New iPad owner needs advice

fgh
fgh Member Posts: 8,948 ✭✭✭
edited November 21 in English Forum

I bought myself an iPad a week ago. I've never used one before that (nor have I used an iPhone, nor have I followed the iPhone/iPad forum), and I haven't had much time to spend on it this week either, so I'm very much on the "for dummies" level.

I assume I want the Verbum app? Or is there some reason I should prefer one of the other ones? What's the quickest way to learn the basics? Anything in particular I should know about?

I have no intention of doing any serious work at this point. I just want to download Josephus, some archaeology books, and so on, to bring with me to Israel, and do some simple searches, and perhaps some highlighting and a note or two. I assume I can search downloaded books offline? Can I access Biblical Places?

Mac Pro (late 2013) OS 12.6.2

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Comments

  • David Knoll
    David Knoll Member Posts: 912 ✭✭

    Download the Bible! app. 

    If you read Hebrew or Greek Download the text grammars and lexicons of the original languages. Commentaries are also very useful.

    I think Biblical Places is equivalent to what you find under the Guides Topic Guide if you type a toponym. I am not sure though since I usually don't use this feature so you better compare them.

    Highlighting and notes  are more simple on the iPad simply place your finger on the place you want the highlighting to start wait two seconds and drag it up to the point where you want the highlighting to end. Lift your finger and wait a second.

    When do you plan to come here?

  • Dan Francis
    Dan Francis Member Posts: 5,335 ✭✭✭

    Verbum is the one you want in my opinion. It contains all the features of the Logos Bible App and some of the features of the faith life app.

    -Dan

  • DMB
    DMB Member Posts: 13,437 ✭✭✭

    No doubt you'll read the manual, get some tips, etc  These are some of our traveling tips:

    - If your iPad supports GPS (has cellular), it chews up your battery.  You turn it on/off in the Settings > Privacy > Location Services. 

    - You'll want to go thru your Settings > General and adjust relative to your privacy and downloading limitations.  We run all on cellular, so we don't allow automatic updates, advertising tracking, and have limited location monitoring

    - The panel that moves up from the bottom allows you to control the WIFI on/off (also in Settings > General) to better manage the battery.  It also has the contrast setting with set at low on the plane, will extend your reading time.

    Don't know how knowledgable about the iPad but a nice accessory is a cover that 'sleeps' the unit, when you close the cover. Apple has it; so do the knock-offs.

    And the re-charge on the iPad is very specific on voltage/amperage.  It generally won't recharge from most PCs; don't know about the Mac.  So at least for us, an Apple adapter is absolutely do not forget.  We bring two.

    Not sure about Biblical Places; I have the latest loaded and don't see it.  But I would not go to Israel without a selection of Carta resources (A-Company).  The iPad really displays the images/data in the A-Company's app (which is otherwise a pain).

    I use Bible!, Biblia, Noet and Vyrso with a book on each.  I don't have any of the Faithlife functionality because it forces books onto the iPad. If you delete them, they automatically re-load.

    "If myth is ideology in narrative form, then scholarship is myth with footnotes." B. Lincolm 1999.

  • Graham Criddle
    Graham Criddle MVP Posts: 32,478

    We're just coming towards the end of a wonderful time in Israel (typing this just outside Nazareth)

    as others have suggested I woud go with either the Verbum or Bible! app and then i would download the key resourcs you are interested in.

    Personally i have found having access to Bibles. Commentaries, Atlases and Dictionaries has been most helpful.

    As has already been mentioned, taking notes and highlights in the app is straightforward. Any you make while offline will sync when you go online again.

    You asked about Biblical Place - this is one of the Logos 5 features which is not available in the mobile apps.

    You can do offline searches but the way search works on the mobile app needs a bit of understanding (personally, I think it needs some work!)

    Two search options are available on both online and offline modes - Basic and Bible.

    when online, searches are executed on Logos servers and the results returned to the app. When offline the search is done locally.

    You can't specify the actual resource to search directly - when online your Logos 5 collections are synced and available. When offline you can only search "recent resources" (those which appear in the app history) so you may not be able to search all your downloaded resources when offline.

    Also some features - such as the use of operators (NEAR, AND, etc) work when online but not offline.

    enjoy your trip!

  • David Knoll
    David Knoll Member Posts: 912 ✭✭

    We're just coming towards the end of a wonderful time in Israel (typing this just outside Nazareth)

    OT: Just wanted to say thank you for coming here at such times when it can look frightening to the outsider. I hope you enjoyed your trip here and as an Israeli citizen I wish to express my gratitude for your decision to come here at this time. We don't take it for granted!

