Downloading all library to Android - possible?

Hi, my name is Stephen, I have an Android phone,
I use it 'wifi' canna afford the tariffs. I have tried in
vain to download books so that they're available
off-line. How do I download my Library? 'Silver'

I did have one book that gave me the choice, some
allow for download, I have check see if will allow
the download page, I'll be there all day! most of the
books I'd like don't reveal download option, is this
for real?

Thanks

Stephen

I agree some sort of bulk download feature would be helpful.   I may not want all my resources, but the ability to download a series (like UBS translator's handbooks) at once instead of each individual book would be helpful.  

Then after sorting is added, the library will finally be manageable.

A W Ward said:

Hello Jonathan, How are you? I was wondering what other
bible programs you have found to work better for Android? Thanks

I would rather not name them specifically, out of respect for the spirit of the forum guidelines. But basically any program which loads resources from your device's memory is going to be significantly faster at opening and searching resources than Logos 4 for Android, and won't have the inconvenience of having to download resources from the cloud one by one if you want them to run faster. Every other Bible program I've used for Android also lets you simply transfer the resources by USB or wifi from your desktop to your device.

For speed and convenience, Logos 4 for Android is simply not a competitive product; it's not even in the running. It won't be until resources can be downloaded to the device en masse, and run locally. The speed of a Logos index is completely wasted when you have to access it by remote over a 3G or wifi connection.

Dave Hooton said:

The issue is that a Logos index requires a lot of computer power and space to build, something which a phone/tablet could not handle.

That's why it would be an excellent idea if the index could be compiled on the user's desktop computer in a format readable by the portable device, and transferred.

Graham Criddle said:

I guess one of the problems is "what should be indexed?"

Is it a subset of resources, the ones that have been downloaded or something else?

It could be the entire library if the desktop is doing the indexing. If the resources in the index haven't all been downloaded to the device, that wouldn't matter. The mobile version of Logos 4 could simply inform the user 'This resource has not been transferred to your device', or else check the mobile device's Logos 4 data folder after searching the index, and only display hits for those resources which are on the device.

Graham Criddle said:

EDIT: Looking at my Logos4 index files it looks as though the total index size of my library is about 5MB. This is on a library much smaller than many. So an index of a full library could be a problem for some mobile devices.

My entire data folder is 27GB, but my index is only 6GB. That would fit very easily on my device's microSD card.

Bob has elsewhere stated that the design concept for Logos 4 is that "it just works", or something very like that.

The Apple iOS app, and the Android one too, is a subset of the main application, with a strong focus on reading, and leaving most of the "heavy lifting" such as Search as on online function that calls out to the Logos Servers.

In general, I think its a good design, but people like me always want more. More features, more controls, more personal options on how it works.

In my case, I have a 64 GB iPad, so am happy for the Logos app to use as much memory and CPU power it needs. I would gladly hand over 5 or 10 GB for indexes and offline ability, in return for reduced network traffic and more complex offline usage.

I'd love to see a model where I could use my PC to tag files in different ways to permit all kinds of options. It could then localy generate some local index file(s) for transfer to my iPad (or Android) device(s). Such files could include only those I select. A search could offer the options of search the current (maybe unindexed) open resource, search my local index, or online to Logos Cloud. My choice, my storage, my traffic bill with my ISP / Carrier.

Bob has made the point that each new option adds to development and support costs, and I'm sure thats right. However, we are reading of people leaving Logos because features are seen to be better in completing products. This may or may not be true. It also might not be worth adding $500,000 to yearly development and support costs to keep $100,000 worth of customers. But as the customer, I just want more features and controls. Simple.

By all means, let the basic "out of box" defaults "just work", but I'd love to see where those that wish can enable the advanced menu settings, and tweak additional aspects to suit their personal needs and that of the location they are in. 

I have other devices that have Menu Setttings that permit "Basic" or "Advanced" modes. In Basic, it just works and maybe it suits most users. The Advanced only gets enabled if you turn it on, and you really need to check the manual and know why you want to change some of those settings. However, it makes the device the one to buy, rather than the alternatives which simply can't do the desired functions.

Offen the main diff between some software product and the Premium version, is the extra controls for advanced features. Almost without exception I go for the top models and pay the extra. 

Dave Hooton said:

Some tablets have 5 GB maximum storage and no way to expand.

True, but that shouldn't stop the rest of us making the best use of our mobile devices.

Dave Hooton said:

This is not a solution that can be realistically applied to mobile devices with limitations on fast memory, CPU and microSD storage when compared to Logos' servers.

