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Accordance 10 changes everything for the better
I have used Accordance Bible Study software for several years, but version 10 (which was released a few months ago) caught me completely by surprise. I knew that there was a new version coming out, but I had not been a part of the beta process and I had not read anything about it before it was released. So when I read that it was available, I just downloaded it and installed it, without thinking much about it, until I launched it for the first time, and was quite literally speechless. I just stared at the screen for a moment. "They did it," was the sentence that finally formed in my mind. Why I'm not writing a feature recap. If you want to see a good summary of Accordance's features, there is a list of them available on their website, there is also a series of videos, a YouTube channel, and a podcast. If you are a beginner, there is even a getting started series for you, or checkout the free seminars offered around the USA. I'm purposefully not going to recap all of that for you. Instead I'm going to focus on why Accordance 10 is such a significant step forward. Insight into hindsight. When I launched Accordance 10, I was shocked because it had been completely overhauled. It no longer looked like a Mac app hanging on to an old, familiar user interface. But then I began to worry that features might have been lost, or functionality removed. We've all seen redesigns where what we have is simpler, but a lot less powerful and flexible than what we had before. Usually this seems to happen when development goes at such a pace that features are added and added but finally everything has gotten too complicated to hold together, so the developer scraps everything and starts over. Massive redesigns are almost always a functionality disaster. As I looked through Accordance, however, I realized that all of the tools I wanted to use where still there, even if they looked a little different. I reached out to David Lang, VP of Development for Accordance, and buried him in an avalanche of questions about the redesign process. To his credit he actually took to the time to respond, and gave me a great deal of insight into the process. The first key insight was realizing that the changes in Accordance 10 actually started in Accordance 9, which made a lot of "under the hood" changes which paved the way for the more visible changes. He wrote, "When it came to planning for Accordance 10, we resolved to take a hard look at every aspect of the interface-even things that had been around since the very beginning. In every design decision, we tried to simplify, declutter, and beautify, while being careful not to fix what wasn't broken or to lose Accordance's distinct advantages. We especially focused on the areas where new users would get confused or make common mistakes." That's a challenge for any software company, but especially difficult for a company with customers who have been using your software for almost two decades. Think about the changes that Microsoft tried to make with Office and "the ribbon" and you'll realize how difficult it is to really make improvements in this area. One of my former complaints about Accordance was that it was difficult for me to even find and use the resources that I had as part of the software package. The redesign puts my library only a few clicks away, and much easier to navigate. Wait, What? Windows? Perhaps the most surprising thing about Accordance 10 was learning that there is a version of Accordance for Microsoft Windows planned for 2013. Accordance has been Mac-only since the beginning. The idea that Accordance would be a Windows app might be anathema to some, especially those who fear that it will morph into some sort of unholy "hybrid UI" application like those made by companies who use such abominations as (shudder) Adobe Air. David assures me that Windows development is not the driving force behind the UI changes, and that the development cycle for Accordance will continue unimpeded by the addition of a Windows version. He even said that I could stake him through the heart if things go awry. (Ok, he didn't actually say that, but I think it was implied.) As strange and scary as it might initially seem for a Mac-only company to branch out into Windows, there's no denying that Accordance will be able to reach a much broader group of users with a Windows version. I know plenty of pastors whose "office computer" is a Windows PC even though they have a Mac at home, and the ability to use the same software on both computers will be a huge benefit. Likewise, development of Accordance for iOS continues to improve. While it is primarily a tool for reading and searching, you can sync your notes and highlights across both platforms, which is extremely handy. A few of my favorite things While I won't recap the feature-list of Accordance, I do want to point out a few of my favorites. Instant Details gives me information about words in the text as I hover over them with my mouse. While these details sometimes suffer from being overly abbreviated if you aren't familiar with the terminology, it's a quick and powerful way to learn more about words, terms, people, etc. as you read. There is also a new preference to show full words instead of abbreviations in the Instant Details