The NET Bible iOS

The NET Bible is now available for free for iOS devices. (Click on the graphic above to get it from iTunes.)
As the description notes:

The NET Bible is a completely new translation of the Bible with 60,932 translators’ notes! It was completed by more than 25 scholars – experts in the original biblical languages – who worked directly from the best currently available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts.

This App allows you to experience the translation and all of the notes for free in a visually friendly and intuitive way.

- Read the Bible like the book that it is, by swiping through its pages without worrying about chapter boundaries.
- Tap the current passage title to change passages.
- Learn and grow by reading the 60,932 translators’ notes and the associated Bible cross references in popups.
- Bookmark your favorite passages by tapping a verse number.
- Take notes that are tied to verses, or just a date.
- Sync your notes and bookmarks with net.bible.org and other iOS devices running this App.
- See an indication of your notes when reading the text.
- Search the bible using our fuzzy search that doesn't require you to know all of the words or even the translation it came from.
- Share verses via Twitter, Facebook, Email, and Messaging by tapping a verse number.
- Choose books by using a grid, canonical list, or alphabetical list of books.
- Two-finger swipe left/right to navigate your history during sermons and Bible studies.
- Change the font and size of the text.

I believe there are plans to get it on Android devices at some point. In the meantime, anyone whose device has an internet browser can get the full text and all those notes by going to net.bible.org. That site works well on my Android smartphone, but you cannot necessarily get the full NET Bible Environment experience, and it can be pretty flaky depending on the browser you use (Dolphin, Chrome, IE, etc.)

Bible.Is and Bible App for American Sign Language

Bible.Is is another online Bible web site. It doesn't have any ancient Hebrew or Greek, but it does have over 700 modern language versions which are available in some combination of Old and/or New Testament in audio and/or text versions. Among English versions, there is the ESV and KJV (both full Bible, audio and text), NRSV (audio for OT and NT), World English Bible (text for OT and NT), and English Version for the Deaf (text, naturally, for OT and NT).

Nothing particularly remarkable about the site beyond basic search functionality, but the inclusion of the English Version for the Deaf points to a more notable offering, the Deaf Bible.Is ASL App available for free from iTunes, GooglePlay, and Amazon Appstore.

Experience the Bible like never before! The first translation of God’s Word in American Sign Language (ASL) is now available in an interactive, easy to use, Bible app, featuring skilled deaf signers in sharp, close-up, color video. Immerse yourself in a complete Bible experience – interacting in rich Bible content accessible in video and TEXT! [It also includes] 61 "Jesus" film segments in ASL.

Glad to see something like this is available. Check it out.

HT: ChurchCrunch

Logos 4 Released

Logos today announced a major release of its Bible software program, Logos 4. (Check out the video on that link and more info here.) I was able to beta test the product, and I will provide more info when I get more time. Just a few things to note for now:

• It does have a different look and feel. The default start page will make you think of a magazine more than of Bible software. Long time Logos users will need to make some adjustments. In general, and especially for newer users, the user interface is clean, intuitive, and logical. The panel and tab layout does work nicely.
  
• The program indexes your library, and so searches are faster. In the beta, indexing took a long time to accomplish...
  
• There are quite a few new resources. I'm especially interested in the improved resources in the Biblical Places category, and I will provide a fuller report on those later.
• Your library is also available via WiFi using an iPhone app. (The app is a free download and also works on the iPod Touch.)
• Logos3 Gold was superseded by a Platinum version, and now you can also get a Portfolio library ("1550 resources worth more than $31,000.00 in print!"). Price before discounts for Portfolio is $4290. For my seminary students (who can get a 30% discount), I'm still recommending the Original Language Library ($416 list) or Gold Library ($1380 list). Be sure to check the comparison chart. To upgrade from Logos3 Gold to Logos4 Gold is $190 before discounts. (I'm guessing that Logos3 OL to Logos4 OL will be about $100.)
  
• A number of resources that one previously had to buy separately are now included in some of the libraries. A special effort has been made to include English-Hebrew and English-Greek reverse interlinears. There are also quite a few interesting new "Maps, Photos, and Media" resources included with nearly every library.
  

Click on the graphic above to get a sense of the layout and look of Logos 4. This a start, but be sure to check the Logos4 page for more info.

NRSV iPhone App now available

Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) announces that the NRSV is now available as an iPhone app. Cost is $11.99. It comes with 3 devotional books and either with/out the Apocrypha. Read the full announcement, but here are the highlights:

With the NRSV Bible, all of the standard NRSV features are supported including the notes. The app remembers your previous location so you can immediately pick up where you left off. Navigation is easy through the hierarchical table of contents. Scripture references are linked, so you can view the passage in a slide-up window. All books are included in the original install, so you don’t need an Internet connection to use the application.

Coming soon: the ability to download and install books from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library, search capabilities, and more. Get it now at a special introductory price, with no charge for upgrades to later editions.

iTunes U. and Greek

On this thread in the BibleWorks forum, Michael Hanel notes that Concordia Seminary (LCMS in St. Louis) has posted quite a few lessons and lectures on the iTunes U. site. (HERE is the direct link.) As Michael notes,

There you will find some great things like an entire Elementary Greek course taught by James Voelz (author of a Greek grammar among other things), Lectionary at Lunch (weekly readings of the Hebrew and Greek text appointed for the Sunday), an entire course on Exodus and Torah, Day of Homiletical Reflection which includes two lectures by Leonard Sweet, etc.

There is quite a bit more, and these are all free downloads. Both audio and video are available. It will be interesting to see if this technological step proves to be popular/successful, but for now, this looks very cool to me.
AKMAdam provides additional comments on this offering at his blog.