Offline resources

Thank you team for library.logos.com - I have an HTC Magic (android) and everything works very well for me I can access about 450 odd books. I am more than happy with the quantity and quality of the site. My query is similar to some I have seen on the iPhone forum - being able to read resources from my library offline would take the program from good to amazing! Realizing it is very early days is this a possibility in the near future?

Am really enjoying Logos 4 in every aspect and the more I get used to it the better it gets.

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Comments

Bryan Smith

I'm glad you're finding it useful. There are a lot of technical challenges in making the site available offline. At this time we're not planning on it, and I don't see it happening any time soon.

Ronnie Poon

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/72566#Comment_72566

I think that if you can develop an offline option for iPhone, you can also develop this option for the other mobile users. I think there are a lot more users of Logos4 having other smartphones than those with iPhone. Technical challenges are just something to overcome.

Kevin A. Purcell

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/75453#Comment_75453

I think that if you can develop an offline option for iPhone, you can also develop this option for the other mobile users. I think there are a lot more users of Logos4 having other smartphones than those with iPhone. Technical challenges are just something to overcome.

I would doubt there are more users using a single platform that has a solid future. The availabe platforms are

1. iPhone

2. Windows Mobile

3. Palm OS

4. Palm's New Pre OS

5. Android

6. Blackberry

and there may be others.

Of those the largest user base is with Blackberry or iPhone or WinMobile. WinMobil is in serious decline and unless v. 7 is a real hit will likely shrivel and die within a couple of years. Blackberry is a large group as well, but app sails for it are not good. People using blackberry's want email and text and phone and not a lot else. Developing for iPhone is the biggest money making platform right now. All the others (besides iphoen, blackberry and windows mobile) are less than iphone combined. So it is smart to focus on iPhone. If I were the decision maker at Logos I would stand pat with the three platforms I have (Windows, Mac, and iPhone) and I would start thinking about adding an android version. But the Mobile Web gives me access to all of the others together without having to create a separate one for each. I know this is not popular if you don't use an iPhone, but Logos is a business and not a ministry. Sure it helps people in ministry and I hope the Christians that work for Logos have a ministry mindset as all Christians should regardless of where they work. But Pritchett clan is building a business.

Ronnie Poon

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/75769#Comment_75769

[I would doubt there are more users using a single platform that has a solid future.]

I am not asking Logos to develop apps for every other mobile platforms. I also agree that no single platform has a solid future. I am only suggesting that Logos follow through on their stated intention to develop a generic mobile tool that can be accessed from any platform.

However, all I have been seeing is further development of the iPhone app but the Mobile web (library.logos.com) function are stuck in its original state.

As a business, unless Logos is receiving huge advertising money from Apple, I would suggest scraping the iPhone app and replacing it with a better mobile web app.

GLR

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/75769#Comment_75769

Hi Kevin, I see you are very well represented in these forums - and with good comment, thank you. Here in NZ Windows Mobile is almost unavailable through the Cellphone Networks now - so after some investigation I chose to go with the Android OS - it would appear to be the fastest growing OS now and it means you don't have to have all the other things that go with the iPhone system.
Like you, I am a great fan of Logos and have used it since version 2.0 I think - so obviously I would really like to be able to access my library offline -- so I do hope one day Logos might pursue an Android app.
In the meantime I can make do with what we have, keep up the comments and Pritchett support!! [:D]

Bryan Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/75453#Comment_75453

Bob has explained the decision to support the iPhone here:

http://community.logos.com/forums/p/7491/65028.aspx#65028

I think that if you can develop an offline option for iPhone, you can also develop this option for the other mobile users.

We could add offline support to library.logos.com using HTML5 offline storage, however, at this time the iPhone is the only mobile device that supports that standard. So, without developing native apps for all the other platforms we can't support offline use on those platforms.

I am only suggesting that Logos follow through on their stated intention to develop a generic mobile tool that can be accessed from any platform.

I think Library.logos.com has accomplished this pretty well. We never made any claims about supporting offline use.

Timothy Ha

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/76520#Comment_76520

How about supporting Google Gears to provide offline use of library.logos.com ?

Bryan Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/80584#Comment_80584

How about supporting Google Gears to provide offline use of library.logos.com ?

We have considered it, but there are a couple big problems with it. Gears is being deprecated in favor of HTML 5 features. We don't want to use a dying technology that's unlikely to be supported in newer devices coming out, especially when many of those devices will start supporting the same functionality through HTML 5. It currently supports only a few mobile browsers, and would probably lead to a lot of confusion.

Timothy Ha

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/80734#Comment_80734

We have considered it, but there are a couple big problems with it. Gears is being deprecated in favor of HTML 5 features. We don't want to use a dying technology that's unlikely to be supported in newer devices coming out, especially when many of those devices will start supporting the same functionality through HTML 5. It currently supports only a few mobile browsers, and would probably lead to a lot of confusion.

Thanks, Bryan. I got it. I think you are right in waiting for devices to catch up with HTML5.

Kevin A. Purcell

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/80746#Comment_80746

HTML 5 is the future, hopefully. The announcement that Yahoo is now supporting it so that users of Safari and Chrome don't need flash will make it one step closer to being the standard. Until then, this is a great solution and I can see it getting much better very soon. Wouldn't it be great if the online looked just like the desktop client? I'm hoping to see something like that very soon.

