Glide CEO critiques several startup mobile apps in a video review. Glide is a no-code tool for creating visually appealing custom software. The CEO emphasizes the importance of design in mobile apps and provides tips for well-designed apps, such as sticking to platform standards and considering user context. The first app reviewed is Pyrls, a medical reference app with a card-based design, but it has usability issues. The second app, Bluedot, helps users find EV charging stations but lacks important features. Duffl is a snack delivery app for college students with a unique design, but it has issues with call-to-action buttons. BoldVoice combines Hollywood coaches' expertise with AI feedback to improve English pronunciation. Eden Care, a group healthcare app in Africa, is critiqued for feeling like a web app and lacking thoughtful design. The CEO suggests improvements for better user experience. Overall, the CEO believes these apps have potential but need enhancements.
Intro: Mobile App Review
- The host announces a mobile app review and will provide feedback on various mobile apps.
- David Siegel, co-founder of Glide, is the guest for this episode.
- Glide is a startup that emerged from the Y Combinator winter 2019 batch.
What Glide Does?
- Glide is a no-code tool for creating custom software without coding
- It emphasizes the importance of design in mobile apps
- It aims to eliminate ugly software by providing a platform for visually appealing applications.
How to Design a Well-Designed Mobile App
Designing a well-designed mobile app involves sticking to platform standards, considering user context, and applying basic design principles. Key points include:
- Stick to platform standards to ensure a familiar and intuitive user experience.
- Consider user context, such as their environment and interaction with their phone, to tailor the app's design.
- Apply basic design principles like legible text and contrast to enhance usability.
- Review different apps to see how well they execute on design.
Pyrls: A Modern Medical Reference App
Pyrls: A Modern Medical Reference App is a healthcare provider app with a card-based design and easy scrolling. However, it has usability issues with small elements and difficult tapping on mobile devices. The app includes a search function for drug information and a guidelines database with expandable sections. The navigation is native with animations for a smoother user experience. Despite its potential, improvements are needed in terms of usability and interface design. The app is praised for its contemporary design, real-time search feature, custom information map, and in-line web browsers for additional resources. Overall, it is considered well-designed and engaging.
Bluedot: Finding EV Charging Stations
The Bluedot mobile app helps users find EV charging stations, but it lacks important features such as indicating station availability on the map and clear call-to-action buttons. The app's design and logo representation also need improvement. However, the app is praised for its interaction design and is considered promising with potential enhancements.
Duffl: Quick Snack Delivery for College Students
Duffl is a mobile app that offers quick snack delivery for college students on college campuses. The app has a unique and eccentric design with a lot of orange color. The app features a sidebar with emoji for quick access to different items. The UI also includes a loading indicator with a shimmering effect. The app allows users to scroll through long sections and offers shortcuts for specific items. However, there are some issues with the call to action buttons not showing the preview of the selected item, which can be disorienting for users.
Key points:
- Duffl is a mobile app for quick snack delivery on college campuses
- Unique and eccentric design with orange color
- Sidebar with emoji for quick access to items
- Loading indicator with shimmering effect
- Scrollable sections and shortcuts for specific items
- Issues with call to action buttons not showing item preview
BoldVoice: Hollywood Coaches and AI Feedback to Improve English
BoldVoice is a mobile app that combines Hollywood coaches' expertise with AI feedback to help users improve their English pronunciation. The app provides lessons and exercises focusing on specific letters and sounds, with examples for practice. The design of the app is more like a game, with a custom layout. Although there are some design issues and unnecessary steps in the onboarding process, the app effectively delivers its purpose.
Eden Care: Group Healthcare in Africa
Eden Care is a group healthcare app in Africa that is being critiqued by the CEO of Glide. The app appears to be a web app rather than a native app, as indicated by the launch sequence and non-standard icons. The CEO suggests improving the tab names and layout for better user experience. The "Steps" feature is questioned as the primary focus of the app, and the "Find Care" section is deemed a work in progress. The CEO suggests trying a different interaction, such as booking telemedicine. The CEO of Glide critiques the app, stating that it feels like a text dump and lacks thoughtful design. He suggests that the app is more like a website and lacks interactive features typically found in mobile apps. The CEO also mentions the importance of location-based services and immediate responsiveness in app design. Overall, he believes that the app has potential but needs more actions embedded to make it easier for users to access healthcare.
Outro
- The video concludes by thanking viewers and encouraging feedback on tips and reviews
- Future reviews will be shaped based on this feedback