pane, which is helpful if you (like me) have trouble remembering what the abbreviations mean. (Check out the preferences for "Instant Details" to set this.) Speed and stability are consistent throughout the app. Search results are instantaneous. Cross-references work immediately. New resource windows open instantly. I never have to wait for Accordance to catch up. Toolbar Customization is not an unusual feature, lots of apps have it, but it's not something I usually use. Accordance's toolbar is different, perhaps because there are so many different aspects of the app. Toolbar icons can provide quick access to the library, daily reading, atlas, parsing tools, word chart, and more. They won't replicate all the former functionality that was in floating palettes in earlier versions, but they're a lot easier to manage and a lot cleaner. Simple Upgrade Options, Even for Mac App Store Purchases New customers can purchase Accordance directly from their store or from the Mac App Store. I highly recommend that you buy direct, for reasons I will explain below. If you bought version 9 on or after May 1, 2012 directly from OakTree Software, the developers of Accordance, you can get version 10 for free. See the upgrade page for more details. Note: That offer expires at the end of December, 2012. So don't delay if you are eligible for an upgrade. Other users can upgrade for $50 and keep all of their existing content. However, if you would like to upgrade to version 10 and increase your library of resources, you can do that here. Prices will vary based on what you already own and what you want to upgrade to, but if you have trouble deciding you can contact Oak Tree directly for assistance. Why Buy Direct? I'll start off by admitting that I am not a fan of the Mac App Store. I don't like that Apple is keeping some features, such as iCloud, only for Mac App Store apps. I'll skip my rant about the sandboxing debacle and just say that I think they could have handled it a lot better. Some apps had to be removed from the Mac App Store, and others lost useful features because Apple didn't include ways for them to continue to be offered. I don't like that Apple seems to have no interest in upgrades or trial versions, which I believe hurts customers as well as developers. If I ever have the choice between buying directly from the developer or from the Mac App Store, I'll choose direct every time. It gives developers 30% more money and more flexibility. For an app like Accordance, which sells for $50 on the Mac App Store, the lack of upgrade options is a significant problem. OakTree gets around this pretty much the only way they can, by offering an equal credit on their store. You can find out more about those details on their Accordance 10 upgrade page. Accordance is available on the Mac App Store because it helps provide increased visibility to reach new customers. Purchasing Accordance directly gives you the opportunity to purchase a collection which will make Accordance a lot more useful, plus you will be able to easily upgrade in the future. Accordance really is better than ever. Accordance has been well-known and well-regarded for almost 20 years, but version 10 seems like an important milestone in its history. The work that went into the last few versions changed a lot 'under the hood' and now the user interface has been updated as well, creating a tool that doesn't just look different, but looks better and (more importantly) works better. For existing users, it's a terrific upgrade easily worth the price. For users who have been considering Accordance, wait no longer, this new version is a great place to start.
Free Accordance Bible study software for iOS now available
Accordance, the publisher of the Mac-only Bible study software that I've reviewed before (see here and here) and included in my "best Mac apps" of 2010, has released their long-awaited iOS app for iPad or iPhone/iPod touch. As mentioned in the official release notice, the free universal app includes a copy of the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible, which is linked to Strong's numbers. There are also free Greek and Hebrew dictionaries, a copy of Easton's Bible Dictionary and more. In addition, those who create a free Accordance account will have access to even more free resources (see the official release for more details). If you're already an Accordance user, you should use your existing account name and password, because it will allow you to select modules that you have purchased to be downloaded and installed on your iOS device. To do so, tap the Books icon at the bottom left of the main screen to access your iOS library, then tap the down arrow on the bottom left of the "Library" screen. Accordance for iOS will show you all of the modules that you can download and their sizes. I've only just downloaded the app and some modules, so I can't really offer much in the way of a review. The app had been announced for a December launch, and they made it with hours to spare. More information can be found on the Accordance for iOS forum, including some preliminary Q&A, which was done on the official forum announcement post. Online help documentation is also available. Congrats to the Accordance team! Comments are disabled on this post. If you have questions for TUAW regarding this app, please direct your inquiries here.
