New iPad app is not using ligatures, and other suggestions

The latest version of the iPad app (the one employing the Skolar PE font) does not seem to be using the customary ligatures when rendering text. (By ligatures, I mean the alternative renderings of character pairs and triplets that are built into the font, such as ‘fl’, ‘fi’, etc.). I observe this problem with the NKJV resource, but it may also be present in others.

Since I am writing a post, I’d also like to take this opportunity to request the following changes:

1. That a request for a three column layout be honoured, even with larger font sizes. At the moment, the app considers itself to know my preferences better than I do, and forces a two column layout in my preferred font size rather than the three column one I have selected. I like short line lengths.

2. The option of selecting left justified text with a ragged right margin, rather than full justification. Readability research shows that left justified text is easier to read, and it avoids the unsightly gaps in text that the current hypenation engine is incapable of eliminating. (I realize that some people prefer the look of full justification, which is why I request this to be an option.)

3. The possibility of at least conducting a plain text search within an open resource.

4. The possibility of looking up Greek words (e.g. in BDAG) from an English resource (e.g. the NKJV) when offline. At the moment, the ‘Look up’ function doesn’t work when I do not have an Internet connect (e.g. at church).

Many thanks to the team for a useful iPad application, however!