This new version includes support for horizontal mode and the possibility to resize the “hint” area by dragging it up/down.

Please let me know if you run into any problem using it.

Unfortunately, the short answer is that KanjiBox for Android won’t be happening anytime soon. As in: not happening in the next 3-to-6 months, which is generally about as far as I can see in my life (feel free to keep your hopes up for after that, but the chances of my forfeiting all ties to the material world and joining a Zen monastery are at least on par).

As for a more detailed answer and overview of the reasons behind this regrettable decision, feel free to read on if you have some time to kill:

1. Time: KanjiBox (all versions thereof) is a pet project. Or more exactly: was a pet project (among many others), until it got seriously out of hand and started eating at most of my free time. As it turns out, being a PhD student (in a field with no connection whatsoever to Japanese studies) already takes a fair share of my time. And yes, while I could certainly squeeze the necessary development time by eradicating leisure altogether from my life, I do cherish too much those rare moments spent in intimacy with my favourite bottle of gin.

An Android version would not so much be a “port” as a complete rewrite. iPhone development currently requires the use of Apple’s framework, API and language (Objective C), while none of these things are encouraged, or even supported, on Android (which is not necessarily a bad thing). Writing the iPhone version was already a complete rewrite from the online version, and it took countless hours over many months. Chances are the Android version would not be any better.

2. Pragmatism: KanjiBox is not exactly a get-rich-quick plan: once the cost of running the online version is offset, I am left with enough to pay for a couple beers each week with the odd diamond-encrusted watch or pound of refined Colombian marching powder… Brought back to an hourly rate, I am making considerably less than the kid heating up my bento at the local 7-11. Granted his job is marginally less fun, but the point being: if I wanted to make money developing software, I would probably not do it developing a Kanji-studying app for iPhone.

That is, when I say an Android version of KanjiBox would likely not be financially profitable, I mean even less profitable. To the point where my time would be better used training hamsters in the art of kanji writing (a notoriously difficult task, owing to their tiny paws and lack of opposable thumbS). What makes Android a glorious product for end-users (an open platform where people can install their own software without the need for Steve’s approval) is also what makes it much easier for widespread piracy to undercut any potential profit. Of course, there are lots of “free” commercial apps and websites out there that do fine, but their alternate plans for revenue (dumbass Bay Area VC money and/or endless user spamming) just aren’t my cuppa.

3. Technicalities: last but certainly not least hurdle on the road toward Android development is that I do not own anything even remotely resembling an Android device. Please do not start giving tips on best models and phone plans: even assuming it was practical for me to drop my ongoing 2-year softbank plan and purchase a brand new subscription somewhere else (it definitely isn’t), I am really not big on endless early-adoption gadget purchases. If it was up to me, I would still be developing KB on my old iPod Touch and using my trusty 2-year old keitai for the rest. If you compound point 2 above, I think it is clear that I am not about to invest the ¥60k+ in hardware that would be necessary, merely to be able to develop for Android.

To conclude, I am truly sorry about the state of things, and had the timeframe been different, I would have much rather developed KanjiBox for a platform that tends to respect its users and promote some degree of openness, but things are what they are: no KanjiBox for Android in the near future, sorry…

The more nuanced answer is that we are working on it actively, but gathering data for the new level (only N3 differs significantly from previous levels: other should match roughly the old J4-J1 levels) is a very slow and uncertain process. There are no official lists of kanji or vocabulary for the new levels and the only way to proceed, is to cull them from existing textbook exercises and training tests (on the mostly valid assumption that said textbooks’ editors routinely have business “lunches” with JLPT people where secret lists of kanji might change hands). Since I would prefer the lists to be somewhat validated by official tests, it might be difficult to release an update before late Spring (when the next JLPT exam takes place)…

As an aside: take all the alleged “updated JLPT” lists you see floating around with a large grain of salt: they are all based on interpolation and essentially just break down former J2 level in two groups along grade level (for kanji) and frequency (for vocabulary): a breakdown that is far from verified in practice.

Until then, I would simply advise people who want to train for N3 to use 2級 for now (keeping in mind that it is largely above N3, but still the closest we have).

In the meantime, stats syncing and online scores should arrive soon!

• Missing-Kanji Drill: a “fill-the-gap” type of kanji drill (not unlike the kind used in some JLPT sections). Also incorporated into Quiz mode for Kanji, which now features a mix of both Drill types (“classic” Kanji Def and new Missing Kanji).
• Study Mode lets you browse through customisable sets of flashcards. Just pick a category (kanji, vocab, kana etc.), a range of JLPT levels and the size of your study set (KanjiBox will automatically start with entries that you know least).
• Plus the usual odds and ends… (including an optional Clock Display in Drill mode, specially for Jyuichi

Same, but with colourful moving pictures?

