Japanese LS Touch
| Category | Price | Seller | Device |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | $9.99 | Jan Bogner | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
FEATURES
- 145.000 japanese vocables
- all vocables have readings (if word contains kanji) and english translations
- 75.000 vocables have german translations and 14.800 vocables have french translations
- possibilty to import your own translations for the vocables
- default vocabulary sets (JLPT Level 1 - 5 and all level in one set)
- possibilty to create custom vocabulary sets within the program
- possiblity to import your own custom vocabulary sets (of vocables in the programs database)
- sample sentences availabe for 27.800 vocables (90% of the JLPT Level 1-5 set‘s vocables have sample sentences)
- Strokeorder guidelines for all kanji used in all the program‘s vocables
- numerous ways to select the vocables you want to train:
- All vocables of the current set
- custom selection (vocables selected via browser)
- Range of vocables (e.g. vocable 40 till vocable 60)
- Vocable Reader reads vocable and translation [In-App purchase]
TEST
- 7 Testtypes:
- Vocable --> Translation
- Translation --> Vocable
- Vocable --> Reading
- Reading --> Vocable
- Word --> missing Character
- Sentence --> missing Word
- Audio -> Meaning [In-App purchase]
- 2 Testmodes:
- Direct Input (drawing or keyboard)
- Multiple Choice
VOCABLE BROWSER
- list of all vocables in the current vocabulary set or all vocables of the program‘s database
- search for a specific vocably by translation, reading or the japanese word itself
- display details of a specific vocable
- select specific vocables for a custom selection you want to train
MISC
- Import your own custom vocabulary set (e.g. if you want to train only the vocables of lesson x of your textbook)
- Import your own translations for the vocables (e.g. if you learn by certain translation that differs from the default translation in the program or if the translation for your language is missing)
- Backup & Sync between devices via Dropbox
- Learning with the Leitner system (SRS)
- Practice mode (for learning how to draw the japanese characters of the vocable)
- User Interface fully localized in English, French and German
for more information/videos/screenshots/handbook:
www.asia-ls.com/ios/en/japanese.html
If you like this application check out:
KANA LS TOUCH
KANJI LS TOUCH
If you find a bug in the software please send me an email [jan(a)asia-ls.com] with as many information as possible so I can try to reproduce and fix it:
- device & firmware
- what did you do step by step
- settings (current set, test mode, Leitner actice...)
- does it happen always/sometime/once
Japanese LS Touch uses the KANJIDIC & JMDICT dictionary files. These files are the property of the Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group, and are used in conformance with the Group's licence. (www.edrdg.org)
The sample sentences in this application are form the Tanaka Corpus. (www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/tanakacorpus.html)
The french & german translations of the sample sentences are from the Tatoeba Project (tatoeba.org)
Reviews
Needs verbs!
Ally888888
I would return it if I could. I was really surprised and disappointed that the entries do not include verbs! I need to study verbs just as badly as I need to study nouns and adjectives so leaving them out is a huge omission. Conjugated forms would not be necessary, but please at least add the dictionary forms. Had I known verbs were not included I definitely would've purchased the cheaper Kanji LS instead... I am still considering purchasing it, but I'm put-off after spending so much on this program. The best aspect of this program is definitely the writing input that enables you to check your handwriting and stroke count. I will continue to use it for studying vocabulary (which is misspelled as "vocablulary" on the menu, by the way...) and practicing kanji. The user interface is simple but effective. The option to upload your own vocabulary lists is extremely convenient and should be implemented in all the Japanese language programs! Hopefully the creator will update soon so that it is more practical for studying. Until then I cannot recommend purchasing it.
Needs romanji for sentences and a little polishing, but still solid.
Japaneseisatatsytreat
Doofus, this does have verbs. I've been playing this application for a couple of hours and it definitely does test both verbs and compound (multiple character) words. Having bought Kanji LS previously and liked it for its direct input of Kanji characters (as Jan Bogner's Japanese Apps are the only full featured Apps I know that provide this), I bought Japanese LS just for its inclusion of example sentences tests. It also includes the advantage of testing multiple character words, wheras Kanji LS tests only single Kanji elements of words. Japanese LS succeeds greatly at this second point. Unfortunately for the testing of example sentences, you can't easily extract the full meaning of the sentences tested because the phonetic reading is not given for all elements in the sentences (which would aid in looking up unknown words). Other problems for this key testing mode include that the English meaning of sentences disappears after you enter your answer and the number of characters for each answer is not listed clearly (such as would be in the game of hangman, wheras there would be a blank for each syllable. Example: 'kanarazu' would be 'ka na ra zu,' there are four blanks to fill in). On the positive side, the testing of multiple Kanji and compound words in Japanese LS is a big improvement over the single Kanji input limitation of Kanji LS. It would also help if the learning sets were divided into more reasonably sized sets, such as 10 to 30 words at a time, instead of the formidably sized JLPT sets (The smallest of which is JLPT 3 - 664 words). If this application is polished a bit more, especially given the advantages of its direct input, which no other Japanese learning App does, it could easily become one of the greatest written Japanese learning Apps out there. For spoken Japanese, Japanese Sensei definitely wins out for now, but still, Japanese LS is uniquely instructive for its direct input testing and will definitely be worth its pricetag if these couple of small hiccups are remedied. A strong Application nonetheless.
