Windows Phone 8 App

Christopher Bagley
Christopher Bagley Member Posts: 24 ✭✭
edited November 2024 in English Forum

Where is Logos at in the process of developing an app for Windows Phone 8??

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Comments

  • Bradley Grainger (Logos)
    Bradley Grainger (Logos) Administrator, Logos Employee Posts: 12,053

    We are still evaluating the market share of Windows Phone 8 before committing (significant) resources to developing an app for it.

    See Bob's post from a couple of months ago for additional info: http://community.logos.com/forums/p/63184/447539.aspx#447539

  • Bradley Grainger (Logos)
    Bradley Grainger (Logos) Administrator, Logos Employee Posts: 12,053

    We're not currently developing a Windows Phone app, but are still watching changes in its market share.

  • Ken
    Ken Member Posts: 17 ✭✭

    Well, I hope you don't watch for too much longer and start developing soon. [:D]

  • Johan Brynte
    Johan Brynte Member Posts: 1 ✭✭

    If you raise your head and look around the World you will see WP is gaining momentum. Please start developing now so you wont will be to late to the table. Im using some of you compettitors instead since its impossible for me to use your software on my Nokia Lumia 920 ...

  • macy_chris
    macy_chris Member Posts: 3 ✭✭

    Grainger,

    Thanks for responding as always.

    I will wait patiently for any development you may create for the windows phone 8 environment or the tablet environment. I know it cost a lot of money to put your programmers on a project this size and then to offer the product to us for free! So as long as it is free, I will wait for your decision to make or not make the apps. Again, thank you.

    Chris

  • Peter Junor
    Peter Junor Member Posts: 36 ✭✭

    Me too!  Me Too!

    My Nokia Lumia 820 waits longingly!

    Peter

  • Bohuslav Wojnar
    Bohuslav Wojnar Member Posts: 3,477 ✭✭✭

    Me too!  Me Too!

    My Nokia Lumia 820 waits longingly!

    Peter

    [Y]

    I am in the same situation. Time to do something about it Logos [:)]

    Bohuslav

  • Hadyn Youens
    Hadyn Youens Member Posts: 3 ✭✭
  • Mark Barnes
    Mark Barnes Member Posts: 15,432 ✭✭✭

    If you raise your head and look around the World you will see WP is gaining momentum.

    I don't want to rain on your parade, but you might like to know that the first public beta of the Android app wasn't released until July 2011. At that point Android had roughly a 38% market share in the US. Windows Phone currently has 5.6%

    This is my personal Faithlife account. On 1 March 2022, I started working for Faithlife, and have a new 'official' user account. Posts on this account shouldn't be taken as official Faithlife views!

  • Yves Gerber
    Yves Gerber Member Posts: 4 ✭✭

    How long would it take to convert the existing apps (Android or even the Windows RT app) to Windows Phone 8?

    That was one thing I was looking for when I decided to switch to Windows Phone 8. I found the Logos app in the Windows RT store and thought it was available for all Windows mobile platforms. :-/

    OK even though on the global market Windows Phone is small compared to iPhone and Android, but maybe you can do a survey of paid Logos users? I don't know.

    Waiting diligently!

  • Joe Gschwandtner
    Joe Gschwandtner Member Posts: 50 ✭✭
    Would it be possible to test the waters with a simple starter app - such as a very basic app that can pull in your notes and let you edit them? That would be a great light-weight app that should be quick to produce. I'd find it a godsend for recording quotes, and Logos could see the engagement of the Windows Phone user base. There's more than raw market share to measure profit potential.
  • Bohuslav Wojnar
    Bohuslav Wojnar Member Posts: 3,477 ✭✭✭

    If you raise your head and look around the World you will see WP is gaining momentum.

    I don't want to rain on your parade, but you might like to know that the first public beta of the Android app wasn't released until July 2011. At that point Android had roughly a 38% market share in the US. Windows Phone currently has 5.6%

    It's true, but... 

    "Android up 13%, iOS down 7%, BlackBerry down 81% … and Windows Phone up a massive 52%"

    Bohuslav

  • Christopher S Macy
    Christopher S Macy Member Posts: 70 ✭✭

    That is GREAT news. I hope this trend continues and if it does, perhaps Logos will start heavier production on the Win 8 platform next year

  • Andy Eubanks
    Andy Eubanks Member Posts: 5 ✭✭

    I understand that WP8 doesn't have a huge market share, but I just want to add one more vote to the hat of getting a WP8 app rolling sooner rather than later.  My wife and myself just moved away from iPhones to Windows and we like them, but miss the Logos app and the ability to get signals from proclaim. I am not a developer, but am willing to help test in any way I can.

