Rosetta Stone - learn a language on PPC

pocketpower · 05-24-06, 03:04 PM

I've done extensive searching on this and have come up with not a heck of alot.

I thought I'd just at least start a topic so something is out there on the net when people search.

I feel Rosetta Stone for the desktop is great. Nice way to visually and audibly learn a language. What would be even better is Rosetta Stone 2 Go!

There are some great language programs for the PPC such as ones from Mobilearn, Lingvosoft, "2go" series (i.e Spain2Go) - but they are all basically dictionaries and phrasebooks, talking and non-talking.
There was one bit I came across, Know It Deluxe, I believe it was. A bit of flash cards type of thing for the PPC. Still a bit lacking though.

I did find one lonely very short thread of a person mentioning trying to use all the files of the desktop Rosetta and incorporate into some sort of Java based program for the PPC. Can't seem to find the thread again. It didn't lead to much anyway.

If anyone has any input, it'd be great to hear.

Again, just sort of wanted to begin some sort of life to this by starting a thread. Who knows, maybe the Rosetta company will come across this and begin process if they haven't already.
I know it's destined to happen. I'm just wondering if I've missed something or if someone else has heard something.
Or heck, maybe someone out there THAT good at programming can think of a way to incorporate the desktop Rosetta files for PPC (compressing audio to small sizes, creating a PPC GUI, etc.)

While we're at it, a nice pocket translator would be nice. Like Power Translator Pro for the PC. Lingvosoft has a decent one for PPC, Pocket Promt, but it's only available for 3 languages.
http://www.lingvosoft.com/Pocket-Promt-English-Spanish/
I guess all in due time I suppose.

Thanks. :)

sgomon · 05-24-06, 03:17 PM

I bought the Audio Translator from Dell with my Axim X50v. It is probably one of the most unusable programs I have ever owned. It appears to be able to translate phrases. I have tried to look up words in it, but it could not provide me with translations.

I own a copy of Rosetta Stone and am really having a hard time finding time to sit down at the PC and use it. I really wish there were a PocketPC version that I could use anywhere that I have some free time. I have used it a little and it looks like a good program that teaches you a language rather than providing you with translations.

05-24-06, 03:30 PM

I agree to the PocketPC version. It'll be so useful. I really don't want to be learning how to speak a language when I'm sitting down in front of something that I associate with leisure more than work. A pocketpc version would mean I can even learn a language in the toilet.

klomp10 · 05-24-06, 04:13 PM

(bump)
I use rosseta for my foreign language class, so having it on ppc would be awsome.
I'm sure people would pay $ for this, if someone would devilip the app.

AnnamariaNJ · 05-24-06, 04:17 PM

what does anyone know of Pimsleur? Rosetta is cost prohibitive for me when compared to the price of Pimsleur...i do need to get one for italian language study.

Gigi · 05-24-06, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by AnnamariaNJ

what does anyone know of Pimsleur? Rosetta is cost prohibitive for me when compared to the price of Pimsleur...i do need to get one for italian language study.

I've tried Pimsleur, but it's more just audio recordings than software itself. Works great in the car though! :approve:

AnnamariaNJ · 05-24-06, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by Gigi

I've tried Pimsleur, but it's more just audio recordings than software itself. Works great in the car though! :approve:

so Gigi, it works? it's worth it? does it teach more than just beginning? sorry to bother but i certainly would appreciate your opinion.
thanks :)

Gigi · 05-24-06, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by AnnamariaNJ

so Gigi, it works? it's worth it? does it teach more than just beginning? sorry to bother but i certainly would appreciate your opinion.
thanks :)

No bother at all! Well, to be honest, I wasn't very disciplined at using it...

but yes, there are many stages (not just beginner phrases).

pocketpower · 05-25-06, 10:14 AM

Pimsleur is one of the best, if not the best IMHO.

I've used it extensively and it really does work (vs. many many other programs I've tried). And from a simplistic standpoint, it's all you really need for audio learning.

The bread and butter of it is of course taking on more of the "immersion" approach.

It's all common conversation broken down so you can learn.

