Laridian PocketBible Updates and New Content

[Ed Hansberry]

<p>Laridian has been very busy these last few weeks. First of all, if you have <a href="http://www.laridiansales.com/order/productpages/PBWM4001.asp?ref=apwzwtzws" target="_blank">PocketBible 4</a> for either the Pocket PC/Pro device or Standard/Smartphone device, there is a free update if you are already a 4.x user, so be sure to download that. Fixes and improvements for the <a href="http://www.laridian.com/winmobile/pbversions.asp#PocketBiblePPC" target="_blank">Pocket PC are here</a> and for the <a href="http://www.laridian.com/winmobile/pbversions.asp#PocketBibleSP" target="_blank">Smartphone are here</a>. They have also added several new books.<br /></p><ul><li><a href="http://www.laridiansales.com/order/productpages/LBKMSBN03.asp?ref=apwzwtzws" target="_blank">MacArthur Study Bible Notes</a></li><li><a href="http://www.laridiansales.com/order/productpages/LBKMTB003.asp?ref=apwzwtzws" target="_blank">MacArthur Topical Bible</a></li><li><a href="http://www.laridiansales.com/order/productpages/LBKFFB003.asp?ref=apwzwtzws" target="_blank">Find It Fast in the Bible</a></li><li><a href="http://www.laridiansales.com/order/productpages/LBKWFB003.asp?ref=apwzwtzws" target="_blank">Where to Find it in the Bible</a></li><li><a href="http://www.laridiansales.com/order/productpages/LBKWSBN03.asp?ref=apwzwtzws" target="_blank">Women&rsquo;s Study Bible</a></li><li><a href="http://www.laridiansales.com/order/productpages/LDROTD003.asp?ref=apwzwtzws" target="_blank">On This Day</a></li><li><a href="http://www.laridiansales.com/order/productpages/LBKNIVSBN0803.asp??ref=apwzwtzws" target="_blank">The NIV Study Bible (2008 update)</a></li></ul><p>And because the gift giving season is upon us, if you are interested in giving a Laridian product to someone with a mobile device, see their <a href="http://support.laridian.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&amp;_a=viewarticle&amp;kbarticleid=75&amp;nav=0" target="_blank">recommended procedure for doing so</a>. Remember, they support Windows Mobile Pro and Standard devices going back to 2002, PalmOS, Blackberry, the iPhone and the Windows desktop. They even have some content for the standard iPod devices.<br /></p>

[cgavula]

While their iPhone offering is interesting, I wish their iPhone version wasn't only subscription (web-based). They really need an off-line version like they have for WinMo.

[Reid Kistler]

Have been fascinated by PocketBible for some years - but got "locked" into QuickVerse on desktops well before buying first PDA (Visor Platinum) - and have never found idea of having a vast library on a PPC attractive enough to offset the cost of buying the titles - many of which would be purchased for the THIRD time (First: Real Paper Books; Second: QuickVerse & Nelson Desktop E-books....).

If one were starting from scratch, this would be an attractive option, and electronic copies can make research / finding references much more convenient - although the small display on PPCs tends to offset this advantage (difficult to have multiple windows open & still have them large enough to be useful!).

For now am making due with a copy of Pocket eSword - when a truly mobile need arises (it is a bit clunky, but serviceable) - along with the familar feel & greater reading comfort of a Real Book whenever possible :).

[Ed Hansberry]

While their iPhone offering is interesting, I wish their iPhone version wasn't only subscription (web-based). They really need an off-line version like they have for WinMo.

They are working on it. Their blog has numerous entries and discussions. They will release it when it is done. THey aren't big on "first to market" just to be first. I suspect when done, it will be the premier iPhone bible application.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

This is the only application that keeps my iPaq hx4700 alive... and that's been the case for the last two years at least.

I love this deal Laridian signed with Thomas Nelson Publishing. I am blessed to have John MacArthur is my pastor, so when they came out recently with his study bible... never have I whipped out my credit card so fast!! :)

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

If one were starting from scratch, this would be an attractive option, and electronic copies can make research / finding references much more convenient - although the small display on PPCs tends to offset this advantage (difficult to have multiple windows open & still have them large enough to be useful!).

What I love about the Laridian option is their support for the Windows platform as well. I have an Asus Eee PC 1000h Netbook that I prefer to use, but I also have PocketBible on my PPC as well. The ability to mark down notes for any given verse of Scripture and then keep them sync'd between my PPC and my desktop is a killer feature for me (plus those notes can be formatted with basic HTML tags).

While you do have to purchase a separate PocketBible program for each platform, you only have to purchase Bible translations/commentaries/books/etc once and they'll provide you with downloads for each platform that you've purchased their reader on.

On the PC, the ability to quickly pull several verses into the clipboard at one time (for pasting into any other application) is also greatly appreciated!

[Craig Horlacher]

Have been fascinated by PocketBible for some years - but got "locked" into QuickVerse on desktops well before buying first PDA (Visor Platinum) - and have never found idea of having a vast library on a PPC attractive enough to offset the cost of buying the titles - many of which would be purchased for the THIRD time (First: Real Paper Books; Second: QuickVerse & Nelson Desktop E-books....).
I understand you feel locked in by your previous investment. Probably my favorite feature was added more recently. If you tap and hold on a verse you can look it up in all Bibles at once. Then one screen shows the results. This also works for dictionaries and commentaries. For me this is a huge time saver.

As mentioned in another post, if you do buy the desktop version, you only need to buy books once to use it on both.

Do you have a device with a high resolution screen...like at least 480x640? That does make a huge difference too.

One problem I used to have with PocketBible was there were so many books for it and the management of them wasn't great so it was hard to use them all. They have really done a lot in versions 3 and 4 to improve the interface and accessibility to all the books. They've done a lot of small, and not so small, things to improve every aspect of the usability. Some features, like customizable toolbars, I'm only starting to play with and now really like!