Logos Android App Development Seems to Have Slowed to a Crawl
Any roadmap for the next 6 mos. or so?
Director of Zoeproject
www.zoeproject.com
Comments
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I expect that Logos has made faithlife.com and faithlifebible.com a priority and Android App development is somewhere on the back burner. They only have so many programmers; it’s all about priorities. This is my opinion.
http://www.TrinityExamined.com
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I think that it is better to complete one task before moving on to the next. But that is my opinion. [:)]
Director of Zoeproject
www.zoeproject.com
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I think that it is better to complete one task before moving on
I think you're right.
macOS (Logos Pro - Beta) | Android 13 (Logos Stable)
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I agree. It would be great for Logos to maybe hire someone just for Android (if they haven't already) so that many of these features can be ironed out. The last goal I heard referenced was reading plans and improved syncing for beginning 2012.
Also, will people really pay $30/year for a tablet studybible? I, personally, don't like subscriptions for this sort of thing.
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Offline search, selective resource download, and possibly notes/highlighting are the main things still missing for parity with the iOS app. Am I missing something else?
I really wish the selective resource download was available...I'm pretty much downloading only the bare minimum on my tablet since I upgraded...I'm not going to waste hours downloading things one at a time...again. [:)] Fortunately I usually have WiFi so I can wait.
Offline search would also be helpful, but again, in combination with the selective download, because I won't have much to search if it's not downloaded.
Notes/highlighting could become very useful but I quit using the iOS app before that was added so I don't miss it, never having gotten used to it in the first place.
Once those three items are in place, I think we'd be pretty set for a good while. Although I'm sure we could always find more to ask for. Hopefully at least those three items are in place for the near future.
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From the outside looking in, as far as Android is concerned, I have noticed the seemingly snail's pace in developing the Logos Android app. I've yet to buy a tablet, but its primary purpose would be Logos, so I don't see my buying an Android tablet any time soon.
Pastor, Cornerstone Baptist Church, Clinton, SC
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I think that it is better to complete one task before moving on to the next. But that is my opinion.
An opinion I wish Logos shared. As already noted, they can only do so much with so many developers, but that should cause all the more caution before starting new products or adding new features. My ongoing complaint? The quality of the Mac version.
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I know I'm frustrated that there isn't faster development on the Andriod platform. I have an both an Android phone and tablet. I refuse to believe that there are so many more Mac OS users to jusitfy more development on their side. It's also frustrating that there doesn't seem to be any info being put out about upcoming Android updates. Something would be nice.
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Designing a website like faithlife or the study bible and writing an app for a tablet require different skills. People who are proficient in one, are not necessarily in another. The same goes for L4.
Different software requires different programming lanuguages. Logos 4 (if memory serves me correctly) is written using C++ or some variation of it. An app for the android most likely uses another programming language.
Those who write programs for the mac and ios will not have the necessary skills (hardly proficient) to use .net and wpf.
Mission: To serve God as He desires.
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Android apps are written in Java. In any case, it does appear that the FLSB is being developed for iOS and Android, so some Android programming resources are being devoted to that project.
What we are saying is that additional resources are needed to bring parity to the Android app vis a vis iOS.
Director of Zoeproject
www.zoeproject.com
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I expect that Logos has made faithlife.com and faithlifebible.com a priority and Android App development is somewhere on the back burner. They only have so many programmers; it’s all about priorities. This is my opinion.
I suspect faithlife.com and faithlifebible.com use separate resources because the programming skill set if different. My suspicion is that you ar half right. I suspect that syncing routines have been updated which are not very visible to us and because people seem to be playing with faithlife on iPads they probably are working on an Android version.
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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I know I'm frustrated that there isn't faster development on the Andriod platform. I have an both an Android phone and tablet. I refuse to believe that there are so many more Mac OS users to jusitfy more development on their side. It's also frustrating that there doesn't seem to be any info being put out about upcoming Android updates. Something would be nice.
Welcome [:D]
Logos mobile development for iOS devices began many months before Android so iOS mobile features are further developed; feature parity is planned.
For smartphones, Google's Android platform has a larger market share as of Jan 2012 => http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/comscore-us-subscriber-count-reaches-100-million-android-and-i/
Caveat: Apple's share of smartphone profits is growing faster than Android => http://www.imore.com/2012/02/04/apple-claims-biggest-share-profits-smartphone-manufacturers/ so Apple can afford to offer/support free iOS upgrades.
