Android app not worth using

Jim
Jim Member Posts: 724 ✭✭✭
edited November 21 in English Forum

I had uninstalled the Logos app from my previous Android phone some time ago because it took too much memory. I just bought a better phone, an LG Destiny with enough memory to install Logos, and was looking forward to being able to use it again. 

However the app takes minutes to open, bring up a bible, go to a reference and scroll the text a bit. It frequently "freezes", meaning I end up staring at an arrow going in a circle when I attempt to scroll even the tiniest amount. I've tried it over and over.

I've uninstalled the Logos App. Instead I installed one of the many other Bible apps that comes up quickly. I'd prefer to be able to read some of my Logos resources, but the Logos app just doesn't seem useful.

Is there a way I can find out when you've made some significant improvement to the app so I can try it again?

Have a great day,
jmac

Tagged:

Comments

  • Mark
    Mark Member Posts: 2,637 ✭✭✭

    I agree that the app takes longer than I would want to open and be ready to use.  I also agree that more work is needed on the app.  But I still use it as my primary go to app on my phone.  I know there was recently an update which made the app better, but I agree that much more work is needed to improve it.

  • Jim
    Jim Member Posts: 724 ✭✭✭

    I wonder if the App designers are trying to put too much into it. Is the app is trying to update my resource list and get a lot of info from Logos in the background, rather than when I ask for it? Perhaps on a tablet people want an app to act more like the full blown Logos program, but for my use, I just want something that opens very fast to one of a few resources I've downloaded. If I want to do more then the app should only do those things when I ask it to. Perhaps Logos should think of making a "reader" app that is fast and has a small memory footprint.

    Have a great day,
    jmac

  • HJ. van der Wal
    HJ. van der Wal Member Posts: 1,760 ✭✭✭

    However the app takes minutes to open

    Shalom Jim!

    What are the technical specifications of your LG Destiny? My previous smartphone was a LG L90 (2014). I have given my old phone to a family member who uses the latest Logos app without any problems. The app takes about 15 to 20 seconds to open, but scrolling and navigation work seamlessly on the L90. 

  • Daniel Di Bartolo
    Daniel Di Bartolo Member, Logos Employee Posts: 326

    However the app takes minutes to open, bring up a bible, go to a reference and scroll the text a bit. It frequently "freezes", meaning I end up staring at an arrow going in a circle when I attempt to scroll even the tiniest amount. I've tried it over and over.

    Jim, thanks for sharing this. That sounds super painful, and I'm sorry that that's been your experience. We are actively working on Android performance improvements that should improve startup time, scrolling, and app size. 

    Do you have a lot of notes and highlights? Users with large counts of notes or highlights have more performance issues on Android. We are working on improvements for those users as well. 

    I encourage you to join the beta (on our Google Play page), as we will have some things shipping to beta soon that could help. 

    Thanks for hanging in there. :)

    -Daniel (Mobile Product Manager)

  • Mark
    Mark Member Posts: 2,637 ✭✭✭

    Do you have a lot of notes and highlights?

    I have a lot of highlights and yes, this slows down the loading up and using of the app.

    It would be useful to be able to not only have a passage in Scripture open, but to be able to quickly turn to another passage (maybe as a pop up so as not to lose the original passage one is on.  For example, if you are in church and reading the passage the preacher is reading and then the preacher turns to a reference and you want to see that reference without opening a new window or losing the main spot...a pop up would be great that would allow users to look up the verse, but return to the main passage

  • Jim
    Jim Member Posts: 724 ✭✭✭

    Do you have a lot of notes and highlights?

    This last time I loaded the app there were no notes or highlights. In fact I couldn't figure out how to access them.

    -Jim

    Have a great day,
    jmac

  • Jim
    Jim Member Posts: 724 ✭✭✭

    What are the technical specifications of your LG Destiny?

    1.2 GHz Quad-Core Processor

    Have a great day,
    jmac

  • JT (alabama24)
    JT (alabama24) MVP Posts: 36,480

    Do you have a lot of notes and highlights?

    This last time I loaded the app there were no notes or highlights. In fact I couldn't figure out how to access them.

    -Jim

    His question is not specific to the mobile app. Do you have many highlights/notes on desktop? If so, those all need to be downloaded and processed by the mobile app. 

    macOS, iOS & iPadOS | Logs |  Install

  • Scott E. Mahle
    Scott E. Mahle Member Posts: 752 ✭✭✭

    However the app takes minutes to open, bring up a bible, go to a reference and scroll the text a bit. It frequently "freezes", meaning I end up staring at an arrow going in a circle when I attempt to scroll even the tiniest amount. I've tried it over and over.

