Blahah Wrote:I recently bought two Nokia n810 internet tablets for this purpose (one for me, one for gf). They are *perfect*.

There are three anki options: AnkiQT, AnkiMaemi and AnkiMini. You can also use Anki online. On top of that there is a great range of programs for the device and an active developer community. And soon ubuntu mobile will be able to run on it, meaning you can have all the japanese learning tools in the world.

Currently, I use it for...
- anki review (ankimaemi is my favourite client)
- dictionary (options include stardict and aardict)
- internet
- podcast grabbing and listening
- net radio
- watching anime/videocasts
- reading manga

Benefits of an n810 over the ipod touch/iphone...
- bigger, higher quality screen
- linux backend, with limitless future extensibility
- cheaper (I got mine for £129.99 from play.com)
- 10 day idle battery life, about 7 hours in constant use
- it has a kick-stand which i find very useful when reviewing kanji

Downsides of n810 compared with ipod touch/iphone...
- not a multi-touch screen
- not as many apps available as in the Apple app store
- not as trendy

If anyone is interested, I'll be making a microsite detailing every step required to turn the n810 into the perfect mobile japanese learning tool.

I am intrested in this. Is this it by the way?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_N810

zazen666: yup that's the one.

I'll make a thread with the link once I've started the site, probably in a few days.

Blahah Wrote:I recently bought two Nokia n810 internet tablets for this purpose (one for me, one for gf). They are *perfect*.

There are three anki options: AnkiQT, AnkiMaemi and AnkiMini. You can also use Anki online. On top of that there is a great range of programs for the device and an active developer community. And soon ubuntu mobile will be able to run on it, meaning you can have all the japanese learning tools in the world.

[...]

If anyone is interested, I'll be making a microsite detailing every step required to turn the n810 into the perfect mobile japanese learning tool.

I have one of these devices too. Questions:
* Are you able to sync your decks using ankiqt or ankimaemi? I cannot get this to work, it is so damn frustrating. New versions have a new update protocol or something. I'm thinking of compiling the latest anki or modifying the ankimaemi python code to sync properly.
* Did you know you could install EBview and have it use monolingual dictionaries like 大辞林? I also have an epwing version of the japanese wikipedia that ebview can read.
* Have you installed VGBA and played japanese gameboy advance games like naruto RPG Uketsugareshi Hi no Ishi? (been playing the crap out of this game recently, even during lectures)
* Do you use the matchbox-keyboard to write japanese and is it buggy with some software?
* Did you know you could install debian on it? no need to wait for mobile ubuntu (I'd really like to use the new maemo5)

I'm very interested in reading how you setup your maemo device for j-learning. Please post stuff soon.

I cannot wait for the n900 to get released in a couple days with maemo5 and awesome new hardware (which is able to run things like psx and n64 emulators, meaning lots more j-games for me).

pubbie2 Wrote:I have one of these devices too. Questions:
* Are you able to sync your decks using ankiqt or ankimaemi? I cannot get this to work, it is so damn frustrating. New versions have a new update protocol or something. I'm thinking of compiling the latest anki or modifying the ankimaemi python code to sync properly.
* Did you know you could install EBview and have it use monolingual dictionaries like 大辞林? I also have an epwing version of the japanese wikipedia that ebview can read.
* Have you installed VGBA and played japanese gameboy advance games like naruto RPG Uketsugareshi Hi no Ishi? (been playing the crap out of this game recently, even during lectures)
* Do you use the matchbox-keyboard to write japanese and is it buggy with some software?
* Did you know you could install debian on it? no need to wait for mobile ubuntu (I'd really like to use the new maemo5)

I'm very interested in reading how you setup your maemo device for j-learning. Please post stuff soon.

I cannot wait for the n900 to get released in a couple days with maemo5 and awesome new hardware (which is able to run things like psx and n64 emulators, meaning lots more j-games for me).

1. Yes, I got ankimaemi syncing and also have a backup sync method using Unison. Getting it to sync online took some doing, but I'll explain the process in a blog post very soon.
2. I'm using stardict and aardict for dictionaries and wikipedia respectively, but don't have the japanese dump. Thanks for the tip!
3. Nope, haven't tried the gameboy emulator. Sounds cool (although I have a DS for this)
4. I didn't bother with matchbox as I like the hardware keyboard, although it loses some functionality with the CJK support installed (can't lock shift or fn).
5. Yup debian is cool but not polished yet, I's still like to wait for a solid Mer release. I can't afford the n900

Blahah Wrote:1. Yes, I got ankimaemi syncing and also have a backup sync method using Unison. Getting it to sync online took some doing, but I'll explain the process in a blog post very soon.

Oh my god, please teach me... I've been trying forever to get syncing to work and it's been such a fruitless effort. Realistically it's the only thing in my way from achieving complete Anki convenience.

I'm gonna buy an android phone. I'm waiting for a new one to come out. Maybe I'll buy Motorola Dext or Motorola Droid or Google Nexus One. But I'm still waiting for the prices...:S

Android runs Anki.

I ended up just saving my Anki Decks to my microSD card, and then plugging my SD card into my computer, and using those decks with Anki-windows. This way my decks get sync'ed to my Anki account online, and if I do any studying from my decks on my computer, then the changes get made to the same decks I'm using on Ankimaemi.

It's definitely a manual solution to what could be wirelessly and conveniently sync'ing from my N810, but it's not that big of a deal, and it does work, so I'm content. At least now I'm not using internet on my keitai, and now I can study even through that damn reception-less tunnel on the train to work!

Regarding Ankidroid, the idea is brilliant, but I'm not quite sold on the fact that there's only a "Remembered/Not Remembered" option, rather than the nice 1-4 scale that almost (if not all?) Anki versions have. I guess it's hard to fit all the different button's on the screen? Plus I didn't see it written anywhere if Ankidroid sync's to your Online Account... maybe that's still in the works.

If it had online sync'ing and the 1-4 scale I would be sold right away on buying an Android phone... but until then my N810 is working just fine, other than the really, really soft audio from my Smart.fm import... (whisper whisper!). I really wish there was a volume boost or control or something.

I just got an email from a georgative asking about the microsite I promised. Well, it never happened because I sold my n810s and got an iPhone. However, I will make sure to put something in the wiki or on a blog once my exams are over this summer (June). In the meantime, here are the brief comments I made to georgative in case anyone else might find them useful...

How to make your maemo device a great Japanese learning tool (n810, n800 and n700):
1. AnkiMini and/or AnkiMaemi and/or AnkiQT (http://bit.ly/c0IQA1). If AnkiMaemi doesn't sync properly online for you, I've explained in the Anki discussion group here how to fix it: (http://bit.ly/94sbmB). I hope this advice is still current, if it doesn't work for you let me know as I can probably help.
2. CJK support (http://maemocjk.garage.maemo.org/) lets you type in Japanese.
3. An EPWING dictionary (such as epview) with all the good dictionary files (EDICT, enamdict, genius, EIJIRO etc.) - all these dictionaries can be found in a torrent here for convenience: (http://bit.ly/bf9xM2). This setup lets you translate anything, even obscure stuff, and with the right dictionaries can do names, idioms, conjugate verbs, etc.
4. Stardict for rikaichan style pop-up dictionary - dictionaries are available on the stardict website, the app is in the repositories.
5. Comix/Comic Book Viewer for reading raw manga. You can get raw manga from mangahelpers.com
6. Subscribe to a bunch of good Japanese podcasts and download them directly on your device using Canola (the latest one) or gpodder. I prefer Canola. Video podcasts supported too.
7. Watch anime in great screen resolution using mplayer (or Canola if you prefer the sexy interface!)