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ArchivesBaby names and meanings android app
Hi all, I just released a new android app with thousands of names and meanings that I thought this group might be interested in. If you do happen to try it, I would love to get your feedback
You can find it on google play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.slickmobile.babynames
You can find it on google play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.slickmobile.babynames
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Well, I tried it, because I am interested both in names and in smartphone apps.
I will tell frankly how I see it. The following is really meant to be helpful, even if it may sound harsh:
It crashed every other minute or so on my KitKat phone; you should receive my crash reports. Might well be some small thing that's easy to correct, or then something special with my phone, so let's just forget those crashes for now as not really important and look at the app itself.
You enter a very, very crowded field with your "Baby Names" app; searching for "baby names" on the app store gives dozens and dozens of hits. In my opinion one more such app only has a decent chance for success if it offers at least *one* special feature above and beyond of what all the other baby names apps offer.
As far as I could see it does not yet offer such a special feature. With the basics behind me, I would start to work on this as soon as possible.
You write in your app description: "Our database of thousands of names is conveniently stored in the cloud for lightweight reading.." Well, I would not emphasize this: That "cloud thing" may be convenient for you, but for me it means your program eats into my data traffic budget and constantly makes my searches known to some cloud server outside of my control, which I am not obligated to like.
I am well aware that many other similar programs also do this, but this does not change the fact that it's nonsense, in principle: Technically, a local name database would be absolutely no problem.
One and the same name can go into the favorite list multiple times somehow, which does not make much sense.
I did not see any info that the popularity data is from the US. Might do no harm to say so somewhere.
I will tell frankly how I see it. The following is really meant to be helpful, even if it may sound harsh:
It crashed every other minute or so on my KitKat phone; you should receive my crash reports. Might well be some small thing that's easy to correct, or then something special with my phone, so let's just forget those crashes for now as not really important and look at the app itself.
You enter a very, very crowded field with your "Baby Names" app; searching for "baby names" on the app store gives dozens and dozens of hits. In my opinion one more such app only has a decent chance for success if it offers at least *one* special feature above and beyond of what all the other baby names apps offer.
As far as I could see it does not yet offer such a special feature. With the basics behind me, I would start to work on this as soon as possible.
You write in your app description: "Our database of thousands of names is conveniently stored in the cloud for lightweight reading.." Well, I would not emphasize this: That "cloud thing" may be convenient for you, but for me it means your program eats into my data traffic budget and constantly makes my searches known to some cloud server outside of my control, which I am not obligated to like.
I am well aware that many other similar programs also do this, but this does not change the fact that it's nonsense, in principle: Technically, a local name database would be absolutely no problem.
One and the same name can go into the favorite list multiple times somehow, which does not make much sense.
I did not see any info that the popularity data is from the US. Might do no harm to say so somewhere.
This message was edited 4/30/2015, 9:28 AM
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Much appreciated, this feedback is exactly what I wanted, no offense taken.
I have seen the crashes you mentioned and have submitted an update intended to fix it, I can't recreate the crash myself but the problem is due to the image loading library used in the app.
Agreed it's a crowded space, one advantage of this app compared to the others in my opinion is the user interface. Many similar apps were clearly designed 3-4+ years ago and just look bad. If there is a feature that would set the app apart that would be great feedback to have as well. The comment on local data is a valid one but it's just not practical, all data would make the app 100 MB+.
Thanks again for the valuable feedback!
I have seen the crashes you mentioned and have submitted an update intended to fix it, I can't recreate the crash myself but the problem is due to the image loading library used in the app.
Agreed it's a crowded space, one advantage of this app compared to the others in my opinion is the user interface. Many similar apps were clearly designed 3-4+ years ago and just look bad. If there is a feature that would set the app apart that would be great feedback to have as well. The comment on local data is a valid one but it's just not practical, all data would make the app 100 MB+.
Thanks again for the valuable feedback!
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Glad to be of help.
I already tried the new version: The crashes are gone. Well done, fast reaction time.
About the user interface: It's clean and modern alright. The big question is whether the users will ever get far enough to appreciate this. I am well aware that many of those "dozens and dozens" of baby names apps are downright crapp, and quite a number mediocre at best, but they still cause a big discovery problem for good apps like yours.
That's why I personally would strive for at least one feature that stands out already in the app description and in screenshots, pre-install.
Some more details that I noted in the meantime:
In a year where a name does not rank in the top 1000 you draw a point at the 1000 level nevertheless. Maybe it would be better to draw nothing at all for such a year.
For me it's a little confusing that a name does not vanish right away from the list of favorites after I "delete" it but stays there until the next refresh of the list, which sometimes is much later. Maybe let it vanish after a 1-second timered delay or something similar?
I would find a history of viewed names useful, for example the last 50.
I already tried the new version: The crashes are gone. Well done, fast reaction time.
About the user interface: It's clean and modern alright. The big question is whether the users will ever get far enough to appreciate this. I am well aware that many of those "dozens and dozens" of baby names apps are downright crapp, and quite a number mediocre at best, but they still cause a big discovery problem for good apps like yours.
That's why I personally would strive for at least one feature that stands out already in the app description and in screenshots, pre-install.
Some more details that I noted in the meantime:
In a year where a name does not rank in the top 1000 you draw a point at the 1000 level nevertheless. Maybe it would be better to draw nothing at all for such a year.
For me it's a little confusing that a name does not vanish right away from the list of favorites after I "delete" it but stays there until the next refresh of the list, which sometimes is much later. Maybe let it vanish after a 1-second timered delay or something similar?
I would find a history of viewed names useful, for example the last 50.
1