Glo: Interactive Bible Software on DVD-ROM

Glo is a new interactive Bible that brings God’s Word to life through HD video, photographs, maps, reading plans, 360-degree virtual tours, and a unique zoomable interface for fast, easy, visual navigation on PC computers. Glo unpacks the Bible through 5 main lenses:

Bible —The most read, most trusted NIV translation of the Bible in its natural order, with resources and media related to each verse.

Atlas—See where major stories of the Bible happened geographically alongside map overlays, tours, photos, and HD video.

Timeline—View when the events happened chronologically and visually through a zoomable interface.

Topical—Address major life questions through relevant verses on thousands of subjects from leading pastors, scholars and other experts.

Media—Browse biblical content by media type, including a huge collection of HD video, virtual tours, articles, photos, art, and more.

Additional features include:

• Unique zoomable interface for fast, easy, visual navigation on PC computers
• 5 hours of HD interactive virtual tours
• 9,000 articles encyclopedia
• 2,000 high-resolution photographs
• 1,000 works of art
• Animated maps and time maps
• Interactive Atlas and timeline
• Devotionals and reading plans
• Note-making and journaling
• Includes bestselling NIV Study Bible and NIV Bible Encyclopedia
• Add-on architecture and online store
• Globalized language interface
• Timeline extensions to secular events

System requirements:

• Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7 operating system with latest service pack installed
• An internet connection
• Dual core processor
• 1GB RAM for Microsoft Windows XP, or 2GB RAM for Vista or Windows 7
• At least 18 GB of free hard disk space
• ATI or NVIDIA video graphics card with Microsoft DirectX 9 support
• DVD Rom Drive

Glo is a new interactive Bible that brings God’s Word to life through HD video, photographs, animations, maps, reading plans, 360-degree virtual tours, and a unique zoomable interface for fast, easy, visual navigation on PC computers and smart phones.

Average Rating:

8 of 28 Reviews Showing:(View All Reviews)

Reviewed by Michael (Tucson, AZ), January 30, 2010

Glo Bible is by design oriented around folks who prefer viewing images and media rather than actually reading. Glo assumes you want to answer questions about life and find what the Bible says on the subject (which is OK) but you are subjected to the designer being in between you and the raw data of Bible information on a topic. Glo is billed as a “find anything you want” kind of tool, when in reality it is a “find what we think you will want to see” kind of tool. Decisions about what is shown seem to be the personal preferences of the designers rather than an appeal to biblical scholarship and the historic church. In the topic of Marriage, you will find the subject of Post-partem depression. This has never been identified as a subject the Bible discusses. Yet the designers of Glo felt it would be a question they and you would ask, so it’s included and with verses that (no surprise) don’t address this subject at all. If you begin in the Topical lens to search a topic, you will be shown many verses, but very few of the verses that use the word. Which means that you can’t be assured that you will be shown all that the Bible has to say on the topic using the Topical Lens, only that you will find what the designers believe are the subjects about marriage you would be interested in. Topics like wisdom are not even available as a topical search Of course, you can always use the Bible pathway in a global search. But there, the results are not terribly useful, since they are presented in a completely random, unorganized manner (you won’t see love references in I John grouped together). To open verses by book, you are stuck browsing the Scripture results by trying to find references to a book among scores and sometimes hundreds of unorganized hits. So in general, students need to accept the fact that Glo can’t be used as a concordance-style search tool in any efficiently useful meaning of the term.

Reviewed by Edward Schlaeger (Skokie, Illinois), January 27, 2010

Exceptionally disappointed. Great Graphics, but I can get great graphics on u tube, or at the movies. I didn't wish to have my calendar reading of the entire bible begin with Joshua, but to change it required a Herculean effort. I sent an email requesting information as to how to cut and paste bible vvs and never received a response, period, and that was six weeks ago. I have NO use for this product other than for the pretty pictures which are essentially an elementary form of entertainment. Interactive maps are a joke. Their "voyages" take approximately 5 seconds per map. Come on Zondervan, you are all pros at bringing us the word. Is this your ultimate achievement or disaster. I hope for remediation on a speedy basis.