    Thanks,
    Andy E.

  • Peter
    Peter Member Posts: 32 ✭✭

    I have just made the leap from an old Nokia feature phone to a new Nokia Lumia 520 and I now find myself in the same situation as the rest of the post on this thread. Anything I can do to help it along I will.

  • James Merante
    James Merante Member Posts: 1 ✭✭

    Dear Logos, 

    I understand the need to deploy resources wisely, but we can't we at least have highlighting and reading plans?  I'm not asking for the split screen or the passage guide, or the full ipad feature set (yet), but if you could at least give us some of the basics?  You're killing me

    WIndows isn't going anywhere and MS isn't going to just all of a sudden just stop selling version 8.  

    Thanks,

    Jim

  • Dan Francis
    Dan Francis Member Posts: 5,341 ✭✭✭

    stop selling version 8.

    That is an issue though.. When Windows decides to make something new and not have apps backward compatible there is an issue. It would;t surprise me if version 8 was not long lived. On iOS and Android phone apps can exist in the same universe as tablet apps (it is always nicer if they are optimized to the Pad size but not needed). MS has released a tablet and phone that in my understanding (I could be wrong) can not share apps. MS will sooner or later realize this is an major fault for wider adoption. Historically they have not allowed for upgrading OS to the new version. So if MS has hope to gain a significant share in mobile devices a major shift may be in the works. Logos has invested some energy into making a Surface RT app, the surface has been a big disappointment so far from all sales reports. The phones maybe doing better but until MS gets itself into the range of 5% I would suspect it is hard to  justify development in Logos mind. I honestly wish Logos could support everyone, for the smaller OS markets it might be best to get Logos to focus on making Biblia.com better.

    -Dan

  • Joe Gschwandtner
    Joe Gschwandtner Member Posts: 50 ✭✭

    Version 8 is an operating system in a long string of Microsoft OSes that have always had an above-industry backwards compatibility. Future versions will build on Windows 8. Apple has an operating system for phones and tablets and a separate OS for Macs (MacOS). Google has Android (phones and tablets) and Chrome, so it's not like everything's the same there, either. With Windows Phone 8, Microsoft has brought together Windows Phone and Windows development to where the APIs are similar but not yet identical. Rome wasn't built in a day. Trust me, they'd much rather have them write once, run anywhere. That's not a shift, it's an evolution, and all three are likely moving towards an integrated app store across their operating systems.

    Logos did not make a Surface RT app. They made a WinRT app. Surface RT is a particular computer. A WinRT app is a type of application that can run on Windows RT devices, such as the Surface RT, as well as on Windows 8 devices, such as the Surface Pro, or any desktop with Windows 8 on it. I can't speak for Logos, but in the past, they said that programming languages were an issue (I believe they said their code base was largely C/C++), and if I remember correctly, both Windows Phone 8 and WinRT can be written against using C++ ( http://www.infoq.com/news/2011/09/Design-Details-Windows-Runtime ). While there still needs to be a business case, developing for Windows Phone and WinRT should be much easier now.

  • Dan Francis
    Dan Francis Member Posts: 5,341 ✭✭✭

    Thank you for the clarifications on my comments, I fully admit I don't know much about the mobile class of Windows 8 products, just that the surface RT has had less than a favourable reception overall.

    -dan

  • JoshInRI
    JoshInRI Member Posts: 1,942 ✭✭✭

    I was going to buy a Nokia Windows Phone....but it looks like no Logos app.

    Heavy sigh.

  • Bohuslav Wojnar
    Bohuslav Wojnar Member Posts: 3,477 ✭✭✭

    surface RT has had less than a favourable reception overall.

    It is true, however the reason IMHO is the availability of Surface Pro with full Windows support. It shouldn't be taken as a sign of the less potential of Windows Phone 8 platform which is going to grow IMHO even Windows RT platform would not exist and all Windows tablets would be running full Windows 8. But that's just my understanding of the situation.

    P.S. My Nokia Lumia 820 is wonderful mobile device and also is waiting Logos to come to that platform [:)]

    Bohuslav

  • Ken
    Ken Member Posts: 22 ✭✭

    I switched from Windows Phone to Android only because I wanted to use Logos on my mobile device. I would switch back to Windows Phone in a heartbeat if it had the app. Just saying. 

