Iphone App Question

Registered: 2008-12-10 Posts: 169

Just my opinion, but none of the ipod touch apps available seem to match either Kanji Box in Facebook, or "Read The Kanji" (.com), both of which offer excellent ways to review for the JLPT.

Has anyone found an app that does this? I use iAnki for Heisig but was looking for something specifically tailored to JLPT...

Tobberoth Member

From: Sweden Registered: 2008-08-25 Posts: 3364

Why not use iAnki for JLPT? Which level are you aiming for? If it's JLPT4, you really don't need to bother with specifics. If it's JLPT3, I can see your predicament. With JLPT2 and 1, you can get one of the amazing kanzen master books... I've also heard that UNICOM or something makes good JLPT2 and 1 books as well.

With JLPT3, you more or less have to learn all the basics of Japanese, no matter how you decide to do it. While using resources tailored for JLPT3 might be slightly faster, I think it's more fun for your studies if you simply pick a good textbook and follow it. Minna no Nihongo goes from 0 -> JLPT3 level and I think Genki is supposed to do the same.

r3dragon New member

Registered: 2009-03-05 Posts: 8

For JLPT try "Kanji" it's $.99 and worth it for just that... JLPT 4-1's Kanji.

Others are Kanji Flip and Japanese Flip...

Try the lite versions-- if you like them, buy them. They're a good value.

Otherwise... there's study arcade, and a few apps in Cydia (for Jailbroken Iphones).

Then the other choice you have... Is navigate to either of those sites (Kanji Box) or Read the kanji in Safari and add them to your springboard as bookmarks.

For sites like this one.. there's no app, but the reviews are good enough in iPhone's browser that I don't 'need' an app.

Last edited by r3dragon (2009 April 08, 11:20 am)

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yukkuri_kame Member

From: Florida US Registered: 2008-05-30 Posts: 185

As far as I know, none of the various kanji learning apps seem to have real SRS feature. So, they may be useful for drilling kanji, but you may end up wasting a lot of time reviewing stuff you already know.

yukkuri_kame Member

From: Florida US Registered: 2008-05-30 Posts: 185

yukkuri_kame wrote:
As far as I know, none of the various kanji learning apps seem to have real SRS feature. So, they may be useful for drilling kanji, but you may end up wasting a lot of time reviewing stuff you already know.

I take that back, Kanji LS update was just released that gives you the option to use a Leitner system (boxes like this site). Great for writing practice and stroke order, but won't help with compounds, though.

This thread has a good bit of info on iphone apps:
http://forum.koohii.com/viewtopic.php?id=1948

Last edited by yukkuri_kame (2009 April 09, 7:16 pm)

stevesayskanpai Member

Registered: 2008-12-10 Posts: 169

Thanks everyone. I guess I was looking for a comprehensive app that solved all my problems in one fell swoop. That's a bit lazy of me- and if I'm honest I know Anki and iAnki basically do everything I need already! iAnki has already seriously cut down the time I spend reviewing- in that I do all my reviews at work over the course of a day without anyone noticing! This leaves my free time to study new Kanji for Heisig.

Once Heisig is done I can just move on to doing the same with JLPT2 material.

Anyway cheers for all your posts!

vengeorgeb Member

Registered: 2008-12-22 Posts: 308

Hey guys allow me to add my two cents and sorry for the propaganda. ThinkMac Software just submitted iKanji Touch for the iPhone and everyone that knows about their software (iKana, iKanji, iKana Touch) is waiting the approval. This application promises to be a great Kanji learning application for the iPhone, I myself have been waiting for it since I started using their software months ago. I personally don't use iKana Touch anymore except for the occasional peek but this iKanji Touch includes a real SRS and other nice features. Check out the website if you are interested http://www.thinkmac.co.uk/index.html

Last edited by jorgebucaran (2009 April 11, 1:33 pm)

vgambit Member

Registered: 2007-06-21 Posts: 221

Tobberoth wrote:
Why not use iAnki for JLPT? Which level are you aiming for? If it's JLPT4, you really don't need to bother with specifics. If it's JLPT3, I can see your predicament. With JLPT2 and 1, you can get one of the amazing kanzen master books... I've also heard that UNICOM or something makes good JLPT2 and 1 books as well.

With JLPT3, you more or less have to learn all the basics of Japanese, no matter how you decide to do it. While using resources tailored for JLPT3 might be slightly faster, I think it's more fun for your studies if you simply pick a good textbook and follow it. Minna no Nihongo goes from 0 -> JLPT3 level and I think Genki is supposed to do the same.

