GMP Soft Releases Pocket PC Bible Software

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://pocketpc.gmpsoft.com/products.php?page=0#PocketPC%20Bible">http://pocketpc.gmpsoft.com/products.php?page=0#PocketPC%20Bible</a><br /><br /><i>"The PDA Bible Software developer -GMPSoft (<a href="www.gmpsoft.com">www.gmpsoft.com</a>) - has just announced the release of their Bible reader for the Pocket PC platform. Preferred by the Palm users for its compactness, effectiveness, and speed, Bible With You offers now the same attractive presentation of the Bible for Pocket PC PDAs. Easy navigation, compare Bible versions, auto scroll, advanced bookmarks, footnotes and cross references appearing as pop-ups, are among of the many useful features to help you read and study the Bible on your Pocket PC. Full functional free trial is available."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2004/20040721-gmpsoftpocketpcbible.png" /><br /><br />The software seems to cost $7.50. They have several translations ranging from free to $12, as well as "Matthew Henry's Commentary" for $19.95.

[gregmills]

I don't really mind having another entry into the Bible application segment but I have to wonder what is the point? Unless this product has some new feature or innovation (which isn't readily apparent by reading the discription on their web site) why develop another commercial product when there are a couple of really well written free applications already available?

http://www.e-sword.net/pocketpc/index.html
http://www.olivetree.com/handheld/WinCE/WinCEBible.html

Personally, I use e-Sword but I would pay money for an upgrade if it substantially improved on e-Sword's speed and/or feature set. But by the time I purchased 2 Bible versions and 1 commentary from GMP I'd be up to almost $35. More texts are available for e-Sword and most of them are free (including many of the texts offered for a price from GMP).

Am I missing something?

[Godsongz]

Hmm.. is there a head-to-head comparison of the various PPC Bible reader software packages out there somewhere? I wouldn't even give this GMP release a second glance unless I see a review somewhere saying that its amazing, and thats only because I already own 2 other readers.. Laridian and OliveTree. I prefer Laridian, but OliveTree had a Bible that I wanted that Laridian doesn't offer.

[SoAlive]

I've used Laridian for so long that I can't remember why I preferred it over the alternatives--but I know that I love it. I'm "locked in" now, though, since I've put so much money into various translations, etc. I'd be crazy to start over with another product now.

(So I guess I'm hoping that there are no new programs that are any better . . .)

[PPCRules]

I mainly use Laridian, too, and also have a significant investment in it. But I really wish they'd do some fine tuning on the application. It's clunky in many regards, it's showing it's age, and the free apps have several features I'd like to see folded into PocketBible. That's why I welcome these new ports to PocketPC: competition might light a fire under someone.

On another note: paying $7.50 for beta software is a little beyond my comfort level, I think (although I appreciate they don't just call it v 1.0 in it's present form).

[stevehiner]

I too have a sizable investment in Laridian software and books. It's too bad we can't get free licenses to the same books on other platforms. After all, we own the license not the text itself. Not unlike the idea of making a cassette tape out of a CD.

Maybe someone needs to create a program that converts the ebook formats so we don't have to own NIV, NASB, NKJV, etc on multiple platforms. Same thing goes for desktop Bible software.

[MacBriar]

I also have used Laridian for a while and while I find it useful for a single translation I still find it a bit clunky with more than one translation. Likewise the Daily Reader software is excellent but it could be with some tweaking, it would be great for example if it set a recurring reminder in the calendar to do your daily reading.

Ewan

[Kai920]

I don't really mind having another entry into the Bible application segment but I have to wonder what is the point? Unless this product has some new feature or innovation (which isn't readily apparent by reading the discription on their web site) why develop another commercial product when there are a couple of really well written free applications already available?

http://www.e-sword.net/pocketpc/index.html
http://www.olivetree.com/handheld/WinCE/WinCEBible.html

Personally, I use e-Sword but I would pay money for an upgrade if it substantially improved on e-Sword's speed and/or feature set. But by the time I purchased 2 Bible versions and 1 commentary from GMP I'd be up to almost $35. More texts are available for e-Sword and most of them are free (including many of the texts offered for a price from GMP).

Am I missing something?

Thanks much for the e-sword link. I didn't know a free bible reading software was available on the PPC! (it *is* free, right?)

It recommends that I install the main reader files into the PPC's main memory, but my XDA I doesn't have that kind of free space :roll:

Will it run smoothly if I were to install everything (main program + bible versions) onto my SD card?

[DaveStall]

Is is free, although some of the Bible versions are not (there are many free versions available however). I have everything installed on my SD card and things run quite well.

Dave

[pivaska]

I also use e-sword and have everything possible that was free on my sd card and it takes up 245 megs. I also have the regular pc version and just the free stuff. That is even more awesome! I use to have Laridian but I saw that it was going to get really expensive down the road so I switched to e sword.

[gregmills]

Thanks much for the e-sword link. I didn't know a free bible reading software was available on the PPC! (it *is* free, right?)

It recommends that I install the main reader files into the PPC's main memory, but my XDA I doesn't have that kind of free space :roll:

Will it run smoothly if I were to install everything (main program + bible versions) onto my SD card?

I installed e-Sword in my main memory. I keep all my texts on an SD card. It runs fine for me.