The best Mac applications I used in 2010
As the end of 2010 approaches, I started looking back over the Mac applications that I used this year to see which ones stood out. They weren't necessarily released this year (although many were), but they were apps that helped me get stuff done in 2010. I didn't try to come up with some specific number or any other predefined criteria, I just took a good hard look at my Applications folder, menu bar and System Preferences. They are presented in no particular order. Dropbox reached 1.0 in 2010, and the milestone release included some significant Mac-specific features such as Extended Attribute Sync. This was also the first year that I exceeded the free space Dropbox provides, and paid for a 50 GB account. Thanks to the referral program, educational user referral bonus, and extra free space programs that Dropbox offers, I have 83.4 GB of space in my "50 GB" account. TUAW folks have written extensively about our love of Dropbox, but if you've somehow missed it: Dropbox is a folder on your computer which syncs (and therefore is "backed up" and version-managed) online, and which you can then sync to all of your other Mac, Windows, or Linux computers. (Want to know more? Check out the official Dropbox tour.) Thanks to the API which the company announced back in May, many iOS developers have added Dropbox syncing as well, making 2010 a pretty significant year for Dropbox and its users. (Cost: 2 GB/free; $9.99/month or $99.00/year for 50 GB; or $19.99/month or $199.00/year for 100 GB.) Read on for the rest of 2010's best Mac apps...
Accordance 9 is another big step forward in Bible study software
Accordance, long regarded as the premier Bible study software for the Mac, has a new version 9 that's now available for download. At first glance, it may look at a lot like version 8, but that's because most of the changes have gone on under the hood. Don't let that fool you into thinking this isn't a big update, though, because it is, and there's more coming. Four primary new features will appeal to almost all users: "Workspace Zones" are a new way of grouping tools. Put Bibles in one zone, dictionaries in another, or put related tools for a project together so that you can access them all at once. These also seem to work better side-by-side than what I was able to do previously. Maybe there was a way before, but if so, it's much, much easier now. Learning a language is more than just translating words; you also have to understand syntax, grammar, idioms, and so forth. This won't make you a Greek or Hebrew scholar by itself, but it's a good reminder for those who have been out of seminary for a while and need a refresher, or a good aid to those just trying to learn. "Easy Install" is OakTree's way of saying "you won't have to wait around for discs to arrive in the mail anymore." Most of their resources are now available for immediate download. Good riddance to media through the mail. Keeping track of installation disks and unlock codes is a hassle that no one will miss. If you haven't already created a user account on Accordance's website, now is the time to do it. You may need to contact support to get your past order history added to your account, but once all the pieces are in place, this is going to be a huge boon for everyone involved. I've definitely saved the best for last: Search All. My biggest gripe about Accordance 8 (which was the first version that I used) was that, when I searched for something, I didn't get the feeling that I was getting results from all of the different books that are part of my Accordance library. That was one of the biggest advantages that Logos had over Accordance. Search All eliminates that. Not only that, but it's fast, and I mean really fast. It's fast enough that you'll wonder how it was that fast. OK, I'll admit that wasn't particularly eloquent, but you get the point. So, those are some of the details, but how does Accordance 9 feel? Read on.
Accordance: powerful Bible study software, only for the Mac
"I switched to the Mac to use this!" might be the highest praise a Mac developer could ever hope to hear. Switching platforms means not just buying a new computer, but also buying a bunch of new software. There are probably only a handful of applications that merit changing platforms all on their own, but Accordance Bible Software is one of them. Accordance isn't just widely respected within the Mac world, it's widely respected within the entire scriptural research software universe. Bible Software Review wrote: "Anyone who knows a little bit about Bible software has heard of Accordance." The current version is compatible with Snow Leopard, and yet still runs on System 7.5! This is the first time I've seen a Mac application vendor talk about running Mac software in emulation rather than the other way around. Accordance is proudly Mac-only, suggesting to users that once they have switched to Mac they shouldn't put up with "Windows software" on their Macs, and offering crossgrades for those who have made the switch. Being first is nice, but once other companies have come into the market, it doesn't take long to forget who was first and start to compare based on which features each product provides. Fortunately, Accordance has a lot to offer. There are a wide variety of packages available, ranging from $49 to several thousand dollars, depending on the library options. Like other Bible software programs, you are buying two parts: first, the app itself; second, items for your library, such as commentaries, different translations of the Bible, maps, and so forth. Most users should expect to make an initial investment of at least $100, perhaps $200-$300, but those purchases will almost certainly reflect savings over buying the printed versions.
