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Ask HN: Review My App - Popling.net, Learning without studying

10 points by rrhyne ↗ HN
It's a website + AIR app for people who want to learn, but lack motivation. I built it because I wanted to learn Spanish but I'm too lazy to study.

The desktop app shows you a flash card every few minutes (you decide how often) through an unobtrusive Growl-like notification window. If you aren't busy, click the notification to answer the question on the flash card. If you are busy, ignore it and it goes away. It works especially well for getting started with a new language.

Help me make this thing better!

6 comments

[ 2.6 ms ] story [ 32.1 ms ] thread
rrhyne
Bad idea? Don't want to install? Website doesn't get the idea across? Help me out here! :D
gsmaverick
Neat idea, but I think the execution needs some work. You have definitely done something cool here, but take it a step further. I haven't checked it out too much but I imagine you can make your own packs as well?
rrhyne
Yes, you can create your own flash card sets through a batch sytax or simple form.

Curious, did you install the AIR app? If not, I'd love to hear your reason, as I'm worried most people won't install or will fall off during the lengthy air install process.

Thanks!

rrhyne
So far from looking at my Mint stats after putting the site up here 5 hours ago, I've gotten only 50 uniques, 3 new user accounts, but only 1 person actually using the app through the AIR install.

That looks like a 2% conversion to user rate, with a 66% falloff rate between signing up and using the service.

Dismal!

To fix this, I'm thinking I'll try to simplify so the user only has to download the app. The app will ask for user/pass, or will generate a unique APP id from the server, which the user can use to subscribe to flash card sets.

This is the path of least resistance for the user, but I'm worried about problems with this approach. Anyone?