Using LingQ on Android 2.2 Devices

Open Forum
1

I have seen some interest from other LingQ users about creating an Android app for LingQ. However I am not sure one is necessary.

For about a month and a half now I have been using LingQ primarily on my Samsung Galaxy Tab, which is a tablet device running Android 2.2. The LingQ website is fully functional through the default browser packaged with Android, as Android 2.2 fully supports Flash functionality. I have been extremely happy with the portability this has afforded me with reading, listening, and LingQing, being able to do it all on a device the size of a book (in fact the tab is a 7" screen and is exactly the same size as the 7" nook and kindle). I have used wifi where I can, however the 3G speeds (on Verizon) have been fast enough for me to comfortably use LingQ in places where wifi was not available.

Yesterday I just upgraded to an Android 2.2 phone, a Droid 2 Global, and have already done my first LingQ lesson on my phone. I was initially worried about the effect of the massively reduced screen size of a phone from that of my tablet (which already has a reduced screen size from that of a laptop or desktop) however I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to listen, read / lingq, listen again without issue just as I do on the tablet or my laptop. The size of the text did not pose any issue for me, but of course I am still in my 20’s with relatively good eyes.

Two months ago I thought that tablets were going to revolutionize the future of learning, but now I am starting to consider that it may be cell phones that revolutionize the future of learning.

As I stated before, the LingQ website is fully functional with the two different Android 2.2 devices I have, meaning I can pretty much read / LingQ / listen from anywhere, anytime I want. LingQ, combined with some other handy Android apps such as Tune In Radio, Google Reader, and the nook and Kindle apps have effectively allowed me to carry the world of languages around with me wherever I go. Boredom will no longer exist. All of those small gaps of time you are stuck waiting for something with nothing else to do can now be used for listening / reading / lingqing.

Circling back to the original point to this post, I’m not sure what an Android LingQ app would do that the website already can’t (apart from promote LingQ on the Android marketplace). Really it would almost seem easier, although not necessary, to just to make the website layout more “mobile friendly” by optimizing it for smaller screens.

Has anyone else used LingQ on an Android device? Are you as happy with the experience as I am? What could make it better?

2

Once again thanks odiernod. I got an ipod touch as a gift and I find it is very nice to use, but as a Linux user, I hate being dependent on iTunes (and therefore Windows or Mac OS) to organize my files on it.

3

I have never had the chance to play with an ipod, although everyone I know who has one says great things about it. How does it handle the LingQ website? Do you find the screen size acceptable?

4

I use the iLingQ app on it for study. It works great but without the ability to create LingQs. I can read the LingQ forums on the Safari browser, but I have not tried to use LingQ on the browser. But as I said, I hate the limitations. I woud much rather deal with lower user friendliness without being tethered to a brand.

5

Thank you odiernod, for your detailed report. I’m considering to buy an Android 2.2 tablet and it’s interesting to hear from the experience of other users. I’m not sure if a 7" or 10" fits best to me. At the moment I tent to a 7".

6

I’ve never even owned a mobile phone. :smiley: Also, I’m pretty sure that one can use ipods on Linux without itunes. I’ve never done it because I’d never want to own one haha. You can even install Linux on ipods or use Rockbox on many models.

I’ve got nothing else to contribute. Ehjoy the rest of the thread haha

7

I also use my Samsung Galaxy Tab for learning but find lingqing itself quite awkward, and mostly do flashcards, reading, listening and I look forward for an app what is being written now by the LingQ team.

@Vera, wenn du welche Fragen über SamsungTab hast würde ich gerne helfen.

8

@Jürgen: Herzlichen Dank für Dein Angebot. Ich bin mir noch nicht sicher, ob es ein Samsung Tab wird, aber ich habe mir das auch schon angesehen und in Erwägung gezogen. Welche Größe hast du und welche würdest Du empfehlen? Kann man auch eine externe Festplatte anschließen?

