Episode 14: Mend - Breakup Self Care App Review. Going through a breakup? Check out this really cool virtual coach to help you get through. Full review link in bio, leave your comments below!
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LOVED

• The concept! A virtual chat bot coach to help you though life’s difficulties. I can see a lot of growth potential for apps like this in the future.
• Registration and notification process happened WITHIN the chat. It didn’t even feel like it was happening because it was so well integrated.
• Gives support links for people struggling most with their breakups. This is a really big deal for a lot of people this time of year.
• Gives you optional articles to check out about relationships.

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NOT A FAN

• I still think the app could use some more standard navigation, though it may be tricky without being able to use a bottom tab system due to the nature of the chat. Perhaps a hamburger style menu here could work well.

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Episode 13: myNoise Sound Generator. A cool app to use in distracting environments. Let me know what you think in the comments below!
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LOVED:

• Level of control you have on every layer of the sound track you’ve selected. This app was developed by an audio researcher and you can tell they put a lot of thought into this area.
• Overall concept is neat, something I’ll need to give a real try to soon.

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NOT A FAN:

• Asked me if I wanted to restore my account upon my first open, even though I had never downloaded the app before.
• Design is a little outdated.
• A few of the button links were confusing.

Episode 12: Robinhood App Review. Full review link in bio. 25 step on boarding process?!?! What do you think of this?
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LOVED.

• Beautiful design. It really is nice.
• No-fee trades.

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NOT A FAN:

• 10 step on boarding process!!
• Followed by notifications permission!!
• Took 4 minutes to even get into the app.
• They asked for my social security number before I even entered the app.
• “Buy” button still looks clickable when it’s disabled.

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This app could have easily pushed their lengthy on boarding process to a later point. They even have a screen (after the 13 step on boarding) that says that I will only get a sample of the app until my investor account is approved….then WHY even have me go through it yet?! I don’t know if I’ve ever been frustrated as much with such a long onboarding process.

Episode 11: LookUp Elegant Dictionary App Review. Full review in video above, leave comments below!
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This was a challenge as I encountered my first paid app through Apple’s App of The Day. Frankly, I’m a little bummed out by it because I would expect a much better app or at least better promised value give both the fact that it is a paid app AND Apple’s choice. But given my review of their App Store page, I didn’t feel that this app would be of value to me for the money.
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LOVED:

• They really are trying to do something elegant and interesting with a very boring concept in dictionaries.

NOT A FAN:

• They seem to have botched it.
• Make it free, charge for upgrades (Augmented Reality, customized themes, etc). Imagine how many more downloads they would’ve gotten from Apple’s recognition if it had been free. Now assume a small percentage of people actually do upgrade. My guess is that they would’ve come out ahead.
• It’s emphasis on design and “elegance” gets in the way of the core functionality of being a dictionary, which is the primary value that users need to have achieved.

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Now this can call into debate the fact that I wasn’t willing to spend $2.99 on this whereas we drop almost that much for a pack of gum these days. But, at least for now, we won’t go there. See you tomorrow for Episode 12.

Episode 10: Vogue Runway App Review. Full review link in bio. Leave your comments below!
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LOVED:

• Bookmarking preview! When I click the bookmark button, it shows me a glimpse of what the section could look like if I did sign up to use it. I love this because it shows me the value that I would receive before I actually need to sign up.
• Crisp images and easy, familiar navigation.

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NOT A FAN:

• Prompted for notifications after very first click in the app.
• Video player did not have a noticeable way to exit screen. I was able to tap away from the video in order to close, but I would prefer to see an “X” or other way to close.
• Nav bar started flickering while in that video player.
• Siri integration. Good idea, but I can never get Siri to work well….she always cuts me off!

Episode 10: NBC Sports App Review. Leave your feedback below  Unmute for commentary.
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LOVED:

• NBC Sports streaming has always been great for me so technologically, this app delivers the value I’d expect.
• Specialized content tabs. Only looking for the Olympics? Just golf? Everything else? NBC actually uses their bottom nav to not offer different functionality, rather just to offer just the right content to you.

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OK WITH:

• The notification preferences that this app offers is great. I can select notifications just by sport type, just for awards ceremonies, etc. This was I have a better idea of what I’m agreeing to. HOWEVER, they should ask the preference first, then ask permission.

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NOT A FAN:

• Notification preferences in onboarding. I get that they’ll need to ask things about my location and which cable news I currently subscribe to, but they don’t need to ask me to specify my alerts yet. Ask me later, drop me into the content now.

Check out Lucid - Metal Training app on iOS app store.

LOVED:

• CHAT BOT VIRTUAL COACH! Incredible. Love love love this.
• Amount of content they let me see without asking me to sign up.
• Auto-play video on intro.

OK WITH:

• Needing to pay for additional content and coaching chat, BUT would like them to send me a text response in the chat bot that says that it’s premium when I send a response, rather than just taking me to a sign up page first. It was a little unexpected and surprises in UX are no bueno.

NOT A FAN:

• Found some of the text-based buttons hard to click.
• The navigation on home page (Pillars, Pros, etc) was a little confusing.
• Thought clicking “more” under Pros section would show more athletes names.

Episode 5: Animal Planet GO (PUPPY BOWL)! Unmute 🔊 for commentary. Full link in bio 👆Leave your thoughts in the comments 👇 below!
LOVED:

• Didn’t require sign in!
• Big images, horizontal scrolling lists (very popular right now).
• Very simple, takes you straight into the content.
• Simple color scheme.

OK WITH:

• Hamburger menu. I prefer bottom bag but everyone knows how to use this menu too.

NOT A FAN OF:

• Not much. Except the concept of cable TV in general 😊