I search.

Bob Pritchett

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/252404#Comment_252404

I looked up 4 or 5 of them on Amazon and the prices (at 50% off) are all considerably higher than their Kindle counterparts.

To the best of our knowledge, every ebook you see for sale at Amazon at less than 50% off the publisher's list price is being sold at a loss. My impression (and industry observation) is that Amazon sells bestsellers at a loss to get people locked in to the Kindle platform.

Shortly Vyrso should have 10,000+ titles up. You'll find them priced similarly to BN's Nook and other e-book platforms, but you'll probably find Amazon's Kindle price the overall lowest for best sellers. For our launch, we chose the top 25 best selling (right now) Christian ebooks that we had rights to.

In retrospect, that may have been a bad choice, since those titles in particular are ones Amazon is selling at a loss.

Vyrso is one small piece of a much larger strategy, and it's in its first (pre-)release. I think it's already got a great use case: it's a great ebook reader, has support for Bible references built in, and supports cross-library searching. (Not available on Kindle, that I know of.) And it's only going to get better as we (very soon) enable notes and highlighting synced to Logos 4, social features, etc.

We're not going to win price wars with Amazon, and particularly not with titles that publishers sell through the "agency model." (You can Google that if you're curious for more discussion than anyone can bear...) But our hope is that we'll be able to offer significant value to having your Christian content in Logos format, and that it'll be worth an extra couple dollars on a single book.

Bohuslav Wojnar

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/252438#Comment_252438

...But our hope is that we'll be able to offer significant value to having your Christian content in Logos format, and that it'll be worth an extra couple dollars on a single book.

Wow, I think I will like that thing. I really want all my books in Logos/Verso format, so keep on with the good job. Thanks Bob. [Y]

Jacob Hantla

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/252438#Comment_252438

If somebody is just looking for the cheapest way to get an ebook onto their digital device, Vyrso isn't it. But just the option of having the book with Bible verses tagged so I can read what those references are is worth a couple bucks to me. I do a lot of reading in Kindle and iBooks just because the book wasn't available in Logos. That looks like it may soon be remedied. And again, the #1 reason why I'd rather buy a non-reference book in Vyrso/Logos is because of the Bible reference feature.

But then we get the added benefit of having the book integrate into our digital library, be available on the web as well.

Hopefully we'll soon have the benefit of being able to highlight and take notes on mobile device bringing it to parity with Kindle ereader apps.

Robert Pavich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/252490#Comment_252490

If somebody is just looking for the cheapest way to get an ebook onto their digital device, Vyrso isn't it. But just the option of having the book with Bible verses tagged so I can read what those references are is worth a couple bucks to me. I do a lot of reading in Kindle and iBooks just because the book wasn't available in Logos. That looks like it may soon be remedied. And again, the #1 reason why I'd rather buy a non-reference book in Vyrso/Logos is because of the Bible reference feature.

But then we get the added benefit of having the book integrate into our digital library, be available on the web as well.

Hopefully we'll soon have the benefit of being able to highlight and take notes on mobile device bringing it to parity with Kindle ereader apps.

I fully agree...and if and when this comes to Android....I'm sure that it will be something I'd use.

Graham Criddle

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/252438#Comment_252438

Shortly Vyrso should have 10,000+ titles up. You'll find them priced similarly to BN's Nook and other e-book platforms,

This sounds really excellent.

One question.

We use the Suggestions Forum - and other places - to suggest new books for Logos integration. With Vyrso should we "extend" the titles suggested there and leave it to Logos to work out in which format to make them available?

Graham

Dr. Ivan Ramirez

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/252438#Comment_252438

I understand the idea behind Vyrso but I still fail to see the need for a separate application. Could not the same functions of Vyrso be role into the Bible software app? As a long time user of LBS what I'm looking for in your products is easy of use and sophistication. Because Vyrso does mimic the other app so much that it seem to me that those functions could have been rolled into a future update rather than a separate app. Apples app store works so well precisely because it offers everything in one place and not multiple locations (I'm referring to apps only and not the other products sold on different stores).

I love that your doing a Christian ebook store. That was something I felt was lacking for believers. And its great that it does do some cool things that other cannot. It just seems all that could have been done in an already existing app.

Perhaps I have miss read the intent, or fail to see the vision for Vyrso, or am unaware of other issues involved but for me I would have like to have seen these things rolled into the LBS app.

