Make offline Word Study work while offline for downloaded resources
The Word Study feature doesn't work when a mobile device is offline.
Steps to reproduce:
- Set your device to Airplane Mode
- Open the Logos mobile app
- Long-press on any word in a bible
- In the resulting pop-over window (notice the lower half of that window is blank), tap the Word Study icon (the lower half of that pop-over window is never blank when online)
- The result is a new blank tab being opened with a notice of "Connection Error"
As it stands there should be a way of doing Word Study while a mobile device is offline, it should at least be able to find information in previously downloaded books. This issue leads me to believe that the search function itself is server-side rather than client-side.
The Olive Tree mobile Bible Study app does not have this limitation, which means an offline Word Study is possible within a mobile app. I respectfully request that offline Search and Word Study functionality be added for offline use.
Comments
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This issue leads me to believe that the search function itself is server-side rather than client-side.
You are correct and so changing this would be a significant piece of work I expect.
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Not really. I have designed websites and mobile apps in the past, it can be done. The fact that a major Logos competitor is already doing this should be incentive enough.
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As it stands there should be a way of doing Word Study while a mobile device is offline, it should at least be able to find information in previously downloaded books.
Nearly all the data comes from datasets rather than directly from downloaded books.
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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It is not a good thing for the Church worldwide to have increased dependance on connectivity. I live in a first world country and even so, it is not always possible for me to be connected all the time. I often find myself with limited functionality in situations in which it would be helpful to have access to these tools. Moreover, if one day Logos goes belly-up, who would want to no longer have access to tools made to depend on their servers? While it may be currently unavoidable for the new AI features, it adds a risk factor to other features. This includes features that are online-only even in the desktop app.
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Ok, I didn't know this.. thank you for the information. That is what is going to take some work - taking the dataset search/Word Study cross-platform from server-side to client-side. It's still doable, to be honest, but it will take a bit more work. I still believe it would benefit the company as well as the user base to get this done. I understand that this will take time, but it can be done.
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Agreed. I live in Seattle, a large city, and there are still times when a thunderstorm, or a truck backing into a utility pole, that removes our internet access and renders the Logos app inoperative. It is hard to believe that people rely so heavily on something like internet access that can easily be taken out of service.
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I echo this concern as I live in the Philippines where power outrages or lack of internet service is common.
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Are you intimating that we should avoid something that benefits everyone simply because it is too hard? I seem to remember Jesus being faced with that very same dilemma in the Garden of Gethsemane just before being arrested.
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Are you intimating that we should avoid something that benefits everyone simply because it is too hard?
No - but it's not necessarily the case that this would benefit everyone, or that it would benefit everyone more than other things, or that it would be cost effective.
I have no way of knowing these things but they are some of the things Logos needs to take into account when planning their development strategy.
Personally there are things I would find more useful than having offline access to features on mobile - but I am aware that for others this is really important.
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Very good points. Thank you for your insight.
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