Tobberoth Wrote:

Groot Wrote:I'm planning to buy the app. When you say it syncs with Anki Online, does that mean I can get it to sync with my desktop Anki? I don't think I've joined Anki Online yet, though I'm certainly willing to do so if that's how I should sync my desktop with my iPhone.

Joining Anki Online is free and takes like a second, and yes, that will effectively make it so you sync your iPhone with your Desktop since both will sync to Anki Online everytime you use them.

It's worth considering that AnkiOnline is free now, but resolve is planning to start charging a monthly fee for storing decks larger than 10MB.

Also, AnkiOnline doesn't sync media, so I'm not sure how that will work. Although that won't be an issue for the first version, as iPhone Anki won't support audio and video anyway.

I don't see the first version adding a huge amount of functionality over iAnki, although the improved usability should be nice (as well as undo!). But I'll be tempted to get it just to show support.

PS: The website says: Anki for the iPhone will be ready within a few days (as of 2010-05-17).

I hope it gets approved quickly... I'll be away from my computer for a couple of weeks next month, and I'd love to bring Anki with me without trying to get iAnki or AnkiMini working. I'll be glad to say goodbye to AnkiOnline and its lack of an Undo button!

So long as the app accepts syncing and media, I'll be buying for sure. Ankimini is nice, but... I long for something a bit more professional and streamlined (no offense to the people who made ankimini, though... it is very sufficient).

Hope it appears in the app store soon!

I'm honestly OK without the syncing of audio. I have it in my vocab deck, but it's really there as an afterthought, and I don't really need it after one or two reviews anyway.

But I will definitely be purchasing this, no matter the price. As someone who will spend most of his day this summer away from his computer, it would be really, really nice to be able to use some of the downtime I have (and I have copious amounts) to knock off the reviews so that when I get home all tired I can do other more favorable activities.

My only requirement will be that once you sync with AnkiOnline and download your decks, you can review while not connected to any kind of internet, as I have an iPod Touch and not an iPhone (still holding out on going to Japan to get one). So, as long as that is possible, I will be worshiping Damien for some time to come.

Tobberoth Wrote:Blahah, would you happen to know how Resolve is making it? Has he rewritten all of it in objective-C, or is he somehow still using python? From what I hear, it's likely it won't be accepted into the appstore if there's python code in it.

The app is written in Javascript using the Titanium framework to integrate it into an Obj-C app. Whilst Apple have banned other interpreted languages, they will always support Javascript and have specifically said Titanium is allowed in the App Store.

@avparker I agree that undo (and suspend/mark) make it worth moving over from AnkiMini. I imagine media syncing will work using third party servers for non-pro members, i.e. you put your anki decks in a dropbox folder and tell the iPhone Anki app where your shared dropbox folder is, and it keeps your media synced thereafter.

Blahah Wrote:

Tobberoth Wrote:Blahah, would you happen to know how Resolve is making it? Has he rewritten all of it in objective-C, or is he somehow still using python? From what I hear, it's likely it won't be accepted into the appstore if there's python code in it.

The app is written in Javascript using the Titanium framework to integrate it into an Obj-C app. Whilst Apple have banned other interpreted languages, they will always support Javascript and have specifically said Titanium is allowed in the App Store.

What I'm sorta wondering about is the backend. What has been used, until now, to work the whole scheduling etc is libanki which is written in python. Unless this app works with anki online as a backend (which would mean you have to be connected to the internet to use the app), libanki has to have been either ported or somehow converted. From what I understood from some quick googling, Titanium is just a framework for building menus.

No Titanium is a full framework for building native iPhone apps using portable JS. Damien rewrote the entire scheduling backend code in JS.

Blahah Wrote:No Titanium is a full framework for building native iPhone apps using portable JS. Damien rewrote the entire scheduling backend code in JS.

I see, that's awesome!

avparker Wrote:

Tobberoth Wrote:

Groot Wrote:I'm planning to buy the app. When you say it syncs with Anki Online, does that mean I can get it to sync with my desktop Anki? I don't think I've joined Anki Online yet, though I'm certainly willing to do so if that's how I should sync my desktop with my iPhone.

Joining Anki Online is free and takes like a second, and yes, that will effectively make it so you sync your iPhone with your Desktop since both will sync to Anki Online everytime you use them.

It's worth considering that AnkiOnline is free now, but resolve is planning to start charging a monthly fee for storing decks larger than 10MB.

As stated on the forums, I'll look at building a personal sync server for people. I hope that some people will choose to pay for AnkiOnline anyway for the convenience it offers, but I don't plan on forcing you to use it.

Quote:Also, AnkiOnline doesn't sync media, so I'm not sure how that will work.