Reviewed by Albert (Columbia, MD), January 18, 2010

I've been using Zondervan Bible software for years, starting with their STEP format books. When Zondervan converted their electronic books to the PRADIS format, they rcharged a $25 upgrade fee for each of their own STEP book/program. Recently they have decided to discontinue its PRADIS line of software and arranged to have LOGOS/Libronix to publish their electronic books. However, there is no provision or discount for a PRADIS owner/user to upgrade or convert to the Logos platform. That means a PRADIS owner won't be able to expand his PRADIS library and when it becomes incompatible with future OS, he will either have to discard it or purchase it all over again from Logos. Since Zondervan is listed as the vendor of Glo, I will be very hesitant to invest in it based on the way they treat their software customers.

Reviewed by Betsy Herron (Hiddenite NC), January 14, 2010

Had read some negative reviews,but decided to go ahead and order anyway. I am thrilled with this program. We are using it to make powerpoints to illustrate sermons. It is wonderful to be able to see where things took place. Before loading this program, I cleaned up my computer and made as much room on my harddrive as possible. I had no problems with loading. It took about an hour and half to load all 3 discs. I have not had to read any instructions. It is extrememly user friendly. Have been able to quickly figure it out as we go. This is a good tool for pastors, teachers and home-schooling! LOVE IT!

Reviewed by Dan (Des Moines, IA), January 14, 2010

Wow! GLO is like taking a trip to the Holy Land without leaving your home! If the description of GLO sounds amazing, then you'll love it, because it delivers on every promise it makes. The photos are amazing, crisp and clear, and the virtual tours are incredible. The interface is smooth and easy to use, and the study tools really provide depth to anyone's bible study. Because this is such a media-intensive program, it takes a full 18 GIG of hard drive space to install the whole thing. If you don't have quite that much space, you can install a 'minimum' version that takes up less space, but doesn't have all the amazing video. At sixty bucks, this program is an amazing deal. I could easily have seen spending 200 bucks or more for it (but don't tell the people at Zondervan that! ;)

Reviewed by Stacy King (Romulus, MI), January 04, 2010

This interactive digital Bible program will blow your mind. As a visual learner and youth worker, this program helps me see depictions and actually geography of Biblical locations, people and surronding. What more can you ask for other than visiting these areas in person.

Reviewed by Kate G (Missouri City, Texas), December 31, 2009

The demo's show a really awesome program. However, this products has been rushed to release. You should NEVER have to remove firewalls and virus protection to download software. We get software updates all the time that never require this to happen. My husband is a computer professional and he was not able to install the software on two different computers. This was after making sure we had all of the MS updates and disabled the firewall. The lack of phone support is insane. I'm glad that they are updating the people who were able to load the software, but this software has way too many bugs. I will return this and wait to see if they have it fixed in a year. Folks, save your money. I was highly disappointed.

Reviewed by Randall (Hobe Sound, Florida), December 29, 2009

A nightmare to install. Tech support page is unhelpful. It may be a good program - but installation makes it impossible.

View all 28 Reviews

Write a review of Glo: Interactive Bible Software on DVD-ROM

Author: Troy Schmidt
Located in: Florida
Submitted: August 11, 2009

    Tell us a little about yourself.  I helped produce, write and host the documentary that appears on the GLO Bible software - "In His Shoes, The Life of Jesus."

    What was your motivation behind this project?  We really wanted to explore the life of Jesus by looking at the Gospels through Jesus' eyes - what did he experience as God in the flesh, dealing with people, betrayal, adolescence, anger, prayer and pain.

    What do you hope folks will gain from this project?  I hope users of this product will experience a fuller, more complete picture of Jesus, not just as God glorified, but as the God who would strap on a pair of shoes and walk among us.

    How were you personally impacted by working on this project?  We were able to see and film so much more than previous visits to Israel. In fact, we received permission to film in the Dome of the Rock where we talked about it being the place of the Holy of Holies, words officials there do not want you to speak. Being on the actual rock where Abraham took Isaac was unlike anything I have seen.

    Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists?  We also had the opportunity to interview a number of great writers and scholars: Max Lucado, Avner Goren, Norman Geisler, Joel Hunter and William Paul Young, author of The Shack. Each of them offered different and balanced views of the life of Jesus.

    Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know:  I hope GLO and the documentary "In His Shoes" provides users with a revolutionary new way to read the Bible, not just by reading, but by seeing, hearing and experiencing God's word through modern technology.

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