DISQUS

Tofugu Comments: Jim Breen on the iPhone

  • ch1ka · 1 year ago
    Hey there =]
    you can get dictionarys on the DS ...i hope your talking about nintendo DS...
    if you are, then please could you tell me where to get the DS dictionary from?!
    i dont have an iphone (and i always carry my DS! haha)
  • Tofugu_Erin · 1 year ago
    http://www.tofugu.com/2007/08/02/studying-japan...

    I would suggest searching around online for the games mentioned in the above article. I'm sure a lot of sites (Amazon, YesAsia etc) have it.
  • 10khend9 · 1 year ago
    My dictionary is called Kanji Sonomama DS Rakubiki Jiten, and it is amazing. Follow Erin's advice on how to get one like it.
  • ch1ka · 1 year ago
    Ah ok, i'll definately search around and find something - thanks for the help, really appreciate it.
  • Tofugu_Erin · 1 year ago
    Mr. Breen seems like a pretty cool guy.
  • koichi · 1 year ago
    who probably knows where his towel's at
  • emiko · 1 year ago
    yay someone who knows where their towels at . . . i thought no one else used that line
  • Roxanne · 1 year ago
    I LOVE Jim Breen's dictionary!
  • Viet · 1 year ago
    Two bars?
  • koichi · 1 year ago
    yeah, I don't get much where I live :(

    ...though, one of the rooms in my apartment will hit 4/5 bars, which is where I have to go every time I call someone on my cell. Thankfully, I've got VoiP now.
  • Maciel · 1 year ago
    whats VoiP???
  • Viet · 1 year ago
  • Maciel · 1 year ago
    oh alright thanks
  • emiko · 1 year ago
    Hmm, I don't have an I phone, so I can't really apply to this. But I think that it is really cool that people are able to invent things like this, it makes it easier for people, especially when they're traveling. What was the world like before we had technology . . . must have been a lot harder
  • 10khend9 · 1 year ago
    I just downloaded this for my iPod touch. Works well enough so far. While not as good a the dictionary on my DS it is a lot lighter and more convienient than a bulky DS that I don't always have on me.

    Was alerted to this post by twitter by the way.
  • ch1ka · 1 year ago
    Hey there =]
    you can get dictionarys on the DS ...i hope your talking about nintendo DS...
    if you are, then please could you tell me where to get the DS dictionary from?!
    i dont have an iphone (and i always carry my DS! haha)
  • heartlessangel · 1 year ago
    I have one for my ds also that I love they have alot of dif versions out there I dnt remember were I got mine frm but U can get it off of yesasia.com I love nintendo by the way cause with the ds there is no region restrictions so you can use a ds game frm ne where sorry I work at a game store so I get a lil excited lol
  • lawnmowerlatte · 1 year ago
    Like heartlessangel said, yesasia.com has them for sale.

    I like this one (http://tinyurl.com/57uucz). It's a little hard to understand the interface at first, but as you get used to it, you'll find it's very powerful. Great for looking up kanji. However, you have to write it in the correct stroke order, which is hard for beginners.

    If you want to practice correct stroke order, try this one (http://tinyurl.com/69oqpc).
    頑張って!
    (Good luck!)
  • josh T · 1 year ago
    I bought the iJisho application first, and then downloaded the Jim Breen one.
    To be honest, I thought that the iJisho application was much better - it was faster, easier to use and had better definitions.
    The Jim Breen one is good for a free app, but as a proper learning tool it just doesnt stand up in my opinion.
  • lawnmowerlatte · 1 year ago
    Just posting some links I use.

    http://iphone.jisho.org/
    This is similar to the wwwJDic application, but in my experience it works better.

    These are more for Kanji studying than an actual dictionary:
    http://www.sp.cis.iwate-u.ac.jp/icampus/u/akanj...
    The first is a Kanji flash card of sorts. It separates units by Genki (and other books') chapters.

    http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/...
    The second is really good. It's an actual app. $.99 It's called 'Kanji' by Lima Sky. It only has 103 for the JLPT level 4, but it's very polished and good looking. It has a nice big display and examples. When you click, it shows meaning and pronunciation. Probably not so good for more advanced students, but if you're beginning it's great!
  • Mai · 1 year ago
    I have an iTouch, can I still use?
  • koichi · 1 year ago
    definitely
  • 10khend9 · 1 year ago
    Yep, as long as you have the iPod Touch 2.0 update you can use it.
  • Kit Born · 1 year ago
    Jim Breen updated his backend a few days after the app went live and caused it to crash a bunch. (He removed a few spaces...) The update has been submitted to Apple and will be available as soon as they release it.
  • koichi · 1 year ago
    Awesome - I look forward to the update! Are you a Jim Breen iPhone App insider / Jim Breen insider?
  • Kit Born · 1 year ago
    I am part of the team that made the app. You can find out more at http://www.cslmedia.org/iphone
  • Maciel · 1 year ago
    wow! and IPhone lol i only know one person who has it
    is the iphone good???
  • Viet · 1 year ago
    It is hard not to spot someone with an iPhone here in Seattle.

