iBible and Bible Reader Free are the final two Bible Study programs currently being developed for the Mac. Both programs saw a decline in usage among this year's survey respondents. iBible was used by 6% of those who responded to last year's survey, but was listed as the primary or secondary Bible software of just 3.2% of those surveyed this year. Bible Reader Free likewise went from being used by 2.6% of last year's survey respondents to a mere .5% of this year's respondents—and then only as a secondary Bible program.

Of the shareware programs for OS X, iBible has been around the longest, but its feature set and number of available Bible texts have remained relatively unchanged of late. It offers the King James Bible with Strong's numbers and the World English Bible (WEB), but does not yet allow you to view more than one translation at a time. The developer, Leif Wright, has been unable to obtain licenses for any modern, copyright Bibles, and he expresses that frustration in a ReadMe:

[Name of publisher withheld] has denied my request to license the [name of translation withheld] for use in iBible. Their response was to the effect that they didn't think iBible was a big enough deal for them to mess with. Though iBible as of this writing (March 10, 2003) has more than 10,000 registered users, [the publisher] doesn't think it's a viable product, and therefore doesn't want to mess with it.

Although his complaint is with a specific publisher, this kind of response is not that unusual. Commercial book publishers are often reticent to license their materials to shareware developers—or even commercial software developers for that matter. Any new Bible software developer who hopes to license modern, copyright Bibles is in for an uphill battle.

Wright's proposed solution to this problem has been to embark on retooling iBible to read any Bible text in XML format. As I understand it, the hope is that users will be able to acquire their own XML copies of various Bible texts which can then be imported into iBible. Such an approach would presumably avoid the necessity of licensing texts directly from the publishers, though it is unclear where and how users are to obtain legal copies of various Bible texts in XML format. At the very least, users ought to be able to obtain Bible texts which are in the public domain or which are otherwise free for non-commercial use.

At the same time that he is retooling iBible to parse XML, Wright is also rewriting iBible as a Cocoa, rather than a Carbon, application. This should eventually make it easier for Wright to take advantage of new OS X technologies, but all of these under-the-hood changes are taking a great deal of time, and iBible has seen very little in the way of new features over the past year. User notes and commentaries have long been promised, but everything seems to be waiting for the Cocoa release.

Bible Reader Free has been available in a pre-release form since April of last year and was recently updated to version 0.98. It currently offers the King James Version with and without Strong's numbers, the Bible in Basic English, the American Standard Version, as well as the translations of Darby, Webster, and Young—all of which are in the public domain. Its most unique feature is the ability to "swap" your own replacements for words in a translation, such as "you" and "your" for "thee" and "thine."

As new Bible programs which are being developed from the ground up—as opposed to a program like MacSword which is able to take advantage of an existing body of available texts—iBible and Bible Reader Free face a tremendous challenge. In order to be seen as viable alternatives, they must duplicate the features which most users expect, such as the ability to compare translations, access reference works, and add user notes, while at the same time developing unique features which will set them apart from other programs. They must also work to expand their number of available Bible texts and other modules. It's a tall order, especially when other programs are either well-established or able to take advantage of the open-source efforts of others.

AGES Digital Libraries: Bookends

AGES Digital Libraries are not Bible software per se, but collections of classic Christian books in PDF format. By publishing public domain books and Bibles as PDF files, AGES does not need to develop its own software, and can offer its materials for Windows, Mac, and even OS X. Seven percent of those surveyed use one or more AGES Libraries, though always as a secondary resource in conjunction with either Accordance (62%) or Online Bible (38%).

AGES was praised for the variety of classic resources that are available. Some users wished to see more modern, scholarly works, but most simply wished for better search capabilities. That, of course, depends not on AGES, but on Adobe (which develops Acrobat Reader) and Apple (which develops OS X's Preview).

Internet Bibles: Let's Go Surfin' Now

12% of this year's survey respondents use internet Bible sites, up from 7% last year. 70% of those who use such sites use them as a supplement to other Bible study software, while 30% use internet Bibles as their primary means of computer-aided Bible study. Internet Bibles have the advantage of being free, platform-independent, and may even offer access to copyright materials which many Bible software developers are unable to license. Disadvantages include lack of speed and flexibility, dependence on being connected to the internet, and lack of features compared with most Bible study programs. Sites mentioned include Crosswalk.com, the Bible Gateway, the Blue Letter Bible, the ESV web-site, the Net Bible, New Advent, and Project Runeberg.

Palm Software: Hand Jive

Nearly 20% of those surveyed use some form of Bible Software for handheld computers. Almost all of these used their Palm software as a secondary resource, but there were a few who listed it as their primary Bible program. It appears that there were as many as ten different Palm OS/PocketPC Bible programs which were listed, though in some cases it was difficult to tell whether people were referring to separate products or the same product by slightly different names. This much was certain, however: Olive Tree Software's Bible Reader was used by the largest number of survey respondents (43% of the handheld Bible software users). Laridian Electronic Publishing's MyBible (for Palm OS) and PocketBible (for PocketPC) products were a distant second, used by just under 19% of the handheld Bible software users.