Of course it's nice to listen to while you're driving, exercising, cleaning, etc., but the key is to be aware of what's being said. To immerse yourself in it. In other words, don't get distracted by outside things or start having your mind wander thinking about other things.
I don't believe too much in subliminal learning with things like this (i.e., listening while you sleep).

So yes, I would highly recommend Pimsleur.
A complete program is something like 45 hours or audio!! So for sure there is a lot to learn there.

Just take each lesson at a time. You'll know when it's time to move on. When you keep saying the language before the speaker does, you'll know you've got a grasp and can move to the next lesson.

So gee, I see Rosetta PPC would be quite the popular thing if available.
I wish I truly knew programming.
Hopefully someone out there at least has some ideas.

:)

AnnamariaNJ · 05-25-06, 07:04 PM

Gigi and PocketPower, many thanks for adding your experiences...i had searched out some practical knowledge, now i can feel confident in my decision.
I love how we come together to aid one another! :love:

**hyedipin** · 02-06-07, 02:26 PM

I was just thinking about this, and dug this topic.
I have about 3 hours spare time every saturday, where I have to sit down and wait. Instead of playing with my PSP or my cellphone, or my pocket pc, or whatever I have with me, I thought I can learn a language, or at least try to learn. I could spend maybe about 1 hr on this thing ever weekend, and play with it as I have time.

Does anyone know of a good way to install a program on my Axim and learn a language gradually. I checked LingvoSoft, but I can't really pinpoint anything that does the same thing as PC does. I am considering Spanish as beginning. I have some experience in Japanese but I pulled Spanish as priority for now, which I can easily practice or hear much more than Japanese.

Does anyone know a good piece of software for Spanish Language Learning on a Pocket PC Platform? Not phrase book, not a dictionary but some sort of learning package.

**hyedipin** · 02-07-07, 11:36 AM

Nobody? I might give it a shot with their phrase book, but I would much rather get a whole language learning software.. It is very boring to read the language learning books.. :) Or hey, here is another idea, Encode language learning DVD's into Divx and watch on PPC.. :D

Wendelius · 03-15-07, 08:18 AM

I have the same desire to learn a language on the move (and so, ideally, using my x51v) but can't seem to find decent WM based software.

Some searching yielded the following 2 candidates:

Declan Software - Learn Japanese: Seems to have both flashcards type vocubaliry lessons and modules to learn to write but it doesn't look like a coherent course where you are slowly introduced to the basics through situations, learn the grammar, ... Not sure if it allows you to practice your kanji strokes either.

Learn Japanese Now! Version 10: Sounds like a more complete course type package. However, only a small part (MP3's and the "Before you know it" module) runs on a handheld. The rest is PC based.

Has anyone come across any better alternatives?

Wendelius

Wendelius · 03-27-07, 06:56 AM

So no alternative then? :(

Wendelius

pocketpower · 08-30-09, 05:41 PM

Wow, I forgot I even had this account and started such a thread!

Funny how time passes.
Years later, I'm now back here as a result of searching the net for any updates on such an app.
It is because I finally found a working PPC version of RS!
So was doing a search to see if anyone else was discussing this nice breakthrough.

Up comes this thread and so I felt I need to update it.

Basically, just search the infamous p two p for "rosetta pocketpc" and you will find an ~100MB rar with V2 and 1-19 in it's filename. (1-19 standing for the lessons).

In that rar is the qvga and vga of an app called MiniRS (both PPC and win32 exe's). You can even launch a Win32 exe on your PC to see what it looks like.
This rar contains only the English lessons, but if you have a RS cd already with other languages, you can convert your audio to smaller wav's and add the images to appropiate file structure on your PPC card. Tweak some things here and there. What matters is that the working PPC app already exists. That is the heart of the undertaking, already accomplished.
You use it like normal RS. You see a picture, the language text underneath and a speaker icon to click to hear the description in native tongue. Clicking "next" automatically loads the next image and auto speaks it. Works quite well.

Hope this helps.
Would share the rar, but not sure we can do that here. If so, possibly could upload somewhere and paste the link here.

I need to test this soon on WM6 though (vs typical WM2003). I'd imagine it would work. Seems to be like a Java app.