Bible, YouVersion update health warning

By Mike, 17 April, 2014

Forum
iOS and iPadOS
I, amongst many, have been using the Bible Youversion app. Earlier versions were very accessible. Version 4 lost some access. Version 5, currently, is completely unusable with Voiceover. Warning, If you haven't, do not update! I am attempting to contact known people at Youversion, to make them aware of this. I am technical director of Torch Trust, and we publish data on how to use Bibles. Any comments would be useful through this site, or additionally to Torch Trust. Mike, Dr. Mike Townsend

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Comments

By Missy Hoppe on Friday, April 25, 2014 - 09:30

I've been hearing about how inaccessible this update is, but as a relatively new IOS user, I'm not encountering any issues. Granted, I didn't even download the app at all until this past Friday, so I've only ever seen this new version 5. What, exactly, are people unable to do with it? I seem to have no trouble swiping from verse to verse. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised by how easily I was able to figure out the app. If someone could please explain what I'm missing, and why there's been such a fuss about the new version no longer being accessible, I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

Missie, When in a Bible passage, it is possible to swipe between verses etc. It seems impossible to get out of the passage to choose another book/chapter or version. Tapping the menu button does nothing, so it is impossible to open menus. If you get a notification, it is not possible to get out of it. Turning off voiceover enables sighted assistance to move to another area. We are getting feedback relating to these challenges at Torch Trust. I have tried these problems out with my colleague's Iphone 5. Admittedly she is an upgrader and not a fresh installer. That may be an issue. I am certainly not updating mine until I see these issues dealt with. I have contacted an acquaintance at Youversion and so far no response. Thanks Mike

By Katie P on Friday, April 25, 2014 - 09:30

Hello, Having both an iPod touch 5 and an iPad II, I can echo the complaints of accessibility, or lack there of on an iPhone sized screen. On an iPad however, I have no issues what so ever. Hope this helps for whatever it is worth.

By Roxann Pollard on Friday, April 25, 2014 - 09:30

I have been a YouVersion user for more than two years now. I use an iPhone 5. The other day I asked a sighted friend to get me into the plans area, which she did without trouble. I thought all was well until the next day when, to my dismay, I opened up the app to determine the daily reading and, when I did so, the screen had jumped back to the verse of the day view. As others have said, the Menu button seems useless for the moment. I am totally unable to do anything in this app for now. Thanks Mike for contacting the developers regarding our VO issues. For me, the YouVersion is the only app I choose to use. It has been frustrating at times, but the pros far outweigh the cons, well, except for the current version. Anyway, thanks again for working with the developers.

By Michael Hansen on Friday, April 25, 2014 - 09:30

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team
According to a post on Twitter, the developers of the Bible app are aware of the issues in version 5 and are working on a fix for release in the near future.

By Phillip on Friday, April 25, 2014 - 09:30

Flick to the read button and double tap it. You'll see book chapter and verse at the top and read full chapter at the bottom. Settings and audio settings are at the bottom right.

By Larry Thacker Jr. on Friday, April 25, 2014 - 09:30

Bible Gateway is a useable alternative for now. You have to dismiss an ad when the app first opens, but after that it's pretty accessible. Selecting a passage can be a little more trouble, because everything is done with pick lists, but the search feature gets around this nicely. I also like that it will keep reading past the chapter you select without prompting.

By John Davis on Sunday, October 25, 2015 - 09:30

Nice updated article!
Thank you.