One more thing, alabama24 noted one of the values of buying books on Vyrso is its integration with Logos4. For me that's a bit of a moot point, although that is a great function. I think what Rev. Chris and I are curious about is the need for a slimmed down version of the iOS app when it already could be used as an ereader of sorts? Why not merge Vyrso into the LBS app and make it even better?

PS: Both apps could use some help in the looks department

Gary Butner, Th.D.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/252438#Comment_252438

Is there a reason we have to download books in Vyrso that have already been downloaded in Logos?

Rosie Perera

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/253516#Comment_253516

I understand the idea behind Vyrso but I still fail to see the need for a separate application.

I think it's a whole new approach, to reach out to a new segment of potential customers who have never had Logos before and wouldn't think they want it. This way it can be marketed as "just" an e-reader, and surreptitiously give people more than what they thought they were getting into. Maybe someday they will become Logos users and benefit from the "Logos Edition" books that have more than just readable text. But for now this is all they want, so Vyrso is a way to reach out to them.

Those of us who already have Logos and/or an iOS app might not need Vyrso as an app, just the Vyrso store for the books.

Rosie Perera

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/253528#Comment_253528

Is there a reason we have to download books in Vyrso that have already been downloaded in Logos?

No. If you're happy reading them in Logos, as I am, there's no need to download them again. I don't even have any device that Vyrso would run on, though I plan on getting an Android tablet as soon as good ones are available. I'd probably end up using the Logos Android app, though, rather than the stripped down Vyrso app.

Dr. Ivan Ramirez

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/253536#Comment_253536

that makes sense and helps clarifying a lot of things. There still seems to be a sort of short changing taking place for me if those who are on Vyrso are give certain features that are not available to use who run the other app. Granted, the LBS app does much more then Vyrso but I feel as one who bought Logos4 specifically for because it was availability on the iOS platform should be able to do everything Vyrso does and more.I love Logos and I think you guys are a great company. You are great servants of the Lord. Thanks for taking the time to help me understand.

Alan Charles Gielczyk

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/253544#Comment_253544

What is it you think the Vyrso app does that the Logos app does not?

JT (alabama24)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/253544#Comment_253544

There still seems to be a sort of short changing taking place for me if those who are on Vyrso are give certain features that are not available to use who run the other app.

The Vyrso App is essentially the same "under the hood." The books will be available to be used in either app (as well as Biblia.com & Logos itself). If for some reason you prefer to use one app over the other, you will be free to do so. The Vyrso app is kind of "dumbed down," but in some ways, that makes it a better app for "reading a book cover to cover."

Bob has said that notes & highlighting will be coming to both apps very soon. I presume it will be near simultaneously.

Dr. Ivan Ramirez

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/253554#Comment_253554

thanks for taking the time to answer my questions

Jerry M

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/253547#Comment_253547

What is it you think the Vyrso app does that the Logos app does not?

One example is that it will (not yet) give easy access to dictionary definitions, which of course can be helpful while reading.

Gary Butner, Th.D.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/253537#Comment_253537

No. If you're happy reading them in Logos, as I am, there's no need to download them again. I don't even have any device that Vyrso would run on, though I plan on getting an Android tablet as soon as good ones are available. I'd probably end up using the Logos Android app, though, rather than the stripped down Vyrso app.

Quite frankly I like having the ability to have another book open at the same time. I can switch from Logos to Vyrso instantly. My original question concerned why the two applications both needed different downloads for the same books?

Dave Dunkin (Logos)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/253528#Comment_253528

Is there a reason we have to download books in Vyrso that have already been downloaded in Logos?

iOS apps cannot share data in a way that would make this possible.

Alan Charles Gielczyk

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/253562#Comment_253562

What is it you think the Vyrso app does that the Logos app does not?

One example is that it will (not yet) give easy access to dictionary definitions, which of course can be helpful while reading.

That is not something the Vyrso app DOES that the Logos app DOES NOT do.

Jerry M

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/253604#Comment_253604

That is not something the Vyrso app DOES that the Logos app DOES NOT do.

I was giving the essence of a quote from Bob Pritchett, "Vyrso is a variant of the Logos Bible Software iPhone app that's tailored for "trade books," as opposed to Bible study. It reads all the same books, but doesn't have a Passage Guide, will bring up an English dictionary instead of Greek/Hebrew reverse interlinear data when you tap on an English word, etc."

Alan Charles Gielczyk

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/253615#Comment_253615

Ahh, sorry my fault. Please forgive my ignorance. It does not come out often but boy when it does.