Disappointed!

I am terribly disappointed that Logos opted to release an iPhone app while ignoring other smart phones such as the BlackBerry. I understand there is a web-based application for this purpose but it is, shall we say, lacking. Hopefully, anyone who opts not to use AT&T will also have the benefit of a Logos app in the near future.

Find more posts tagged with

Mobile App

Comments

Shawn Drewett

I echo your sentiments Christopher. I've got issues with iphone anyway. Makes it worse when it's elevated to an exalted position by Logos. On the positive side, the web based access is really neat and I am thankful for it. Most of the iphone users I know might as well build a shrine to theirs and hold worship services. (A little exageration of course)[8-)]

Terry Poperszky

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/59220#Comment_59220

Sounds like some bad cases of coveting going on [;)]

Simple matter of economics, while BB has a more units in the field, the do not have a common OS and while I am a big BB fan, they don't have the distribution system in place that Apple has. As for the new Androids, they show great promise, but there simply aren't enough units in the field yet to make a custom app worth while. Remember, the Logos iPhone app is there to give added value to their L4 product. It cost them time and money to develop it. Once there are other platforms that promise to be as profitable as the iPhone app, they will develop for it as well.

So, hang on, be patient and utilize their web interface. Now, please excuse me, I have to replace the candles and light new incense around my iPhone charging station. [:P]

TCBlack

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/59249#Comment_59249

Well said Terry. I am a Blackberry user as well Christopher, at first I also felt out of sorts over the iPhone app, but market share, market share, market share. Logos has not walked blindly into this. They know the numbers and the numbers are with iPhone.

Thankfully they are indeed working away on the web interface at http://library.logos.com

It works (kinda) great on my blackberry browser - though I think it prefers column mode. Last I checked Ive got over 800 books on the web interface, plus passage guides and bible searches.

Greek works just fine on my Blackberry Curve 8900, Hebrew leaves some to be desired.

But all in all, just keep waiting. Logos has said that later specialized apps may well follow after the web service is where they want it to be.

Please also be aware that the free iPhone app has been developed at quite some expense and given away completely free, as is the web interface, and chances are pretty good from my experience that other apps be they BB or android or winmo will also be feature rich.

Just hold on, they can't do everything at once. [:)]

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/59249#Comment_59249

Now, please excuse me, I have to replace the candles

I thought you were lighting candles because you turned off your electrical service to pay for the iPhone.

Seriously, if the youth of America are any indication, the iPhone will be the phone of the future. Personally I hate the whole iTunes setup and don't like the unholy matrimony they have with at&t. I may settle for the iPod Touch. I'd still prefer a Kindle or Sony reader over anything that fits in my shirt pocket.

Fred

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/59266#Comment_59266

I do agree with the patience thing Thomas but I have to disagree on the market share theory. While I certainly don't know this as fact, it appears Logos may have simply taken a chance on branding as many have in the past (Apple has done some amazing things in the rhealm of technology especially in the MP3 player market). In reality there are far more blackberry users in the marketplace than iPhone, mostly due to the enterprise server availability for business use; not to mention the limited availablity of the iPhone due to their exclusivity with At&t (how was that put... unholy matrimony LOL!)

Thanks for the link... I just upgraded to Logos 4 and wasn't aware of the web interface. I'll give that a shot on my BB Storm. God bless.

Rev. Kelly Todd

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/59279#Comment_59279

is it at all possible that you all missed it the other day when it was said that Bob had an Iphone... does that help to make a little sense of this. Apple could mearly have a 1% share (we both know that it is much more) but when the boss has an intrest in a particular product, he is going to bring it to completion. one of the phones had to be first... it is the Iphone, in due time we will see more. I bought the Itouch because of the app... I will never buy the Iphone as ATT charges way to much for the service, but I love my Touch... it actually does something that I need unlike my Omnia or my Versa have.

Bruce Goettsche

Amen!

Mark Barnes

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/59388#Comment_59388

An iPhone app is not only going to have most users, it's also significantly easier to code for an iPhone, and to distribute an app, than it is for several of the other devices you mention.

Jacob Hantla

I too am a blackberry user. I was frustrated at the iPhone only approach. I understand it though. There is very little device conformity among the other brands. iPhone is really easy to code for. And they have to start somewhere.