For tablets, Apple sold more iPads in the 4th quarter of 2011 (15.4 million) than HP sold computers (15.1 million) => http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9223707/iPad_sales_beat_HP_Lenovo_Dell_PC_numbers
Android tablet shipments increased in 2011 over 2010 => http://www.androidauthority.com/ipad-android-market-share-report-63303/
Amazon's $ 199 Kindle Fire was the # 1 Android tablet in 2011; yet Amazon has not released sales figures so analyst estimates range from 3 to 5 million sold.
One tablet prediction is Android growth overtaking Apple by 2015 => http://androidcommunity.com/idc-says-android-tablets-to-overtake-ipad-by-2015-20120314/
With a retina display, anticipating thousands of Logos users to purchase new iPad's; watching for Android tablets with high resolution displays to ship later this year. Note: initial price estimates for high resolution display Android tablets were higher than $ 499 for new iPad.
Keep Smiling [:)]
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I expect that Logos has made faithlife.com and faithlifebible.com a priority and Android App development is somewhere on the back burner. They only have so many programmers; it’s all about priorities. This is my opinion.
I suspect faithlife.com and faithlifebible.com use separate resources because the programming skill set if different. My suspicion is that you ar half right. I suspect that syncing routines have been updated which are not very visible to us and because people seem to be playing with faithlife on iPads they probably are working on an Android version.
Looking at => Logos/Vyrso for Android 0.9.4 Released noted date of 30 Jan 2012, a few days before iOS 2.0.2 mobile app release on 2 Feb 2012. Yesterday, Vyrso 2.1 was available in Apple's App Store while Bible! 2.1 has yet to appear (with ~6 weeks between Logos iOS updates). Searching Apple's App Store for Logos Bible Software found a Faithlife Study Bible app, which was updated to version 1.0.1 today, which has some more features than Bible! 2.0.2 (personally like horizontal screen split vis a vis vertical screen split in Bible! 2.0.2).
As a Logos user, not know when to expect the next mobile app releases for Android; hopefully soon.
By the way, appears Android development is a bit more expensive than iOS so one game developer is abandoning Android due to lack of profitability => http://mikamobile.blogspot.in/2012/03/our-future-with-android.html
Keep Smiling [:)]
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Didn't even know about the whole Faith Life project... I'm thankful that I can access anything on Android. Works good on my Dinc2 and on my HP Touchpad... Sure I'd like to have more features, but there are still features we were promised for the pc version that are still not functional, same with the Mac version... So I've just settled to the fact that I need to keep V3 around since it looks like years later Logos will not deliver. So it's how I look at the Android version as well... Also why I no longer offer Logos at our Bible College... Sold with promised features that 2 years + later my students didn't get... Logos seems to not care when asked nor when I stopped offering their Academic Program... Must not sell enough product to matter, who cares about customer promises we have presentation software and now our own Facebook/Google+ website to push.... okay rant of frustration for answering to students for logos' failures over, back to hiding
Logos 10 - OpenSuse Tumbleweed, Windows 11, Android 15 & Android 14
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Didn't even know about the whole Faith Life project
General forum has thread => Unreleased Stuff
Sure I'd like to have more features, but there are still features we were promised for the pc version that are still not functional, same with the Mac version... So I've just settled to the fact that I need to keep V3 around since it looks like years later Logos will not deliver.
Logos 3/Libronix thread => What is more useful in Libronix 3.0g ? (especially compared to Logos 4.5a) has several replies by Bob Pritchett, starting at => http://community.logos.com/forums/p/46104/346374.aspx#346374
Looking forward to vocabulary and word lists relatively soon in Logos 4 (suspect adding to vocabulary and word lists to mobile devices would be quite useful).
okay rant of frustration for answering to students for logos' failures over, back to hiding
Forwarded "rant" to Logos.
Keep Smiling [:)]
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This demonstrates that the Kindle Fire has driven Android app development and sales:
There is money in them thar hills. Listening, Logos?
Director of Zoeproject
www.zoeproject.com
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Since there are many customers using Android (and potentially many more to come) it would be encouraging to hear from Logos from time to time regarding the status of current project(s) development. Knowing that there is something happening would be positive. Communication diminishes a lot of negativity. Now asking the design team for release dates is also unfair as unforseen problems take time to resolve. Missing release dates may frustrate customers but not knowing anything at all is more disconcerting.
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The only part of Logos I use these days is the Morning and Evening Devotional each morning. I have it on my Kindle Fire. I can use the Easton Bible Dictionary from Logos at home where I have WiFi. Many times the Morning and Evening Devotional comes up with the prior day's passage. I then have to turn pages to get to the proper day. Placing the number for that day in the window at top of the screen does not even work correctly.