    Quite likely it’s the phone and not the app. I notice a couple areas of concern on the LG Destiny from the LG website:

    1. Storage - 8 GB (up to 4.14 GB usable memory) - expandable via microSD™ card (sold separately)
    2. Network - 3G Network

    Observations:

    1. If downloading resources to device, try moving to SD Card
    2. Try to use WIFI as much as possible

    From Logos website:

    Logos mobile apps are highly dependent on your internet connection. Mobile devices often have much less storage space and processing power than traditional computers, so our app “streams” your library resources and search results to your device from our servers. Resources are not stored on the device by default, but you can download resources for offline reading-only; even so, you must have an internet connection for searching the entire library, Passage Guide, and Bible Word Study.

    This makes the Logos Bible app a great choice for taking your study on the go; however, if you plan to be offline for an extended period (like on vacation, or going into the mission field in a developing country), or if you need the most powerful study tools, Logos Bible Software on a laptop would be a better option.

    Logos Series X Pastor’s Library | Logos 3 Leader’s Library | 4 Portfolio | 5 Platinum | 6 Feature Crossgrade | 7 Essential | 8 M & W Platinum and Academic Professional | 9 Academic Professional and Messianic Jewish Diamond

  • Joey Midgett
    Joey Midgett Member Posts: 186

    You not only have to install the app, but also download any resources you want to use regularly so they don't have to load using internet connection. If you download the Bible and any resources that you use often, it should not be loading that much. 

  • Jim
    Jim Member Posts: 724 ✭✭✭

    but also download any resources you want to use regularly

    Right. To start off, I downloaded two books I use the most and only tried to access them. The app still loads and starts too slow to be useful and as I mentioned freezes when I attempt to scroll. After a while it will settle down and becomes useful, but if I scroll too much it will go off for awhile. If I just want to read an English or Greek Bible other apps are far, far more agile.

    Have a great day,
    jmac

  • Craig Park
    Craig Park Member Posts: 2

    My highlights and notes have stopped loading when I open my Logos app on my Fire unless I go on line. I tried reloading the app with no success and then loaded the normal Android version and it has the same problem. The version on my phone (6.0.7) works fine. Both of the later versions I've tried (6.1.1) have the problem.

    Is this a bug or is this a permanent change? Most of the time I use the app I'm not near wifi, even my church doesn't provide it for congregation use. This morning I found myself unable to access my notes and highlights during the sermon.

    Can some tell me what's going on?

  • JT (alabama24)
    JT (alabama24) MVP Posts: 36,480

    Welcome Craig! Sorry you are having troubles. [:s]

    My highlights and notes have stopped loading when I open my Logos app on my Fire unless I go on line.

    Can some tell me what's going on?

    It would be best to create a new thread and explain your issue clearly. Make sure to include relevant info such as the app version, OS version, device specs, etc. 

    macOS, iOS & iPadOS | Logs |  Install

  • John Wells
    John Wells Member Posts: 16 ✭✭

    The "preferred Bible" doesn't work on my Pixel 2. I choose the ESV as preferred Bible in settings and in the menu / Preferred Bible. It is downloaded and I opened it after choosing it. Whenever I am in a commentary and click on a scripture reference hyperlink, the Luther Bibel opens to the scripture. I have submitted report a problem from within the app 3 times and have heard nothing. Therefore I agree with the OP, the Android app is not worth using.

  • JT (alabama24)
    JT (alabama24) MVP Posts: 36,480

    Whenever I am in a commentary and click on a scripture reference hyperlink, the Luther Bibel opens to the scripture.

    Which commentary? I believe that in some cases the translation is hardwired into the link. 

    macOS, iOS & iPadOS | Logs |  Install

  • BillS
    BillS Member Posts: 3,805 ✭✭✭

    However the app takes minutes to open, bring up a bible, go to a reference and scroll the text a bit. It frequently "freezes", meaning I end up staring at an arrow going in a circle when I attempt to scroll even the tiniest amount. I've tried it over and over.

    Jim, thanks for sharing this. That sounds super painful, and I'm sorry that that's been your experience. We are actively working on Android performance improvements that should improve startup time, scrolling, and app size. 

    Do you have a lot of notes and highlights? Users with large counts of notes or highlights have more performance issues on Android. We are working on improvements for those users as well. 

    I encourage you to join the beta (on our Google Play page), as we will have some things shipping to beta soon that could help. 

    Thanks for hanging in there. :)

    -Daniel (Mobile Product Manager)

    Daniel, I'm experiencing the similar issues on 2 platforms: Kindle Fire 10 (latest gen), & Samsung S7. I've timed load times from a minute to 2 minutes. It's painful when I just want to do a quick reading...  I have lots of notes & highlights, but I ALWAYS set the app on mobile devices NOT to show them. I just can't stand the performance hit. I hang in there because I love the app, once it finally opens, & I love Logos...

