The spiral translations I had in mind for my Kanji Sensi app are too processor-intensive to complete timely on the iPhone's hardware. With 200 points to compare within a character against the points that comprise the path of a user's strokes, I'm limited to about 8 translations per stroke. This is about 100,000 iterations (character points times path points). Any more and the app lags between strokes. To make the most of these 8 translations, I assume that the user will most likely draw above or below the character and make 4 translations spaced 50px apart above and below. There's not much room to be drawing on the side or diagonally. There will be minor frustration on depending on how close a user draws to each 50px offset but its the best that can be done with the iPhone's limited resources.
With that said, I am proud to announce the completion of version 1.0 of Kanji Sensei. Future versions will have more characters (currently 128) and more accurate shape comparison. Let me know what you want to see and I'll work it into the future release. :)
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Curiously why is this only an Iphone only app? I have a 1st gen Ipod touch with the 2nd generation software, for some reason I can't use it.
ReplyDeleteSorry Chris, this app uses the AVAudioPlayer class to play sounds that is only supported on iPod Touch and iPhone firmwares 2.2 or greater. You can upgrade your firmware through iTunes but I'll keep in mind your request and attempt to widen support in the next version. I'm glad that you have expressed interest and it will serve as a vote to maintain and improve this app. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Jason: Could we ask you to take another look at this, please? On the Kanji Sensei page in the App store, the requirements say "Compatible with iPhone and iPod touch (2nd generation)." This means that us 1st gen touch owners will not be able to install your app (regardless of whether or not we have the 2.2 firmware). From your comment above, it sounds like the app is compatible with 1st gen touches that have the iPhone 2.2 Software Update. If so, then you need to change the requirements to reflect that. As it stands, iTunes will not install this app on any 1st gen touch with or without the update. Thank you - I'm eager to look at your app!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I misread that on the submission form, dberes! Unfortunately, the iTunes Connect interface for managing apps doesn't let me change that but I have emailed them asking that all my apps be open to all devices. I'm very sorry about this. I myself wouldn't even be able to use the apps since I have a first gen (but they usually get installed anyways during development). If Apple gives me problems, I'll release the apps under different names and update my blog and twitter (@jasonmog).
ReplyDeletethanks for making this. if you intend to pursue this app further, i'd be interested in seeing flash card sets split into JLPT levels and maybe modes where you associate the kanji with an 'on' or 'kun' reading rather than just the english translation. maybe a difficulty level where the choices are more closely related (cause if you see the radical for metal in a kanji and your options are 'copper' 'brother' and 'ocean,' the choice is pretty obvious) also, common kanji compounds. and maybe, just maybe, if it remembered kanji that were giving you trouble ... but i dunno. i can't code. all of that may be a lot of work.
ReplyDeleteHi Jason, I really like this app, I already learned all of the first set .... could I have some more ? there is a small bug, the third answer is never right...also in the future it would be nice to have a scorekeeper to report on progress made, don't know, something that gradually changes color as the percentage of right answers increases.
ReplyDeleteI'm delighted to hear that a user has taken the time to learn all of the Kanji! I'll look into that bug and I'd like to announce an update that will make it to the app store any day now that makes it easier to learn how to write Kanji by keeping a gray outline on the screen and better accuracy. I'll work on a scoreboard today specifically at your request. :)
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