Korean company Xell is here to prove that you
can serve both God and Mammon. No, it's not a DAP or even a PMP, this one's G-Dubya'd a DBP, or Digital Bible Player. The B10 Bible Master is just the latest gluttonous beast in Xell's lineup of DBPs for Korea. We don't have a lot of details, but clearly it comes loaded with bible verse in both plain and hopefully
SMS formats, an FM tuner to get the latest on the
developing apocalypse, and an MP3 player presumably with a 2x reverse-play function for tracking down the debil's hidden messages. Best of all, it comes pre-loaded with enough crucifix icons to let everyone know just how pious you are. Uh, humility? We don't have a price, but if Xell is indeed the creator of the one true "Bible Master," can you really risk not to tithe?
[Via
Akihabara News]
posted Nov 17th 2006 9:23AM
Oddly enough, Korea has one of the highest percentage of Christians in the world, according to me.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Erm... Why not just have an ebook reader? I cant see any reason why a standard one couldn't show a bible along with nonfiction books. (zing!)
jeebus, buddha, allah, save me!!!! oh man that headline made me laugh out loud at work... jeebus, priceless...
rockintom99, high five.
The real question is, would Toys for Tots take these?
It came from the very mouth of Xell!!
no occording to south park chinese people dont have souls
This thing is idiotic...
What's not mentioned here is that it comes preloaded with not only Bible in text, but also in audio, MP3 praise songs, Korean/English Bible dictionary. Not a bad gadget if you are not Christmas and Easter only Christian.
I had the tone you tech nerds have with anything religious. Almost as if you were afraid the other tech nerds might make fun of you if you weren't so condescending.
had = hate. it's early.
Dude, if this had been a digital Koran, I doubt you'd be making so many jokes. (note the 'so many') I think this thing is awesome (except that I don't read Korean). And I agree, should have just been an ebook reader. I do think it's funny that the company is named Xell, though.
Why don't you check the hostility and just tell us about the tech.
I would like a digital religious text that is rugged enough to survive all the killing that will be done in it's name.
Now THAT'S engineering!
Yeah... just this morning, I had to fend off a huge mob of evangelical Christians who were going to shoot me in the head because Jesus told them to do so in the bible. It's getting so tiresome. What a mad place the world is!
@ squeezebox
Christians threatening you in the name of Jesus? May I say to you, those aren't followers of Jesus Christ. Also, people that kill in the name of God are taking His name in vain. No matter who you are, how much you despise me, or how opposed you are to the God that I serve, I would never think about taking any sort of action against you. If you want to know what is really said about Christians and their enemies, please observe what Jesus Himself says:
"If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic."
(Luke 6:29)
And:
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
(Matthew 5:43-44)
I'm not here to preach, but if you're being persecuted by "Christians," I would argue against them being Christians -- I hope that clears up misconceptions. Jesus never told anybody to kill anybody; in fact, he never even implied it!
I hate the tone you religious nerds have with anything that makes fun of you. Almost as if you were afraid your fictional gods might commit you to torment if you didn't defend against every slight, real or imagined.
I am with Garrett. It is possible to love technology in all its forms... MP3 players, video games, and all the rest, and still be devout in one's attitude towards the Almighty. Matter of fact, I have a few sermons on my iPod, along with my Jimmy Buffett collection and everything Jethro Tull ever did. But I suppose Christians (and iPod users) are among the only groups left that one is free to insult, so please continue with the slings and arrows.
Would you feel better if we made jokes about Wotan, P'Tah, Mithras, or any number of other mythical characters instead of the baby Jeebus? Remember: 2/3rds of the world thinks that your religion is bonkers.
Christians must be ridiculed at every turn. They're "intolertant" you know. Bigotry against Christians is the one form of bigotry that will never go out of style. Especially among all those "tolerant" folks.
Personally, I want one! Why are people so opposed to Christianity? I won't beat around the bush -- it does hurt me when people talk about my faith as if it's something that's made to harm others. I'm not ashamed to admit that I love and follow Jesus full-heartedly. Just like some people make the PS3 their religion, Jesus is mine. If anybody has a problem with that, fine. That's not going to change the way that I look at it. I'm not about to try and attempt to 'prove God' on here. I think God can speak for Himself; and every man has a decision.
With that said, I think that there's tons of great gadgets out there -- this being one of them.
Amen, Vasahond.
This really isn't funny... My name has been soiled :(
HA!
Must you make fun of a cool gadget because your not a Christian? I mean come on and grow the heck up!
No, Don, it would not, although I doubt too many people are still around that would be offended by deliberately offensive references to Wotan. I guess too many found Christ's yoke and burden a great deal easier and lighter than what Wotan demanded.
As to your statistics, no faith has half of the world in its ranks. Therefore, name the faith of your choice and more than half of the world will think it is "bonkers," as you put it. As for me, I have no desire to insult the intelligence or sanity of those who practice a faith other than my own. I simply consider them incorrect, which is somewhat self-evident in that if I thought them correct, I would be one of them.
But over 95% of the world believes in some sort of divine being or beings, whether they be Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Christians, etc. Does it bother you, Don, that over 95% of the world considers you to be, to use your term, bonkers for your lack of belief?
And, no, I have no fear of torment from the God I worship. I only fear coming under conviction from defending Him in a way that is unbecoming of one of His children. On this note, I have tried to return your insults with kindness as well as logic. I have even spelled your name correctly, and that of Wotan, by the way, which is more than I can say for you or Thomas Ricker with this "jebbus" stuff.
Dude - since when did Engadget turn into a pseudo-cultural commentary? Just give us the freakin' deets and leave the unnecessary and irrelevant flame-bait inducing cracks aside. It's important to note that South Korea has a high percentage of Christians, and they are also a very tech-savvy society, and that is why a product like this can be marketed there. Beyond that, don't try to super-impose your warped world view that has been adversely affected by the American religious nuts onto another society.
Save the comments for your personal blog dude - not very professional, Engadget... Badly done.
Very cool, alex b.
You get to criticise Engadget for its "unnecessary and irrelevant flame-bait inducing cracks," while insulting us "American religious nuts".
Well done.
Arguing about religion on the internet is pretty stupid and pointless in my opinion, but being a supposedly-reputable technology news site and ENCOURAGING people to argue about religion by posting an article that mocks someone else's choice of faith is even more stupid.
Religious views aside, I'm really disappointed by the lack of professionalism displayed in an article like this. I expected a higher standard from a site like this, and I hope I'm not further disappointed in the future.
Jason, I'm afraid you will be disappointed: I made fun of Quakers in a later post, teased an older generation FOLED, and even took a shot at single mothers with plastic baby handbags. Oh, and I don't even want to get into the thrashing I gave The Robots or PS3 fanboys.
Look, you can't spell Engadget without "edge" [damn, did I just write that corny shiznit!?] and we treat every device with an equal dose of snark. If you, or anyone is truly offended, I apologize. I find the device (not the people) ridiculous as it preys on people of faith when other, probably, far cheaper devices will do what "The Bible Master" does for less without all the churchin' up. Now, let's forgive and forget, mkay?
Thomas
You "find the device (not the people) ridiculous," eh? I take it, then, that Xell wrote the title of your article for you. Shame on them!
Well, at least you are an equal-opportunity offender.