Bibleworks 9 Not Really Going Native Mac (Updated)

Posted by Kevin Purcell on Oct 3, 2012 in Bible Software | 0 comments

UPDATE: I got a response from Bibleworks which you’ll find at the end.

UPDATE 2: This installation process requires an optical disk so if your Mac doesn’t come with one, get one or your left out. I’ve requested information about whether there’s a way to overcome this without buying one, but haven’t heard.

I was excited to learn that one of the best programs for original language study might come to the Mac, my new chosen platform. Bibleworks 9 told us they would offer a Mac version soon. However, an announcement of their “native Mac” version of the software is not at all native. Instead the version they are developing runs using X11 with Codeweavers virtualization tools that let Mac and Linux users run Windows software.

Don’t get me wrong. The video below looks pretty good. I haven’t installed the public preview yet, but I like what I see so far. However, it’s not “native”.

A version using Codewearvers is better than nothing, if a Bibleworks user wants to switch over to Mac. I’m hoping they’re just a little confused as to what constitutes a “native Mac app” and not being deceptive. WORDsearch made the same mistake advertising a Mac version of their software when it ran using the same strategy.

One of the biggest problems Bibleworks and WORDsearch face is that the underpinnings of their tools have been removed from the most recent versions of Mac OS X 10.8. For that reason, I recommend that users avoid these “Mac versions” and stick with the excellent Windows versions running on Windows installed via something like Parallels, a great tool for installing Windows in a virtual environment on a Mac. Run using their Coherence tool that makes apps run in Windows seem like they are running on Mac without Windows in a much more successful way than using Codeweavers. I use Parallels to run Bibleworks 9 when I use it.

Learn more about the Bibleworks Mac project at their site.

RESPONSE FROM BIBLEWORKS

We’ve tried to be very clear about what the new Mac version is and is not. The BibleWorks 9 executable is running natively. It runs on compatibility libraries. These libraries do not involve virtualization and do not involve bytecode emulation. They truly are running native. The X11 libraries which they use are native code libraries and even shipped with OS X (from Leopard through Lion, I believe). I think in Mountain Lion, Apple chose not to include the X11 libraries, but they should automatically install with the Mac Public Preview installer and were shipped with OS X in Lion. If they are not automatically installed in Mountain Lion, that is an error and we will address it.

I’ve also added this sentence to the Mac page: “The underlying technology uses WINE and xQuartz libraries.”

From our perspective the compatibility libraries could use some optimization to make them faster, and we plan to address that in future updates.

I hope that makes sense. We’re certainly not trying to mislead anyone (that wouldn’t help us or our users). The Mac Public Preview is released at no additional cost as another option for our Mac users to try.

Michael

BibleWorks 9 Running on a Windows 8 Tablet

Posted by Kevin Purcell on Aug 3, 2012 in Digital Bible Study, Featured, Software, Technology, Video, Windows | 0 comments

I have to admit that I’m not a big fan of Windows 8 on a computer, but it looks like it will run beautifully on a tablet, so I hope that the Bible software companies will embrace the platform to make it an awesome tool for Digital Bible Study. Bibleworks already has. They sent me a link to a video of their app running on a Windows 8 tablet.

You can see how well it works for yourself below. If you want info about the tablet itself, a Samsung Series 9, then back it up to the beginning. There’s also a ridiculous “intermission” just before the start point below and ending.

It looks like its running nicely. I look forward to getting my hands on a Windows 8 tablet once they ship this fall.

Here’s the gauntlet being thrown down. I want to see the other Bible software makers run their app on Windows 8 tablets. You can do it and I’ll happily show it off for you.

Latest Christian Computing Magazine Article on BibleWorks 9 Out

Posted by Kevin Purcell on Oct 26, 2011 in Bible Software, Digital Bible Study, Software, Technology | 0 comments

My latest article in Christian Computing Magazine is out. I review BibleWorks 9, a really nice upgrade and one of the best applications for doing original language study on the Windows platform. A nice and simple interface upgrade brings more functionality.

The biggest change is the fourth Window pane that has room for a second Bible browsing window and information about word counts. You also get some attractive new buttons and more help content. As always, with BibleWorks you get more modules in the base product.

Now that I’m running Mac nearly 100% of the time I miss the simplicity and power of BibleWorks. I think you will like if if you’re a Windows users.

BibleWorks 9 Analysis Windows Can Be Split in Two

Posted by Kevin Purcell on Jul 25, 2011 in Bible Software, Digital Bible Study, Software, Technology | 0 comments

An exciting new feature in BibleWorks 9 is the ability to split the Analysis Window, usually on the right in default setup, into two panes. The red arrow button in the upper right adds a second pane automatically putting the tabs from one row into one window and the tabs from another row into the other window. Each tab can be dragged between the windows for your own preferred setup.

This allows us to have our own notes window open all the time but still use the various analysis windows while studying. As a heavy notes user in Bible applications, I love this feature.

The first time you click anywhere in the Analysis window, this helpful tooltip will explain how to use it. BibleWorks adds little touches like that to handhold new users as they learn the system. Software companies can learn a lesson from the great BibleWorks team.

 

BibleWorks 9 In My Hands And On My Mac

Posted by Kevin Purcell on Jul 22, 2011 in Bible Software, Digital Bible Study, Software, Technology | 0 comments

I just installed BibleWorks 9 on my MacBook Pro. Yes I used Parallels Desktop, which is a virtualizations application that runs a copy of Windows on a Mac.

BibleWorks 9′s interface looks almost exactly like the previous version with some updated toolbarb buttons but the same three pain layout. Menus and toolbar are on top and the status bar on the bottom clues the user in to what they are seeing.

I’m looking forward to playing with this new setup and will share what I learn here and at Christian Computing Mag.