  • ETMoore
    ETMoore Member Posts: 8 ✭✭

    Recently switched from an iPhone 4 to the Nokia Lumia 1020, primarily for the camera (we're 6 months in with our first child). I've been using biblia.com on the phone. I seem to have access to most of my Logos library, but it is just a mobile internet site with limited reading and search functionality. I'm giving Laridian's PocketBible Bible Study App a try. Not keen to have duplicate electronic libraries, but I need something robust on the phone, since just like the best camera is "the one you have with you", the best Bible is the one you have with you.

    BTW, the camera on the 1020 is outstanding; easily as good or better than a high quality point and shoot (and much more pocketable).

  • John Overstreet
    John Overstreet Member Posts: 6 ✭✭
    The last post on this thread is August 5, 2013. I thought I would add an update and vote for Logos to port to Windows Phone 8. Is there anyone out there who may know if Logos is monitoring Microsoft's efforts to merge the code base of Windows RT and Windows Phone 8 as an incentive for Logos to port to Windows Phone 8? Thanks for listening - Lord bless!
  • Joe Gschwandtner
    Joe Gschwandtner Member Posts: 50 ✭✭
    I'm afraid if we have to wait until then, it'll be a long wait.

    Posted from my Windows Phone.
  • Scott Myers
    Scott Myers Member Posts: 1 ✭✭
    Although I don't have access to all the tools a native app would provide, I do have access to my Logos library using the free pin it app. You can pin any website to your homepage, and even customize the icon.


    Seeing how the YouVersion app needs internet anyway, and bible.faithlife.com has descent mobile navigation, I find this to be the best option at this point. I downloaded the logos icon from their press kit and cropped it on the phone so it looks official and everything. I was going to attach a screenshot, but I can't do that from my phone.


    Here's a link to the pin it app: http://www.windowsphone.com/s?appid=2280bde7-6918-46b5-a468-50a17984c852
  • Rob Kuefner
    Rob Kuefner Member Posts: 164 ✭✭

    Just picked up a Windows phone after having used Android in the past. Here's my vote for a Logos app.



  • JoshInRI
    JoshInRI Member Posts: 1,942 ✭✭✭

    I was pondering getting a Windows Phone but if there is no Logos app then forget it

  • Genghis
    Genghis Member Posts: 232 ✭✭

    ETMoore said:

    BTW, the camera on the 1020 is outstanding; easily as good or better than a high quality point and shoot (and much more pocketable).

    I've read that there's a bit of a lag between snaps which has made me hesitate.  Is it that bad?

    Bk to Logos:  Yes the Pocket Bible option looks tempting especially as they allow up to 9 bibles and a few resources to be had for free.  Unfortunately neither ESV nor NKJV are free, but ASV is.

    Anyway, I see Europe is adopting WP8 phones with significant volume but the US is lagging far behind.  What do the Europeans see that the American's can't?  What's so different about the American market?  Why is WP gaining traction in Europe but not in the US?

  • Genghis
    Genghis Member Posts: 232 ✭✭

    We're not currently developing a Windows Phone app, but are still watching changes in its market share.

    Windows Phone Market share is making inroads in Europe, this raises our hopes:  3.6% Market share in the US with a population of some 320 million compared to over 10% market share in Europe with a population of 739 million.  OTOH, Logos' user base is probably mostly in the US. 

  • He Is Lord!
    He Is Lord! Member Posts: 28 ✭✭

    I have just switched from an Android phone to a Windows Phone and the Windows Phone is far superior to the Android.  Logos please stop debating before you wait yourself out of the market.  I agree with many others on this thread.  You are already committed to the Windows platform stop procrastinating and get a move on, please.

  • Brett Hoyle
    Brett Hoyle Member Posts: 1 ✭✭

    Logos, please hurry and release an app for windows phone

  • Mark Underwood
    Mark Underwood Member Posts: 2 ✭✭

    I would love to see an app for Windows phones as well. I'm ready to switch over to a Nokia 1520 but I can't make the move without Logos.

  • Ps3
    Ps3 Member Posts: 82 ✭✭

    Hi guys, does anyone know what's going on with this issue?  This post is almost a year old and I sure hope we're not still hearing the same ole things.  Our church is Windows based and we run Windows 8.1 on all of our systems.  We are also in the process of moving to Surface Tablets and other Windows 8 based technology.  This includes Nokia phones and Samsung & Lenovo systems.  Many of our congregants are also using these products as well as Blackberry phones (yes they're still around) and are asking for a solution that works for them.  Unfortunately, if Logos doesn't come up with a solution that meets a more diverse technology group we will have to pursue other options.  It seems that Logos is more interested in the Apple world then the Windows world. All it it takes is to make these same Google & Apple apps to work in Windows 8 and they would satisfy nearly every modern windows device.  We would be able to use these apps on our desktop computers, our tablets, our phones, and yes even on our TV's.  Just because Logos could see beyond a phone app and realize this is bigger than phones.  Windows 8 apps work on 'everything' windows 8.  How much 'market share' does Microsoft have across all of these platforms?