Only needed to ask:

This latest version brings you:

• Reading Mode: yay baby… (you can see it in action in the online version)
• Integration with Kotoba! (awesome free Japanese dictionary app for iPhone): a button now allows you to jump straight to a word/kanji definition in Kotoba.
• All iPhone KanjiBox users now get a free upgrade to “Elite” status on the online version of KanjiBox: see instructions here.
• Many small enhancements and cosmetic fixes.

Have fun and, if you like it, don’t forget to review the application in the iTunes Store: positive reviews go a long way at motivating me to keep working on cool new features!

Version 1.1 brings you two major features:
1. Integration with Pierre-Philippe di Costanzo’s awesome Japanese dictionary application: Kotoba! (clicking on a special link in detailed view directly opens Kotoba to the appropriate entry).
2. Reading quiz!

If you are a beta-tester, please download this latest beta and contact me with any comments or bug reports…

If beta testing goes well, I will upload the new version to the iTunes Store by the middle of next week.

If you are currently a KanjiBox beta-tester, you should already have received an email last week (contact me if you haven’t !).

For everybody else, great news: KanjiBox 1.0 is in its final phase of beta-testing. If everything goes according to plan and no major bug occurs, it will be submitted to the iTunes Store before the end of the week.

Although the feature-list for 1.0 was brought down a little (‘Reading’ drill/quiz will have to wait the next major update), there is a considerable number of improvements, ranging from the mere cosmetic (myriads small UI touch-ups) to the core (a massive data cleanup is under way: you can still contribute by visiting KB’s page on Facebook)… With of course, the addition of Quiz mode the big news for this version.
Huge care was also given to keeping the code rock-solid and the stability impeccable. This time around, we should be able to avoid nasty crash issues and the dozen small updates that were mandated by Apple’s erratic OS updates.

Stay tuned for an official release very soon!

Seems like it was a tough one (guess I should have included more Naruto theme songs, huh). Few people got more than a couple. Although one Japanese music champion out there, managed to grab an 18.5 out of 20, only a few hours after the quiz went up last week. Anyway: all 3 winners received their coupons: thanks to everybody else for playing…

And without further ado, the solution:

#1: Yellow Magic Orchestra – Behind the Mask (Fantastic Plastic Machine remix).

#2: A much tougher one: Bird – Game

#3: Überfamous Theme from ルパン三世, covered by no-less-famous Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra.

#4: 60′s classic 夜明けのスキャット, sung by 由紀さおり.

#5: Misia’s Sunny Day (remixed by Joe Clausel).

#6: Another delightfully dated 60′s Japanese classic: どしゃぶりの雨の中で, sung by 和田アキ子.

#7: Shibuya-key legends Pizzicato 5, singing a very jazzy live version of Audrey Hepburn Complex (couldn’t find a link to the version I have, so had to link another less jazzy version, but you can also check out the very trippy 80s original music video).

#8: Cornelius – Drop: ’nuff said…

#9: Personal 60′s J-Rock favourite of mine: 奥村チヨ singing the surprisingly outrageous 恋の奴隷.

#10: A bonus track meant to weed out the amateurs from the pros (and it did)… Akakage’s 恋のCha Cha Cha…

The rules are simple:

• Listen to the 10 Japanese music samples below and identify as many as you can.
• Send your submission to kanjibox.quiz at gmail.com
• First 3 people with the highest number of correct guesses (out of 10 artists + 10 track names) win 3 iTunes coupons, each, for a free download of KanjiBox for iPhone.
• On Friday (Dec. 11) evening, Kyoto time, I will post the answers here and name the lucky winners.

#1: [See post to listen to audio]

#2: [See post to listen to audio]

#3: [See post to listen to audio]

#4: [See post to listen to audio]

#5: [See post to listen to audio]

#6: [See post to listen to audio]

#7: [See post to listen to audio]

#8: [See post to listen to audio]

#9: [See post to listen to audio]

#10: [See post to listen to audio]

All these tracks are performed by one or many Japanese artists and rank from the super-obvious to the slightly more obscure, but are all rather popular in their own genre.

Feel free to team up to multiply your chances at identifying them all (there are 3 free coupons per winner, to be shared however you see fit if you win as a team).

Note: because of restrictions placed by Apple, free application coupons on the iTunes Store can only be redeemed with the US Store. However, I believe it is possible to temporarily change your store affiliation to claim a coupon.

Have fun!

Quiz mode is coming soon!