    I love mine. Best part of the phone is the web browser. I use the Mail app a lot for work and school, but it leaves a lot to be desired. I prefer it over the Windows Mobile phones. My next phone may be a Google Android type depending how that shapes up...
  • Maciel · 1 year ago
    oh thats cool
    and i think the reason i dont see a lot off ppl with one is cause im 16 and i dont go out much to the more populated areas of town

    when does the next phone(google android type?) come out???
  • Izeyhec · 1 year ago
    lol this is so true when i go down town i see them left and right lol
  • St · 1 year ago
    Last screenshot has 犬猿の仲 on it, one of my favorite idiomatic expressions!
  • JackTamaki · 1 year ago
    I was in Japan when the iPhone came out. The news was always commenting on the crazily long lines. People were pretty excited.
  • クリス · 1 year ago
    I enjoy using this app, saves me time from using Safari and going through the whole zooming in and typing mess. There is also a Mixi app for those who have an account. However, the only way to get the app is to have a registered iTunes account 'located' in Japan, otherwise you're only limited to 'regional' applications.

    If you do want to get apps outside of your region, register an iTunes account with an iTunes gift card. This also works for downloading music from Japan and other regions.
  • koichi · 1 year ago
    iTunes gift card works!?? I've been trying to figure out a way to download Japanese music on iTunes - in fact, I was working on an article about getting Japanese podcasts, since I couldn't find the music part. Thanks for the info! I'm gonna try this.
  • クリス · 1 year ago
    Gift cards work indeed. Although, I can't figure out why Apple would only restrict us to downloading music from our region, if they take off that restriction, they'd make more money, right?

    If anyone else wants to try, just get a hold of a gift card, and when purchasing whatever content you're looking for, the login window will pop up and as for your account information. Instead of signing in, just click the 'create new account' button and then the 'redeem code' button. Input your gift card information and tada~! You'll be downloading your Japanese content in no time.
  • koichi · 1 year ago
    Probably not their rules. Apple would never give up the opportunity to
    not make more money :)
  • Viet · 1 year ago
    The restriction is probably the music industry doing.
  • rajivp · 1 year ago
    I have kanji flip, a great kanji flash card program for the iPhone. 2.99 US$ only
    I also have a wonderful kanji dictionary for the DS. Can draw the characters, english to Jap to English. No multisearch but great. Can't wait for a stand alone dictionary for the iPhone...
  • emiko · 1 year ago
    omg! this is way off topic, but did anyone else see the olympic opening? it was amazing!
  • Viet · 1 year ago
    Yes, it was amazing. Zhang Yimou put together a really good show.

    I liked how the countries were introduce based on the number of strokes to write their name in Kanji.

    My sister was at the show. Sent me a bragging email earlier today :(
  • emiko · 1 year ago
    ah! your sister is sooo lucky!

    i loved the kaji concept too, i was wondering how the ordering was going to be!

    my favorite part was when they lit the torch, that poor guy had to run a lot though and there was NO GROUND!

    i was really impressed! i don't know if anyone will be able to surpass it!
  • Izeyhec · 1 year ago
    aaaaa the iphone it is a nice phone i really should up grade from my blackberry lol but for now im happy with what i got but the dictionary would come in handy in class and when doin home work on the road
  • benwulf · 1 year ago
    Another Kanji reference and study app for the iphone and ipod touch which is just out today in the appstore is:
    shinkanji [url]http://shinkanji.bcerrina.com[/url]
    (appstore install link: [url]http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=288546107&mt=8[/url]).
    This contains some pretty unique features to navigate kanji structures and promise to include look up in the edict dictionary from Jim Breen (although this is not yet implemented)
  • Jomann · 1 year ago
    turns out kotoba is really great app too, and you dont need wifi to use it, its all saved on your phone or touch, and it has the same features plus more.
  • German · 6 months ago
    When you use this application you have to be connected to wi-fi or to pay for internet usage with your phone provider?

    Thanks