    I'm also needing more from the Vyrso App which doesn't respond to touch zoom for some reason.  That's bazaar since it was designed with tablets in mind. At least that's the impression I get from what's been written about it.

    So, what's going on Logos?  Time to break out and stop drinking the cool-aid.  Smilies

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  • Joe Gschwandtner
    Joe Gschwandtner Member Posts: 50 ✭✭

    Well, it's not 100% write once, run anywhere yet, but there is a lot of overlap now, and more coming. Logos will know how much needed functionality falls into the realm that still differs between Windows 8 Store apps and Windows Phone 8 apps. Nonetheless, this doesn't seem like a hurdle too hard to cross if the flesh is willing ;-)

  • Ps3
    Ps3 Member Posts: 82 ✭✭

    Yes Joe, I agree.  I don't think it's that much of a difference to cast off the whole idea.  Making the necessary tweaks to bridge the gap certainly is worth it considering the overall benefit of having the ability to give all Windows 8 users access to Logos software with just a reasonable amount of tweaking.  The benefit would be huge to Phone & RT users.  Once it works in RT the majority of windows 8 users would also benefit.  But like you said and I do agree "If the flesh is willing". Smilies

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  • Madagoo
    Madagoo Member Posts: 11 ✭✭

    Personally, I think Logos is now without excuse. This subject is now over 1year old Which in anyone's consideration is poor customer support not characteristic of them, but now damaging their good reputation.

    if anyone from the Logos team is reading this, you should escalate this to you VP or board of directors.

  • Thomas Winter
    Thomas Winter Member Posts: 19 ✭✭

    I understood the reason for not working on the WP7 OS, as WP8 was going to be different from the ground up. But (as I understand it) the coding for WP8 apps is much more compatible with what is done with Android or iOS, and should make it easier to at least start with a ported app from one of those.

    Like the rest of you, I've invested a good deal of money in my Logos library, and I'm disappointed that I have had to invest again in another product to use on my Windows phone.  Logos should at least get its feet wet with the flashcard app.  It might be worth it to ask Microsoft to help fund the full app development, since they want to close the app gap, and Logos users are the most invested Bible app users in the marketplace. But this simply needs to happen.  If somebody on the Logos team actually used a current Windows phone, I think they would understand the loyalty to that product and why it is growing.

  • Bradley Grainger (Logos)
    Bradley Grainger (Logos) Administrator, Logos Employee Posts: 12,053

    Madagoo said:

    if anyone from the Logos team is reading this, you should escalate this to you VP or board of directors.

    Bob Pritchett, CEO, recently posted his thoughts on Windows Phone here: http://community.logos.com/forums/p/80058/560363.aspx#560363 

  • Peter
    Peter Member Posts: 32 ✭✭

    It's getting quite interesting isn't it. my household is now exclusively Nokia Lumia Windows Phones. My wife loves her Surface tablet and couldn't be bothered with the miserable excuse for an app that Logos has on that platform. It's not just Logos that has to invest in apps for different platforms. As a group, LOGOS users may well have the largest investment of any other brand app. LOGOS needs to respect that investment by supporting Microsoft a fine American company whose mobile platforms are increasing market share Q on Q around the world if not in America. I have had to purchase a Nexus 7 just to get Logos into my pocket. Wake up people. You have had long enough now to get this anomaly sorted.

  • Genghis
    Genghis Member Posts: 232 ✭✭

    My household is exclusively Windows Phone as well.  On top of that my my in-laws (both over 70 years of age) and a niece have all bought Lumias too. 

    I see that Windows Phone is slowly clawing its way to a bigger market share (5.3% market share) up from around 4 a year ago (see http://www.kantarworldpanel.com/smartphone-os-market-share/intro).  

  • Joe Gschwandtner
    Joe Gschwandtner Member Posts: 50 ✭✭

    "In addition to unveiling its intelligent voice assistant planned for Windows Phone 8.1 and announcing the Windows 8.1 update, Microsoft's top executives talked of progress towards unifying its operating system across PCs, tablets, phones and its Xbox gaming platform. [...] Underscoring the progress Microsoft has made toward that effort, Microsoft's new CEO Satya Nadella said that 90 percent of its APIs are now common and this should remove some of the barriers to developing for the various system types. " Redmond Magazine, http://redmondmag.com/blogs/the-schwartz-report/2014/04/nadella-strikes-balance.aspx

    Naturally, 10% remainder could be a lot of code for Logos to have to adjust to release on both platforms, and the existing code base is quite possibly not written to take advantage of some of those new APIs yet. On the other hand, not every app available for Windows 8 is a perfect candidate for Windows Phone 8, or vice versa. There's a reason we carry different size screens.

