Published by Kirkbride Bible and Technology, Incorporated and Beacon Technology, Incorporated. This product provides an authoritative and ingenious way to explore the Bible.
Bible versions include: ToolBook, Asymetrix Corporation, copyright 1994; Strong's Database, Tristar Corporation, copyright 1990; Thompson Chain Reference Bible, New International Version, copyright 1983; THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, copyr ight 1987; Thompson Chain Reference, King James Version, copyright 1988; The New American Standard Bible, Lockman Foundation, copyright 1988; The New King James Version, Thomas Nelson, Incorporated, copyright 1982; The Living Bible, Tyndale House, copyrig ht 1971; The Revised Standard Version, National Council of Churches of Christ, copyright 1971.
The home page contains an icon palette, pull down menus and a graphic of a bookshelf. Clicking the mouse pointer on any of the book volumes launches that program function. Titles of book volumes include Introduction, Quick Reference, Concordance, Gener al Index, Thompson Chain Reference, Bible, Atlas, and Word Processor. Icon palette buttons include a sound list, a character menu, a word processor link, and Strong's and Thompson's key word link.
Pull down menus provide alternative access to these as well as setting preferences, determining print functions, and providing "Goodies" and a help menu.
The Sound List icon palette button is an excellent innovation. It includes helpful pronunciations of unfamiliar Old Testament names. Another special feature is the Character Profile. Here the user can explore numerous characters from the Bible, including Principal Patriarchs, Poets, Principal Prophets and Prominent Women. Each one is linked with a number to Strong's Database available under the Alpha and Omega symbol of the icon palette or on the bookshelf opening screen icon. The Atlas volume icon on the Bookshelf contains eight maps, unfortunately without much detail. Pop-up verses are available on the maps to explore the areas. The Goodies pull down menu is a unique feature of this product. Goodies include archeology account s, archaic terms, a listing of Hebrew festivals, the Hebrew calendar, measures, mnemonic aids, and suggested readings. Another nice feature is the Word Processor volume on the Bookshelf. It provides a direct link to the word processor of your choice.
The navigation from one item to another is very user friendly. The mouse is used primarily in this program, thus making it easy to run. Kirkbride Bible and Technology and Beacon Technology have made good use of sound card capabilities to provide corre ct pronunciation of names. The screen layout is simple and easy to understand. The Concordance feature provides a quick reference to words entered. When the Bible verse notation is clicked upon, the script is conveniently supplied on the same screen. Recommended age levels are not provided on this demo, but judging from the content it would appear to be young adult to adult level. Bible scholars will even find this CD-ROM product useful in their studies.
System requirements: Microsoft Windows 3.1; this product occupies about 6.7 MB of disk space on your hard disk.
HyperBible 3.0 for Macintosh runs on any Macintosh that can run HyperCard.
For more information contact Kirkbride Technology, 335 West Ninth Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202 or call (800) 428-4385; E-Mail: HyperBible@aol.com
Ed Hoffman in Windows On-Line Review:
"I found this CD to be a very comprehensive and useful tool. With the new 3.0 version, all the functionality and usefulness of the earlier editions are retained and expanded."
Bob Dasal in Christian Computing Magazine:
"The newest version of HyperBible has many improvements in its standard features. The ability to switch from one translation to another is intuitive and quick."
June 20, 1996