My vintage LG VX8100 cell phone died suddenly this weekend, and I find myself unexpectedly thrown into the cellphone market. I'm entertaining 3 choices, and I wonder which one is the best for a kanjihead (and eventually, I hope, full-fledged nihongohead) like me:

1. Motorola Droid
2. iPhone
3. Some "dumb" (i.e. non-smart) phone + iPod Touch

I'd very much welcome your comments. In particular, when comparing 1 vs {2, 3}, are there any kanji/japanese-learning-related apps that you find indispensable and that are available for only one of these alternatives?

Thanks!

I personally would go Android, but not with the Droid; news about its successor is popping up, and the Nexus One is great. If you're going iPhone though, definitely get iPhone 4; the higher-density screen will be fantastic for kanji. This goes for the N1 (and other Android phones that've had high density screens for a while now), too. On the iPhone 3GS and under you're pretty much looking at grey blobs.

There's tons of Japanese apps in the Android Market, though the completeness and polish will probably vary greatly. Aedict has been nice so far. The iPhone has a lot of great Japanese apps in the App Store, although the best one I found cost $40.

I think you'll be happy with either one. I switched from my iPhone 3GS to a Nexus One after the developer agreement changes. It's great being able to use my phone without being locked into iTunes, non-expandable storage, and being subject to Apple's whims. The iPhone 4 isn't really compelling to me and doesn't seem like a step up from my N1 at all.

To the best of my knowledge there are no dictionary apps for Android except edict parsers. The best you can do is get an epwing reader and buy some expensive dictionary files (or steal them) for it.

Iphone 3gs may be lowres by current cutting edge standards, but kanji are hardly grey blobs. The latest Android screens are a bit higher res, but they still don't compare to the iphone4's screen.

It seems that you are overstating android's case. Many choose to use it for ideological reasons which is fine, but there is no way you could recommend it as being competetive with the Japanese stuff out for iPhone. It has the potential but it's not there yet and may never be unless android takes off in Japan.

Yeah, iPhone's got it beat on Apps... Android kills the iPhone with its multitasking* which was a deal breaker for me.

Also remember that Anki has an official app for the iPhone...

Anyway, don't get a Droid. That phone's quickly becoming old. I'd recommend an HTC Android device if your carrier supports one (and you choose that route).

Past few months have seen Android devices selling pretty well in Japan. Xperia X10 has put up good numbers for docomo and Softbank's now selling the HTC Desire (which is a SLICK phone and I really wish I had instead of the Xperia).

*for info on multitasking in iPhone OS4 : http://www.macworld.com/article/150496/2...phone.html

First you'll need to choose between the iPhone OS and Android. This article helps you do just that:
http://lifehacker.com/5559357/iphone-vs-...e=true&s=i

Now that you have selected Android you will need to decide on a specific phone. The HTC Evo 4 is a pretty solid choice, it even has... a kickstand. The review is here:
http://gizmodo.com/5554198/htc-evo-4g-re...ar-machine

As for a dictionary app on android:

thurd Wrote:I use Aedict, nice interface, its offline (it downloads JDIC when used for the first time), quick and even has some Quiz ability (I've to try it sometime).

http://forum.koohii.com/showthread.php?tid=4993

However, if you are set on buying an iPhone you will want to read this:

http://gizmodo.com/5553418/att-just-kill...he-process

and this:

http://gizmodo.com/5563707/pre+order-your-iphone-4-now

It's the iPhone hands down, not just for the device specs (if you only look at this you might well choose an Android phone) but because the app store allows you an enormous selection of Japanese learning tools. The Android Market has a pitiful selection in comparison. The lifehacker guide is basically irrelevant to this discussion, since the phone will be specifically used as a Japanese learning tool.

Seriously, get an iPhone, jailbreak it, and you have the ultimate portable device for learning Japanese.

I own a Nokia N810, and here's what I'm able to do with it:

1. SRS with Ankimaemi while listening to last.fm or MP3;
2. Download and listen to podcasts;
3. Watch anime (with MPlayer);
4. Read scanned manga and light novels (with Comix);
5. Play Japanese GBA and SNES games (mostly RPG games; its D-Pad + tiny keys suck);
6. Check the dictionary while doing 4 and 5 (with EBView + Green Goddess).

I don't recommend buying it unless you're a power user, though; I had to spend a couple days tweaking it before I could use it. Also, the N810 is not a phone (but the N900, its successor, is).

Edit: Here are some (pro-Nokia, I admit) articles comparing N900 with the iPhone: 1 and 2.

iSoron Wrote:I own a Nokia N810, and here's what I'm able to do with it:

1. SRS with Ankimaemi while listening to last.fm or MP3;
2. Download and listen to podcasts;
3. Watch anime (with MPlayer);
4. Read scanned manga and light novels (with Comix);
5. Play Japanese GBA and SNES games (mostly RPG games; its D-Pad + tiny keys suck);
6. Check the dictionary while doing 4 and 5 (with EBView + Green Goddess).

