A Case for an Improved Windows Store App

I believe a compelling financial interest exists for Logos to improve its Windows Store app for Windows 8 / 8.1 devices.

- NetMarketShare reports that the usage share for Windows 8 has not risen above the usage share for all versions of OSX combined. There is likely a growing user base for Logos on Windows 8 devices.

- Because Logos 5 runs on Windows 8 / 8.1 the Windows Store app would not need to be as full featured as the iOS or Android apps. Thus it would not require the same level of financial investment from Logos.

- However, Logos 5 takes too long to open for quick reading. Sometimes I launch Logos to read a book or article and then open a Kindle book in the Kindle app to read while Logos 5 is opening. Sometimes I never make it back to Logos. For this reason I'm more inclined to buy theological ebooks that I intend to read through (as opposed to reference works) on Kindle rather than on Logos.

- As it stands the Logos Windows Store App will not work even as a basic reader. This is primarily due to the lack of any table of contents feature. If I'm reading a book of theological essays on an article from a theological journal, its difficult if not impossible in the Logos WinStore app to get to the essay or article I want to read.

By releasing an effective reader on the Windows 8/8.1 platform Logos increases the opportunities for Logos/Vyrso book sales for those who use Win 8/8.1 devices.

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Comments

Dennis E. McFadden

I would like to second the request for a more robust app for Windows 8/8.1.

With Microsoft releasing the new Surface 2 RT this week, predictions of a small market share negating the value for Logos to invest in a more full-featured app are mitigated. Microsoft obviously intends to have a bigger footprint into the tablet market.

LOGOS, PLEASE UPGRADE YOUR APP!!! My nearly 6,900 unlocks are crying for a better app.

Mark Groen

More and more people are going to be using Windows Store Apps on their PC's. Even if I have Logos 5 installed on my desktop I may want to jump into the Store app for quick reference or maybe a touch screen experience.

In other words this is not just about an RT app. Make a better store app and people will use it on x86 and ARM. It isn't like making a store app is just for Surface or other Windows RT devices. Everyone can use it.

Sean

I have had a good experience using Windows 8/8.1 on my laptop and like the direction Microsoft is taking with it.

I would like my next phone, and eventually tablet, to run Windows in order integrate all the devices easily. The lack of a decent Logos Windows would probably keep me from doing that.

So, here's another vote for maintaining and developing the Windows store app.

Jeff Miles

I also ask that development continue on the Windows 8/8.1 App.

David Parks

I think Logos is making a mistake by not developing their windows App. They say they will not do so unless the Surface reaches 10% of market saturation. This reasoning misses two important points. FIRST The size of the tablet market has exploded to the point that even a 5% saturation is a tremendous number of units. They should be thinking in terms of a target number of units instead of percentage of market. SECOND the windows app includes more than just the the Surfac as Brian has Pointed out. Also Brian's point about the use of Kindle is important. If I am purchasing a book that is available on Kindle. I always purchase it there instead of Logos for the same reasons Brian has mentioned. I would much prefer to purchase them through logos so that they would be part of the highlighting, note making, and indexing advantages of Logos if the app were usable.

I gave my iPad 3 to my wife and purchased a Surface 2 on a trial basis. After 2 days I was ready to take it back. But now I prefer it. When we traveled to Phoenix I didn't have to take a tablet and a laptop because the Surface with a keyboard works so well with Office. I was able to begin a new sermon series on the plane. I could have never done this with my iPad. Plus on the plane it fit and worked much better on the tray than the ipad or laptop. Laridian has developed their windows appPocketPC to the point that I use it on my Surface 2 to teach my classes. It will be my preferred Bible program (when using the limited library available) until Logos decides to develop their app. Logos. Hope you are reading these posts. I love you program. IT IS THE BEST. Please reconsider.

Brooke Wenger

I would love to see some more development on the Logos Windows Store App. I have been in the market for a tablet for a few weeks now and have decided on the Surface. One of the only negatives about the surface is the Logos software available for the RT devices. The surface, as well as other devices that run from the Windows Store Apps are going to continue to rise in popularity. Particularly with a tablet version of Office available. Love the Surface. Love Logos. Please see the desire of your customers and work on the app.

Mike Aubrey

Windows Store is terrible because there aren't any good apps.
There aren't any good apps because Windows Store is terrible.
Logos won't improve the Windows App unless enough people use it.
I have no interest in using unless Logos improves it.

I feel like Yossarian.

Daniel R Bartholomew

Windows Store is terrible because there aren't any good apps.

There aren't any good apps because Windows Store is terrible.

Logos won't improve the Windows App unless enough people use it.

I have no interest in using unless Logos improves it.

I feel like Yossarian.

Well put.

If only Windows had upgraded their Tablet concept a couple of years ago (they have had Tablets for years, remember?), closer to the roll out of the iPad and the Android. Right now, it's a difficult hurdle to overcome the built-in bias to these two mobile OS.

Stephen Challen

I would like to add our church to the need for Windows 8 & Windows 8 Mobile apps for the Faith Life Study Bible for our congregation to use the facilities provided alongside Proclaim.

Windows mobile devices are picking up in sales in the UK.

I know that when I went over to Android 2 years later Android was the largest selling device in the world and yet when I moved everyone thought I was crazy. Now I've moved to Microsoft. I earnestly believe that the Microsoft Windows 8 Mobile is a superior product but I know only a minority will currently agree with me.

I agree that I think Logos.com need to be on the Windows platform as soon as possible.

