VocabViewer

Following the advice of so many in the start-up world, I have decided to release early, and release often. On the weekend, Apple decided to approve VocabViewer for release in the AppStore, and it was published on March 1st. I have decided to list the app for $0.99 because I think it is worth it. It provides very similar functionality to other flash card viewers which cost anywhere between $2.99 and $5.99.

In addition to the standard functionality of a flash card viewer (hiding of answers, automatically flipping through cards) VocabViewer provides functionality that just isn’t offered by most of the others. We offer a virtually unlimited list of categories, limited only by your imagination (and that of other users). When you add words or categories to VocabViewer, those changes get sent out to our servers, and to other users (if you want them to be). You also benifit from other users’ additions, as they are automatically synched to you phone.

To my surprise, with zero marketing dollars spent, VocabViewer had downloads the very first day, and has had a pretty consistant rate since then. I am not quitting my day job by any means, but I can definately see the potential of releasing inexpensive, yet useful iPhone apps early. Based on the feedback and stats I am getting from VocabViewer, I am already planning the next release.

I hope you enjoy VocabViewer, and please, do not hesitate to email me with feedback. Better yet, leave a comment on the App Store.

Mark

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Recently, Apple contacted me to reject my application submission (request re-submission). Their reason? They claim that since some of the functionality of VocabViewer is disabled when there is no internet connection, I need to alert the user about this.

I disagree. VocabViewer can be used without an internet connection, still allowing you to add new categories and manage your word lists. Although their new additions will not be uploaded to the the server, and they will not receive updates from other users, their base functionality still remains. I don’t think this is a situation where I want to disrupt the user, however, I may have to an exception to be approved for the App Store.

What do you think? Should you interupt a user to notify them of a lack of extra functionality? For the time being, I will add the functionality, and wait for some feedback from users. Thats the idea right, iterate, iterate, iterate. Repeat.

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It has long been known that one of the best ways to learn a new language, learn vocabulary, or learn any sort of written information is to use flash cards. They allow you to see both the known and unknown information at a glance, and focus your attention on a manageable piece of information at a time. Once you have mastered the information you are studying, you can move on to the next.

However, creating flash cards can be a bit laborious, and once created you often don’t have them with you when they would be most useful - when you have unscheduled downtime. You will most certainly have your phone with you, though. So, its natural to include a flash card application on your phone that makes it easy to create, modify, and use sets of flash cards.

On the iPhone, you may have noticed that flash card applications already exist, varying in price from free to $4.99. Some are targetted towards children, some to medical students, and some at a wide range, able to load vocabulary from a variety of word lists.

I like the latter approach, where the application can help you learn what you want; just select a word list and use it. There is no limitation by the application for what types of words you can use. However, even this approach is a bit limiting. If I create an absolutely fantastic list of Swedish verbs, and want to, I should be able to share them with others.

VocabViewer will have an option to enable sharing of word lists, which will upload additions to existing, or new, word lists to our servers. Once their, they will be verified by our moderators to ensure that they fit the category and are appropriate, and will then be available for others to use.

How will VocabViewer do this? Check out my post at Kin Development for some insight into the process.

- Mark

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