Why is split screen mandatory in the Faithlife Study Bible?

I have used several of your Android apps and find the Faithlife Study Bible the most awkward of the bunch for a about three reasons:

1) It keeps trying to sell me a product I have already purchased. In fact, according to the product labelling, I have already purchased it four times over in the packages I own, namely, the King James Bible--and then this app keeps telling me I need to cough up another $10.00 to pay for this one. Logos customer service did not help resolve the issue, the one in my library is "Authorized Version" and one called "King James" works for me in the Android "Bible" app, but not here. I believe it was once at the top of the list, but now it has moved to the bottom of only 8 choices I have (out of the 41 Bibles in my actual library) in some weird attempt to get me to shell out more money for products I already own.

2) It purposely uses different menus than the other Logos family apps. I'm not sure the advantage here, and I see several disadvantages (like only letting me use 7 of my 41 Bibles) maybe it is part of R&D, seeing how a different set may appeal to users. Here's your answer.

3) It makes the split screen mandatory. Split screen on a small screen like a smartphone is useful for the occasion when the user needs to see both resources at the same time, but needs to be cleared when not in use for a fuller view of the dominant resource. Also, in situations where lighting is an issue, the split screen becomes confusing as one cannot see the divider, and so mandatory split-screen it not only limits the usefulness, but also causes confusion.

For these reasons, and because I've found the programmers resistant to fixing issues in the past and am tired of waiting for them to get the sudden inspiration on their own to fix this one, I have given up on using the app and have uninstalled it.

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James Chandler

On my phone I use the Logos Bible app (Not the Faithlife app). It does not default to split screen, although it is an option. Also there should be a semicircle on the right side of the screen which will allow you to remove the split screen.

I also have found there is much similarity between the Bible app, Faithlife app, and Vyrso app, including the menu. As such I don't understand what differences you are speaking about. Perhaps you could be a bit more specific.

As far a repurchasing a product, I wonder if maybe you neglected to log in. That is the only reason I could see for having to rebuy a product. (However I am not an employee of Faithlife.) I would call support and see if they could help.

In Him,

Jim

Friedrich

3) It makes the split screen mandatory.

I personally don't like this, either. There are times I want ALL the real estate to be used for my Bible, but I can't. I have to leave a small portion of it for the "study notes" section.

2) It purposely uses different menus than the other Logos family apps. I'm not sure the advantage here,

they have different users/needs, in mind. My wife does not like to use Logos in general because it seems "too complicated" for her. For people like her, Vyrso, which simplifies the reading experience, is much better. She also uses the FL app regularly in church. Never Logos.

and I see several disadvantages (like only letting me use 7 of my 41 Bibles)

this is another "feature" that I don't like, either. I mean, I do like the ability to quickly change translations, but at the same time, I am frustrated that there are not more options. I would like to have the ability to scroll down a list of them. I would also like to have the ability to delete/hide them from a list, with behavior like one deletes and email (slide to left, hit "red delete" button)

1) It keeps trying to sell me a product I have already purchased. In fact, according to the product labelling, I have already purchased it four times over in the packages I own, namely, the King James Bible--and then this app keeps telling me I need to cough up another $10.00 to pay for this one.

wondering...you are signed in on the FL app under your name? (likely, but just checking the obvious). Anyway, they keep trying to sell me the CEB on my Bible list. This is annoying to me, and I would like to delete that and use that slot for a bible I own. I don't mind having a "buy" link when I see them linking to a reference I don't own in the notes. But to blatantly have a "buy" resource that I don't really want in the Bible choice list is a little annoying. I have dozens of translations already.

Tom Philpot (Faithlife)

1) It keeps trying to sell me a product I have already purchased. In fact, according to the product labelling, I have already purchased it four times over in the packages I own, namely, the King James Bible--and then this app keeps telling me I need to cough up another $10.00 to pay for this one. Logos customer service did not help resolve the issue, the one in my library is "Authorized Version" and one called "King James" works for me in the Android "Bible" app, but not here. I believe it was once at the top of the list, but now it has moved to the bottom of only 8 choices I have (out of the 41 Bibles in my actual library) in some weird attempt to get me to shell out more money for products I already own.

We offer several different Bibles with the title "King James Version" - https://www.logos.com/products/search?q=king+james+version, as you know. If you'd prefer not to see the featured bibles section, you can always hide it by tapping the vertical … in the home page menu and "Edit sections" then uncheck "Featured Bibles"

2) It purposely uses different menus than the other Logos family apps. I'm not sure the advantage here, and I see several disadvantages (like only letting me use 7 of my 41 Bibles) maybe it is part of R&D, seeing how a different set may appeal to users.

This is intentional to be more like a digital study bible + digital study resources than a digital library like Logos or Vyrso.

3) It makes the split screen mandatory.

This, too, is an intentional design decision. The FSB app is designed to be a digital study bible focused on your preferred bible text and the FSB study notes. Sometimes design decisions aren't always clear and they come across as poor decisions when the rationale behind them isn't well known. FSB, Logos, Biblia!, Vyrso and Noet all target slightly different user bases, so the feature sets and designs differ slightly between them.

Also, in situations where lighting is an issue, the split screen becomes confusing as one cannot see the divider, and so mandatory split-screen it not only limits the usefulness, but also causes confusion.

That's a bug we'll take a look at.

For these reasons, and because I've found the programmers resistant to fixing issues in the past.

I'm sorry that you're frustrated. We do try to be responsive to customer needs, but we are limited in terms of time and budget. We can't fix everything as soon as it's reported but we do spend a lot of time looking at customer reports, crashes and new features and try to prioritize the most valuable places to expend our time.

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/808716#Comment_808716

You may be better to download Logos, or Verbum. AS you will have similar functionality in both to FSB and you can go down to one pane. I do remember someone once calling the Verbum mobile app almost a hybrid of the Logos and Faithlife Study Bible apps so it may be your best bet.

-Dan

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/808721#Comment_808721

PS: I keep all three on my iPad. Verbum for most of my use.. Logos I have set up as a quick way to open up my lutheran study Bible (Logos ends up being my "lutheran study Bible" broadly including not only it but other resources done from a Lutheran perspective). And FSB is set up with a test account of just free items to be able to show what one can do free in FSB. It is a lot easier to say look what you can do free of cost than try to say look what you can do if you lay out $300.

-Dan

Tom Philpot (Faithlife)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/808716#Comment_808716

This, too, is an intentional design decision. The FSB app is designed to be a digital study bible focused on your preferred bible text and the FSB study notes. Sometimes design decisions aren't always clear and they come across as poor decisions when the rationale behind them isn't well known.

While I was correct in saying "This [was] intentional", Phil Gons agrees with you that we should relax the restriction for FSB, so that split screen isn't mandatory, so I'll open a case to allow full-screen Bible in FSB.

Tom

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/808723#Comment_808723

And FSB is set up with a test account of just free items to be able to show what one can do free in FSB.

Great idea. [Y]

I may try it with the Spanish Language Items! [^o)]