The 3.0 Update
I am about to release 3.0, which introduces a new sub-app, Flight! Flight will be a RSS reader and an epub reader with the twist of having a speed reading pacer function. I really enjoyed working on how I thought an RSS reader should work (with bookmarks, highlights, sharing), and I think the streak/stats will help people stay engaged with content they want to read.
With this update is also the option for users to backup their data to their own personal iCloud or Google Drive. Most user data doesn't amount to much in terms of space, but I did not like the fact that I could lose progress on my own flashcards, stats, and blogs if someone stole my phone or I needed to replace my phone after an unfortunate accident.
The speed reading function is free for 1000 words, and I will limiting time the reader screen for the free tier (I think) to 45 minutes. Users can still hit the max streak if the user wants to get there. The hope is that I will be able to make some return on the work that I have put into the app, but I think I've been pretty generous with the functions provided on the free tier.
Future Ideas
At the moment, these are just ideas.
AI VOICEOVER: Make a clone of my voice and have it as an option to read articles and books within Flight. IOS can already do this with the swipe down function, but it is a little convoluted and reads all the tags on the page, not just the article. I don’t have access to use Siri and the other voices that can be downloaded to the device are practically garbage. After doing some quick research on this, it would add an extra 100MB to the app.
STORAGE: Related to this, I’m concerned about data usage on devices, so I think I would also add an option to offload space hogs for users that don’t use particular features - the main culprits for the size of the app are the ambiance audio in the Readrunner, sound cues, and wallpapers for the nature themes. The app could have a significantly smaller footprint without these features, especially if the user only used the app for flashcards. Users would have to wait to update or re-install the app if they wanted the content back. I haven't looked into how this would work, but I believe the concept would work.
PRACTICE SUB APP: A new sub-app for time keeping, tied into stats and streaks, that would help users keep track of their personal development goals (learning an instrument, learning a new skill). I am always interested in learning new things, and consistency is key. The 10,000 hrs to become an expert in something, for example, requires dedication.
FLASHCARD SETS: I would like to create flashcards for users wanting to learn a different language. I would use AI to translate a list of words into different languages but then have a native speaker review the flashcards. Immersion is best, but learning basic vocabulary and grammar is a good start!
Note: I did ask publishers of Greek and Hebrew textbooks if I could use their progression of vocab and provide them for free, but due to current contracts, I wasn’t able to pursue that. It doesn’t stop you from making them yourself though!
On a similar vein, If the app does well, I will translate the app into multiple languages.
THOROUGH TOURS: Add a more modular and more thorough introduction to each of the different sub-apps, accessible from the main menu.
QUICK LOCK: Add a new “Quick Lock” to Ephemeral, following a preset lock parameter that the user establishes, to lock down certain apps for the rest of the calendar day.
Whether any of these will be added remains to be seen. It has been a push to get the app this far, and I need to work on marketing to actually put the app in front of people! I made the app around my personal interests and study ideas from my time in college and grad school, and I have enjoyed using the app for personal use.
I hope you enjoy the app as well, and thank you for using Swiftlit!
Best,
William Schaerer