I don't recommend buying it unless you're a power user, though; I had to spend a couple days tweaking it before I could use it. Also, the N810 not a phone (but the N900, its successor, is).

Edit: Here are some (pro-Nokia, I admit) articles comparing N900 with the iPhone: 1 and 2.

Let's not forget to point out that both those articles compare the N900 to the 3GS. The Iphone 4 blow the N900 out of the water in pretty much every area under scrutiny such as the camera, the video camera and the display. The first one also focuses a lot on AT&T problems with iPhone which has nothing to do with the actual iPhone.

I used to have a Nokia N810 and it was a great device for studying Japanese. However, I sold mine to buy a new device and chose the iPhone over the n900. I couldn't be more pleased with my decision. Your comment about being a power user is exactly right iSoron, and while I do consider myself a power user, I spent way too much time making things work on the N810 - something I never have to worry about on the iPhone. That, the fact that the iPhone is far better build quality, and the App Store, converted me.

I went with Android since I wanted to use some sort of mobile Anki as soon as possible. Resolve was still working on his Anki for iPhone and Apple didn't even announce iPhone 4 back then. Now its only a little bit different, Anki is here but iPhone 4 is not selling yet and since I'm in Europe there is a good chance it will arrive somewhere after summer holidays, which is a bit late for me (JLPT is in December).

Right now I'm a very happy user of Samsung Spica, the cheapest Android 2.1 phone at that time (and probably still) with great specs. Screen is good enough for any kind of kanji (even really small ones), there are lots of apps on the market to help your Japanese, AnkiDroid is constantly getting better, Spica is the first Android (read it somewhere) to support DivX, Xvid etc. so no problem with watching movies (no need for special compression). Overall its a monster and if you look at the price (I got it for about 150$ but without any contract) there is hardly anything that can compare.

All ideology aside, iPhone 4 will be the best phone for an average consumer when it becomes available but if you want/need something now I'd go with a cheap Android. If you want to tinker with your phone, develop some apps etc. go with Android its just a fantastic experience, you can change almost anything and the dev tools are magnificent (also Java>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Objective-C).

iPhone 4 will be released in some countries now in June and in many others in July, Sweden one of them. If you want something now, I recommend checking when it will be released in your country first because I think it's like 30 countries or more which will get the iPhone 4 before August.

And man, the comment about Java >>>>> Objective-C is really misinformed. Java sucks.

Personally I don't see how the iPhone 4 will be any better for studying Japanese than the 3GS. The increased screen resolution will make barely any difference to studying - you can already read even very small characters perfectly easily.

Jarvik7 Wrote:To the best of my knowledge there are no dictionary apps for Android except edict parsers. The best you can do is get an epwing reader and buy some expensive dictionary files (or steal them) for it.

I say again: Aedict works great.

Edit: Just tried out JED, and it's also really nice.

Jarvik7 Wrote:Iphone 3gs may be lowres by current cutting edge standards, but kanji are hardly grey blobs. The latest Android screens are a bit higher res, but they still don't compare to the iphone4's screen.

I've had both a Nexus One and an iPhone 3GS, and the N1 (and now the iPhone 4) absolutely makes any text on the 3GS look like grey blobs until you do a lot of zooming. The iPhone 4's screen is great, and so is the N1's; saying they "don't compare" when you can't even compare them yet (and the difference probably isn't that huge; the improvement is nonlinear) is nothing short of ridiculous. Both screens are great and will be much better than the 3GS for Kanji. That's all I said.

Jarvik7 Wrote:It seems that you are overstating android's case. Many choose to use it for ideological reasons which is fine, but there is no way you could recommend it as being competetive with the Japanese stuff out for iPhone. It has the potential but it's not there yet and may never be unless android takes off in Japan.

Where did I overstate its case? I accurately stated how things are right now from personal experience, and even recommended the iPhone 4 for its screen and selection of apps (though they can get pricey). I think you're overstating my overstating of Android's case and getting a bit defensive.

Tobberoth Wrote:And man, the comment about Java >>>>> Objective-C is really misinformed. Java sucks.

Java does suck, mostly because it's so bland. Which is why it's great that Android doesn't run Java, it runs the Dalvik VM, which allows you to write in whatever JVM-targeting language you want, like Clojure or Scala.

Tobberoth Wrote:And man, the comment about Java >>>>> Objective-C is really misinformed. Java sucks.

If you think Java sucks you clearly haven't tried Objective-C.

Also Java rulez!!!

