SL-3000 First Impressions - GREAT!

[ashikase]

I haven't used the new dictionaries that much yet, but a few points I noticed (as compared to the Cx60 models' sljisho and dictionaries):

- The new dictionary program, zdict, feels very similar to zten.

- As with zten, search options include exact, start of word, and end of word; there are other search modes, such as 'combine' and 'multi', though I have yet to mess with them.

- Some entries provide links to other entries.

- Zdict has an option to bookmark entries.

- Other dictionaries can be added (zdict uses the same format as zten uses).

- Zdict seems _slower_ than sljisho; when switching entries, a 'Please Wait' dialog is flashed on the screen. Granted, though, the new dictionaries provide a lot more information than the old ones.

- The kojien dictionary has entries for individual kanji, which includes stroke order diagrams, explanations (Japanese-only), and sample compounds.

- Sljisho provides separate tabs for Japanese-Japanese, Japanese-English, English-Japanese, and Katakana, making it easy to track down the definition that you want (especially when you type in a Japanese word and want an English definition); zdict does not provide such functionality (the closest you can get would be to go to the settings and uncheck the Kojien dictionaries, leaving only the Genius dictionary for searches).[/li]

Overall I think that zdict and the new dictionaries are nice, but I still plan to continue to use a combination of programs, including sljisho.

- ashikase
  anpachi, gifu, japan

[theuserdylan]

Thank you very much for the explanation.  I'm going to be studying abroad at Waseda next year and need some kind of electronic dictonary.   It sounds like a C-3000 Zaurus loaded with Zdict and sljisho is a better value than buying a seperate $350 denshi jisho.  Plus it has Kanji handwriting input.

[rokugo]

Ashikaze, you mentioned that zdict uses the same format as Zten.

Does this mean the 3000's dictionary files will work on a C860 running Zten?

[ashikase]

Does this mean the 3000's dictionary files will work on a C860 running Zten?

Yes and no. The C3000 dictionary files seem to contain some sort of security measures (encryption?). The files will not work with the current release of zten.

However, it's possible to make it work by recompiling zten and linking it with the libraries libeb.so.3.3.4 and zsecurefile.so.1.1.0 from the C3k.

Note also that the C3000's zdict can run on older models, but requires a newer version of libsl (Sharp's library). This file cannot be simply copied over the old libsl as it will break other programs (such as the Add/Remove Software app). Instead, you would have to run zdict with a (bash) command like "LD_PRELOAD=/path/to/libsl.c3k.version zdict".

Of course, doing any of this without actually owning a C3000 is probably not exactly legal.

- ashikase
- anpachi, gifu, japan

[rokugo]

Thanks for the information ashikase.

I was hoping for Sharp to sell the multimedia dictionary app as a standalone package (like they did with Picsel Viewer). I tried the 3000 (at Biccamera Shinjuku)and really liked the new dictionary. From your explanation, it seems quite unlikely that they will. What a pity.

[ashikase]

rokugo:

I believe that the Genius and/or Koujiten dictionaries can be bought separately on SD, though I don't know if they are the same versions as those available on the C3000, and, if I remember correctly, they are rather expensive (over 10,000 yen).

As for the dictionary program itself, Sharp released the source code for zdict today. You can download it at: http://developer.ezaurus.com/sl_j/source/source_dl.htm

Note that you will probably still need libraries from the C3k to compile it (libeb, libzsecure, libsl, ...).

- ashikase
- anpachi, gifu, japan

[rokugo]

thanks again ashikase.
yes, I did try searching for similar EPWing-format dictionary packages. The closest match to the C3000 set seems to be this one:
http://store.nifty.com/goods/goods.aspx?goods=00801FMW1433

But after going thru some reviews off the net and getting my sensei's recommendation, I bought this Daijirin package instead (which also happens to be cheaper) : http://www.sanseido-publ.co.jp/publ/ep/cd_ep_daijirin.html

As for compiling Zdict for use on the C860, I'm afraid thats way over my head