My wife ended up getting me an iPod Touch for mobile use. I have been using that for mobile access to Logos (where there is a hotspot) and love it.

So, while I'm disappointed that I was "overlooked" and the cool iPhone crowd chosen first, I understand the decision. They have to start somewhere, and I'm grateful that they did start offering mobile access. Library.logos.com is functional on my blackberry and is getting better all the time; but it will never be able to do all that an app does...but still I'm grateful for something instead of nothing. And the something we get is great, especially in light of the price.

Terry Poperszky

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/59279#Comment_59279

In reality there are far more blackberry users in the marketplace than iPhone,

Alfred, you are right and you are wrong. While the total of the BB users are higher, they are spread over a multitude of models and interfaces. Which model would you have them develop the app for? The Storm is the closest thing that BB has to the iPhone, and if they developed for that platform it wouldn't work on a tour, or an 88XX series.

My first iPhone has the same interface as my current one, which has the same interface as my iPod Touch did which I had before I got an iPhone

Jason Siemens

I think the reason that Logos chose the Iphone app versus the BB is much simpliar and has to do with RIM's allowing programers to access the interface. Apple has opened its iPhone to everyone and thier dog to make an app, RIM has not. I'm a BB using myself, but when I found that out I have decided to make the change to iPhone. One thing that all the controversy over the Logos 4 change has shown me is that if you are not ready to change with the times, you are going to get left behind and become obsolete. I have a congregation full of iPhone users and I'm going to learn their language to be more affective as a minister of the Gospel to them.

Matthew Edminster

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/60084#Comment_60084

I'm happy the issues of MARKET SHARE, OS availability for programmers, and "the desire to get the Bible into peoples' hands". I can't for the life of me fathom how either of them would push Logos to produce an iphone version of their software though.

I have been watching the discussion boards for any activity related to a Linux version of Logos. My reasons are simple. I'm tired of paying an outrageous amount of money for an operating system that under performs and, more importantly, I serve in a country in which most people are entirely unable to buy more than one expensive piece of software. Linux is a fully functional and affordable option for Christians around the world who are unable to afford a legal windows installation or mac machine. I very much want to get LOGOS into the hands of this country's pastors but that will not be an option for many running budget os setups (namely, linux).

In terms of market share, linux installations claim 1% while the iphone claims only .36% ... so what's the gain logos? (See http://marketshare.hitslink.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=8 )

In terms of getting the bible into people's hands ... whose hands logos: rich American kids with fancy toys or under equipped Christians around the world?

An in terms of OS openess ... come on!

Mark Barnes

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/60721#Comment_60721

Whilst I appreciate your concern for those without high incomes, I think that's unfair, Matthew. The majority of Logos users are not "rich American kids with fancy toys". I may be rich by global standards, but not by my national ones. And I am neither American, nor a kid, nor treat Logos as a toy.

Logos have chosen to prioritise their development dollars on an OS that (according to your figures) has 90 times more users than Linux, and have recently started development on one that has five times more users. The iPhone development is done in parallel with a web-based application, which can be used anywhere there is internet access. Again, they've prioritised the device with the biggest user base. That all seems very sensible.

But more importantly, I would be fairly sure that the biggest barrier in Logos being adopted in poorer nations will not be the cost of O/S (which is often low by Western standards, particularly in countries without proper copyright laws), but the cost of the resources, and the lack of resources in non-English languages. Your frustration may be better directed at the publishers.

Roger Feenstra

I have used a Blackberry since their inception and have thoroughly enjoyed the product. Last year, however, I picked up an ipod touch just to give it a try. I have to say, it exceeds the Blackberry in most categories, with the exception, perhaps, of the keyboard. But there are so many more features, I would never go back to a Blackberry. It makes perfect sense for Logos to go with iPhone. It is far superior for their application (In my opinion).

Bob Pritchett

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/59279#Comment_59279

it appears Logos may have simply taken a chance on branding ... In reality there are far more blackberry users in the marketplace than iPhone,

but when the boss has an intrest in a particular product, he is going to bring it to completion.

For what it's worth, I was a Windows Mobile user for many years, and resisted the iPhone for over a year, holding out hope that a new Windows Mobile device (I was hoping the Sony Xperia or HTC Diamond) would be cooler than the iPhone. But they never came in time / never were as cool.