I am grateful to see I can read Logos books on my Windows 8 devices however it does not yet have the functionality offered under the other operating systems and am eager for the growing numbers in our church to benefit from the facilities in Proclaim and Faith Life who have chosen Windows 8 devices.

Gary Butner, Th.D.

I purchased a Samsung Ultrabook one week ago, and am now running Win 8.1. I downloaded Logos 5 and my library when I got the laptop. Tonight I found the Logos app in the Windows Store and downloaded it. It sounds as if everyone is having trouble with the store app. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the only way I can use my library with the store app is to download the complete library again, correct?

Christopher S Macy

Gary >

Correct, the Logos App you downloaded from the windows App store cannot access your book files from your Logos 5 on your desktop.

This is not Logos fault, Microsoft does not allow apps from the app store to access files that are installed the old fashioned way. They have their reasons, but maybe this will change in the future. Until then we'll have to have them separate.

JoshInRI

I do not think anyone at Logos actually cares about Windows (touch) Tablet users or Windows Phone users.

Hopefully I will be proven wrong soon.

Russ White

At this point I'm looking for another Bible software package for my wife and kids -- because they use Windows 8.1 tablets with touch screen, full Logos isn't really useful in tablet mode, and the logos app is so minimal as to be pretty much useless. I hate to switch them to something other than Logos, but... There is a huge touch screen market out there for Windows apps, so Logos needs to address this.

Russ

Rob Kuefner

I've posted my interest in Windows 8 apps and Windows Phone App in other places, but I want to add my support for this thread too. I know that Logos refers to Surface and RT market share as reasons for not working on the app, and while I think it will be a growing market (love the integration now that I have a Surface RT, Lumia 928 and an 8.1 laptop - superior ecosystem in my opinion), I think the above comments regarding the fact that other devices, including touch screen laptops and desktops and other new windows devices running 8.1 will continue to have a growing app market share is a reality. I don't see Microsoft completely abandoning that in the future.

I think an example of how well done an 8.1 app can be done while also working in a traditional desktop application is OneNote. If Logos could pull that off, I think it would be incredible. At the very least I would think it would be to Logos benefit long term to have an 8.1 Modern app that would allow for highlighting and note taking. I don't expect the complete Logos experience, for that I use my desktop app, but I would think what's available on the ios 7 and android devices, could be accomplished for a 8.1 Windows Modern app.

Mike Childs

I do not think anyone at Logos actually cares about Windows (touch) Tablet users or Windows Phone users.

Hopefully I will be proven wrong soon.

I don't think that I agree with that. Logos is a business, and I think they are interested in any format that will be profitable. I would agree that they may be underestimating the potential of the Windows Tablets. But if there continue to be more and more of us, they will come around.

Brian Crawford

My argument:

1. The market failure of Windows RT is irrelevant because there are millions of full x86 Windows touch screen tablets and PC's being sold and, as far as I know, Microsoft's tools allow easy compiling to both RT and x86 targets.

2. More and more x86 Windows tablets are being sold, especially 8-inch tablets like the Dell Venue 8 Pro. A full featured mobile app would be much more user friendly than the full desktop application.

3. To be useful for me, I would need the Metro app to include TOC navigation, highlighting, and notes. I've used the Android app and it has many other features, but I would want these three first before any others.

In the meantime, if you have an x86 tablet like the Surface Pro, I would suggest you use TouchMousePointer (freeware) along with desktop Logos. This removes the need for an active stylus.

Mike Childs

I run Logos 5 on my Surface Pro 2, and love it. But I also could see the advantage of a good Windows 8 app for reading Logos.

I think one thing that would be very important in an Win 8 app, is to allow it to access the Logos 5 library so that one would not have to download double copies of books. Otherwise I would just prefer to put the book in a floating window and read it from Logos 5.

Bill Anderson

Bob's reply to the current state of the Windows "metro" app may be found here. It has been discussed in that and other threads over the past months.

I like the Windows ecosystem, but as a Logos user I would be concerned with the deployment of resources by Logos to create an app that is not justified by significant market share. It means that resources used to develop and maintain this app are diverted from other areas where development is needed. Logos 5 is still not feature complete and many Logos users want the feature set of the old Libronix app brought into Logos 5. Many OS X users want attention paid to the Mac app. I personally would like to see the lag in the Android app addressed when adding highlighting.

This is a question of the strategic use of resources. Once the Windows "metro" app gains significantly greater traction, I wouldn't be surprised to see Logos develop for it.

Mike Childs

Bob's reply to the current state of the Windows "metro" app may be found here. It has been discussed in that and other threads over the past months.

I like the Windows ecosystem, but as a Logos user I would be concerned with the deployment of resources by Logos to create an app that is not justified by significant market share. It means that resources used to develop and maintain this app are diverted from other areas where development is needed. Logos 5 is still not feature complete and many Logos users want the feature set of the old Libronix app brought into Logos 5. Many OS X users want attention paid to the Mac app. I personally would like to see the lag in the Android app addressed when adding highlighting.

This is a question of the strategic use of resources. Once the Windows "metro" app gains significantly greater traction, I wouldn't be surprised to see Logos develop for it.

Bill, you make some good points. I am sure Bob and the Logos leadership will carefully analyze what is in the best interest of the company in allocating resources. Bob has proven a very good and visionary businessman.

In the mean time I am happy as can be with Logos 5 running on my tablet. Unless a Windows 8 app allowed use of my full library, including personal books, I would probably wouldn't use it at all. I would be interested in a windows 8 interface that did allow such use.