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Bible App Android Update: Audio, Tablet, and Offline Features

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Bible App for Android update:

Listen more, see more, and do more offline.

At YouVersion, we never stop working to bring you the best Bible experience we can. And while we don’t usually announce every update we make to the Bible App, the features in our latest Android release are worth celebrating. (Many of these same features are also available in the most recent release of the Bible App for iOS.) Tap below to update now, or keep reading to see why we’re so excited!

Update Now

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Listen how you want, however long you want.

All-new audio Bible controls let you adjust your playback speed.1 Make God’s Word the soundtrack to your life: start the Bible App reading to you, and use the new Timer to tell it how long to play.

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Breathe new life into your tablet.

Enjoy the same features you already love on your Android phone, now optimized to take full advantage of your tablet.2 Study versions side by side with the all-new Split Screen parallel Bible feature for Android. This is the best Bible experience we’ve ever offered for Android tablets, with better performance and smoother transitions between screens.

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Your Plans for today, made clear.

We’ve made the ‘Day’ view for Bible Plans simpler than ever. Now when you tap on one of your subscribed Plans, the Bible App shows you everything you need to flow smoothly through today’s selection: devotional content, Bible passages, calendar, and more.

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Connect with Scripture… even offline.

Great opportunities to engage daily with God’s Word often happen when you don’t have a reliable Internet connection: on trains, on airplanes, or when you’re enjoying the outdoors. That’s why many Bible App features now also work offline. Sometime when you do have a connection, take just a few minutes to download a few Bible versions and subscribe to a Bible Plan (or several), and you’ll have them whenever you need them, even offline.3 And when you’re able to reconnect again later, the Bible App will sync your offline activity to your YouVersion account, making it available on all your devices.

Updating is easy.

This new release also includes several other improvements: bottom navigation that conforms to Google’s Material design specification, more refined control over your language settings, and a smoother sign in / sign up experience. Even with all of these improvements, we still managed to reduce the app’s size! How can you take advantage of all these great new features?

Update Now

1Adjustable playback speed available on devices running Android version 6.0 (Marshmallow) and newer.

2Although optimized for Android tablets running versions 5.0 and 5.1 (Lollipop) and 6.0 (Marshmallow), all versions will see noticeable improvements.

3Audio Bibles not available offline.

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How a single Bible verse can unite your family

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Looking for a great way to lead your family spiritually?

Start with Scripture.

Do you have a Family Verse? A Family Verse serves as a compass point for your family, a helpful reminder of the principles that you value most together. Your Family Verse can be a single Bible verse or even a short passage that you choose together as a family, memorize together, and discuss how to live out—together.

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Share your Family Verse as a Verse Image, and your family could win.

Creating a Verse Image is easy in the Bible App. Just tap a passage to select it, then tap the orange Image icon. Many popular verses already have Verse Images that you can choose, designed by professional graphic artists. (We included some examples for you below.) If you’d rather make your own, select one of our background images or choose a picture from your own photo roll. Customize your image with fonts, colors, and other effects. Tap Save, then Share.

Share your Family Verse Image with us on Instagram, Twitter, or at Facebook.com/YouVersion. Just be sure you include the hashtag #OurFamilyVerse so we can find your entry!*

Some Family Verse Ideas


Verse Image: John 12:13, New International Version

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you…”
Jeremiah 29:11–13, NIV

Verse Image: Romans 6:23, English Standard Version

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2 NIV

Verse Image: Isaiah 25:8, New Living Translation

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Matthew 18:20 NIV

Verse Image: Matthew 20:28, New Living Translation

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Hebrews 13:16 NIV

Verse Image: Isaiah 53:5, New Living Translation

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak…
James 1:19 NLT

Verse Image: Romans 5:8, New International Version

…Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults…
Ephesians 4:1-3 NLT

Verse Image: Romans 8:11, New Living Translation

And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.
1 John 4:21 NLT
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Tell us: What does the Bible mean to your family?

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Tell us your family’s Bible stories.

…I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes…

ROMANS 1:16, NIV

For this, the third day of Family Bible Week, we’d like to hear a story from you about what the Bible means to your family. Maybe you have an inspiring story about how you’ve used one of our apps together as a family—the Bible App or Bible App for Kids. Or maybe you’d like to share how the Bible led your family to faith in God.

As long as your story is about the Bible and your family, we’d love to hear it.

You’re welcome to include pictures with your story if you want. Or, if you’d like to make a short video to tell us your family’s Bible story, we’d love to see it. Choose one of these two ways to get your story to us and we’ll share some of them on our blog this week*:

Share Your Story


*When you submit your story, all content provided may be used publicly in whole or in part at the discretion of YouVersion. YouVersion reserves the right to edit your written content for length and spelling.

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Thank a Mom today, the first day of Family Bible Week

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What better way to kick off Family Bible Week than to celebrate moms? Maybe it’s your mom. Maybe it’s a friend, a confidante who’s always there with great life advice, right when you need it. Or maybe you’ve noticed a neighbor who takes great care of her kids.

For every special Mom in your life, why not send her Scripture to let her know how much she inspires you? Call her. Text her with a Verse Image, or even post one on her Facebook page. Just take a moment to tell the moms in your life how much they mean to you. Here are a few of our favorite inspirational passages to get you started:

Verse Images for Mom

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1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking… (NIV)

 

 

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Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV)

 

 

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Proverbs 31:10

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. (NIV)

 

 

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Family Bible Week Begins Sunday, May 8

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Beginning Sunday, May 8, Family Bible Week is our annual celebration to help your family grow together around God’s Word. You’ll get free resources that your family can use to encourage one another. We’ll share our favorite tips for how you can lead your family spiritually. Along the way, we’ll even award some fun prize packs that families can enjoy together.

  • Delight the special Moms in your life with lovely Bible art made specially for them.
  • Discover which Bible Plans we recommend for families to experience together.
  • Learn how your family can become “that” family — the one that inspires others.
  • Begin planting seeds today that will yield fruit across your family for generations to come.
  • Find out the role that fun plays in fueling your family’s faith.

Start spreading the word: Family Bible Week is back! (Also… did we mention prizes?)

 

 

If you don’t already have a YouVersion account, then you can sign-up for one to receive our emails and follow along with Family Bible Week.
You can also check back with our blog as well as our social media to follow along each day of Family Bible Week.