"Notes" is an iOS app designed to help musicians improve their sight-reading skills. Available on the App Store for 10 years, the app presents users with randomly generated musical notation, covering a range of clefs, key signatures, and rhythms. Users can customize the difficulty level, focusing on specific areas for improvement. The app provides instant feedback on accuracy and tracks progress over time, helping musicians develop their ability to quickly and accurately interpret and play music.
Indie app development is a challenging business. While success stories exist, most indie apps don't achieve significant financial success. Marketing, discoverability, and competition from larger companies are substantial hurdles. Furthermore, the continuous need for updates and platform changes necessitates ongoing development effort, even without guaranteed returns. Despite the difficulties, some developers find the pursuit rewarding for the creative freedom and potential, albeit small, for financial independence. Ultimately, passion for the project is crucial for persevering through the demanding and often unprofitable reality of indie app development.
HN commenters generally agreed with the author's points about the difficulty of the indie app market. Several shared their own struggles with discoverability and monetization, emphasizing the importance of marketing and a unique value proposition. Some suggested alternative business models like subscriptions or focusing on niche markets. A few commenters pointed out the inherent luck involved in succeeding, while others questioned the sustainability of a purely indie approach, suggesting exploring contract work or other income streams for stability. The importance of managing expectations and enjoying the process was also highlighted.
A UK watchdog is investigating Apple's compliance with its own App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework, questioning why Apple's first-party apps seem exempt from the same stringent data collection rules imposed on third-party developers. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is particularly scrutinizing how Apple gathers and uses user data within its own apps, given that it doesn't require user permission via the ATT pop-up prompts like third-party apps must. The probe aims to determine if this apparent double standard gives Apple an unfair competitive advantage in the advertising and app markets, potentially breaching competition law.
HN commenters largely agree that Apple's behavior is hypocritical, applying stricter tracking rules to third-party apps while seemingly exempting its own. Some suggest this is classic regulatory capture, where Apple leverages its gatekeeper status to stifle competition. Others point out the difficulty of proving Apple's data collection is for personalized ads, as Apple claims it's for "personalized experiences." A few commenters argue Apple's first-party data usage is less problematic because the data isn't shared externally, while others counter that the distinction is irrelevant from a privacy perspective. The lack of transparency around Apple's data collection practices fuels suspicion. A common sentiment is that Apple's privacy stance is more about marketing than genuine user protection. Some users also highlight the inherent conflict of interest in Apple acting as both platform owner and app developer.
The popular mobile game Luck Be a Landlord faces potential removal from the Google Play Store due to its use of simulated gambling mechanics. Developer Trampoline Tales received a notice from Google citing a violation of their gambling policies, specifically the simulation of "casino-style games with real-world monetary value, even if there is no real-world monetary value awarded." While the game does not offer real-world prizes, its core gameplay revolves around slot machine-like mechanics and simulated betting. Trampoline Tales is appealing the decision, arguing the game is skill-based and comparable to other allowed strategy titles. The developer expressed concern over the subjective nature of the review process and the potential precedent this ban could set for other games with similar mechanics. They are currently working to comply with Google's request to remove the flagged content, though the specific changes required remain unclear.
Hacker News users discuss the potential ban of the mobile game "Luck Be a Landlord" from Google Play due to its gambling-like mechanics. Several commenters expressed sympathy for the developer, highlighting the difficulty of navigating Google's seemingly arbitrary and opaque enforcement policies. Others debated whether the game constitutes actual gambling, with some arguing that its reliance on random number generation (RNG) mirrors many other accepted games. The core issue appears to be the ability to purchase in-game currency, which, combined with the RNG elements, blurs the line between skill-based gaming and gambling in the eyes of some commenters and potentially Google. A few users suggested potential workarounds for the developer, like removing in-app purchases or implementing alternative monetization strategies. The overall sentiment leans toward frustration with Google's inconsistent application of its rules and the precarious position this puts independent developers in.
A developer created "Islet", an iOS app designed to simplify diabetes management using GPT-4-Turbo. The app analyzes blood glucose data, meals, and other relevant factors to offer personalized insights and predictions, helping users understand trends and make informed decisions about their diabetes care. It aims to reduce the mental burden of diabetes management by automating tasks like logbook analysis and offering proactive suggestions, ultimately aiming to improve overall health outcomes for users.
HN users generally expressed interest in the Islet diabetes management app and its use of GPT-4. Several questioned the reliance on a closed-source LLM for medical advice, raising concerns about transparency, data privacy, and the potential for hallucinations. Some suggested using open-source models or smaller, specialized models for specific tasks like carb counting. Others were curious about the app's prompt engineering and how it handles edge cases. The developer responded to many comments, clarifying the app's current functionality (primarily focused on logging and analysis, not direct medical advice), their commitment to user privacy, and future plans for open-sourcing parts of the project and exploring alternative LLMs. There was also a discussion about regulatory hurdles for AI-powered medical apps and the importance of clinical trials.
Summary of Comments ( 116 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43456030
HN users discussed the app's longevity and the developer's persistence, praising the 10-year milestone. Some shared their personal sight-reading practice methods, including using apps like Functional Ear Trainer and various websites. A few users suggested potential improvements for the app, such as adding support for other instruments beyond piano and offering more customization options like adjustable clefs. Others questioned the efficacy of pure note-reading practice without rhythmic context. The overall sentiment was positive, acknowledging the app's niche and the developer's commitment.
The Hacker News post about the "Notes: Sight Reading Trainer" iOS app, which has been on the App Store for 10 years, generated several interesting comments.
Many users commended the developer for the app's longevity and consistent updates over a decade. They praised the commitment to maintaining and improving the app in a rapidly changing mobile landscape. Some long-time users chimed in, attesting to the app's usefulness in improving their sight-reading skills. They appreciated features like customizable key signatures, clefs, and rhythms, highlighting the app's adaptability to different skill levels and learning goals.
A common theme in the comments was the difficulty of creating and maintaining a successful app, particularly for a niche market like music education. Users expressed respect for the developer's perseverance and dedication to this specific area.
Several commenters discussed the importance of sight-reading for musicians and shared their personal experiences using various tools and techniques to practice. This led to a brief discussion about different approaches to sight-reading pedagogy.
Some comments also focused on technical aspects. One commenter asked about the development tools used, specifically inquiring about using SwiftUI and UIKit together. The developer replied, explaining their approach of integrating SwiftUI incrementally into the existing UIKit codebase, offering a practical example of managing a legacy codebase in the evolving iOS development ecosystem.
A few commenters shared their own preferred methods for sight-reading practice, suggesting alternative apps or resources. This wasn't a dominant part of the discussion but offered a glimpse into the broader landscape of sight-reading tools available.
Overall, the comments section reflected a positive reception to the app and appreciation for the developer's long-term commitment. The discussion provided a mix of personal experiences, technical insights, and pedagogical considerations related to sight-reading practice.