Tobberoth Wrote:The first one also focuses a lot on AT&T problems with iPhone which has nothing to do with the actual iPhone.

For those of us who live in the US, the distinction between iPhone and AT&T is pretty much academic.

alexsuraci Wrote:

Jarvik7 Wrote:To the best of my knowledge there are no dictionary apps for Android except edict parsers. The best you can do is get an epwing reader and buy some expensive dictionary files (or steal them) for it.

I say again: Aedict works great.

Edit: Just tried out JED, and it's also really nice.

...and? Those sound like edict parsers to me.

I said that you are overstating Android's case because Android just has a bunch of parsers of a (pretty much useless as a study tool) glossary file and a third party basic port of Anki. The hardware may be competitive with iPhone now, and may even be preferable if you are in a poorly networked area (AT&T), but that still doesn't mean it's any good for Japanese study.

iPhone has many professional dictionary apps (as in not EDICT) that are reasonably priced, aozora bunko clients, a couple EPWING readers, a good official Anki port under active development, an official iknow/smart.fm client, many miscellaneous Japanese learning apps and EDICT parsers (if you're poor), as well as all of the apps made by Japanese devs.

In short, Android may get there, but it's not there now. It is possible to use it as a study tool, but so are many other things that are not ideal.

Jarvik7 Wrote:...and? Those sound like edict parsers to me.

I said that you are overstating Android's case because Android just has a bunch of parsers of a (pretty much useless as a study tool) glossary file and a third party basic port of Anki. The hardware may be competitive with iPhone now, and may even be preferable if you are in a poorly networked area (AT&T), but that still doesn't mean it's any good for Japanese study.

iPhone has many professional dictionary apps (as in not EDICT) that are reasonably priced, aozora bunko clients, a couple EPWING readers, a good official Anki port under active development, an official iknow/smart.fm client, many miscellaneous Japanese learning apps and EDICT parsers (if you're poor), as well as all of the apps made by Japanese devs.

In short, Android may get there, but it's not there now. It is possible to use it as a study tool, but so are many other things that are not ideal.

Fair enough I guess, although you're preaching to the choir a bit; I knew all of this already. I recommended Android from having owned both and from being in the same boat as the OP, and now you're jumping all over that like it's factually incorrect. Aedict and JED work great for me, I guess that makes me poor and my tastes "not ideal".

gfb345 Wrote:I'd very much welcome your comments. In particular, when comparing 1 vs {2, 3}, are there any kanji/japanese-learning-related apps that you find indispensable and that are available for only one of these alternatives?

Personally, my Ipod Touch has revolutionised by Japanese studying

1) AnkiMobile - so good, I never review at home anymore; what's the point? Now reviews are done on my commute, when I'm in line at the shops, when I'm waiting for my code to compile at work; anytime I have a free 5mins really! it's so quick, and now even better now it supports media..

2) Japanese Sensei - this vocab learning app (uses basic SRS with audio examples and full sentence examples for every word) has pretty much doubled my vocabulary. I try and do 1-4 lessons a day (each lesson = 10 words), and even though I can't recall most of them straight away outside of the app (cos it tests you multiple choice), I've found it's a great to "prep" words in your head and makes them 100x easier to learn when you meet them in real context. It's fun too.

Also finally I jailbroke, so I can use anki + J.Sensei as a dictionary at the same time (any word you look up is then added to your vocab learning list). Totally 100% recommend iPhone / Ipod touch.

aphasiac Wrote:2) Japanese Sensei - this vocab learning app (uses basic SRS with audio examples and full sentence examples for every word) has pretty much doubled my vocabulary. I try and do 1-4 lessons a day (each lesson = 10 words), and even though I can't recall most of them straight away outside of the app (cos it tests you multiple choice), I've found it's a great to "prep" words in your head and makes them 100x easier to learn when you meet them in real context. It's fun too.

I just bought this app (deluxe version with all the lessons). I have been considering it for a while, and finally decided to go for it today after trying out the free lite version. It really is a nice app, and once AnkiMobile has the ability to add cards (probably in the next month or so) the two will form an unstoppable pair of Japanese learning apps.

Cool, it's such a nice app!

The best thing it's done for me it improve my listening. Whenever I do a new vocab card in a lesson, I play the audio sample for the word a few times until I can recall it, and then play the sentence audio and see if I can understand the sentence without looking at the meaning. If I can't, I play it again whilst reading along with the kanji, and if I still can't guess the meaning (via heisig keywords) I peek at the English translation. I then play it again thinking of the meaning, concentrating hard on what each word means.

When I started using this app, I understood *nothing* without looking at the written answer- the audio was so quick, I couldn't process it properly, it was just a blur. But now (almost finished the beginners section), I can hear everything and patterns have immerged. That along with my vocab boost means I can now understand 40-50% of the example sentences first time.