At Church WiFi is not accessible for non-staff members. I tried to use the Logos EBD there and it could not even search for a word. I rarely use the Logos on my PC anymore.
Luckily, at Church I use the Tecarta NIV and Notes which do not require WiFi to search. I get my verses there in 3 taps and the screen autoscrolls when someone is reading scripture to match the reader's speed. Thus, I don't have to even turn pages there. With their History button I can go back to any verses which were discussed in the past. Logos keeps a record of the past 5 verses in the NIV while Tecarta keep a record of the past 50. A search for any word is complete in under 3 seconds.
I can only hope that Logos gets at least as good as the Tecarta in time. Logos has infinitely more resources available than Tecarta but they really cannot be used in a non-WiFi envirnment which happens to be my Church situation.
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The Android app has the potential to attract more users (and buyers) to the Logos/Vyrso platform. It would benefit Logos to provide the most powerful and versatile app possible compared to the competition (Tecarta, Olive Tree, etc.)
Director of Zoeproject
www.zoeproject.com
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On the contrary, Android development has accelerated recently and in the past few months we've more than doubled staffing on the Android team.
I understand that you can't see inside our organization, but you could just ask "What's up with Android development?" instead of posting provocative headlines like "Android App Development Seems to Have Slowed to a Crawl." I understand that the "seems" gets you off the hook of making an untrue statement -- because technically it "seems" to you dev has slowed to a crawl, even though you have no data on which to base any statements about the development, which by its nature happens inside Logos and out of sight.
But provocative headlines do get your forum threads read... that's why I'm going to start one with the equally true (and disconnected from facts) headline "Logos Android users not ruled-out as suspects in flash mob crime spree." I mean, you haven't all been cleared, right? The police haven't announced arresting anyone else yet, right? It could have been you... I don't know it wasn't... Maybe there was a real-life "ice cream sandwich tablet" on display...
:-)
Okay, I'm being defensive... I know you just want the Android app, and we've not been delivering enough information. We'll keep trying:
We're on it. It's getting better every day. We have a team of 4-5 developers assigned specifically to Android (not counting all the shared code it uses from other devs/teams). Our primary Android targets are phones and the Kindle Fire, because Android hasn't made much market-share progress on tablets yet. (But we have many Android tablets on site and are working on them, too.)
The Android app is rapidly catching up and major new releases are coming shortly. The other "unannounced" products people think are stealing time from "the things I want done first" are actually built on the same code base. Yes, we're doing many things, but we're also making sure that everything we do "kills two birds with one stone." The net result of our recent efforts has been a doubling of the Android team, not a detraction from it.
By the way... for all those who said or agreed with "I think that it is better to complete one task before moving on to the next." -- is it alright with you if we stop all Android development and move those developers back to working on Logos 4 for the Mac desktop? Or fixing Logos 4 Windows issues? Or working on Proclaim? As a matter of principle? Because there were no Android tablets or Kindle Fire when we released those products and promised updates...
:-)
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I understand that you can't see inside our organization, but you could just ask "What's up with Android development?" instead of posting provocative headlines like "Android App Development Seems to Have Slowed to a Crawl."
Bob, I don't think there's anything provocative about the thread title. But I'm glad you're responding to this thread.
We used to have developers in the forums all the time. Back in the day. Now they're working so hard there isn't anyone available to answer questions and post statuses (except for Bradley. He's a madman [Y]). That makes it seem like nothing is happening. Which is why I think the thread title is accurate.
A little info goes a long way.
MacBook Pro (2019), ThinkPad E540
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[Y]The Android app has the potential to attract more users (and buyers) to the Logos/Vyrso platform. It would benefit Logos to provide the most powerful and versatile app possible compared to the competition (Tecarta, Olive Tree, etc.)
http://www.TrinityExamined.com
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On the contrary, Android development has accelerated recently and in the past few months we've more than doubled staffing on the Android team.
Thanks Bob for the update. I'll try to be more patient! [:)]
http://www.TrinityExamined.com
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Waiting patiently. Hurry up finish L4 and tablets. Some of us are anxious to test the super duper project. [:D]
Mission: To serve God as He desires.
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Bob:
Thanks for the quick response. My headline may seem to be provocative, but it did grab your attention! [:)]
I think better communication is needed so that we can see what is going on inside Logos. You have a lot of stakeholders using various platforms that are interested in the progress of their favorite project(s).