Most users of Bible Software for handhelds praised the software for its portability and the number of available Bible texts, and several mentioned that the products were easy to use. On the other hand, lack of speed and difficulty in navigating to specific chapters and verses were repeated criticisms. A couple of respondents wished for a version of Accordance for handhelds.

All in all, it appears that the relationship between Bible software for the Mac and Bible Software for handhelds is a harmonious one. Most of those who use both tend to use their Mac software for indepth study and their Palm OS/PocketPC software for quick lookups and note-taking on the go. Consequently, Mac software developers generally don't have to worry about competition from the handheld market. However, Mac developers who can find ways to make their software work in conjunction with handheld Bible programs (for example, by adding the ability to synchronize user notes between Mac and PDA) have an opportunity to fill a niche which is not currently being filled, and which will appeal to a fifth of all Mac Bible software users. (Assuming, of course, that this survey is representative of the wider Mac-using community.)

PC Software: On the Dark Side

Last year, 14% of those surveyed used some form of Windows Bible Study software, either in emulation or on a dedicated PC. This year, that number was down to 10% or less. I say "or less" because a couple of people said they "used to use" this or that Windows program, and it was unclear whether or not they still do.

The only survey respondents who used a Windows program as their primary Bible software were two users of iLumina for the PC. One of these was a self-described "Mac junkie" forced to use a PC because of "job needs", while it was unclear whether the other was even a Mac user at all. All the rest listed Windows software as either their secondary Bible software or among the "additional" software they used.

Of the Windows Bible programs used, Logos/Libronix was by far the most popular, being used by 45% of those who use PC software. PC Study Bible, e-Sword, iLumina, and the PC version of Online Bible were each used by 10%. BibleWorks, WORDSearch, Zondervan's PC Study Bible Library, Holy Bible 6.0, Elbiwin (a German Bible program), and the PC versions of CompuBiblia (a Spanish Bible Study package) and the Sword Project were each mentioned once. With the exception of the two iLumina users, these programs were used as a supplement to Accordance (by 72%), MacSword (by 22%), and the Mac version of Online Bible (by 6%).

How did these users compare the Bible software available for the PC with that available for the Mac? Not one of them said that the PC Bible Software was definitively better, while 40% said that Mac Bible Software was clearly better than that available for the PC. 45% said that "Mac Bible Software is better in some ways; Windows Bible Software is better in others", 5% said that both are about the same, and 10% said they didn't know which was better.

Why did these people feel it necessary to use Windows Bible software? Some were "switchers" who still used their old PC software from time to time. Others appeared to be using Windows software on PCs at work or at the churches where they volunteer. Many cited the fact that they could only get certain books or study aids by buying Windows software. Those who said that Windows software was better than Mac software in some ways typically did so because of the wider selection of modules available. Most gave the nod to Mac software when it came to speed, interface, and usability.

Last year, I was so frustrated by the number of survey respondents who believed that PC users had it better when it came to Bible Software that I wrote a Bully Pulpit (opinion) piece about it. This year, I feel no such compulsion. There may always be a need for some people to supplement their Mac software with resources which are only available for the PC, but I'm encouraged that this year's survey respondents were much less prone to think that Windows is better when it comes to Bible Software.

Legacy Mac Software: Don't You Forget About Me

MacBible, Bible Research System's "WORD Processor," Thompson Chain HyperBible, the Mac version of WORDSearch, BibleMaster, and BibleViewer are all classic Mac Bible programs which have long since fallen by the wayside. Nevertheless, every one of these programs was mentioned as being used by at least one survey respondent. The table below breaks down how many respondents used each program, and whether they listed it as a primary, secondary, or additional Bible program.

	Primary	Secondary	Additional
BibleMaster	2	0	0
BibleViewer	0	1	0
MacBible	1	1	0
Thompson Chain	1	0	0
WORD Processor	1	0	1
WORDSearch	0	1	0

Many of these programs ceased to be developed or supported as many as ten years ago, so why do they continue to be used? Some of those who used these programs simply didn't seem to be aware of what is currently available. Others didn't feel they needed anything more up to date. They knew how to use the software and it was still adequate for their needs. One person had paid for a particular translation in one of these older programs, and did not want to pay to use that translation with a newer program. Another individual was using older Mac hardware and did not want to buy a newer program until he had newer hardware. Whatever the reason, these people are still getting use out of some very old software.

In a recent blog on his Bible Software Review web-site, Rubén Gómez asked whether Bible Software was short-lived. For those who are still using legacy Mac Bible software, the answer is a definitive no.