    Today, the Bible app updated on both devices again, & I'm saddened to see the loss of 3 lines of text to the new scroll bar, which has previously been reported in every app as unusable. (Granularity just isn't sufficient on any small screen.) If there are some who like & want that scroll bar, please consider making it optional for the rest of us who don't.  

    Thanks for listening.

    Grace & Peace,
    Bill


    MSI GF63 8RD, I-7 8850H, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, 2TB HDD, NVIDIA GTX 1050Max
    iPhone 12 Pro Max 512Gb
    iPad 9th Gen iOS 15.6, 256GB

  • John Wells
    John Wells Member Posts: 16 ✭✭

    Any and all commentaries / resources that have hyperlink scripture references. Doesn't matter if they are a separate tab or split screen. The one I use most often, MacArthur Study Bible, used to work correctly until a few months ago. Same results on Kindle Fire HD8. This should be quite simple to reproduce / verify!

  • JT (alabama24)
    JT (alabama24) MVP Posts: 36,480

    Same results on Kindle Fire HD8. This should be quite simple to reproduce / verify!

    (I only use it for backpacking but) I have a Kindle Fire. I am unable to reproduce your issue. It would be best for you to create a new thread and to explain your issue clearly, providing steps taken. By doing so, other android users and/or FL employees can help you to trouble shoot. 

    Is there any reason you would have ever made it your prioritized bible? Was it downloaded? 

    macOS, iOS & iPadOS | Logs |  Install

  • Dave Hooton
    Dave Hooton MVP Posts: 35,674

    The "preferred Bible" doesn't work on my Pixel 2. I choose the ESV as preferred Bible in settings and in the menu / Preferred Bible. It is downloaded and I opened it after choosing it. Whenever I am in a commentary and click on a scripture reference hyperlink, the Luther Bibel opens to the scripture.

    I have noticed this on my Galaxy A5 when I try to change preferred from ESV to LEB (both downloaded). First, one has to be online, then the change is slow to register, but my BKC commentary still links to the ESV. When I checked back, the setting had reverted to ESV, which is my preferred on desktop.

    Dave
    ===

    Windows 11 & Android 13

  • JT (alabama24)
    JT (alabama24) MVP Posts: 36,480

    When I checked back, the setting had reverted to ESV, which is my preferred on desktop.

    Which is the expected behavior. Your preferred bible preference syncs among all installations. 

    macOS, iOS & iPadOS | Logs |  Install

  • Dave Hooton
    Dave Hooton MVP Posts: 35,674

    When I checked back, the setting had reverted to ESV, which is my preferred on desktop.

    Which is the expected behavior. Your preferred bible preference syncs among all installations. 

    No!  I had changed it online to LEB. Why have a Setting when it obviously did not sync to Desktop

    Trying it just now, my mobile app still shows ESV, but LEB is ticked when I tap the Setting. If I exit Settings, LEB is displayed when I return. But ESV is still the go-to bible for links. When I return again, ESV is the preferred bible and nothing has sync'd to Desktop.

    It all works as expected when I make the change on Desktop, though.

    Dave
    ===

    Windows 11 & Android 13

  • JT (alabama24)
    JT (alabama24) MVP Posts: 36,480

    All of that was confusing, but I guess that’s the point? I was simply stating that the intended behavior is for the preference to sync among all installations. I understood you to be saying that you made a change on desktop and it changed on mobile... which is intended. It does sound like something is screwy

    macOS, iOS & iPadOS | Logs |  Install

  • John Wells
    John Wells Member Posts: 16 ✭✭

    I've never used or downloaded LutherBibel. Can't read German. There appears to be no way to uninstall this resource. I even checked (fresh install) on my ASUS Flip and get the same results. I realize that Android in Chrome OS is not officially supported, but this is three devices, Android Pixel2 phone, HD Fire8 tablet, and ASUS Flip laptop all with the same issue.

    I emailed FL customer service with details and got a scripted "uninstall / reinstall" suggestion. What a joke for support. Their email said if that doesn't fix it to use the reporting within the Android app, which I have done previously three time and never heard from anyone. Having done all that, I'll just stick with "Android app not worth using" forum, because it's relevant. Thanks for your help and concerns JT.

  • JT (alabama24)
    JT (alabama24) MVP Posts: 36,480

    I emailed FL customer service with details and got a scripted "uninstall / reinstall" suggestion. What a joke for support.

    That is unfortunate. I have found that the best means for help from FL itself is via phone call. The forums are a good means for "crowd sourcing" support. Typically the worst means is via email, unless you have a relationship with a particular employee. 

    macOS, iOS & iPadOS | Logs |  Install