I know I get several e-mails from Logos every week telling me about the latest sale or product. How about an e-mail a few times a month telling us how software projects are progressing? You can call it "Logos Insider" or something like that.
Many of us are heavily invested in the Logos platform and would love to know when features are coming that will improve the user experience.
As far as resource deployment, I am happy to hear that you are devoting more resources to Android. I think that, even with Google's missteps and the slow evolution of Android tablets, there is a lot of potential there.
Tony
Director of Zoeproject
www.zoeproject.com
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Bibles are now linked to the rapid technology changes everywhere. Its hard for Bible publishers like Logos to keep up. We must have patience and understanding. Its hard to spot new trends and switch resources.
I used to rely only on my Zondervan Print NIV and KJV bibles exclusively. Then along came the PC and then Logos presented their first resources. I then purchased a lot of their resources and relied only on the Logos PC application.
Then along came the Kindle Keyboard units. Osnova Bibles swept to the top there and Logos was not even represented. At that point I was only using Osnova Direct Jump to Verse Bibles exclusively.
Then came the Kindle Fire. It is the only way I access Bibles now and the only one to leap ahead there was Tecarta. The Osnova Bibles ceased to work there altogether in their Direct Jump to Verse technology. I understand they are also working on an Android application but it will take time.
Logos as well is evidently working on developing their Android application but it will take time.
By the TIME Logos gets there it is very possible that Kindle Fire 2 may be out and then technology may drastically change again.
There is no question that in volume of available resources no one comes close to Logos. The only problem is that we consumers are so fickle. We jump on every technology innovation and never look back. In the meantime I have never opened my Zondervan Print Bibles once since the first Logos resources appeared for the PC. Its not Zondervan's fault. They simply didn't make it in time other then to license their own resources to Logos and Tecarta.
I believe that the best bet for Logos would be to re-license all their own great resources to other companies moving ahead in the technology race. Another approach would be to merge with the latest and greatest out in any one year. The field simply changes too fast for anyone to keep up in time.
Even the device manufacturers, themselves, are changing rapidly. Apple's iPad was the only game in town. Then Amazon came out with the Kindle Fire tablet and, in my humble opinion, has moved way ahead of Apple in the 7 inch category. For me the iPad was always too big to carry around. Smart phones had too small a screen for easy reading. The Amazon Kindle Fire's screen is as large as a book which has now become the standard for eBook reading. The Kindle Fire just came out last year and prior to that no one could have imagined it. Combined with Google's Android allowing for innumerable applications, everything has changed once again.
That is why we must have patience. I'm sure in time Logos will still be the best bible access model around.
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How about an e-mail a few times a month telling us how software projects are progressing? You can call it "Logos Insider" or something like that.
[Y][Y]
Macbook Pro | OSX 10.6.8 | 2.3 GHz Intel Core i5 | 4 GB Ram | 320 GB HDD
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Thanks for the update Bob. I'm sorry about my comment. It was made ignorantly and insensitively. At least for me, it is because I am invested and very excited about what Logos is doing that I get wrapped up in that and start checking the forums neurotically for the next beta or update. It's exciting to be part of the community and the robust conversation that happens in it. I can't imagine the stress you have probably getting suggestions/complaints from lots of people.
I also agree with the others here that a little info goes a long way. Thanks for the info.
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Decided to look up when the .9.4 version was pushed to the Android Market and it says January 30, 2012.
As one of the most critical of Logos users its tough to admit that this is only 52 days ago. By comparison other bible apps were updated ...
March 1 2012
Feb 21 2012
October 29 2011
November 4 2011
My conclusion is that the current version is not the oldest version of a Bible app but not as new as others. If I was a user of the ones not updated since Oct or Nov of last year and they were missing significant features I'd likely have been pulling my hair out and setting myself on fire.
I'm impatient and that's my fault!
So looking forward to a nice update coming hopefully soon. I have a dream of using Logos on my Kindle Fire by Easter.
Dr. Kevin Purcell, Director of Missions
Brushy Mountain Baptist Association0 -
I switched from BibleWorks to Logos 4 because I wanted one program with all my books and Bible resources in one place. Now, with my phone and tablet I find myself in the same place. I use Olivetree for Bibles and Logos for books. Logos App is the most dysfunctional I've seen when it comes to biblical languages. I suspect they don't see the profit potential and are focusing their resources in areas where they see a higher return. Happy to have what I have, will be nice to be using one app for all my Bible needs.
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