William Hatfield

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/76520#Comment_76520

Kudos on putting work into library.logos.com. But to clarify, the Palm Pre also uses HTML5.

Will

Bryan Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/83607#Comment_83607

Many devices have only partially implemented the HTML5 spec. You're right though, webos does support the offline storage API, my mistake

Doug Johnson

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/83614#Comment_83614

This has been an interesting thread to watch. Being formally a web developer and IT manager for over 15 years then called into the ministry full time, this one caught my eye. The desire for an application (or in this case service app) to be cross platform and independantly available is a large undertaking. There are so many variables to consider that makes this almost impossible to satisfy everyone. Let me list a few that I would believe would put this in jeopardy.

Device offline storage capacity - Unlike the iPhone most mobile devices are drastically limited in storage capacity. Without ample storage the offline support would distress expectations of many users.
Vast array of browser platforms - Just like the PC platform there are a number of browsers and versions of each of those to deal with. For example, I use a blackberry 8310 (after the iPhone app release, I am saving my pennies for a phone change when my contract is up) and to make the library.logos.com site to function normally, I had to install the Opera Mini browser (oops there goes more storage space). Each browser platform must be considered and a decision has to be made to which one(s) to support. Unfortunately not everyone keeps the latest phone model and uses depricated browsers. It looks like offline storage support would require HTML5 platform which is great. Unfortunately not everyone handles the standard the same. Micro$oft is notorious about wanting to do things different than everyone else, which makes programming the standard a headache. To support every version of every browser would cripple the functionality of the application.
True Application vs. Service Application - Google has been trying to corner the market on the Service Application for a number of years and they have produced a number of "online applications" that are exceptional but do not do everything their competitor's "box" applications can do. A true application will usually be more feature rich and is not dependant on multiple factors like screen size, OS, Browser, and network speeds. To develop an application for the iPhone is easier because the variables are limited and the results are easier to manage.

As much as I would love to have an "onlince application" that would do as much as the iPhone application I understand there are limitations. These limitations would be difficult to overcome because library.logos.com is not a true "local device application" in itself.

I want to say that library.logos.com is an excellent response to the request for support beyond the iPhone. Thank you Logos for working hard to help the rest of us who are not on the "right network" or who cannot afford the personal, palmsize, phone computer, that has swept the teen generation off their feet.

You guys rock!
Doug Johnson

Bryan Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/83811#Comment_83811

Thanks a lot Doug. I'm glad you're finding the site useful.

I should add that storage capacity is a bigger issue than many people realize. Logos 4 resources are stored in a highly compressed format that currently can't be used outside of a desktop app. On the web (and iphone app) we have to use a format that can be easily consumed by low power devices using different platforms. Unfortunately that means our resource content is significantly larger than what's stored on your home computer for L4 consumption.

Ronnie Poon

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/84104#Comment_84104

Thanks a lot Doug. I'm glad you're finding the site useful.

I should add that storage capacity is a bigger issue than many people realize. Logos 4 resources are stored in a highly compressed format that currently can't be used outside of a desktop app. On the web (and iphone app) we have to use a format that can be easily consumed by low power devices using different platforms. Unfortunately that means our resource content is significantly larger than what's stored on your home computer for L4 consumption.

Since I'm getting my Android based phone next week, I want to revisit this issue. I agree with Bryan that storage capacity is a big issue. But that is only if the user plans to store a lot of resources offline. What I am thinking in terms of offline storage is the ability to have one book to read during travels. I don't think that would take up a lot of space.

Currently I can copy and paste several hundred pages from a resource into a document to bring with me on the mobile device. But it would be nice to have an easier way to accomplish this.

Ronnie

Greg Hoerter

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/100949#Comment_100949

Thanks a lot Doug. I'm glad you're finding the site useful.

I should add that storage capacity is a bigger issue than many people realize. Logos 4 resources are stored in a highly compressed format that currently can't be used outside of a desktop app. On the web (and iphone app) we have to use a format that can be easily consumed by low power devices using different platforms. Unfortunately that means our resource content is significantly larger than what's stored on your home computer for L4 consumption.

Since I'm getting my Android based phone next week, I want to revisit this issue. I agree with Bryan that storage capacity is a big issue. But that is only if the user plans to store a lot of resources offline. What I am thinking in terms of offline storage is the ability to have one book to read during travels. I don't think that would take up a lot of space.

Currently I can copy and paste several hundred pages from a resource into a document to bring with me on the mobile device. But it would be nice to have an easier way to accomplish this.

Ronnie

I also just want to be able to take some books on the road with me. If I buy an Ipod Touch, can I put some resources on the unit for offline reading later?

Ronnie, how do you copy and paste several hundred pages at a time? This seems like it would be very time consuming.

Ronnie Poon

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/104420#Comment_104420

[Ronnie, how do you copy and paste several hundred pages at a time? This
seems like it would be very time consuming.]

It is not as time consuming as you would expect. Just click and scroll down on a resource until you reach the end of the content you want to copy, press Ctrl+C and paste to your word processor. It takes perhaps a few minutes, and sometimes you would have to break the operation into several smaller steps. It's not pretty, but it can be done. Until Logos comes up with an offline storage solution, this seems to be the only way to take some reading on the road.

Ronnie