Dive Into iOS
Learning and science
programming video courses
SHOW HN2011
How HN took it
9 positive, 14 neutral or asking, 2 mixed, 23 critical, out of 48 comments about the project. Thread score -0.33.
Pricing: 2 for, 7 againstIdea: 1 for, 7 againstExecution: 0 for, 4 againstDesign: 1 for, 1 againstDocs: 1 for, 0 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Teacher credentials and sample content seem useful
From 2 comments
http://pragmaticlab.com/trainers/ Portfolio is pretty impressive.
startupcto on HNThanks for your support! Let me know how it goes.
sidwyn on HN
Fills gap between too-simple and too-advanced iOS material
From 1 comment
The problem I have with most iOS material is that it's either too simple, or too advanced, often leaving no room for those that understand the concepts but need help connecting…
nhangen on HN
Objections
Priced too high for video tutorials
From 3 comments
This seems a little spendy for video tutorials (peepcode is a good benchmark). Have you considered breaking them up into smaller bits and selling the same $50 content for 5…
webwright on HN$50 is too high. I'm pretty sure you'd more than double the sales if you halved the price. Try doing some A/B testing on this.
ScottMFisher on HNA few suggestions: - Kill the power point like slides in the videos, they are not very useful. Such information is better represented as text, so it can be searched and easily…
papaver on HN
Free Stanford iTunes U course is a strong alternative
From 2 comments
I've used the Beginning iPhone 4 Development book too and I've found it excellent. Also I used the iPhone development course from Stanford on iTunes U, which is quite…
patrickk on HNIt will be hard to compete with the free Stanford courses. Especially since the sample looks like it's almost the same format. It would be better to go the Peepcode route and…
rdouble on HN
One hour to learn iOS is unrealistic
From 2 comments
I've been programming C/C++ for 15+ years. I would have to say if you know nothing about C/C++ programming, then your biggest hurdles will be: 1) learning how to program in…
steve8918 on HNWhat a surprise. Only a commercial product would advertise learning software development in "less than an hour".
rane on HN
Audio quality, accent and presenter age concerns
From 1 comment
This might seem a bit rude, especially because it takes a lot of work to launch something like this, but I'll try to give really honest feedback. So please don't take this as an…
rb2k_ on HN
Name Dive Into may trade on Mark Pilgrim's brand
From 2 comments
Isn't "Dive Into" a trademark of Mark Pilgrim ? - trading off of someone-else's brand is kind of tacky.
ig1 on HNI don't like the idea of attempting to build on the "Dive Into" brand without offering the materials online for free, as Mark Pilgrim has (or did, before he removed it all). It…
joshsharp on HN
Requests
Offer a free introductory or basic package
From 2 comments
I'm not interested in iOS development, so take this with a grain of salt, but I think it should provide a brief introduction for free to allow people to evaluate it. Also, I…
simonbrown on HNA few suggestions: - Kill the power point like slides in the videos, they are not very useful. Such information is better represented as text, so it can be searched and easily…
papaver on HN
Sell smaller individual lessons instead of bundles
From 2 comments
This seems a little spendy for video tutorials (peepcode is a good benchmark). Have you considered breaking them up into smaller bits and selling the same $50 content for 5…
webwright on HNIt will be hard to compete with the free Stanford courses. Especially since the sample looks like it's almost the same format. It would be better to go the Peepcode route and…
rdouble on HN
Shorter, less text-heavy slides and better production
From 2 comments
Just from the first sample (http://diveintoios.com/samples), it seems a bit heavy, listing many things that aren't necessary to get started. Customers can get that detail from a…
6ren on HNA few suggestions: - Kill the power point like slides in the videos, they are not very useful. Such information is better represented as text, so it can be searched and easily…
papaver on HN
Embed a free sample video on landing page
From 2 comments
Move a sample video to the landing page or put a big "view first video for free" button on the page. You want a persons eyes to be drawn to 3 things: logo/call to action,…
curt on HNAdding an embedded 5 minute free getting started video, could improve your conversion rate.
stevederico on HN
Questions
How does it differ from the Stanford course
From 2 comments
How does this differ from the Stanford course?
zubr1768 on HNSince you're here - sidwyn - Why would I use your video tutorials instead of Stanfords iOS course from iTunes university?
gacek on HN
How quickly can a basic photo sharing app be built
From 1 comment
Can you say realistically how quickly I can make a basic photo sharing app using your tutorial, if I know zero iOS programming, but am reasonably good at Ruby, Rails, HTML, CSS,…
revorad on HN
Are the packages progressive
From 1 comment
Are the courses progressive? Meaning, in order to do Premium is Basic required. Or can I buy Premium & learn everything in Basic?
auston on HN
Alternatives named
Stanford iOS course on iTunes U
From 2 comments
I've used the Beginning iPhone 4 Development book too and I've found it excellent. Also I used the iPhone development course from Stanford on iTunes U, which is quite…
patrickk on HNSince you're here - sidwyn - Why would I use your video tutorials instead of Stanfords iOS course from iTunes university?
gacek on HN
Lynda.com
From 1 comment
So, congrats on launching this, but I have to say, it's going to be very challenging for you to compete against lynda.com at this price point. They have a terrific iOS instructor…
jeffreymcmanus on HN
Peepcode
From 2 comments
This seems a little spendy for video tutorials (peepcode is a good benchmark). Have you considered breaking them up into smaller bits and selling the same $50 content for 5…
webwright on HNTake a look at Objective-c for Rubyists from peepcode.
jmonegro on HN
Beginning iPhone 4 Development book
From 2 comments
I've been programming C/C++ for 15+ years. I would have to say if you know nothing about C/C++ programming, then your biggest hurdles will be: 1) learning how to program in…
steve8918 on HNI've used the Beginning iPhone 4 Development book too and I've found it excellent. Also I used the iPhone development course from Stanford on iTunes U, which is quite…
patrickk on HN