Show HN: Keys, Mac app for learning typing | Hacker News Reader

Show HN: Keys, Mac app for learning typing

21 pointsfebeling26 comments

Over the last couple of months I have designed and written Keys, a Mac application the helps learning typing and that is supposed to meet Mac users standards for a well-designed application.

My goal is to become a micro-ISV or indie developer. The app is only in the Mac app store for now (no trial yet), since end of May, and I have been busy putting together a website and a personal blog since.

I would be very interested what the HN community thinks about the application, how you like it, and how it is presented, from a business angle. Prior to this project, I have done much more work on server side software without any UI so design and marketing aspects are new to me and advice is very welcome.

Product website:

http://getkeysapp.com

Announcement blog post:

http://florianebeling.com/announce/mac/typing/2012/06/11/announcing-keys-app/

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> The app is only in the Mac app store for now (no trial yet)

Why not push a "Free" version to the Mac App Store? Just as good as a trial but gets around Apple's rules.

For example:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/one-hand-keyboard-free-one/id...

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/one-hand-keyboard-one-hand/id...

That is a freemium offer AFAIU, where one is more or less just a demo and the other one is similar to a system extension for input. I don't know how to apply that to my app.

I was thinking of a time-limited trial version. I don't believe Apple accepts time-limited apps that duplicate full versions for the Mac App Store, but don't know for certain.

They don't allow time-limited trials, but free feature-limited versions seem to be ok. Or try an in-app purchase to unlock more typing tutorials? (Those are my apps by the way, if you have any questions.)

Hm, I admit I didn't realize :) Thanks for your advice!

The in-app purchase would tie the app very tightly to the MAS, and I'm not sure if that is a good thing. I'm not sure yet how to best proceed.

I would love to purchase something like this if it offered programmer centric typing tutorials. I have found that my right hand has drifted over about half of a key to use these characters "[]{}|" and these such as "^&$%" are potentially used to a lesser degree. I've found at times that my typing speed and general typos with these characters have actually limited my programming speed, so if your software had tutorials for these kind of characters i would certainly purchase it. Perhaps it already does?

These characters are covered as well. Basically all keys that produce characters are included.

I "forced" my mother to try out a few online type trainers, but she never sticked to them... and back then I didn't find a decent app for the mac that seemed worth spending money on.

Once you have the german version ready, I'd suggest it to her. Screenshots look good.

I'd maybe increase the contrast on some parts of the website (e.g. support / buy on top are rather hard to read).

Would be interested in trying it and giving feedback but not for $20. I think most people here would agree. Screenshots look great though.

I understand that is too much for just trying it out. I will add a trial version soon.

#claim is unreadable on my well calibrated Eizo: #888 on black is way too dark with a light font face. It would be OK with a regular font weight but not as it is. Change it to #ccc or lighter or use a value higher than 100 for font-weight.

Same remark for the toolbar.

The screenshots look good. Too bad it's 10.7-only and I can't try before I buy.

Fixed for the copy text. I didn't check that on more screens yet. Thanks.

Clickable:

http://getkeysapp.com

http://florianebeling.com/announce/mac/typing/2012/06/11/ann...

English major here. Your landing copy needs a once-over. "Express your thoughts more freely and less tiring" is wrong. Changing as little as possible, it would be better to say, "Express your thoughts more freely with less stress."

That is fixed. Thank you.

I have been thinking that this is an area ready for disruption for a while (a post Mavis Beacon era). Have you thought about experimenting with Adwords...?

That there was space for a newer offer in this space was my thought as well. And I have been starting to look for a adwords prices. But in that area I don't have much experience, and many people dismiss the idea outright when you mention it. It is an application where I don't think I can find many customers in my social group, thought, because those are mostly programmers and already type quite proficiently. I'll look into adwords.

1. Free Adwords coupon for you: http://www.google.com/ads/offers/adwordsoffer.html

2. I think that you will need to improve your landing page to boost your conversion rate. This might help: http://unbounce.com/landing-page-examples/built-using-unboun... Additionally, if you could have some sort of short working demo on the website that should increase conversion. These guys do that process very well: http://www.memrise.com/welcome/

3. If you have exhausted your family and friends route, you could try marketing to people who have tried to learn to touchtype online, but given up. Your USP is about not playing gimmicky games, but about learning to touchtype WHILST you are using your computer like you normally would (which I like).

4. A well targeted Reddit ad might go down well...

Yes, the landing page is very much a first try and sure needs evolving. The page you link to looks awesome. And also I think a brighter overall design is probably more Mac-like and might appeal more to non-tech people.

Until release if was about development, and it is suddenly about marketing. Predictably so, but still caught me as a surprise. These look like good pointers.

I had a free hour and whipped something together for your design page inspiration:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/42977378/keys.png

Any chance you could support other English keyboard layouts, like Colemak? http://colemak.com/

Yes, that will follow, also other international ones, of course. German, French, Spanish, and Dvorak will probably come as the next ones. Do you think Colemak is better than Dvorak?

I currently use Qwerty, but have been wanting to switch. From what I've read, Colemak is easier to learn from Qwerty, and has some advantages over Dvorak. http://colemak.com/FAQ

Thanks! I'll definitely buy your program if you can add Colemak.

You can subscribe to the mailing list using the form on the http://getkeysapp.com page. I will send notifications about such new features (e.g. keyboard layouts) to this list.

Sweet, I appreciate it.

Any chance of supporting Dvorak programing ?

Yes I want to do that, too.

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