  • Mark Groen
    Mark Groen Member Posts: 27 ✭✭

    Thank you for posting this.  I came here to post something to this effect.

  • Ps3
    Ps3 Member Posts: 82 ✭✭

    Yes, I agree and also wanted to post similar info.  I would also add that Microsoft is actually ahead of its time on this concept and once these transitions are more widely accepted we will see thus really take off and other companies like Apple will begin to follow Microsoft lead.   I think there's more to this story in regards to Logos and the "Market Share" argument and I don't fully buy into it.  Right now Logos has developed the book reader Vyrso app for windows store and it is in general inferior to most every other book reader and certainly everything else Logos produces.  It is not optimized for touch and doesn't even size utilizing standard zoom features among other basic reader functions. Based on usage of Logos products over the years it seems to me that Logos has shifted from being "Platform Neutral" to prioritizing Apple products.  Even though Apple only has 13% of the 'Market Share' these days in the phone world while Google has over 80% the quality of Logos products balance is still in Apples favor.  If Logos is merely concerned about market share then what we see coming from Logos would/should reflect that.  Over the past year Windows Phone has increased in market share from about 2% to now just over 4% nearly doubling in the past year and has been trending upward since the release of Windows 8. ( http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/31/strategy-analytics-q3-2013-phone-share/ ).  The funny thing is that Apple is trending downward and has lost 2% down from about 15%.  But by the way Logos promotes Apple products you'd think Apple had the majority share.  The days of Windows CE are long gone just like pretty much all of the products from that era. Even Microsoft discontinuance of the Zune was wise since the days of MP3 players is pretty much obsolete and Microsoft's lack of 'market share' caused them to shift to the Phone world and now a 'unified' operating system across platforms.  As the old adage goes... 'build it... they will come'.  Even the windows app store is increasing daily by developers who have 'caught the vision' and soon like Google, Microsoft's app store will be plentiful.  Right now Logos makes programs to run in OSX and iOS with little/no questions asked. The fact that windows 8 has sold over 200 million licenses ought to be enough to put a quality app in the Windows Store.  But like I said, there's more to this story then just 'market share' and we'll just have to wait to see where Logos really is on this. 

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  • Yves Gerber
    Yves Gerber Member Posts: 4 ✭✭

    As a web and software developer, myself, I would love it if Logos isn't interested in making a Windows Phone app, then can they at least make Web Services available to the general public (similar to Amazon and Google) so that WE can make the app ourselves?

    Doing this protects Logos' proprietary code and take the responsibility off of their shoulders for the functionality of the app. Logos' method could require log-in authentication and at least allow access to users' libraries. If Logos could also create a web service method that allows the word study tool, that'd be a nice bonus, too. But for me, simply having access to my Logos resources when I don't have my Android tablet/PC around me can be beneficial.

  • Graham Criddle
    Graham Criddle MVP Posts: 33,093

    But for me, simply having access to my Logos resources when I don't have my Android tablet/PC around me can be beneficial.

    I know its not the same as building an app with web services but are you aware you can access most of your resources at either biblia.com or bible.faithlife.com?

  • Genghis
    Genghis Member Posts: 232 ✭✭
    You're right, online access to one's resources is provided by Biblia. Therefore the principal purpose of a WP app should be to afford offline access to a user's library or at least a subset of it.
  • OCGF1
    OCGF1 Member Posts: 32 ✭✭

    Yes, I agree.  Vyrso really should also be a good option but it is lacking in some of the basics as has been pointed out.  Offline access is key even if you have to download to the device as needed.  I believe that is how it's already set up to work.  With a bit of tweaking Vyrso could be what we're looking for since its already available in the windows store.  It's just in need of some help at the moment.  This seems like a viable option with possibilities. [;)]

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  • Diego Lara
    Diego Lara Member Posts: 70 ✭✭

    My household is Windows Phone 8 also besides my sister who is due for an update and I will be getting her a Lumia for sure. My Girdfriend and her daughter are also on Lumia's now. Logo's needs to wake up to reality and recognize that Windows Phone  is here to stay and market share will continue to increase.