⚒️Under the Hood Upgrades: Major Improvements on the way

Weekly Updates:

🐛 Bug Fixes:

1. More Error Generation Bug: 🚫 Addressed more predominant issues causing errors during card generation. Should you encounter this problem, please promptly report it to [email protected].

2. Fixed lifetime users "Cannot Log In Error".

3. Checkout should now work on Safari - fixed the "Pop Up Block" issue.

Upcoming Features (in the Works)

We're excited to share our upcoming revamp in PDF2ANKI Version 2, one of our biggest update yet!

😆 Simplified User Experience - The interface is being redesigned for an even more seamless workflow. Users will SOON be able to view the original PDF slide on the left side while managing flashcards on the right. This integrated dual-view launches next week.

📝 Dashboard for All Decks - Easily keep track of your progress across multiple PDFs with a new centralized dashboard, coming in the November update.

📦 Flashcard History - A highly requested feature: users will SOON be able to revisit flashcards from previously processed PDFs.

💫 Improved Quality - We're fine-tuning our algorithms to generate flashcards with clearer prompts and definitions. The November update should see significant quality improvements.

🐝 Bug Fixes - Issues causing crashes or fails with certain PDFs have been squashed. Additional stability fixes are also included.

Your feedback is helping us build the flashcard tool students need most. Stay tuned for more Version 2 previews and feature updates coming soon! Let us know what else you’d like to see – your suggestions are how we’ll make future updates more valuable than ever.

📌 Flashcard Tip of the Week

🤌 The Way of Flashcard Creation

I have seen a lot of students create flashcards like this. When we start using Anki by ourselves, we really have no clue about what is the most optimal way of studying flashcards. While taking screenshots and using image occlusion to cover up sentences may seem convenient, here are a few potential issues that diminish the effectiveness of this way of studying:

· This is a trap many students fall into – They could remember the sentence when studying, but not in the exams. Why? Their memory is of the slide, not the concept. You'll focus on memorising what's behind the occlusion to get the “correct” answer, instead of truly understanding the idea.

· Multiple concepts per image makes it difficult to learn one at a time. Anki flashcards work best with one principle or term per card.

· Screenshots don't translate well across devices. The occlusion benefit is lost if you study on a different screen.

· It's passive memorization rather than active recall. Simply remembering locations doesn't deeply engage your learning.

The use of pre-made decks like AnKing is a great tool for your studies. But these pre-made decks are not specific to your school’s curriculum (and someone might not be using Anki to study medicine). This is where PDF2ANKI bridges the gap. We streamlined and accelerated the process of flashcard creation for you. So use it for topics or lectures not covered in pre-made decks, and head straight to active recall and spaced repetition. The way of flashcard creation and revision is this - Extract key details at a higher conceptual level for better retention and exam performance.

🗞️Flashcard News

Smell Your Way to Better Grades: the Power of Scent in Boosting Academic Performance

A recent study conducted by Dr. Mark Moss and Victoria Earle from Northumbria University, introducing the scent of rosemary oil into a testing environment led to a noteworthy improvement in students' test scores by 5-7%. Beyond just boosting test performance, this fragrant intervention could significantly enhance overall academic performance. Remarkably, this method is cost-effective and straightforward, potentially marking a revolutionary shift in our learning approaches.

The relationship between scent and learning is not a new field of study. Previous research has indicated that our olfactory system can significantly influence cognitive processes, including learning and memory. For instance, a study conducted by the University of North Florida found that certain scents, like lavender, can help reduce test-taking stress among students. Another study published in the International Journal of Neuroscience demonstrated that the scent of peppermint can improve alertness and memory.

The implications of these findings could be particularly relevant for students using flashcards as a study tool. Flashcards are already an effective study method due to their promotion of active recall and spaced repetition. If students were to study with a particular scent, like rosemary oil, and then reintroduce that scent during a test, it could potentially trigger memory recall and enhance performance.

