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[Android] Pleco Chinese Dictionary, Free Handwriting Recognition Addon if Download before Jun 30

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[Android] Pleco Chinese Dictionary, Free Handwriting Recognition Addon if Download before Jun 30
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scrimshaw on 16/06/2013 - 00:15 play.google.com (3049 clicks)
Last edited 16/06/2013 - 00:49

The most popular mobile Chinese dictionary ever is now on Android.

LAUNCH PROMO: Get a free copy of our Chinese handwriting recognizer add-on if you download before June 30th. (you can keep using it for free even after that!)

Looks like a pretty powerful app for Chinese leaners. Another close relative of this is Hanping Dictionary, which features handwriting and stroke order features but lacks OCR (take photo to identify words). Also, this app has no advertising at all.

A review of this app on WP
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1839637#r34890975

The base application is free, however several features of the app are 'DLC' plugins and require you to pay.
This promo unlocks the handwriting recognition (arguably, the most important part) of the program for free.

To activate the free addon, open the app, and press the Paintbrush icon. It will ask to contact the server.

Mobile Android App

Related Stores

Google Play
Google Play
Marketplace
pleco.com
pleco.com

closed Comments

  • voteoften on 16/06/2013 - 00:27

    Thanks for this. I downloaded this and some other free chinese apps. I hope my daughter enjoys them.

  • samthebear on 16/06/2013 - 00:46

    Where was this when I was studying for my Chinese HSC exams?? Thanks OP, I downloaded it and it works so well!

  • illumination on 16/06/2013 - 00:48
    +1

    When I first started using Android I used Hanping AND Pleco, because I found that they both could find things that the other couldn't sometimes.

    These days I just use Hanping. Anyone have an opinion or experience using both?

    • scrimshaw on 16/06/2013 - 01:03

      I just started using Pleco. I find the feature set is very similar to Hanping Pro (but obviously better than Classic and Free version).

      While Pleco has more features overall the DLC's are ridiculously expensive. The optical character recognition for e.g is not neccessary if you have handwriting, because you can just scrawl away and ignore stroke orders, and it still recognizes the word.

    • Make it so on 16/06/2013 - 01:17

      I use hanpeng to look up words from pinyin, pleco for character recognition. Pleco is the only free one which offers this, I think.

  • WeiKaiLe on 16/06/2013 - 02:50

    I'm really surprised at how well it recognises my traditional chinese, even i write with barely lifting my finger off the screen it knowns what i'm typing. I can write 議 and only take my finger off 2 times. Very nice. Thank you!

  • y12345678 on 16/06/2013 - 06:52

    some plugins appears to be quite expensive .

  • zzyss on 16/06/2013 - 08:41

    Wish this was also for iOS :-(
    Is there any way I can grab this now on my Google Account in anticipation of getting an Android phone?

    • pg88 on 16/06/2013 - 11:34

      Not too sure, you could borrow a friend's android and log into google play via that phone and grab the app though

    • bogan on 16/06/2013 - 15:09
      +1

      Bluestacks

    • scrimshaw on 16/06/2013 - 15:51

      Erm, there is an iphone version of this app. But it's not part of the promotion.

      • quarrymaster on 16/06/2013 - 16:01

        iOS version is free, but in-app options pretty pricey. Not sure if its always been freemium.

        • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2013 - 21:12

          Yep. That's always been the way.

          The addons are pricey, but the camera-based OCR has saved me many times when I have stumbled across characters I couldn't recognise.

    • GreenRomeo on 17/06/2013 - 00:11
      +1

      I am in the same situation but just managed to download Bluestack which is an Android simulator. It allows me to add my Google account and 'purchase' and install and activate the Pleco app.

      Too bad I didn't know that when there were Android deals which required activation in the recent weeks.

  • bchliu on 16/06/2013 - 09:09

    Well.. the handwriting recognition can work from another input/keyboard if you install it like the Go! keyboard with handwriting (Free from Play store). Anyway, its a good find and cant argue with it built into the app itself.

  • grababargain on 16/06/2013 - 09:22

    Also free on Amazon app store. Thanks Op.

  • jazoom on 16/06/2013 - 09:56

    Launch promo? I've had this on my Android for a year!

  • Wudimental on 16/06/2013 - 10:30

    I'm interested to know how Google Translate compares?

    • jeffr on 17/06/2013 - 01:10
      +1

      Google translate needs an internet connection to work - that's a big minus.

      Google translate has chinese handwriting which is quite good. I guess as a freebie it's ok. It also accepts pinyin (not sure how to add the tones as yet) and attempts to guess the answer for you.

  • rickb on 16/06/2013 - 11:59

    Can anyone recommend some other good resources to help my son who is studying Chinese in Year 8?

    • jeffr on 16/06/2013 - 12:52

      Hi Rickb

      I use Chinesepod.com as it contains lessons from elementary to advanced. While it's not free, it is the best learning resource for content that I have found.

      The Chinesepod app runs on PC and Android under the same paid subscription. The lessons are downloadable in pdf and mp3 format and in full lesson (with discussion) or just the dialog. The pdf files come with english, pinyin and a grammar list (which you can save).

      Full line by line dialog is available on Android, where you can hide or show each line of dialog. It can speak each line, show/hide pinyin, show/hide chinese characters and show/hide english for each line.

      The flashcard app I use is called Anki. This app runs on PC and Android (and iPhone). Anki is a flashcard app which means you need to create your word lists. To run Anki you will need a few plug ins to get the Chinese character and voice files. While there are downloadable word lists eg HSK etc, for a year 8 student, it's probably best to focus on a few words at a time rather than a lot. I've used this to supplement other reading.

      For handwriting, you can also use Chinesepod lessons and then just copy the dialogs in copy book fashion.

      For other students, Wenlin software is the best (PC only). Again its not free but I think there is a trial version. It helps you learn pinyin and it is essentially a Chinese word processor, dictionary (Chinese to English and English to Chinese), with handwriting input (I use a mouse). It can also speak the words, create flashcards, add custom words to the dictionary. You can also search characters via radicals.

      Another option is MS Word 2013 - it has pinyin input and Chinese grammar correction with the language pack add on (separate purchase to Office 2013). It doesn't have the other dictionary features found in Wenlin so I dont use it.

      I too use Hanping Pro on my Android phone in lieu of Wenlin when I am about.

      • quink on 16/06/2013 - 16:26

        +1000 on Anki. It took a lot of customisation to get it just right for me, but now it's not just suitable, for me at least, just for revision but actual learning of new things. Very effectively. Also essential is to have a good variety of decks.

  • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2013 - 14:54
    -8

    Or alternatively just speak Ingrish :-)

  • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2013 - 16:17

    This has always been free, i.e. the handwriting add-on, check archive.org for last year.

  • mrgeckoz on 16/06/2013 - 17:18

    oh, a lot of ozbargainers to learn chinese?
    or a lot of ozbargainers are chinese? at least i am!
    XD

    • bogan on 16/06/2013 - 17:23

      Did you see photos from the recent Cebit Meetup?
      Here and here :-)

      • mrgeckoz on 16/06/2013 - 17:26

        nice, i want one of these shirts. =P

  • smellfry on 16/06/2013 - 18:32

    I guess you could say.. Ozbargainers are so asian.

    • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2013 - 20:03

      I like Chinese.

      I'm having trouble getting a rise from you guys today…

      • mrgeckoz on 16/06/2013 - 20:41

        'They only come up to your knees'
        …

  • NimitzHarrington on 16/06/2013 - 22:40

    Thanks OP, just tried it and quite impressed!

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