OK, first I was overjoyed this morning that Mantis 4.0 is out. But there is a very big "but!" It no longer shows up as free. Instead, there is a bundled Mantis 4.0 with NASS for 29.99. I have already bought this version when Mantis was free. What does it mean? Will Mantis (free version) be lagging behind or will it now come bundled? App Store right now is still showing the free Mantis as still unupdated as of version 3.1. Weird!

P.S. Mark, the new icon is great, by the way! Very distinguishable from all other competing apps (and competition is great for this field) thereby continuing its unique Mantis character and at the same time it is now more traditional with the cross now being in the icon. Great combination, in my opinion. I like it a lot! I just can't wait to download the app!

 I agree. Mark, please post instructions for those who have already purchased this bundle.  The App Store shows $29.99 as the price.  I am hesitant to click buy and not get the "you already purchased this application" and get the update this way!!!  

We have waited this long, I can wait longer but won't want to pay $29.99 more!!!!

Thanks

DO NOT buy the NASS version if you have already purchased the NASS version from our web site.  We submitted this NASS bundled version as our first "branded" product many weeks ago, and for some reason, Apple decided to release it first, before the free version.

The free 4.0 version will be identical to this NASS version, so please just wait for it.

If you're in the market for our NASS product anyway, though, then go ahead and purchase it from the App Store.

 Will do (not buy!) until the free version is released.  Thanks for such quick response!!!

How long ago was the free version submitted? Longer than the NASS?

The latest upload to Apple is now about 15 days old.  It's never gone more than 7 days for us in the past, so I'm not sure what's going on.  We've contacted Apple a few times, but have not yet received a response.

 Mark, thank you for keeping us in the loop. I wonder if Apple "forgot" that there is a free version also in addition to the bundle that was released a few days ago?

How many bundles do you intend on releasing? I was curious whether or not in the future (and I do believe the iPhone OS is a viable handheld platform and will remain so for many years to come) if you have, say, 5-6 bundles (I don't know how many you plan on doing), will there possibly be a gap timewise when these bundles are updated by Apple and people will have to wait for their bundle? What if I don't want to use the bundle anymore and just switch to the free app with translations purchased through your website? Will I be able to just re-download the primary translation that came with the bundle?

Personally, I don't think bundles are a good idea, but I can see how people, who are unaware there are more translations available other than the free KJV, will be able to see them when browsing the App Store.

Today we uploaded 5 new versions:  NKJV, KJVS, NASB, MSG, and ESV.

In every case, each version will have the same basic Mantis Bible Study software.  The only difference is the content included with the version.

If you purchase any version, it will automatically recognize and work with any purchases you have previously made (or any future purchases you make.)  Everything is interchangable, and should work together, regardless of whether you purchase from the App Store or our web site.

We've done our best to make this as flexible and as simple as possible.  That being said, we're prepared to answer the same basic questions over and over again.  No problem -- patience, we've got!

[QUOTE]pomor wrote
 

 Mark, thank you for keeping us in the loop. I wonder if Apple "forgot" that there is a free version also in addition to the bundle that was released a few days ago?

How many bundles do you intend on releasing? I was curious whether or not in the future (and I do believe the iPhone OS is a viable handheld platform and will remain so for many years to come) if you have, say, 5-6 bundles (I don't know how many you plan on doing), will there possibly be a gap timewise when these bundles are updated by Apple and people will have to wait for their bundle? What if I don't want to use the bundle anymore and just switch to the free app with translations purchased through your website? Will I be able to just re-download the primary translation that came with the bundle?

Personally, I don't think bundles are a good idea, but I can see how people, who are unaware there are more translations available other than the free KJV, will be able to see them when browsing the App Store.

[/QUOTE]

Some people might feel that something that is free isn't good enough to try. I can see a value in the bundle for them. But I can see what seems could be an issue if Apple needs to approve a half dozen versions of the same update.

Without knowing just how things work, isn't it possible to have one program file that needs to be approved by Apple and all that happens when you choose the bundle is that a batch file is run which downloads the program plus the purchased version? That way Apple would only need to approve the main program update once.

Don

 Oh, great point re: free vs. paid-for as far as product visibility in the App Store! I agree in that case.

As far as the long-awaited 4.0 update.. It's been 18 days now since Mark and co. submitted it to Apple and 5 days since the NASS was released.

Clearly, there is no technical problem but a clerical one, in my opinion. I am sure Mark has tried contacting Apple about this, but it seems like at this point someone simply messed up and somewhere somehow this update was ignored..

 Something has definitely gone wrong on Apple's side... There is a time for patience, and then, there is a time for action - somebody at Mantis, please resolve this issue.  And please fix it so the next "free" upgrade will not be "lost" again...

With grace, but firm.

Thanks.

We'd LOVE to resolve this.  Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do.  Apple has all the power here, and for some reason, they're not responding to us.  It's very frustrating for us, but we agreed to abide by their rules and their authority when we decided to develop for the iPhone.

We'll continue to do whatever we can to get it released, though. 

 Wow, another 8 days on and still no v4?

Any status, any feedback from Apple at least on what's happening to delay it?

Thank you for any info you may be able to provide.

Rich

We called Apple and requested that they escalate the review of our 4.0 update, so a formal report was filed.  The next day (yesterday) we got an email from the review team that basically said "your application is requiring further time for review, thanks for your patience."

So we have heard from them, but there is still no substantial news.

I would hope that's not the case, and that Apple is reviewing apps on a first-come, first-served basis.

The only workaround at this point is that if you buy any of the App Store versions, the program will recognize all your web purchases and other (Mantis) App Store purchases and allow you to download those to the purchased (4.0) version.  So if you're in the market for any of the items available in the App Store, that's the quickest way to get onto 4.0.

We submitted other 4.0 versions as well, which have not yet been approved, such as the NASB, KJVS, NETP, and the new FREE version.  It's possible the new FREE version will be available before the 4.0 update comes out.  If that's the case, then everyone can just download the new free one and migrate their stuff over to that version.

Keep reading James 1:2-4 regarding this whole thing, and you'll feel better. :)

 Something has definitely gone wrong on Apple's side... There is a time for patience, and then, there is a time for action - somebody at Mantis, please resolve this issue.  And please fix it so the next "free" upgrade will not be "lost" again...

With grace, but firm.

Thanks.