Comments for KevinPurcell.org

Comment on Tired of Buying the Same Books Over and Over Again by Antoine RJ Wright

Antoine RJ Wright — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:28:15 +0000

In the post at MMM titled The Future of Bible software, I tackled just this item and what the solution could look like. It’s someone that will take a lot of hands, and a bit of logistical forsight, but is possible. Simply put, instead of purchasing a book, we should purchase licesnses to the software, and though developers, we access additional APIs and service layers. This would not just work, but infuse some energy to readers, developers, and publishers. Plus, it ,Ames developing standardized formats and licensing schemes something motivated not by profit, but by access.

Comment on “Bible Software Should Be Free” by Antoine RJ Wright

Antoine RJ Wright — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:22:42 +0000

Great points here, and follows alongside much of the side notes to a comment made at MMM. Free is good for availability and access, but one should be compensated for the abilities to produce as they can. Hopefully, we can find a model here that works for all.

Comment on PreachingToday.com Gets a Makeover by Brian Lowery

Brian Lowery — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 22:42:06 +0000

Thanks so much for the kind words, Kevin. Glad you like the new look and the new features. And thanks for sending people our direction to check it out. We’re excited for everyone to see it and offer feedback.

Comment on Tired of Buying the Same Books Over and Over Again by Kevin Purcell

Kevin Purcell — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 21:31:07 +0000

Thanks for all the thoughtful responses.
Regarding things like markup, I know some software publishers spend a ton on such things while others just about through out the raw text. But that is what would make those publishers able to charge a premium for their software while the others could not. Some would be willing to pay much more for the software from the company that does this, while they might only give 20 bucks for the one that doesn’t. Still, they would make money and focus their innovation on the software side.
This approach might not be better for the one or two companies that have the model, but in the long run it would be much better for the the user and therefore the church as a whole.

Comment on Tired of Buying the Same Books Over and Over Again by Anthony

Anthony — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 17:28:04 +0000

Excellent idea.

Comment on Tired of Buying the Same Books Over and Over Again by Jerry Beers

Jerry Beers — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 14:47:51 +0000

As a Bible software user, I have to fully agree with this. As a Bible software maker, (surprise) I fully agree with this. Yes, I would not get a cut of copies of different translations, but it would free me up to focus on the software alone and making that the best experience rather than spending my time trying to convince publishers to license their content to me. As one of the little guys, I have the hardest time getting agreements from the publishers because I’m just not as interesting to them as someone with high volume. And some publishers have flat-out refused because they want to sell their own and cut out the middle man and competition doesn’t help them.

In the end, that makes it more difficult on me, but it also makes things worse for the end user. And that’s no way to build a thriving business.

Comment on Tired of Buying the Same Books Over and Over Again by LaRosa Johnson

LaRosa Johnson — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 22:21:53 +0000

I would love to see something like this happen too. Antoine (from Mobile Ministry Magazine) and I were talking about this very thing yesterday and were throwing around possible solutions to the problem. The thing I fear is that it’s not going to happen anytime soon because selling books is almost exclusively how software companies make their money & stay in the black. If you take them out of the picture of selling books (but still forcing them to create them in a proprietary [or open] format) then that is a serious blow to their revenue stream which would cause many to close their doors.

We can hope though, can’t we?

Comment on Tired of Buying the Same Books Over and Over Again by Stephen

Stephen — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 22:07:37 +0000

How would you propose markup is dealt with. Lets say you bought on electronic version of the American Commentary, would you get it for free on logos without their indexing, markup, etc. Logos spends tons marking up semantic data in a book and I don’t think they would give you that for free if you bought a base eText Kindle version directly from a publisher.

Comment on Bible.IS Reads the Bible to You by Kevin Purcell

Kevin Purcell — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:52:01 +0000

Then no would could ever read the Bible. And what about Blind people who cannot read themselves. I put dramatic inflection when I read it to my self. Am I “adding to the word”. And by the way, adding any words at all to the literal words of the Greek and Hebrew is “adding” as you say. What translations are acceptable to you if that is wrong.

Comment on Bible.IS Reads the Bible to You by Mvm

Mvm — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 14:50:02 +0000

While you are free to your personal opinion, factually this is eisegesis. Reading INTO the inspired WORDS subjective & individualized emotions is NOT a good thing. EISEGESIS is inserting man’s thoughts into the Word of God.

God did not inspire the emotions of a human author “A” from 2010. Its the same reason you don’t have pictures in the Bible or a new relevant version of the inspired Word of God each generation. It’s simply adding human viewpoint to the Words of God.

““You shall not add to the word……” (Deuteronomy 4:2 NAS95) That chapter is about adding “ambience” to the worship of Yahweh.

“so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:17 NAS95) This is even stronger in the original GNT.

“if anyone adds to them….,” (Revelation 22:18 NAS95)

Personally, I find it offensive to have some other person artificially emote when I can emote just fine myself, when I hear the message of the Love of God directly from Him in his written Word.

Why not locate non-drammatized Bible resources for you audience ? I’d encourage you to think about the slippery slope you are opining for the benefit of others.