User Comments - yibuyibu

Posted on: Gap Year

谢谢David

Posted on: Gap Year

In the lesson, "It's not the heat, it's the humidity", John comments that 咱们 is a pronoun that is used in the North. I feel like I have heard CPod discuss this in other lessons too, although I can't recall which.

Posted on: Gap Year

I recall in earlier lessons that 咱们 was described as being used more in the North.  Lately, I've been seeing it in more of the dialogues than I remember in the past.  Is 咱们 becoming more widely used in China?

Posted on: A Formal Apology

David, first of all, thank you for giving us a little insight into the background music. This has been something CPod users have repeatedly brought up in this forum without any acknowledgement from CPod. So, it is nice that we are hearing some feedback. I think that RobXDecker is exactly right in that the selection of music that you are now using is the problem. I don't recall multiple users complaining about the previous background music, which I'm assuming was mixed at the same levels. Please bring the old background music back, at least until you have user-tested a different song than the one you are using now.

I have completely stopped listening to any shows that were made after the new background music. This is not a matter of taste in music. I simply can't concentrate on the language, and so I get nothing from the lessons. Thank you.

Posted on: Shopping for Glasses

Oh, and Mike, according to Sean, I'm not complaining...I'm just being passionate ;)

Posted on: Shopping for Glasses

While I'm not a fan of the intro music, it is the background music that I'm referring to. When I listen to the lessons, I use earbuds, not computer speakers. This probably makes the background music more noticeable (and is probably the typical case for the mobile app users). The problem with the music is that they are using this odd, jazzy background music that changes in volume. So, not only is it out of place for a Chinese podcast, but the music all of the sudden can come out of nowhere, pulling your attention from what the hosts are discussing. I've gone back and listened to some older lessons (and have been for years) and the background music was only noticeable if you were trying to listen for it (even with earbuds).

Posted on: Shopping for Glasses

Dear Chinesepod.  After numerous user complaints, you continue with one of the easiest things for you to change immediatly.  In all honesty, I am very curious if you have been recieving user feedback saying that people love the new background music and find that it helps them concentrate and learn this difficult language.  If so, please let us know so that we understand the reasoning for continuing with something that could be changed so easily.  Otherwise it comes off as you not caring about feedback from your users.  

I understand that the other issues around the UI (for example, the very difficult to read text in the dialogues due to the poor contrast between the text and the background colors) take more time to fix and roll out a new app, but, truly I don't expect you to adress these issues either.

I looked at my account, and have spent over $1,000 dollars on your service.  It has helped me tremendously over the years. But if I can't evem listen to the lessons because the out of place and loud background music continuously pulls my attention away from the dialogue, the service is worth nothing to me.

I have a couple days before my subscription expires. I will wait to see if there is any reply on these issues before I cancel and move onto the many other resources now available for studying Chinese.  Unfortunately, I don't expect a response or any action.  So, this is possibly good bye, Chinesepod.  It's been nice knowing you.

Posted on: Using the Paper Shredder

Please, please, PLEASE stop using the elevator music in the background of the lessons. The new music is very distracting to those of us not already fluent in Chinese and have to focus hard on the language. The old background music was barely noticeable. This music is very noticeable.

Posted on: Using the Paper Shredder

latest Android update. White text on black text bubbles and black text on dark red text bubbles. The contrast is terrible and very difficult to read. They are also using a messaging UI metaphor, which I don't think is appropriate here. I think it's time for CP to get a User Experience person on their staff.

Posted on: Using the Paper Shredder

I could not agree more.