I think you misspelled Ankimini.

stevesayskanpai Member

Registered: 2008-12-10 Posts: 169

iKanji looks very promising. Hard from the website to see if you can test random vocabulary / kanji compounds, or if its just the kanji. still, looking forward to its release!

Tobberoth Member

From: Sweden Registered: 2008-08-25 Posts: 3364

vgambit wrote:
Tobberoth wrote:
Why not use iAnki for JLPT? Which level are you aiming for? If it's JLPT4, you really don't need to bother with specifics. If it's JLPT3, I can see your predicament. With JLPT2 and 1, you can get one of the amazing kanzen master books... I've also heard that UNICOM or something makes good JLPT2 and 1 books as well.

With JLPT3, you more or less have to learn all the basics of Japanese, no matter how you decide to do it. While using resources tailored for JLPT3 might be slightly faster, I think it's more fun for your studies if you simply pick a good textbook and follow it. Minna no Nihongo goes from 0 -> JLPT3 level and I think Genki is supposed to do the same.
I think you misspelled Ankimini.

Both iAnki and Ankimini should work fine.

stevesayskanpai Member

Registered: 2008-12-10 Posts: 169

Does anyone use iKanji for the Mac? Does it include compound kanji testing? Vocabulary?
Anyone have any idea how long the Apple "review" process takes before an app is released?

vengeorgeb Member

Registered: 2008-12-22 Posts: 308

stevesayskanpai wrote:
iKanji looks very promising. Hard from the website to see if you can test random vocabulary / kanji compounds, or if its just the kanji. still, looking forward to its release!

iKanji for the mac is not a big deal, I bought a long time ago and I don't regret it because I like to support the author but honestly is just pretty and elegant. iKanji Touch in the other hand does promises a lot.

iKanji has no support for compound quizzing but it does has a list of word compounds with any Kanji when you study it. iKanji Touch will indeed have Kanji compounds and other bunch of stuff according to this article http://www.thinkmac.co.uk/blog/2009/03/ … eak-2.html

Last edited by jorgebucaran (2009 April 13, 9:05 am)

stevesayskanpai Member

Registered: 2008-12-10 Posts: 169

Heehee! I don't wanna get my hopes up too much but this app looks very good indeed. Although Anki does everything you need it to really, there's something about shiny, well produced Iphone apps that in themselves can motivate you to study- thats the power of them.

I'm also plugging away with 大人の漢字練習　which is another good programme.

vengeorgeb Member

Registered: 2008-12-22 Posts: 308

Hey stevesayskanpai, did you buy it online?

Jarvik7 Member

From: 名古屋 Registered: 2007-03-05 Posts: 3946

An interesting development: http://www31.ocn.ne.jp/~h_ishida/MacOS/ … ket_iPhone

Another EPWING reader for ipod touch/iphone, this time by the developer of most of the EPWING utils/readers out there for Windows/WinCE.

Last edited by Jarvik7 (2009 April 14, 5:53 pm)

stevesayskanpai Member

Registered: 2008-12-10 Posts: 169

jorgebucaran, buy what online?

Ikanji isn't out yet, and I bought 大人の漢字練習 in Japan. Hope this helps.

vengeorgeb Member

Registered: 2008-12-22 Posts: 308

It was about 大人の漢字練習. If you bought it Japan then, well, it does not help XD but thanks for answering my question. iKanji Touch has not been added to the iTunes lists yet but it will be either tomorrow or the next day. We'll have it by the weekend, that's for sure.

vengeorgeb Member

Registered: 2008-12-22 Posts: 308

The app is available now. I just bought it. Very nice.

captal Member

From: San Jose Registered: 2008-03-22 Posts: 677

I bought it too, but I don't know how useful it is. I've used it on the train the last two days using the "teach me these kanji" mode for JLPT 2- it just goes through the meaning in English, then the readings, then stroke order (if available) then tests you on each of the three. By the time I review them again, I've forgotten many of the readings. There's probably a better way to get the readings down.

The compound quizzes aren't too bad, but overall not sure if I'll continue to use this.

vengeorgeb Member

Registered: 2008-12-22 Posts: 308

Check the application's tutorial on the website of the developer and make sure you are using the application in the way is intended, like, in order to receive the progress stats you need to go into Teach Me mode and so on.

http://www.thinkmac.co.uk/ikanjitouch/

Last edited by jorgebucaran (2009 April 26, 6:41 pm)

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yukkuri_kame wrote:

Tobberoth wrote:

vgambit wrote:

Tobberoth wrote:

stevesayskanpai wrote: