Tehillim (Psalms) Apps - ספר תהלים

Here is the review of Sefer Tehilim (Book of Psalms) Apps. Woe to Android users who want to actually use a Tehillim app for regular recital! While there are many to choose from, none currently stand out as really acceptable. Most have issues displaying nekudot (vowels) and/or dageshim (dots in the middle of certain letters), while some are based on poor-quality scans, and others on higher-quality scans. Nonethless, we reviewed the apps that follow. Some are well-designed and suffer only from the nekudos issue, which is a major issue if one actually plans to recite. If one just wants sefer Tehllim for reference purposes, there are many good apps here.

We have now added the app from ZigZag, which appears first below(Tehillim (Psalms) which is the only Tehillim app with clear text and nekudos (vowels).  Please see the review. (Added 9/3/12)

                                                                                                     

Tehillim (Psalms) (v. 1.1.2) by ZigZag, Inc.

Type: Application
Cost: $0.99
Overview: This app is close to winning our Top Pick.  Perfectly clear text-based Sefer Tehillim with nekudot is the only app here that won't have you pulling out your hair after an extended (or attempt at an extended) read.

+Perfectly clear text and vowels
+Includes the yehi ratzons (the prayers before and after Tehillim reading)
+Text size adjustments
+Easy to jump right to whichever chapter you want
+Tested with ICS (Android 4.0)
-Jumping to next perek (chapter) requires either going back to main screen or two keypresses (menu access and then menu selection) (kind of clunky).
-No built-in divisions of the sefer (i.e. no by day of month, day of week, or which of the five Books of Psalms)

Recommendations: Add the above features and add a bookmarking feature, or just remember where one left off, and this will be the best Tehillim app out there without any competition.  Currently, it works well enough for a daily Tehillim reader if one knows where each day begins and ends by heart. Also, a silent mode option would be a good idea (common among siddur apps).

                                   


The Easy Tehilim (v. 1.7) by Karri Apps

Type: Application
Cost: $0.99
Overview:
Formerly, the most worthwhile Tehillim app here. Text-based, adjustable fonts and sizes. Allows you to choose which day of the week/month you are saying, but has default for today. Starts up with choice of Hebrew or English. Silent mode options, screen left on option, and many other well-thought-out features. Nekudot (vowels) are very close to on-target.

+Author is receptive to recommendations and already made some changes based on this upcoming review
+Includes all the yehi ratzons and they are implemented in a very integrated fashion
+Option to turn on trop/te'amim (cantillation)
-Dageishim slightly off in all fonts and font sizes, to varying degrees -- annoying for extended reads.

Recommendation: Would like to remember exactly where one left off.
                                   

Tehillim Ohel Yosef Yitzchak (V 2.3) by Avraham Makovetsky

Type: Application
Cost: Free
Overview:
Well designed app marred by scans that can be hard to read at times.

+Many nice features including silent and airplane mode operations.
+Touch zooms
-Relatively poor quality scans make it hard to use for recital

                                   

Tehillim Project (v 1.1) by tehilim dude

Type: Application
Cost: Free
Overview:
Text-based app with nice white-on-black display.


+Arguably the best-quality looking text-based display here, when taking into account vowels and dageishim.
-All of the menus are in Hebrew, with no English option.
-Some nekudos missing in some places.
-In most places, the pasuk marker is as large as the text and therefore makes serious reading confusing.
-Reading by the seven-day-of-week cycle is setup incorrectly.
-If one leaves one perek and goes on to the next, they have to scroll up to get to the beginning of that perek.
-Author unresponsive via e-mail.

                                   



Psalms - Tehilim (v 1.0) by YourApps


Type: Application
Cost: Free    
Overview:
All of the Hebrew comes out backwards on our test handset. Perhaps requires unit to be in Hebrew mode for default language to correct this problem. Other American users report this problem. Otherwise, it's a simple app that allows one to either scroll through all 150 perakim or choose a perek by number. Entire app in Hebrew. Currently of no value for probably anyone with English as their phone's language.

                                   



Tehilim (v 6.0) by Moy Amiga

Type: Application
Cost: Free
Overview:
Simple scan-based app allows you to scroll through all perakim by number. Shows clear scans of each perek independently. Does not allow one to automatically move to next perek.
+Cute touches of Igeres HaRamban and Tefilas Haderech, Tefilas HaShla'H.
+May work well on tablets
-To use this practically, one must hold the unit in landscape mode.
-Missing yehi ratzon from before and after reading Tehillim.
-On our test unit, requires SD card to function

                                                                       

tehilim4u-2 (v.1.1) by eran322

Type: Application
Cost: Free
Overview:
App is all in Hebrew. Contains many unique features but the actual text of the pasukim comes out backwards on our device.




                                   

iSiddur Jewish Siddur Lite (v. 1.2) and Jewish Siddur Pocket iSiddur by iTechDefelopers.info

Type: Application
Cost: Free (Lite) and $0.99 (Jewish...)
Overview:
This app is more than Tehillim but a full siddur in multiple nusachim as well. Tehillim app subsection almost featureless but does have unique English translation for the Hebrew on a chapter-by-chapter basis

+Good for reference purposes
+Pretty interface
-Dealbreaker: nekudas not aligned well. Cannot read functionally.
-"Tefillin Mirror" uses back facing camera?
Ad-supported (Lite) with nags or regular available.

                                   

תהילים עבור חולה

(version 1.4) by Israel Noked

Type: Application
Cost: Free
Overview:
Application contains specific perakim for choleh. Nukudos not aligned properly.

+Has easy font size change adjustment
-Limited over-all use as only contains perakim for choleh

                                                                      
OKtm Tehillim (v.2.1.0.4) by OKtm Websites

Type: Application
Cost: $3.99
Overview:
Text-based Tehillim app with few features and non-aligned nekudos. Default Hebrew menus -- can switch to English.

+Has bookmark feature (but not down to pasuk).
+Does allow one to remove nekudot if they desire.
+Has clear text
-Limited: Either must scroll through all chapters one by one or choose day of month or day of week options.
-Cannot change the day of the week off of the current day (In other words, you can't catch up).
nekudos are not aligned -- even on the app screenshots.
-Quite misaligned nekudos