News
Xiao CiDian 1.3 on the AppStore
Sunday, February 1st, 2009 | News | No Comments
Just a quick note: 小词典 version 1.3 is now on the AppStore!
Demo of Xiao CiDian 1.3
Saturday, January 24th, 2009 | News | No Comments
The next iteration of 小词典, version 1.3, has been submitted to the AppStore for approval. The major new feature in this version is vastly improved search.
Here is a movie of how it works:
(For the astute, the current version is 1.1, and this jump is to 1.3. I had some internal builds that didn’t make the cut for 1.2, and I just wanted to bring everything up to a matching version release. I’ve changed the process a bit so this shouldn’t happen again.)
Xiao CiDian 1.1 and 1.2
Sunday, January 18th, 2009 | News | No Comments
大家好！
It’s almost time for my 汉语 classes to start up again. I am trying to get the new 1.2 version done before class starts, but I don’t think I’ll make it. 下星期一我的汉语课开始。
I submitted version 1.1 to Apple a few weeks ago, but I made some interface guideline booboos, and had to fix them. It’s back in Apple’s review process now so hopefully you’ll get that update soon.
I really dig the 1.2 development version. It’s had a lot of work on the searching logic, and it works very well. I can’t wait to put it out, but it needs quite a bit more testing.
I am still working on the new yet-to-be-talked-about features, but I might hold those back until 1.3 because I am in love with the new search and want you to have it :).
Ok, off to bed now.
再见！
XiaoCiDian 1.2
Saturday, December 13th, 2008 | News | 5 Comments
A big 谢谢 to everyone who has purchased a copy of XiaoCiDian from the AppStore. It has already out performed my expectations!
I also appreciate all the feedback I’ve been getting from the application. I wanted to let everyone know that 1.2 is currently in the works with some mild improvements, bug fixes, and the newest CC-CEDICT dictionary. On top of the 1.2 update, I’ve branched the code and started working on some new features – I am going to keep what they are close to the vest for now though.
On top of the iPhone update, I’ve also updated the desktop versions to the newest CC-CEDICT (2008-12-12 currently). You can download them by clicking on the right side bar on this site. The versions are now 小词典 1.2 and 小词典－英文 1.2Beta.
For those who have asked, you can support this project by purchasing the iPhone application.
Thanks again and 学快乐！
XiaoCiDian is on the AppStore!
Monday, November 24th, 2008 | News | No Comments
After many months, 小词典 has been released to the AppStore and available for purchase! You can get XiaoCiDian by following this link. The sales will help development of future features for both the iPhone app and the desktop versions of 小词典.
XiaoCiDian iPhone on the App Store
Monday, November 24th, 2008 | News | 1 Comment
The 小词典 iPhone application is almost on the AppStore. I’ve just received an email saying it’s status has moved past the review status!
It’s not available on the AppStore just yet, but will likely be available for purchase within a few days (fingers crossed).
XiaoCiDian By English
Sunday, November 23rd, 2008 | News | No Comments
A few people have downloaded 小词典 Desktop now, and I’ve received some very nice feedback.
(小词典 Desktop, by the way, is a plug in for Mac OS X dictionary that lets you use your Mac to look up simplified Chinese characters anywhere on the system).
The number one requested feature has been to add the ability to look up English words and get the Simplified / Mandarin equivalent.
The way the CC-CEDICT dictionary is put together, however, isn’t likely to work well going from English to Chinese. The main reason for this is an entry in the CC-CEDICT doesn’t have all the iterations for words (do, doing, did, etc).
On top of the dictionary limitations, often times a single Chinese word doesn’t equal a single English word. For example, 思 means “to think” but it’s more of a deep thought whereas 觉得 means “to think” but more of a “I feel like” kind of think. When you hover over “think” to get a definition the application would have to understand the whole sentence to know which word to show – it’s an interesting problem, and one I am not going to be tackling on Sunday, and surely not free.
Anyway, I decided to brute force the CC-CEDICT into an English to Chinese dictionary that you can use on your Mac. It works somewhat well, but be very weary of the words it suggests as translations.
Here is a movie of it in use:
You can download it from the 小词典 web site. It is based on the latest CC-CEDICT.
P.S. If you find it is not working after you install, launch the Dictionary applicatoin in your applications folder, go to preferences, and move 小词典 up the list (and turn it on if needed). Like so:
P.S.*2 For those of you who have asked, no, Apple has still not approved the iPhone application.
Xiao CiDian Version 1.1 Released
Friday, November 14th, 2008 | News | 1 Comment
I’ve finally gotten around to doing a release of 小词典.
(If you are curious, our move went very well, and we are settling in to our new lives very well.)
This latest version is based on CC-CEDICT from 2008-11-14 10:51:11 GMT which is currently the latest release. Boasting a whopping 79,276 entries!
You can download the dictionary installer from the download page.
I’ve also added a torrent link to the download page for people who are on slower or intermittent connections, or who just prefer that method of download.
Thanks for using 小词典!
CC-CEDICT Released – I am moving
Monday, September 15th, 2008 | News | 4 Comments
The good news is the CC-CEDICT project released a new version of the dictionary recently, but the bad news is I am in the process of moving so it will be a little while before 小词典 Desktop gets updated.
I hope to be able to do a new release by the end of September, but it depends on how fast my computer ships to my new house. For reference I am moving from the United States to Australia so the move is a bit more complicated than normal.
The new version of CC-CEDIT is up to 76,586 entries! I can’t wait to get it into 小词典 desktop.
In a slightly related note, the Android version of 小词典 is coming along nicely and I should have a working version ready about the time the HTC Dream phone is released (the first android phone). I sure hope I can get one in Australia!
I’ll post when the new version of the desktop app is finished.
Xiao CiDian Version 1.0 Released
Friday, August 29th, 2008 | News | No Comments
The first version of 小词典 Desktop has been released. You can download it by clicking on the download link on the main page.
A big thanks to all the beta testers! I hope you enjoy the application.