Why not? What's stopping a mobile device searching a pre-built index? The fact is that the power of Logos' servers is completely wasted when you add the massive latency of a 3G or wifi connection. I have two other Bible programs on my PDA which can open a Bible and return results for multiple term searches in a fraction of the time that it takes to run a search in the Logos Android app. Adding to that the convenience of offline searching, and the ability to transfer resources directly to my PDA from my desktop or download them, and there's simply no reason to use Logos Android.

The two massive advantages of Logos 4 are the index and the vast array of professional resources. Those significant differentiating features are both completely lost when offloading the search to a remote device via a wireless communication protocol, and only giving users the option to transfer resources to the device by downloading them individually. This defeats completely the purpose of using Logos in the first place. Imagine if you had to live with that kind of remote access on your desktop.

When I was using one of the early iterations of Logos Android, I took a couple of days to painstakingly download 2GB of resources to my device, adding them individually. The next time Logos Android was updated, it wiped out my library completely, so although the resources were still on my device, Logos couldn't see them. So I spent an entire week agonizingly downloading 4GB of resources to my library, each one individually. The next time Logos Android was updated, it wiped out my library completely yet again, so once more Logos couldn't see the resources on my device. It was at this point that I gave up downloading resources to my device. There is simply no point in doing so until I can trust that they will stay visible the next time the program is updated. This would change if bulk selection of downloads was an option.

Only two versions of the Bible are downloadable.

I'd like to throw my hat in the ring for a bulk download option for the entire library.

I use a DROID Razr and the area around the church I pastor has pathetic reception, and we have not introduced WiFi to the building yet.

I've installed a 32gb card, and so I have ample space for it... and really would love to have it available offline... I just don't have the time to sit around and download each file one at a time.  I understand the problem about the indexing computer power... but I respond with, why is it that competing apps, in some cases that are free, operate so much faster?

It can be done by "pushing" your library to your devices from the desktop Logos 5. Click on your library icon and when the list of the books in your library is displayed press Ctrl+a on your keyboard. This should select all the books in your library. To the right of your library book list you should see "Download all to...".  Check the box of the device you want the books downloaded to and you are done.  The books will be downloaded to your device after the first library update on your device (usually right after you start your llogos app on your Android or IOS device.

Sakarias Ingolfsson said:

That is not the full truth.

I purchased the SESB a few years ago, which included four versions of the norwegian bible. Since I already had the OLL package with SESB for logos users, I did not need it. I bought it for the sole purpose of getting the norwegian bibles. None of those are available for purchase after the SESB was discontinued, but they are available on the desktop for those who bought the package when it was. They are not, however, available on mobile.

I have been in contact with both DBG, which published the SESB, and the norwegian bible society, which publishes the norwegian bibles. Neither of them admitted to be the obstacle for mobile availability. In fact, the guys in norway promised to contact Logos in order to solve the problem. Nothing has happened, and I will assume that Logos is to blame.

A couple of years ago, logos launched a pre-pub, containing the most recent norwegian translations. In good Logos-fashion, however, it is extremely expensive, and bundled with a version that no one desires (an interim version, containing a revised NT and older OT). Is this a scheme meant to discourage norwegian users from using Logos?. Well, of course this is just prepub, and will probably never be finished.  

I'm sorry to hear about your frustrations. I wish I could give you more information, but this is a little bit out of the scope of the mobile team's knowledge. I'm not 100% sure what your next step should be (maybe an MVP can provide more info?) but perhaps contacting customer support or creating a new post in a different forum would get you more information about why these particular resources aren't available on mobile.

The help is pretty much this: Don't do it!. One of the great strengths of the mobile platform over the desktop is that you do not need to download all your resources. If you have a base package you are probably only using a fraction of it anyway. The rest is just noise.

In the mobile app there is no indexing, because searches are run online. Same goes for the guides. This will not change, even if you download your entire library to your device. Not downloading everything will minimize the space required for the Logos app.

On the other hand you can (and perhaps should) download the resources you use often. In the library, press the info button on the far right of the book title. A dialog opens where you can download the resources.

If you really want to download more resources, you can make a search of your library, and simply keep it broad enough. This will present you with a "Download all" button on the top of the resource list. You could do a couple of searches, download all, and then download the rest manually. Finally I believe you can download resources remotely from within Logos 5 on the desktop (though I have never done this). In the library window, select a resource. On the sidebar you are presented with the names of your mobile devices, along with checkboxes which represent each Logos-app installed on the device. It is only a matter of clicking the boxes (or so I presume).