Very Strong App
Thrashre
The bad reviews people give apps is hilarious to me (although obviously not to the developers). Do these people really think they can go buy books that give you 1/10 the information you get here, plus the fact that there is no interactivity with books, and get said book(s) for like $5? Please. There are no perfect apps, everyone looks for certain things, but come on, just because a few of the things you want to see aren't included, doesn't mean that this isn't still a very, very good learning resource. Personally, for the example sentences, I would love to see all parts be selectable. So I can break down different parts, and get the fullest definition as well as see how multiple kanji phrases fit together as part of the larger context. This would be awesome for me (I've seen this available in Japanese by codefromtokyo). But just because this feature isn't available here yet (hint hint, wink wink), doesn't mean that this isn't still a very, very good app; because it is. If you think you can buy a book that offers what this app does, testing you and giving you the results, showing you how to draw each kanji, and then testing the same with immediate feedback, giving you flashcards used in a spaced repetition format, etc., then good luck. Let me know how that works out for you.
Disappointed
qdbout44
It's always deeply frustrating to spend significant amounts of money on an application that the seller never ever updates. As of now, 1.1 dates back from almost 7 months ago. Granted, Japanese LS is a fine app. But it still crashes once in a while (I had to delete the app and reinstall it this morning: farewell custom sets). And there is much, much room for improvement, such as having hiragana everywhere if desired, changing the depressingly dark interface, more customizing option, better navigation, etc. I hope the developer hears his customers who spent $15 on his product.
Some bugs, but good concept
pram0d
This app works ok if you want to practice your handwriting, but thus far I have experienced some major bugs. First of all, it crashes a lot of the time if you click the solve button, and the multiple choice doesn't work at all. If you try to do multiple choice mode, then it displays the wrong kanji for the reading, and the wrong reading for the kanji. The kanji's it displays has that particular reading (quite literally), however, it's not the right vocabulary word. Due to this major issue, I cannot use this app. It's one of the most expensive too in its category.
Useful but needs work
Nashenas88
I find this app has some useful features, but it could use improvements in some places. The font being used for writing doesn't represent real Japanese handwriting. 週 for example, the last 3 strokes are written differently than they appear in this font. さand きare other examples. In handwriting, the last stroke isn't connected to the rest of the character. I would also like it if the iPad version could allow for the option of a smaller writing area. This would help to enforce the size of the actual characters when writing in real life. I feel the large space on the iPad doesn't help me learn as easily.
Love it but
v1nsai
I love this app, I have both the Japanese and kanji LS apps but they are completely broken right now on my iPad 2 iOS 5. Drawing won't work in practice or test modes
Not very happy with app
kraemder
It's priced higher than most other apps but I spend a lot of time studying so I'm willing to spend a little money for a good app. Unfortunately the functionality of kanji and Japanese LS is split between two apps and I don't get that at all. I study kanji when I study vocab and vice versa. I own both apps but they're useless without the other's functionality. I'm a bit annoyed and will use other apps to study instead.
Best Kanji App out there
not_ya_wify
This app is great when you use hiragana to find the vocabulary. However, it doesn't always give you what you're looking for if you type in English or German. Also, it is kind of annoying that this app is separate from Kanji LS Touch if you're learning how to write kanji. This app is intended to help you study vocabulary and if you look for single kanji that do not occur as their own word, you're out of luck. This app is great. It works well as a study aid and as a dictionary, particularly if there are sample sentences that show you the usage of the word (which is sometimes very distinct from what you'd think of the translation). The only downside is that it's expensive and that certain functions are in separate apps, so that you have to spend even more money.
Great App, Wonderful Support!?
スッライ
After running into a few major issues with this app (which ended up being the fault of my device ) and emailing the developer I received immediate support. The app itself is smooth, simple, and fantastic for learning to write Japanese. This app is all about utility and it performs! There is a huge amount of content and many ways to test yourself and learn. The most unique and helpful feature that it offers is the ability to grade your own writing and stroke order in a step by step manner. There is no automatic writing detector to be picky and mark you wrong because the angle was "slightly off". This app makes studying and learning Japanese a breeze! It is an absolute must have for any learner! Thank you Jan for bringing this helpful tool to life! I don't have a single regret in purchasing this app and it's upgrade!