  • fgh
    fgh Member Posts: 8,948 ✭✭✭

    I didn't expect general iPad tips, but thanks anyway, Denise.[:)] No cellular, though, and I already ordered a similar cover for 1/3 of Apple's price. Hopefully it does the job. 

    And thanks to the rest of you as well. Especially Graham, taking the time to write while travelling.

    I remembered there were some videos in the Verbum blog long ago, so I've been watching those during dinner.

    You asked about Biblical Place - this is one of the Logos 5 features which is not available in the mobile apps.

    [:'(] Hasn't it occurred to them that maps, travelling and iPads go together?

    When offline you can only search "recent resources" (those which appear in the app history) so you may not be able to search all your downloaded resources when offline.

    [:'(] That's the one thing I expect to need most, besides reading. If I download a specific set of books for Israel, of course I want to be able to 'search all downloaded resources' for "Tel Dan" or whatever I want to read up on.

    the use of operators (NEAR, AND, etc) work when online but not offline.

    Another [:'(].

    Download the text grammars and lexicons of the original languages.

    You think I'll have time to use those in Israel?[:)]

    When do you plan to come here?

    Landing in three weeks. Staying for three weeks. It seems I booked the day IDF went in. I didn't even remember that. I had to look it up. That's how concerned I am about Hamas' threats.[:)] (Personally, I mean. They're certainly real enough for those nearby.) Besides, I was a second or two from a major car crash during my first trip, and nearly got stoned by the kids in that school above Haceldama on my second, so the extremely small risk of getting hit by a rocket doesn't seem worth getting overly excited about somehow. Actually, I'm more concerned about the Icelandic volcano that threatens to erupt and stop the air traffic.

    Won't go to the south, though, but it's too hot there in September anyway. And I'll bring a phone and an iPad. So I'm taking some precautions I haven't bothered with before. 

    Wow, I just realised: do you know what saint it was yesterday? Blessed Mariam Baouardy from Ibillin, also known as Sr Mary of Jesus Crucified, foundress of the Carmelite convents in Bethlehem and Nazareth, and patron saint of peace in the Holy Land. What a day to sign a truce! I do hope it lasts more than a few hours this time!

    Mac Pro (late 2013) OS 12.6.2

  • Kevin Byford (Faithlife)
    Kevin Byford (Faithlife) Member, Logos Employee Posts: 4,309

    You can't specify the actual resource to search directly - when online your Logos 5 collections are synced and available. When offline you can only search "recent resources" (those which appear in the app history) so you may not be able to search all your downloaded resources when offline.

    Graham,

    All downloaded resources are in fact searchable when offline, but offline searches cannot be narrowed down to *individual* resources unless those resources are already present in the Recent Resources list (from online searching).  Is that what you meant?

  • DMB
    DMB Member Posts: 13,437 ✭✭✭

    Wow.  This reminds me of Milford.  He wanted a manual.

    "If myth is ideology in narrative form, then scholarship is myth with footnotes." B. Lincolm 1999.

  • Graham Criddle
    Graham Criddle MVP Posts: 32,478

    Graham,

    All downloaded resources are in fact searchable when offline, but offline searches cannot be narrowed down to *individual* resources unless those resources are already present in the Recent Resources list (from online searching).  Is that what you meant?

    Hi Kevin.

    Yes, that's what I meant. Apologies if I wasn't clear.

    For me there are two usability issues here:

    1. The inability to search all downloaded resources when offline - it would be good if one of the search options (along with recent resources) was "all downloaded resources"
    2. The inability to select a specific resource to search in the mobile app - and this is the case for both online / offline operation.

    Graham

  • Graham Criddle
    Graham Criddle MVP Posts: 32,478

    We're just coming towards the end of a wonderful time in Israel (typing this just outside Nazareth)

    OT: Just wanted to say thank you for coming here at such times when it can look frightening to the outsider. I hope you enjoyed your trip here and as an Israeli citizen I wish to express my gratitude for your decision to come here at this time. We don't take it for granted!

    David.

    Thanks for your kind and gracious words - really appreciated.

    It has been, and continues to be, a wonderful experience.

