Japanese iPhone app hits 2.0!
Written by Jeshii on 2009.09.11 – 01:47 -
After a long wait, the iPhone/iPod Touch app simply called “Japanese” has finally hit 2.0. The 1.0 version was fantastic and fully replaced my 電子辞書 (denshijisho, we often called them our “gaijin cards“).
The 1.0 version had a lot of good features for searching, even by ローマ字 (romaji) or 部首 (bushu), but the new one has multiple radical search (they call it “By Component” search) and even search by conjugated form. I think my favorite new feature is the ability to use the by component entry system to look up things in the main dictionary. Brilliant.
In addition, they are challenging Anki mobile with their own flashcard system and a JLPT study list that also has how many days until the next test! I wonder if they account for the fact that the test is done twice in Japan per year, but only once overseas…
The animations showing you how to draw the 漢字 (kanji) are back. That was really one thing that set 1.0 out and above everything else.
Anyway, it is normally $20, but was on sale until 2.0 was released… which seems like it was today. The app store description and website aren’t updated yet, so go get it NOW while it is still cheap! Even at $20, you get the functionality of a $300 piece of equipment. After breaking 3 electronic dictionaries over the years, I’m glad to have this all in 1 app. Go convergence! (More screen shots after the jump.)
Pics:
Component Search
Flash Card System
Emailing Vocab Lists
Tags: anki, Anki Mobile, Apple, code from tokyo, iPhone, iPod Touch, Japanese, jlpt, kanji, nihongo, 日本語, 日本語能力試験, 漢字
Posted in language | 2 Comments »
By Billy on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
Very nice app. $12.99 sure beats buying a big box of flashcards and a denshi jisho. This is a no brainer – hopefully my Kanji will get to the level it needs to be at someday!
By Luka on Sep 13, 2009 | Reply
It looks like a pretty cool app.
I don’t know if it can replace my Japanese denshijisho though, the Iphone is pretty slow, at least the Japanese 3G is. I hope the 3GS is much faster, because the Iphone really gets on my nerves sometimes.
The character delay is so long, it takes me 3 times as long as if I were to use a regular cell phone.
But the app does look pretty cool!