Periodically
customers enthusiastic about BibleWorks suggest that the company implement
BibleWorks on a mobile device, such as a smart phone (Android, Blackberry,
iPhone, etc.) or tablet (iPad, etc.).
Here are a number of points relating to this suggestion:
1. Windows
Tablets Available. Those who need BibleWorks on a tablet should consider
obtaining one of the many available tablets, such as the Surface 3 line (or even substantially less expensive products from other vendors), that run
full Windows. Apple customers might
consider awaiting the Mac OS X tablet many feel is imminent: a Mac OS X tablet would
also run BibleWorks. Not only will these
tablets run BibleWorks, but they offer easy portability of other desktop
applications.
2. iOS/Android
Shortcomings. A port of BibleWorks
to iOS or Android would necessarily be limited to a subset of BibleWorks
function. We believe this limitation
would continually prove a source of frustration to those familiar with full
BibleWorks.
There are
workable, although only marginally satisfactory, ways to use full BibleWorks
indirectly on iOS and Android devices.
See the FAQ cited below on this subject.
3. Cost
of Port. iOS and Android are not
Windows or Mac OS X subsets but completely different operating systems. BibleWorks has costed a BibleWorks port (and
a subset port at that) to iOS and Android: the development and maintenance costs would raise the cost
of BibleWorks by US$100 per copy. To
increase the BibleWorks price by that amount would be completely incompatible
with our commitment to our customers to deliver the best Bible software at the
minimum possible, and an affordable, price.
4. Value
of Port. Most BibleWorks customers
asking for a port to iOS or Android say their mobile needs are limited to
reading and searching Bible texts. To
have this function, they would expect to pay typical iOS/Android app license
fees of less than US$10. But there are
already numerous free or nearly-free iOS/Android apps on the market that
provide at least the reading/searching function, and in several languages. Why would BibleWorks customers pay even
US$10, let alone the US$100 that BibleWorks prices would increase, to obtain
mobile app functions they can now obtain for free?
5. Competition. It is true that other Bible software
companies provide iOS and Android apps.
BibleWorks customers should consider, in light of the above cost
analysis, how much they'd be paying in hidden fees to these companies to obtain
these apps.
Last update:
RG/September 1, 2016