kasim
秀才
Hello Pleco Team,
I’ve been exploring the beta version of your app and I’d like to share some feedback based on my experience. Firstly, I appreciate the effort put into enhancing the app; the new overlay and additional functions are impressive improvements. However, I’ve encountered a few issues that might need attention:
1. Audio Functionality with Device Mute Settings
In the previous version of Pleco, the text-to-speech feature respected the device's mute settings. This allowed users to easily toggle the sound on and off using the physical mute switch on their devices. However, the beta version seems to override these settings, requiring a manual adjustment within the app to silence it. It would be more user-friendly if this feature could once again respect the device's mute settings(and silent mode on iPad) for convenience.
2. Font Size Issues in Some Dictionaries(see CC-CEDICT.PNG, TLC.PNG):
I've noticed that certain dictionaries display text with an excessively large font. This occurs both in pop-up windows and within the dictionary entries themselves, affecting readability. I’ve attached screenshots to highlight this issue clearly. Addressing these font inconsistencies would enhance the user experience significantly.
3. Highlight Management
The new highlight feature is absolutely fantastic addition, especially for users who frequently highlight key words or phrases. However, the process to manage them (like changing colors, editing categories or deleting) is quite cumbersome to the point that after 1 hour of using it and constantly going through the same steps made me not want to use it so much anymore. Introducing a more streamlined way to manage bookmarks directly from the main interface—perhaps a dedicated bookmark button on the top next to the + icon to save words to flashcards—would make this feature even more beneficial (i.e. user selects the word, the clicks the shortcut button and it highlights word, by clicking second time user can either change color or delete highlight)
4. Enhanced Settings Documentation:
While the app offers various customizable settings, it can be challenging for users to understand their functions without detailed explanations. Providing a brief description for each setting within the app or including a detailed user manual (like a PDF file with brief explanation or screenshots before-after) could significantly aid in navigating and utilizing these features more effectively. Users would not have to guess anymore and spend endless hours to understand what functions mean. For expert setting I think this would be absolutely crucial, because even after few hours customizing the app, I have no idea what these settings change.
5. Advanced Ruby Transcription Features
The Ruby transcription feature is excellent for learners, but it could be enhanced by allowing users to filter transcriptions based on their proficiency level. Similar to functionalities already implemented in the Language Reactor Google Chrome extension, it would be useful if Pleco could enable users to hide transcriptions for familiar, elementary-level words without having to repeatedly see ruby transcription for elementary words.
In Language Reactor(previously known as Learning languages with Netflix), it works as such: First, if user wants to enable the feature and add Ruby transcriptions it shows a couple of random words across HSK spectra, user should choose the option where he/she can read all the characters and then the levels below are filtered out and excluded from Ruby transcription(User then can manually change by clicking on the word whether he/she wants it to be excluded and Ruby transcription not shown(this might be also a button on the top in reader next to the add to flashcards + button, read aloud button etc.))
On the screen recording on the right side are words grouped by difficulty, Language Reactor has them also in different color(already known in green, white - not certain,, purple - unknown); then in the settings user can choose to turn off transliteration for known words. I believe implementing this into the reader would significantly declutter the interface and focus the learning aid on new or challenging vocabulary, without repetitions of words user already knows. This would be absolutely massive improvement and would change the way many people use reader.
I hope these points are helpful for refining the app. Thanks for your hard work and dedication to creating a valuable learning tool for Chinese language students. I look forward to future updates and am eager to see how these suggestions might be implemented.
Best regards,
Kasim
I’ve been exploring the beta version of your app and I’d like to share some feedback based on my experience. Firstly, I appreciate the effort put into enhancing the app; the new overlay and additional functions are impressive improvements. However, I’ve encountered a few issues that might need attention:
1. Audio Functionality with Device Mute Settings
In the previous version of Pleco, the text-to-speech feature respected the device's mute settings. This allowed users to easily toggle the sound on and off using the physical mute switch on their devices. However, the beta version seems to override these settings, requiring a manual adjustment within the app to silence it. It would be more user-friendly if this feature could once again respect the device's mute settings(and silent mode on iPad) for convenience.
2. Font Size Issues in Some Dictionaries(see CC-CEDICT.PNG, TLC.PNG):
I've noticed that certain dictionaries display text with an excessively large font. This occurs both in pop-up windows and within the dictionary entries themselves, affecting readability. I’ve attached screenshots to highlight this issue clearly. Addressing these font inconsistencies would enhance the user experience significantly.
3. Highlight Management
The new highlight feature is absolutely fantastic addition, especially for users who frequently highlight key words or phrases. However, the process to manage them (like changing colors, editing categories or deleting) is quite cumbersome to the point that after 1 hour of using it and constantly going through the same steps made me not want to use it so much anymore. Introducing a more streamlined way to manage bookmarks directly from the main interface—perhaps a dedicated bookmark button on the top next to the + icon to save words to flashcards—would make this feature even more beneficial (i.e. user selects the word, the clicks the shortcut button and it highlights word, by clicking second time user can either change color or delete highlight)
4. Enhanced Settings Documentation:
While the app offers various customizable settings, it can be challenging for users to understand their functions without detailed explanations. Providing a brief description for each setting within the app or including a detailed user manual (like a PDF file with brief explanation or screenshots before-after) could significantly aid in navigating and utilizing these features more effectively. Users would not have to guess anymore and spend endless hours to understand what functions mean. For expert setting I think this would be absolutely crucial, because even after few hours customizing the app, I have no idea what these settings change.
5. Advanced Ruby Transcription Features
The Ruby transcription feature is excellent for learners, but it could be enhanced by allowing users to filter transcriptions based on their proficiency level. Similar to functionalities already implemented in the Language Reactor Google Chrome extension, it would be useful if Pleco could enable users to hide transcriptions for familiar, elementary-level words without having to repeatedly see ruby transcription for elementary words.
In Language Reactor(previously known as Learning languages with Netflix), it works as such: First, if user wants to enable the feature and add Ruby transcriptions it shows a couple of random words across HSK spectra, user should choose the option where he/she can read all the characters and then the levels below are filtered out and excluded from Ruby transcription(User then can manually change by clicking on the word whether he/she wants it to be excluded and Ruby transcription not shown(this might be also a button on the top in reader next to the add to flashcards + button, read aloud button etc.))
On the screen recording on the right side are words grouped by difficulty, Language Reactor has them also in different color(already known in green, white - not certain,, purple - unknown); then in the settings user can choose to turn off transliteration for known words. I believe implementing this into the reader would significantly declutter the interface and focus the learning aid on new or challenging vocabulary, without repetitions of words user already knows. This would be absolutely massive improvement and would change the way many people use reader.
I hope these points are helpful for refining the app. Thanks for your hard work and dedication to creating a valuable learning tool for Chinese language students. I look forward to future updates and am eager to see how these suggestions might be implemented.
Best regards,
Kasim
Attachments
Last edited:
