The Glo Bible Review & GIVEAWAY

glo: The Bible for the Digital World

glo brings the Bible to life with HD video and documentaries, high-resolution images, historical animations, zoomable maps, 360-degree virtual tours and much more. And it’s all easy to find and natural to use with glo’s unique browsing lenses. Find what you need when you need it. That’s Glo.

How It Works

glo’s unique zoomable interface provides simple, intuitive ways to visually browse a world of biblical content through 5 main lenses. You can visually browse all the content in terms of how it relates to biblical passages, to the geography of the Holy Land, to the biblical timeline or to topics that are relevant to you. You can use these lenses to filter content. Say you want to see what Jesus had to say on the subject of redemption during the Passion Week in Jerusalem. What would be an otherwise impossible search can be done quickly, visually and intuitively with glo.

The Five Lenses

*Bible: Within 2 clicks, find a chapter faster than a paper Bible. The Bible is easy to navigate in its natural order and easy to read in a magazine format.

*Atlas: Major stories and locations of the Bible appear geographically with a zoomable, Google-maps style interface along with map overlays, tours, photos and expert video.

*Media: Browse a huge collection of HD video, virtual tours, articles, high-resolution photos, artwork, maps, historical animations. The video library includes the "In His Shoes" HD interactive documentary, that has stunning on-location footage and expert insight from Norman Geisler, Max Lucado, William P. Young, Dr. Joel Hunter and other scholars.

*Timeline: View where events happened chronologically and in context with one another through a zoomable interface.

*Topical: Relevant verses for thousands of subjects are searchable by keyword and include commentary from leading authors, scholars and other experts.

The Numbers

2,382 High Resolution Photos

7,500 Encyclopedia Articles

463 Virtual Reality Tours

3.5 Hours of HD Video

689 Works of Art

147 Maps

The following video is actually only 3 minutes, but gives you the option of choosing other tutorials to learn more about glo

My Review

This bible software is spectacular! I've never used software like this before. The graphics are phenomenal. The creators' attention to detail is something I'm very grateful for. Take for example the pull-out menu on the sidebar that's cleverly hidden, but slightly visible. You don't have to go searching for the menu or start over on the homepage.

As you browse through the glo bible, you can change the font size, something I questioned when I first opened the page. It's as though they knew they'd have a broad range of ages using this software.

When you're surfing through pages of a software program do you ever wonder how you got to where you are or try remembering what you've looked through already? glo saves each of your sessions (or pages) you've looked at! You have the option of saving the entire session when you close the program.

glo is an amazing supplement to your bible. I don't see this replacing the bibles everyone brings to church on Sunday mornings (at least not any time soon), but I'm sure it is something the younger generation will find appealing in that setting. Can you just picture everyone showing up with laptops? If you're studying the bible, reading through it in a year, teaching a Sunday School class, or doing research, you won't find a more comprehensive program than this one. My daughter has our copy, which can be used on 3 computers, and it will be so beneficial at her college! I'm so thrilled she has this resource available.

This is not your mama's virtual bible! The photos are stunning and the information linked with each one is more than I would've ever learned on my own. The creators really kept those of us who have never made it to the Middle East in mind. I had so much fun flipping through the pictures and learning about different historical landmarks.

glo will soon have mobile media available for those of you with iPods or mp3 players! You'll have to check with them as they get it ready. They are also working on the Share option which includes bookmarks, scripture and media by sending a link to friend. Share glo with others with a temporary authorization for your friends. Since we are socializing so much online glo is creating more social components coming soon through free web updates, including interactive Bible studies, sharing notes, accountability tools and methods to encourage and keep up with friends.

I think my biggest issue with this software is how long it takes (or used to take) to install. We finally got it loaded onto my daughter's laptop Friday afternoon. Turns out that weekend the team at glo created a "quick download" option. Isn't that the way life goes sometimes? Instead of taking 3+ hours to install they have a much quicker option now. Lucky you!

*Bonus to this software? You can use the same Product Key on 3, yes 3, different computers!!!

Enter to Win

I'd like to thank the makers of glo for allowing me the privilege of reviewing this amazing software. They are providing my commenters with 2 copies to win! The giveaway will run through December 14th, 10pm CST. Must be 18 yrs or older and be a US resident. You MUST complete the required entry and leave an email address to be entered. Without doing both of those you entry will NOT count for the giveaway. You are responsible for the correct number of entries in this giveaway. Void where prohibited.

*The REQUIREMENT: head to http://www.globible.com/ and let me know one of the features you'd like to use if you win this! Retail value $89.99. Right now (12/4/09) they are advertising an online special of $59.99 & free shipping on orders within the Unites States! *Sale price not guaranteed, you MUST check their website for offers.*

Extra entries (leave a comment & email for each possible entry earned. For example, if you can earn 2 extra entries, comment 2x for that specific entry & leave your email addy each time.)

+1 Follow glo on Facebook

+1 Follow glo on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway

+2 Sign up for the glo newsletter at the bottom of the Glo Bible Homepage

+1 Visit the Glo Bible Blog (top right corner of homepage) and sign up for glo RSS

+2 Grab my button and let me know where I can find it ( or let me know if you have it already)

+3 Blog about this giveaway and send me the link

+10 purchase glo and let me know so I can set it up with you to email me a copy of the receipt

*Another opportunity to win: Visit http://www.globible.com/. At the bottom of their homepage, the 2nd column, bottom link is a Twitter Sweepstakes that will tell you how you can win through their website! Sweet, I know!