2012/11/30

Irony and futility

Should have been studying, but was preoccupied working on a prototype program to aid in memorization.



The algorithm's not terribly difficult to figure out. In theory, it should be a bit more effective than typical randomization. Of course, that's unlikely to improve my chances of passing JLPT N4 which is 2 days from now.

After that, I'll throw in onyomi/kunyomi readings as well as English meanings; maybe even try to bring this over to Android for on-the-go review sessions. I'm terrible at creating user interfaces though.


Kanji list taken from the Genki I and Genki II textbooks.

2012/11/17

Used goods, still good

Just purchased an Android device with extensive quality assurance testing at a fraction of the original cost.


I am now the proud owner of a secondhand 1-year-old tablet.


I bought this Acer A500 from a colleague primarily for reading notes and e-books in preparation for the upcoming JLPT tests.

Once that's over though, this'd probably be mainly as a portable image browser. The built-in USB port means that connecting to keyboards, card readers, or even portable hard disk drives is a breeze. If combined with a Wi-Fi capable card such as the Eye-Fi, this could prove to be a very handy tool for on-site checking of details and immediate feedback.

Of course, nothing beats a full-fledged PC loaded with proper software when it comes to file management and editing. Even the cheapest of netbooks could easily outperform high-end tablets when it comes to sheer specs such as storage space and device compatibility. However, a tablet is usually more than sufficient for any task done away from the work desk.

2012/11/10

Goldilocks





Taken with the IXUS 105.

Despite the market share of compact cameras being eroded by the proliferation of smart phones with decent optics and cheaper interchangable lens cameras, I think that there are enough people out there who still appreciate the balance between performance and size.

2012/11/03