    Graham

  • David Knoll
    David Knoll Member Posts: 912 ✭✭

    Landing in three weeks. Staying for three weeks. It seems I booked the day IDF went in. I didn't even remember that. I had to look it up. That's how concerned I am about Hamas' threats.Smile (Personally, I mean. They're certainly real enough for those nearby.) Besides, I was a second or two from a major car crash during my first trip, and nearly got stoned by the kids in that school above Haceldama on my second, so the extremely small risk of getting hit by a rocket doesn't seem worth getting overly excited about somehow. Actually, I'm more concerned about the Icelandic volcano that threatens to erupt and stop the air traffic.

    Won't go to the south, though, but it's too hot there in September anyway. And I'll bring a phone and an iPad. So I'm taking some precautions I haven't bothered with before. 

    Wow, I just realised: do you know what saint it was yesterday? Blessed Mariam Baouardy from Ibillin, also known as Sr Mary of Jesus Crucified, foundress of the Carmelite convents in Bethlehem and Nazareth, and patron saint of peace in the Holy Land. What a day to sign a truce! I do hope it lasts more than a few hours this time!

    I hope you enjoy it here! Feel free to contact me if  you need anything and thank you too for your decision to come and visit our country!

  • David A Egolf
    David A Egolf Member Posts: 798 ✭✭

    I didn't see anyone mention "split screen" mode.

    When you are in reading mode you will see a quarter circle on the lower corner.  Press and hold in order to slide it to the middle of the screen.  This will work differently based on whether you read in landscape or portrait mode.  This first time will leave you with two copies of the resource you had been reading.  You can put the focus on one of the two and visit the library to put a different resource in that part of the screen.  The two resources can be paginated separately or linked by repressing the semi-circle if they are properly tagged.  This is just like linking resources on the desktop app.

    You didn't say how much memory you had.  You will be able to see the memory overhead of downloaded resources from the iPad settings.  They really don't take much space so you may be able to download more than you would expect.  I have 2,400 books on this one and it uses less than 32 GB.  I go places offline a lot and I do not want to plan my reading in advance.  On my smaller iPad I still keep around 40 books. 

    When you are online you can locate the downloaded resources by searching for ":local".  (it may be "local:".)

  • JT (alabama24)
    JT (alabama24) MVP Posts: 36,489

    They really don't take much space so you may be able to download more than you would expect.  I have 2,400 books on this one and it uses less than 32 GB.

    For a number of reasons, it really isn't recommended to download so many resources. Obviously, there are some users who don't have internet regularly (missionaries, etc.). Unless you REALLY have to, I would advise against it. If for no other reason, sometimes the app needs to be reinstalled to fix a glitch... Unlike the desktop app, you lose all of your downloaded resources when you delete the mobile app. Once you reinstall, you will have a hassle trying to get all the books downloaded, and that can make your app less stable. 

    My rule of thumb (unofficial, not from Logos): Try to keep it under 200 downloaded resources and avoid as many of the "beasts" (very large resources... I can't remember what the name of the one that caused users difficulties last week... it sounded huge!).

    When you are online you can locate the downloaded resources by searching for ":local".  (it may be "local:".)

    It is the later ( local: )

    macOS, iOS & iPadOS | Logs |  Install

  • David A Egolf
    David A Egolf Member Posts: 798 ✭✭

    I have never had to reinstall Logos or Vyrso on either my Android or Ipad tablets.

    I have one iPad with over 2,400 resources loaded since January.  Updates have never been a problem.  The main hassle has been remembering to download the new resources that I have purchased during the year.

  • JT (alabama24)
    JT (alabama24) MVP Posts: 36,489

    I have never had to reinstall Logos or Vyrso on either my Android or Ipad tablets.

    One day you will. And it will be miserable. [:P]

    macOS, iOS & iPadOS | Logs |  Install

  • Dan Francis
    Dan Francis Member Posts: 5,335 ✭✭✭

    I have just under 1000 volumes on my iPad and have never had any issues, other than one time new books not showing up and the rebuild index corrected that.

    -Dan

    PS: I have 6607 downloaded books, but I only keep core reference works on it and the occasional devotional.

  • JT (alabama24)
    JT (alabama24) MVP Posts: 36,489

    I have just under 1000 volumes on my iPad

    I have 6607 downloaded books

    I am confused. 

    macOS, iOS & iPadOS | Logs |  Install

  • Dan Francis
    Dan Francis Member Posts: 5,335 ✭✭✭

    Let me rephrase that I have 997 resources downloaded to my iPad out of the downloadable total of 6607. My poor typing is what confused you.. You are suppose to read what I meant to type.. not what I actually typed...

    LOL

    [8-|]

    -Dan