Other Software: Just the Two of Us

Two other programs were mentioned by those surveyed which do not fit into any of the other categories we've discussed. MacSeisho is "English/Japanese Hypercard based bilingual software" made for the Classic Mac OS. MacJournal is journaling software for OS X. While not specifically designed for Bible study or for taking notes on specific passages, it is flexible enough to be used that way by those using internet Bibles or programs which do not support user notes.

Conclusion: Where Do We Go From Here?

Last year's survey led me to draw two general conclusions about the state of Mac Bible Software:

The first was that there is a need for a central place to get information about all the programs currently available. CMUG is the natural choice, and in the past year, we've published reviews of iLumina, MacSword, and the Essential IVP Reference Library for Mac. We've also published a series of "Mac Bible Software Updates" as well as a tutorial explaining how to use the Strong's number capabilities of several Mac Bible programs.

Nevertheless, there is still a need for comparative reviews to help people sort out which programs are right for them. As a developer of one of the programs in question, I'm not qualified to write such reviews, and until I can find someone who is qualified (and who is willing to work for free!), that's one need which CMUG will be unable to address. Still, the fact that this year's survey respondents seemed better informed about the variety of programs available for the Mac may be an indication that CMUG is helping to shed some light in this area, and that's gratifying to see.

The second conclusion I came to as a result of last year's survey was that, at that time, the Mac Bible Software market was in a state of "transition":

The move to OS X has shaken up some of the established players (e.g.: Accordance must better accommodate a new interface standard, while Online Bible must complete the move to a new operating system), while creating opportunities for several new developers. At the moment, there are serious gaps in the market which need to be filled, and which have left some users feeling that there are no completely satisfactory choices.

A year later, I wouldn't go so far as to say that we're completely out of this state of transition, but I do believe the situation has stabilized somewhat. The updates to Accordance over the past year have made it a more complete and polished solution for most users. The fate of Online Bible for OS X is still something of a mystery, but MacSword's recent maturation has helped to fill that void to some degree. iLumina has brought multimedia learning tools to the Mac, and hopefully, will see wide enough adoption to encourage Tyndale and Visual Book Productions to keep supporting two platforms. All in all, Mac users have more and better alternatives to choose from than they did last year, a fact which seems to be reflected in the more positive tone of this year's survey responses.

Where will we be in another year? We'll just have to wait and see. . .

Note: To see each of the responses to this year's survey, go to this page.

Postscript: Name That Tune

The musically astute among you who have read this far will have noted that each of the section titles in this article (beginning with the second page) come from popular songs of the past several decades. In some cases, I've used song titles. At other times, I've used lyrics. The first two people to e-mail me a correct listing of the title and artist of each song I've alluded to will receive the following prizes:

First Prize (to the first person who sends a correct listing): A choice of the Accordance Library 6 Introductory Level or the Accordance Bible Atlas (a $69 value)

Second Prize (to the second person who sends a correct listing): A copy of iLumina Basic on CD-ROM (a $49 value).

I know that I've used all "secular" songs here, so I'm sorry if that puts some people at a disadvantage. I also realize that thirty-somethings like myself may have an easier time recognizing these songs than teenagers and people in their twenties will. But hey, it's the best I can do! Have fun with it, and e-mail me your lists of songs as soon as you can. Who knows, maybe you'll win!

Update: Congratulations to Dan Francis (first prize) and Brian Braunschweiger (second prize). The songs I was referring to in each title were:

Accordance: "Changes" by David Bowie
Online Bible: "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes" by Jimmy Buffett
MacSword: "I Get Around" by The Beach Boys
iLumina: "New Kid in Town" by The Eagles
iBible and BRF: "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" by Deniece Williams and Johnny Mathis
AGES: "Bookends Theme" or "Old Friends" by Simon and Garfunkel
Internet Bibles: "Surfin' Safari" by The Beach Boys
Palm: "Born to Hand Jive" by Sha-Na-Na (though I also accepted other "Hand Jive" titles)
PC Software: "On the Dark Side" by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band (from the Eddie and the Cruisers Soundtrack)
Legacy Software: "Don't You Forget About Me" by Simple Minds (or Billy Idol)
Other Software: "Just the Two of Us" by Grover Washington, Jr. And Bill Withers
Conclusion: "Games People Play" by the Alan Parsons Project

Several people came very close, giving what I would have seen as acceptable alternatives, but the two entries above were the clear winners. Congratulations again to the winners, and thanks to all who submitted entries.

David Lang is CMUG's Content Editor. David works as a developer of Accordance Bible Software, and lives in Maitland, Florida with his wife and four children.

Other Articles:
Mac Bible Software Update (3): Updates galore! Accordance 6.3, MacSword 1.1, Bible Reader Free 0.98.
Review of MacSword 1.0: Open-Source Bible Program for OS X Examined.
Getting the Bible's Number: How to Use Strong's Numbers in Mac Bible Study Software.

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Bible Software: Business or Ministry? Cutthroat Competition? Christian Charity? or Compassionate Capitalism?
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