Joe Speaking 1.0

And the @Joe_Speaking now works directly in mainland China, including our core feature: the real-time IELTS Speaking mock exam. I'm just going to say it: this is the best speaking tool in the world, and its real-time voice mode is the best you will ever use. At a deeper level, this product is about helping you actually open your mouth. It's about ditching rote memorization and building real speaking skills through actual conversations and solid feedback. Language is for connecting with people, not just for passing a test. While making the promo video, I happened to look up IELTS Speaking scores by nationality. I was surprised to see Japan and China near the bottom, so I turned that into the hook. When I first came to Canada two years ago, I was nervous and scared to speak, too. But as I say in the video, you just have to talk and stop overthinking it. Language still comes down to constant repetition. This product has been a personal experiment for me. It shows that someone without a traditional background in this space can build something previously unimaginable, driven purely by their own need and passion. Some users have even called it an industry disruptor. Yesterday I showed it to an English speaking coach in the US, and he was shocked that I had built something so powerful and complete entirely on my own. Friends have asked me what kept me going. My main filter is simple: does it actually do good for the world? I truly believe this can help change the whole "mute, test-prep English" culture and help more people who have been in my shoes go out and experience a bigger world. That's why it has a semi-public-good feel and supports BYOK. I also believe we'll see a lot more less-commercial products like this in the future. We've had over 3,000 sign-ups and a few hundred paying users in the past 8 months. It's definitely not a typical startup success, and the story isn't grand enough to attract VCs. But as a product, I'm super proud of it. Getting emails from users thanking me and calling it their dream product means a lot. More importantly, taking a real project from 0 to 1 let me feel the true power of AI while shipping a valuable commercial product, even as it humbled me with my own limits as a solo builder. Anyway, I never thought it would take 8 months and 96 versions to barely get 1.0 out the door. If I'd known, I would have just slacked off from day one. (Gemini Live takes a massive chunk of the blame here... huge thanks to gpt-live-1 and @daidaijiayu!) I believe users can feel the care I put into this just by using it. Of course, the next step is all about distribution, and supporting mainland China networks and localization is a big part of that. Excited to see what happens next! Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Joe Speaking 1.0 终于终于上线了， http://JoeSpeaking.com 也终于可以在中国大陆直接使用了，包括最核心的雅思口语实时模考。 这个产品要解决的更深一层问题就是帮助你开口，告别死记硬背，通过真实对话以及复盘来提高真实口语水平。语言是用于沟通的，而不仅仅是为了考试。 在做这支宣传片时，顺手查了下雅思口语成绩按国籍的排名，没想到日本和中国竟然排名垫底，也就被我做成了 hook。2 年前刚到加拿大的时候，我也很紧张和害怕，但实际上就像我说的，你说就好了，不要管那么多。语言依旧是需要持续的重复。 这个产品是我的个人试验：一个没有相关背景的人，因为自己的需求和热爱，就可以做出以前不曾想象的产品（甚至有用户说这可以颠覆行业 🤣）。昨天向一位在美国的口语老师介绍时，他也非常惊讶这竟然是一个人做出来，功能如此强大和完善。 之前有不少朋友问我为啥能够持续做下去，我觉得一个判断就是它是否有益于这个世界。我认为它是可以极大的改变所谓的哑巴应试英语，帮助更多与我类似经历的人去认识更大的世界。所以才会是所谓半公益性质，也支持 BYOK。我也相信未来会看到更多类似的、不是那么商业味的产品。 虽然在这 8 个月有超过三千注册用户和几百付费用户，但是如果作为一个创业产品肯定是不算成功的，而且本身的叙事也不是那么宏大能够吸引 VC。但至少在产品层面我是非常自豪的，也收到了不少用户发来的邮件和感谢告诉我这是理想中的产品。以及更重要的，通过一个真实的项目，感受到了 AI 的强大的同时，带我从 0 到 1 做出了有价值的商业产品，也意识到了一个人的不足。 总之，我是完全没想到花了 8 个月 96 个版本才勉强发出来 1.0， 早知道就完全躺平了🤣（……这里面 Gemini Live 要背很大很大的锅，由衷感谢 gpt-live-1） 我是相信用户是能够感受到我的用心的，通过产品本身。当然，接下来就是如何让更多的人了解知道使用这个产品了，也算是逐渐突破自我的探索了。我也期待接下来会发生什么！ 欢迎大家试用以及反馈！