Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Evaluation of Android Bible Apps

I have a listing of Android Bible apps HERE to which I have now added a review of MySword HERE

So what Android Bible apps do I use and recommend? 
  • I'm finding that my first choice is almost always the free Cadre Bible. It's the fastest app, has good Greek texts (NA26, LXX), Hebrew Tanach, and English versions. The only thing I miss is some lexical help, but that can be purchased if you want to use the KJV or NASB with Strong's. (Mainly I just use the Parallel version feature to figure out what's going in the Greek/Hebrew. Cadre Bible also has a functional but clunky navigation interface.) 
  • I occasionally use the YouVersion Bible, because of its outstanding access to so many English versions. (And remember that if you don't own or want to buy a version, you can still 'stream' it.) 
  •  UPDATE: Logos for Android is now available. My review HERE.
  • The And Bible still holds promise, but it still doesn't display Greek properly. 
  • As noted in the MySword review, I keep it because of its "Analytic Septuagint."
  • And then there is Olive Tree... This was my app of choice back in the day on Dell Axim using WindowsMobile, but I'm just not using it much on my DroidX. It is just slow enough to load that I will use Cadre Bible instead. It still has the best collection of academic resources for original language study. I was able to transfer my license for the BHS to this device, but my Gramcord Greek NT would not transfer, and I don't need their new Greek module badly enough to pay $58 for the upgrade. They do have the SBLGNT for free, but there is no parallel version view, so I'm back to CadreBible or...
  • With internet access and my Logos resources, I use Biblia.com online. This works great, even to take a look at BDAG and all 885 books I have obtained in Logos4.
  • If you don't own Logos, then the other online site to try is the NET Bible Study Environment, but this site is not really optimized for mobile browsers.
What am I missing? Leave a comment!

18 comments:

  1. how do you get sblgnt onto cadrebible? I've looked everywhere to no avail.

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  2. Ooops. I don't have SBLGNT on Cadre Bible. I have suggested it to them, but what I use instead is the NA26.

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  3. I agree with you : Cadre Bible is definetly my best bible app on Android !

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  4. Thanks for the notes. My WindowsMobile device dies a month or so ago. I've been researching Android devices as a replacement. Your article is timely.

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  5. With its "Catch Me Up" feature, the YouVersion app is great for doing Bible reading plans, of which it has a wide selection.

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  6. Pardon me..

    I want to introduce my free bible app for Android: OpenBibles
    You can get it from: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.konibee.bible

    You can read bible offline and you can display verse bookmarks as widget on home screen.
    Devotions and bible reading plan also available.

    Have a try if you have time. I hope you like it.

    Thanks and GBU...

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  7. I am looking for an app that will allow me to make handwritten notes. Can u suggest something?

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  8. When using the bible on my phone do i have to use the internet to access it?

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  9. Verse Box Scripture Memory is a very good app. It is available on the android market. Just search "Verse Box". Please review this app when you get a chance.

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  10. Another bible app i really love is 'Holy Bible Scolls' http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/holy-bible-scrolls/id501960264?ls=1&mt=8

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  11. With the technology of today, it's still important for you to read The Bible. Thanks to The Bible app, now you won't have an excuse to not read The Bible.

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  12. When it comes to computers I'm a mac man, but when it comes to phones I'm so old fashioned that (1) I had to be given a mobile and (2) I only upgraded to a smartphone that cost me no more than maintaining my old virtually feature-less nokia. Needless to say its Android.

    CadreBible is the best free app if you want multiversion, multi-lingual, native to phone, with semi-decent note-taking features. Integration with Evernote means that I have a reasonably acceptable way to transfer notes between applications. It's not perfect but it's not bad.

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  13. I have downloaded CadreBible, and it doesn't work at all. The only thing you get when you open it is a View this CardBible Account screen, which has you sign in, after which it takes you back to View this CardBible Account. What use is this?

    When you go to download, it says CardBible 5 coming soon. Have they deactivated the program until it comes? No working version appears to be currently availble.

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  14. And Bible is only a little better. It allows you to download one Bible version only. It has absolutely no tools. It is only a device to read one Bible version. Don't really need an app to do that.

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  16. What do you think about Bible lexicon? Does it worth to use?

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  17. Talking Bible Premium is another great app.

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