Our decision to develop for the iPhone first was a pure business decision based on an actual survey of our actual users. While BlackBerry (and Windows Mobile) may have great overall market share, they each represented half of the iPhone/iPod Touch market share among our customers.

(The iPhone is also a single platform to develop for, much different than the many combinations of screen size, keyboard type, scroll wheel, joystick, soft-keys, etc. that fragment the other platforms. But even if you treated EVERY BlackBerry and Windows Mobile device as identical, the iPhone was still double in share.)

I can handle it if you don't like the iPhone, or AT&T, or even if you don't like our app. I'd be sad, but could handle it, if you don't like me.

But accusing me of developing an expensive new product simply because we're suckers for Apple's marketing or because I happen to use the iPhone? That's pretty low... :-)

Chuck P.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/65028#Comment_65028

Bob, thanks so much for developing it for Iphone and for FREE....there is a pile of apps for the Iphone that will not run on other product brands and a pile of apps which will run on Sprint but not the Iphone..as a former software developer in my other life, I understand your decision as marketing decisions have always got to be your concern...keep up the good work....

Christopher Sanchez

For those of you who may be interested, it is more than likely we will see the iPhone offered by Verizon Wireless next year. AT&T's exclusivity agreement expires next June and purchases of the chip-set necessary to operate on CDMA (Verizon's technological platform) are already on the rise. This should come as no surprise and will likely see many more of us make the switch to iPhone Mr. Pritchett described. Admittedly, the iPhone is the best handset on the market at the moment and is the measuring stick all others are compared to.

As an MBA, I completely understand the nature of business decisions. Logos is a for-profit business and I have no problem with that. I can imagine the amount of time and financial resources necessary to bring Logos software to market. I have certainly been edified since becoming a Logos user several years ago. The fact that the iPhone app, albeit an obvious marketing effort to increase sales of the PC based offering, is offered free is commendable. I applaud Logos for this decision!

My use of a BlackBerry has nothing to do with a dislike of the iPhone. My wife is an employee of Verizon. Pretty simple!

BTW...personal attacks about a FREE app are simply bad form and have no place here.

Laus Deo!

Jacob Hantla

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/65135#Comment_65135

Also, there are rumors swirling about a tmobile availability as well, since it wouldn't require any retooling of the phone's hardware (which a verizon iPhone would).

Bohuslav Wojnar

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/65304#Comment_65304

Also, there are rumors swirling about a tmobile availability as well, since it wouldn't require any retooling of the phone's hardware (which a verizon iPhone would).

We have iPhone with the T-Mobile here in Europe already.

Jon

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/60721#Comment_60721

In terms of market share, linux installations claim 1% while the iphone claims only .36% ... so what's the gain logos? (See http://marketshare.hitslink.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=8 )

Your assertion completely misrepresents the data you cite

Stephen

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/59269#Comment_59269

You might want to wait a few months before getting a iPod touch.. Apple has a Keynote set up for the end of Jan and rumors are they will be announcing an Apple Tablet with a modified iPhone/ipod touch OS. Apple has also been pushing to set up agreements with publishers for digital content. the Kindle could be in for wake up. the thing I don't like about the Kindle is that Amazon still controls the ebooks you buy and can delete them if the chose to.

Ruy Silveira

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/59405#Comment_59405

Just in the US my friend.

Rev. Kelly Todd

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/65028#Comment_65028

Sorry Bob, I meant no harm. I beleived that the fact that you had a ipod and that it has a big market share all by itself was way more than enough reason to start with the apple, and with a little sarchasim, I made my statement. My main point though was that you had developed something and we can be happy for it. However, I never once said, nor implied that "But accusing me of developing an expensive new product simply because we're suckers for Apple's marketing or because I happen to use the iPhone? That's pretty low... :-)" Actually, just the opposite... I believe that it was/is the right platform to work with and for the very reasons that you said. However, when you posted that you had an Iphone, it seemed that no one picked up on that. Yet your having a Iphone would allow you to think about it much more knowlegably than some other phone that you don't own or use. I truly believe that you totally misunderstood me, what I meant, and how I meant it.