Comments on: iPad: The ultimate Japanese study tool?

By: Joshua Zimmerman

Joshua Zimmerman — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:09:34 +0000

I’ve never used the built in dictionaries on the iPhone. I find the free application kotoba to be an awesome Japanese-English dictionary. For one, it gives you the kanji for a word but then also tells you what each of the kanji for the word mean individually. It helps when studying.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:00:21 +0000

Also, it was listed somewhere that in iPhoneOS 3.2, they ported the Japanese-English and Japanese-Japanese dictionaries from Mac OSX.

I’ve used many Japanese dictionares (even electronic dictionaries) and the Apple dictionaries are the best, since they cover so many nuances and have great example sentences to back them up.

And let’s not forget that the dictionaries are free with MAC OS X Leopard and Snow Leopard.

Yet another reason why the iPad might be an awesome Japanese learning tool.

By: iPad As a Study Tool Joshua Zimmerman

iPad As a Study Tool Joshua Zimmerman — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:26:53 +0000

[...] Check it out if you’re in the mood. [...]

By: Joshua

Joshua — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:16:31 +0000

@Ken – A lot of people have been making a lot of tablets for the past ten years. Microsoft has been trying to start a ‘tablet revolution’ since 2001. The problem is that they’ve never taken off. Personally, I think this has been because of the OS. Regular tablets run more or less the same Windows as you see on a desktop computer. Problem is desktop computers use mice and keyboard, tablets do not (if you’re actually using it as a tablet). The iPhone/ iPod OS is made to be used with your fingers. Not a plastic pen, or an add – on mouse. But a finger. Also, the trend for tablet hardware has been to just take a laptop and throw a touchscreen on it. Feature overkill made them large, heavy, and with a weak battery life. You might as well just carry around a laptop at that point because you’d get more bang for your buck. The iPad isn’t being marketed as a full on laptop or desktop replacement. It is a sort of ‘in-between’ product. Better than a regular eReader, but not as good as a regular laptop. I personally would have loved one of these in college. I could have ditched carrying around a bag full of books, flash card, a dictionary, and my iPod. In fact it probably would have covered most of my ‘casual’ laptop use during the day as well.

Now I’m not saying that the iPad is better than other products out there, it does lack certain features and hardware bits, but for the ‘average’ user the iPad will be more than enough. I always personally subject any product to what I call “the parent test.” Meaning, “will my parents be able to use it without having to call me once a day.” For some reason I think the iPad will pass that test.

@ Dibbs – Eh, what things do people use flash for? Videos and games mostly. I can’t say I’ve missed having flash all that much when using my iPhone. While having it would be nice for many people, I also have to agree with Apple that flash is really buggy. I think Steve Jobs said that the #1 cause of crashes on Macs these days was due to flash. I hope that html5 removes the need for flash videos, and that people move away from insane flash webpages (which get blocked by my workplace web filter!). Though on the upside, the lack of flash means no annoying flash ads!

By: dibbs

dibbs — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:41:03 +0000

it doesn’t do flash. 80% of websites out there use flash.

that’ll keep me from buying one. that and my iphone crashes all the time. i don’t think the software is ready for the big time yet.

By: John

John — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:37:42 +0000

Except for the fact that the Japan iTunes Store doesn’t sell movies or TV shows…

I’ll take a look at the iPad but I’m still not convinced I’ll be buying one. If it were a fully-fledged computer instead of a giant iPod Touch, I’d have much more interest.

By: Ken

Ken — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:59:39 +0000

I don’t understand why people think the iPad is the next revolutionary tool for study and learning. Other than it’s speed, worldwide computer companies have been making very good tablet computers and standard computers that can do more than any iPad could ever hope to do. Fujitsu, IBM/Lenovo, Acer, to name a few. Here is the link to a video I made that touts all the things my tablet can do. http://ow.ly/11Yet

I have been using my tablet for work and play just about everyday with no complaints. Even the speed, though not as fast, is just fine for working. And the pen/stylus (for me) is a necessity for taking down notes and drawing pictures of things I learn as well as when I make notes and tests for my students.

It’s really quite a surprise how people are just finding out about tablets because of Apple. Please don’t forget about the others though, in many ways, they are better.

By: Japundit

Japundit — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 10:32:51 +0000

Story added…

Your story has been featured on Japundit! Here is the link: http://www.japundit.com/Gadgets/iPad_The_ultimate_Japanese_study_tool...

By: JapanSoc

JapanSoc — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 10:07:58 +0000

iPad: The ultimate Japanese study tool?…

If you’re a dedicated learner of Japanese, you’re probably used to hauling around all sorts of study materials with you — your electronic dictionary, flashcards, Japanese journal, a Japanese childre……