I discovered DuoCards by ads in the Play Store. Their budget for ads must be enormous! Let's check it out. The website is good looking and clean with a nice logo - the mammoth that just had a haircut (Memo). It is a product from a small company in Czech. "Our goal is to help you stay motivated and learn effectively." A nice small intro video.
All looking good! Let's start with the app. We start with a welcoming wizard. Ouh, request for premium: '7 days free, then $100.99 USD / 1 Year'. Let's skip for now and see what the free version does.
I start with choosing words. Then a video is presented to me. Nice but not what I am searching for. Learning is explained. Actually a lot is explained. Good or right is with swiping. Good for phone. Not ideal on a laptop - but the arrows on the keyboard work also 🙂 Ah! I get a limited offer! 40% down! now for 63 USD a year.
Now I see three options: Learning, Library and Account. After confirming my email address I can create a new deck. Halfway learning I had to choose "Continue with ads". Then the app broke.
- Create your own word list. "Days of the week in French"
★ one free if succeeds - YES
★ easy to start creating - OKAY (a lot of steps before)
★ easy to make a long list - YES - tab-tab-tab-enter
★ easy to use keyboard only- YES
★ automatic translations - YES
BONUS: images for words + possible to add context sentences
Score: 100
- Select an existing list + AI
★ easy to select, find options - YES
★ Select a decent list - YES - various sets of cards based on courses, videos, articles.
★ Have more options to choose from - YES
★ Generate a list using AI. - NO
★ Take over a list from an image. - NO
BONUS: with all the courses cards are presented in a nice way.
Score: 80
- Learn this list. Error hard on the first three. Error a bit on the next 2. Make the last 2 perfect.
★ I can learn - YES
★ I have multiple options to answer: flashcard, write the words down - YES flashcards, write down and speak! And a connect game
★ The errors are repeated until answered correctly - YES
★ There is a prompt to rehearse again in time - YES
★ After a right period of time, the questions are asked again - YES
Before you learn facts you have to say if you know them or have to learn them. When you added 5 cards to learn it says that is enough. Very good.
I get some default from duocard in my learning session. Okay
Score: 100
- Easy to use rating
★ Modern app, looks smooth - YES
★ Good looking, nice colors/logo or something - YES
★ Easy to start, no hiccups - YES
★★ Easy to do the actions above - YES
Score: 100 perfect score. A lot of help to get going
- Try to share, import, and export a list
★ share easily one list. e.g., by URL - YES
★ share easily all your lists - YES
★ export your list as understandable format - NO
★ import a list from an easy to create format - NO
★ export all your lists at once - NO
Score: 0
Export is essential. You can do a request per email to export all your data. But we want a button for it.
- Special features
★ Great explanations when starting with the app
★ Combination of courses, articles, and videos
★ Nice logo to pet
★ Great encouragement items
Score: 80
- Gaming elements
★ Memo and his camp
★ Streak
★ Positive encouragement
★ Nice looking, images
★ Goals - e.g. learn 3 days in a row
Score: 100 - the app is good looking and encouraging.
- Pros
★ Nice combination with courses, context sentences
★ Good looking
★ Encouraging
★ Learning works
Score: 80
- Cons
★ Expensive premium
★ Limited options to manage your list of cards
Score: 60
- Price
Price: $100.99 USD / 1 Year. However, getting a $40 discount is not difficult.
Score: 40