9

Samsung Galaxy Tab ist 7" groß und somit passt noch in eine Jackenasche im Unterschied zu iPad mit 10". Ausserdem kannst du ihn als Navi benutzen. Mit einer micro SD Karte bis 32GB kannst du die Speicherkapazität erhöhen.

10

"You can even install Linux on ipods "

Do you have a link?

11

Sorry dooo, I’ve never done it myself. I’ve just seen machinese running it on vids and in person. Best to look around online to see what the options are.

12

Vera, ich würde sagen überlege dich wozu du einen Tablet nutzen möchtest.
Heutige Internetverbindung durch Handynetz ist mir ehrlich gesagt generell etwas langsam (vielleicht bin ich ein ungeduldiger Mensch?). Besser geht es mit WLAN. Aber wenn du schon ein WLAN-Notebook zu Hause nutzt, dann könntest du Gefühl bekommen, dass du nochmal dafür zahlst was du schon hast.

13

@Jürgen: Für Zuhause habe ich einen PC und außerdem haben wir ein gemeinsames Netbook. Dafür möchte ich es weniger. Eher für unterwegs, um z.B. auch mal E-Mails lesen zu können. Wenn es dann mal wegen des Handy-Netzes nicht so schnell ist, ist das in Ordnung. Ich tendiere zum 7" Gerät, weil es kleiner und leichter ist als das Netbook. Es soll also nicht das Netbook ersetzen, sondern eine Alternative sein. Aber du hast natürlich recht: Es ist im Grunde eine Spielerei, die man nicht wirklich braucht :slight_smile: Aber ich habe für LingQ in den letzten zwei Jahren so viel gearbeitet, dass ich mir das von den verdienten Punkten als kleine Belohnung gönnen möchte.

14

@junair

I definitely agree that lingqing is more convenient on a pc, ive changed the way I do the lessons a little while on my Tab. While reading through the lesson I only lingq certain terms that I feel are necessary for immediate understanding and then I just lingq the rest using the quick lingq feature at the end. Lingqing on Android got a lot easier since they changed it to integrate the google translate.

One thing is for sure, the tablet has increased the frequency at which I use LingQ, since I no longer have to be in front of a computer to go through lessons.

15

@odiernod thank you, I*ll try to do it like you using quick lingq feature.

@Vera, gut gönne dir einen - es ist doch ein interessantes Ding. Obwohl besonders mobil im Vergleich zu einem Smartphone ist er nicht. Surfen im Internet aber ist ohne Zweifel besser. Aus meiner Erfahrung, obwohl alle Anbieter die Geschwindigkeit als bis zu 7,2 Mbit/s angeben, im praktischen Vergleich habe ich Unterschiede festgestellt. Also einen richtigen Provider auswählen.

16

@Jürgen: Kannst du sagen, welcher Provider gut oder schlecht ist? Ich will erstmal nur Prepaid nutzen, damit ich es ja nach Bedarf nutzen kann.

17

Dazu kann ich nicht viel sagen, ich habe jetzt Base (10€ Monat jederzeit kündbar) und habe einmal mit unserem FirmenTab (Telekomvertrag 39,90/Monat) verglichen. Der von Telekom war schneller beim Surfen und besser beim Videoabspielen. Vielleicht ist es vom Tarif abhängig- formal sollte aber nicht.

18

Danke! Ich werde mal in entsprechenden Foren suchen, ob ich dazu was finde.

19

Interestingly i use my HTC Desire which of course is loaded with Android 2.2 to do a lot of my LingQ’s. The problem is recently, actually highlighting a word has become a problem. I have to tap the screen maybe 5+ times for the hints to pop up and it is ruining the experience for me.

I thought it was my phone initially but every other website works fine, as does navigating around this website. It is just LingQ’ing that has recently become difficult. Anyone else had this problem?

Es ist ein problem, mochte nicht ich fur mein deutsch lernen.

20

Die Netze von O2/Fonic/Tchibo und EPlus/Base/simyo/Aldi sind definitiv schlechter in Abdeckung und Geschwindigkeit als die von T-Mobile oder Vodafone.