In essence, the strategic use of fragrance, whether it's rosemary oil or another scent, could add another layer of optimization to the already effective flashcard method. As we continue to explore these sensory-enhanced study techniques, we're likely to uncover increasingly sophisticated and potent strategies for academic success. However, while this is an exciting prospect, it's important to remember that scent is just one piece of the puzzle. A balanced approach, incorporating good study habits, a thorough understanding of the material, and a healthy mindset, will always be critical to academic achievement.

🥊Feature Critique

🔥Snap Streaks – but studying

You all know about snapchat and its streak system – that’s what separated it from other social media apps. It makes you want to keep up and not lose that streak you have accumulated for ages. Imagine having the same for your studies and creating your flashcards.

The Need:
Social interactions and a sense of competition can significantly enhance motivation and performance. The introduction of a feature that tracks user's study streaks and ranks them on a leaderboard could inject a fun, competitive spirit into your study routine, providing the motivation you need to stay consistent.

The Pros:

1. Engagement: Competing with friends or other users can make studying more engaging and fun, encouraging you to maintain your study streak.

2. Motivation: Seeing your progress and rank on the leaderboard can act as a powerful motivational boost, pushing you to achieve your daily study goals.

3. Accountability: The desire to maintain your streak and climb up the leaderboard helps foster a sense of responsibility towards your learning goals.

Implementation Ideas:

1. Study Streak Tracker: Develop a feature that tracks the number of consecutive days you've studied, contributing to your leaderboard score.

2. Social Leaderboards: Create leaderboards where you can compare your study streaks and total study time with friends or with all app users.

3. Reward System: Get some badges or titles like how you should because of all that hard work you put in. Earn them for reaching certain streak milestones or leaderboard positions.

4. Privacy Settings: If you just want to keep track of yourself, sure thing! This allows users to choose whether they want to participate in the social leaderboard, and control who can see their progress.

Final Thoughts:
While the concept of "Study Streaks and Social Leaderboards" has potential, it's crucial that the feature is designed in a manner that promotes healthy competition and respect among users. Thoughtful design and user feedback will be key to ensuring this feature enhances the learning experience, rather than becoming a source of stress. If implemented well, this feature could turn studying into not just a daily habit, but an engaging, social activity, making every study session a step towards victory. At the end of the day, it’s all about helping each other out and making it to the finishing line together, right?

👾Community Blog of Students

Thank you for reading this far. We are truly grateful for each of you who are supporting our PDF2Anki journey. Hopefully, we're making your lives just a little bit easier each day. Now, back to our newsletter – Welcome! This is our community blog, where we swap ideas, share study techniques, and learn from each other’s experiences.

School has been in session for more than a month or two, and mid-terms might be just around the corner for some of you. Undoubtedly, there will be days when you might feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information you need to absorb. When the pressure seems too much and the end goal appears too distant, I am here to gently remind you that you're doing a great job, and you will get through this.

I’d like to share a bit from a book I recently read – “The Compound Effect” by Darren Hardy. The core message is simple yet profound: Success isn't always about making big changes. Instead, it's about the small, consistent efforts that compound over time. Each page you read, each problem you solve, each concept you grasp, is a small step forward on your journey.

Keep going. Keep learning. Keep growing. You're not just studying; you're becoming the person you're meant to be. The journey might seem long, and it might feel lonely at times, but remember that every action you take today is shaping your future. The Compound Effect is at work, quietly turning your consistent efforts into remarkable achievements. So take that step today, and then the next, and watch as you create your own path to success, one step at a time.

We would love to hear your stories as well. Feel free to drop us an email through [email protected]. Share your journey, thoughts, lessons with us and you might be featured in our next newsletter! Together, we build a lively community where support each other holistically in this long journey ahead.

☕️Special thing brewing - Xon

We've got something special brewing. Introducing Xon - think of it as the future of flashcards. Merging Anki's power with Quizlet's user-friendliness, Xon promises an unmatched learning experience. From collaborative flashcard creation to real-time syncing across devices, from a focus on relational learning to our unique Xon Neural Network - it's not just an Anki alternative; it's a revolution. Get a sneak peek here. And yes, our beloved PDF2Anki plays a pivotal role, enabling flashcard creation in mere minutes. Learning is evolving, and with Xon, you're always ahead.

🫥Meme of the week