It doesn't sync it, but it does support it: http://ichi2.net/anki/wiki/MediaSupport

The iPhone app will download missing media from the URL you've specified.

So you sync with with Anki online and then I presume it's all offline from there? I love using my phone to do reviews with the Wi-Fi around the home but having it on the go would be super sweet. Specially since it's so easy to sync and go. Definitely getting this.

Yep, no network connection is required to study, only to sync.

resolve Wrote:Yep, no network connection is required to study, only to sync.

Excellent, excellent news! I will pay whatever price you want for this application!

How can this version of Anki be non-free without violating the GPL?

abdwef Wrote:How can this version of Anki be non-free without violating the GPL?

Because it was rewritten in another language. Damien owns the intellectual property rights for the concept and logic of the program, even if the libanki code is free. He can reapply them and charge without violating his own license.

Stupid question, but is Anki still actually open source?

It used to say GPL licensed at the bottom of every page, but that seems to have been removed; now I can't find a single reference to the licensing terms on http://ichi2.net/anki ???

aphasiac Wrote:Stupid question, but is Anki still actually open source?

It used to say GPL licensed at the bottom of every page, but that seems to have been removed; now I can't find a single reference to the licensing terms on http://ichi2.net/anki ???

From the header of all source files on Git:

Quote:# Copyright: Damien Elmes <anki@ichi2.net>
# License: GNU GPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html

[ファブリス]

Blahah Wrote:

abdwef Wrote:How can this version of Anki be non-free without violating the GPL?

Because it was rewritten in another language. Damien owns the intellectual property rights for the concept and logic of the program, even if the libanki code is free. He can reapply them and charge without violating his own license.

Besides the author of the work can change an open source license into a proprietary license AFAIK. Only, anybody who's received a copy of the work prior to the license change is not affected.

It's a bit more complicated than that: if people have contributed source code to that project, you can't change the license without either removing their code or obtaining their permission. It's not an issue in this case though, because I have contacted all the contributors in the VC logs & received permission to dual license it, and almost all of the code was mine to start with anyway.

Quote:It used to say GPL licensed at the bottom of every page

I don't remember that, but perhaps your memory is better than mine. It lists 'open source' in the features section of the page...

Blahah Wrote:This iPhone app is the first version of Anki which won't be free. In fact, it will probably be entering the app store at $25, which is above the standard app price band. ......
So who's going to be queuing at the App Store on release day?

$25 is more than I would normally pay for an iPhone app. However, Anki is a great tool and I'll be there in the queue to snap this up, as much as a way to support resolve as anything else.

$25 isn't too much, but it might be a lot if some people are buying it for idevices and Android (I remember reading somewhere there'll be an Android one too?). However that's more of a problem of incompatibility between systems.

Is there a list of new features or screenshots around?

All the same, looking forward to seeing the end product!

P.S. Who else hates the itunes store not liking credit cards outside of the region? Messing around with those gift cards can be annoying/wasteful.

I'm also waiting impatiently for a list of features /planned future additions. Good timing too, as I was about to buy a netbook mostly for heavy duty anki on the go. If syncing and offline work will be convenient I'd rather buy an Iphone (Ipod touch works?) instead. I can live with adding cards at home and studying away from home.

Yes, I said 'offline' as my university doesn't even have wifi...

Are application updates free normally?

The features are as blahah mentioned. I know many people have been waiting for Anki on the iStuff, and thought it was better to get something out there quickly than to try to implement everything. All updates will be free.

And yeah, iPod touch works too of course. :-)

Grinkers: unfortunately I can't do anything about Apple's payment options. :-(

As for screenshots, the first four images in http://ichi2.net/anki/download/mirror/

I gotta say, Damien, you do amazing work. I will be receiving a large sum for study abroad scholarships this August or so and I fully intend you give you a hearty donation. It's an educational expense, after all.

I can't wait for this to arrive in the app store. This is some genuine わくわく right here.

Blahah Wrote:Damien owns the intellectual property rights for the concept and logic of the program

Please don't use confusing terms like "intellectual property", since that groups together unrelated concepts. (See http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-a...alProperty)

@Damien

Are we talking about copyright, or a software patent(!) on the idea of SRS software?

Anyway, why don't you release this app as free software and still sell it? You can do that.

I don't intend to ever take out a software patent - I don't believe in them.

The iPhone app is not open source because I need money to eat. Having quit my regular job to work on Anki, I am living incredibly tight at the moment (and it would simply not be possible without the support of my wife). I can't afford to spend months working on an iPhone port simply to have someone take the open code and repackage it for free. If you have better ideas on how I can get enough money to live and still work on Anki then I welcome them.