Rick Meyers on e-Sword HD
Rick Meyers, author of e-Sword, has kindly agreed to answer a few questions in the wake of the release of e-Sword HD for iPad. He’s extremely busy at the moment, so I doubly appreciate his willingness to make himself available to us. What follows is an unedited version of our “conversation.”
Bible Software Review: What led you to create an iOS version of e-Sword and why is it only available for iPads?
Rick Meyers:
Mobile/Tablet O/S Share
Market Share of iOS 63.5%
Market Share of Android 21.0%
Market Share of Java ME 9.3%
Market Share of BlackBerry 1.8%
BSR: I can hear the voice of many Android users asking themselves, We’ll we ever see an Android version of e-Sword?
RM: MySword is pretty good and has access to all of the many user group modules.
BSR: I know quite a few people who get confused with names like e-Sword, MySword and The Sword Project. Is there any relationship between e-Sword and the other two?
RM: You forgot SwordSearcher 
Only our relationship we share in Christ!
BSR: e-Sword has a very large and active user base. In fact, one of its great strengths is the impressive amount of user modules available in every conceivable language. How is all this going to fit with the current ”official-modules-only” approach of e-Sword HD?
RM: Version 1.0 cannot have everything! I am currently working with Josh Bond and others to integrate the massive user group module library.
BSR: Given the fact that e-Sword has traditionally been considered freeware, how did you come to the conclusion that you were going to charge $4.99 for the iPad app? Is this a change in your philosophy as a Bible software developer?
RM: e-Sword is still free, so no change there. Everyone who begged me to create an iPad app said they would pay for it. So I made the large investment in development costs to create the app, thus I am holding them to their word :-)
BSR: Since Bible Software Review has a certain academic edge to it, could we expect to see any Greek and Hebrew resources soon? What about the ability to search Greek and Hebrew?
RM: I already have Greek texts working quite nicely, but there is even more that I wanted to do with the texts so I chose to hold off until the next update.
Thank you very much!
Thanks for a great resource Rick. I and no doubt many others are more than happy to pay the small fee.
Rick, I have used the PC version for some time now and have sent a donation before. I just downloaded the HD version and even though this is ver. 1, it think you have done a spectacular job! Very intuitive and easy to use. Keep up the awesome work, in His name and service!
God Bless
I have usede sword for several years and recently aquired an android tablet. I searching for an appropriate android app. I discovered that there was none. Is it possible tuat one might be available in the future? Iknow that I forone would be more than willing to pay for it!
Blessings
A similar program that works well on Android devices is MySword (http://www.mysword.info). Others might be able to offer more details.
I have installed and tried many android bible apps. Although many comments equate mysword’s capabilities, I find that Logos and OliveTree are far better in looks, speed and user experience than mysword. Yes, I would still prefer an e-sword android app so I could use my purchased modules with it (assumption that these would work).
God Bless
Doug
Mysword in no way compares to esword. Also, I made the foolish mistake of paying mysword the alleged ” donation” of $50 with the understanding that it could be used both on my laptop and on a second device, once I got an android. Neither is true. The “extras” that I paid $50 for stopped working within six months and have never worked with my Galaxy Note 10.
I find it very disheartening whenever I get burned by a christian – small ‘c’ deliberate.
Thank God for esword even though I have to lug around my six pound Tecra to use it as both esword HD or LT seem to be for apples only. Why not all tablets? I suppose one ca’t have everthing %
.
I have used esword for many years. My children also all have it on their computers and love it. We especially like that you can parallel the different versions and search and cross reference. But since the KJV is our version of choice it is wonderful to be able to use the KJVA module for to read the Apocrypha (like the original 1611 version before it was cut down) as well. When one of my children got the first android tablet in the family we started looking for esword for android. No such luck!
We would be gladly willing to pay for it!! We had to settle for MySword, and it was settling. We still haven’t been able to find a KJV w/ Apocrypha. MySword is good for reading and basic search, but it doesn’t compare to esword and we would rather be able to read the WHOLE Bible. Thank you though for offering esword for PC’s. It is a real blessing.
It is so frustrating waiting for an Android version of e-Sword only to hear that the version released is Apple. There are more Android users worldwide than iPhone. So it baffles me that we are told to go to another software. Having been a user of e-Sword for many years and have donated, I would not be adverse to doing the same for an Android app. I don’t want something “like” e-Sword, I want the real deal!
Just in case it is thought that I am mistaken about market share:
http://www.zdnet.com/android-accounts-for-75-percent-market-share-windows-phone-leapfrogs-blackberry-7000015496/
Hopefully, our patience will be rewarded soon with an Android version, (please). I have been using Cadre Bible for Android, which is not bad at all, I like some things about it such as chapter and verse setup. But e-Sword is my buddy!