Using Pocket PC as a J-E, E-J dictionary

[Anatoli]

今日は、

Does anyone use Pocket PC as a J-E, E-J dictionary? What do you use for inputting Japanese characters?

I installed JWPce, it is good but is a bit awkward to use - the frames don't fit the small screen size.

For input, I find Effy is good but it's not free.

Can you guys share what you use?

MDict dictionary is supposed to work with any language (if the characters and input are installed) but I only found a good Chinese, not a Japanese dictionary.

 

[kenasto]

Which operating system are you using?

 

[Anatoli]

Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0. Device: HP iPAQ rx4240 Mobile Media Companion.

 

[kenasto]

Here are a couple of sites which might help you:

Japanese Language Tools

Would be great to hear, if you got it to work. Please post your experience here. I am also thinking about getting a PDA with Windows Mobile 5.

 

[Anatoli]

&%&%&*^%, I lost my long post!

Anyway, I am happy with my device and when you get yours, I can share with you.

 

[Anatoli]

I chose JWPce as the word processor/dictionary for Japanese studies on a Pocket PC. It works for me. The web page for the software download describes how to set it up on a Pocket PC. There are issues, of course.

Some hints to make it work better:

1) I use landscape layout, at least the screen becomes wider and less time required to close the dictionary window.
2) For moving around a text and the dictionary - I use the scrolling button on my device.
3) Setup Unicode as your default system - helps to copy/paste between JWPce and other applications, e.g. Internet Explore and Word. You can use JWPce as your Japanese IME then, since it works better for whole words then the other one I have (Effy).
4) If you want to return back to your open file, use Memory icon in settings, otherwise it creates a new JWPce session. Is it a bug?

At the moment I am reading the subtitle transcript of 千と千尋の神隠し (Spirited away) anime, which I downloaded and pasted into JWPce. I know the plot very well and it makes a rather easy read.

I'd like to hear some more experiences about using a Pocket PC fro learning Japanese.

What IME do you use for character recognition?

 

[Anatoli]

Update for Pocket PC users learning Japanese,
The MDict actually has a Japanese-English dictionary, so you can have both the application, which supports multiple dictionaries and the file. The Japanese dictionary is a port from Monash EDICT dictionary.
This image is of the Chinese dictionary the Japanese dictionary looks different but the interface is the same:

Here's the mdx file (J-E dictionary file) you need (9.2 MB) - put it where your other dictionaries sit (preferably storage card
http://www.octopus-studio.com/jmdict.mdx
I started using it - very user-friendly and the beauty of MDict - you can pick up words by clicking on the little icon.