Input Chinese characters

H&H English-Chinese Talking Dictionary has a built-in Pinyin based Chinese input method. You can use this built-in Chinese input method to input Chinese characters.

You can also choose to use an external Chinese input methods, i.e. Chinese input methods that come with Chinese Microsoft Windows Mobile (Pocket PC). But an external Chinese software is not required.

Thant means that it is not possible to input the chinese characters directly. Only through pinyin. Is it correct? Is there any possibility how to input chinese characters directly?
Thanks.

I assume you mean drawing the characters on screen and have it recognized (handwriting recognition). It's an advanced feature we are currently investigating and we may support it in the next release.

Otherwise, there is no way to input Chinese "directly" on any computer today, because a keyboard with Chinese characters does not exist. Chinese characters are always input using some "input method", such as pinyin. All input methods use a sequence of English letters to represent a Chinese character.

Our English-Chinese dictionary comes with a built-in pinyin input method. So even if you are using an English operating system, you can still input Chinese characters.

If you have other ways to input Chinese, for example you are using a Chinese operating system and you have a favorite Chinese input method other than pinyin, you can certainly use that to input Chinese into our program. You can also copy/paste Chinese characters from another program.

Thanks.
It is what I ment.

Hi, all, I am new comer here, Does any body know :

which version of your H&H English-Chinese Dictionary is the latest ? Is it compatible with microsoft windows mobile 5.0 ?

Thanks

Yes Windows Mobile 5.0 is supported.

I went through this issue myself some time ago.

I currently use the Chinese Enabling and Penpower input modules ***ONLY*** from CE Star. The other modules can be opted out of and that's a good thing seeing as after testing them on both of my pocket PC's and an HP 2210, and a Toshiba something or other, none of the other modules work at all.

There is additionally a module from Maction Software that provides zhu yin pronunciation which does not appear to be tied to any sort of licensing, so appears to be OK to use free of charge.

Some in Singapore and Hong Kong were able to get a version of CEStar OEM of some description that is rather bare bones and works well that is bundled with many of their devices... I believe Dell devices (?)

There is also a Chinese enabling program that a Mormon missionary (ex-missionary) did by himself after finishing his brief mission that you can find via google that does not appear to include a handwriting recognition module, but some have found a couple of tweaks.

The CE-Star HWR engine is good, but is NOT as good as the native chinese HWR available on a Chinese OS device. MS uses the same core as another HWR engine called HWPen or HanWangPen. HWPen was apparently developed by a guy who worked on the core that is used by MS. Sadly, he didn't keep up development and maintenance after 2002 and his program does not appear to work on any devices I was able to test with (at the time that also included a Dell X5).

A major feature that is a bonus as well as easily recognizeable for this core is the multi-color stroke indications.

I happen to really like that feature on my Chinese OS Acer, and that older Acer consistently recognizes more accurately than the somewhat inconsistent CEStar.

It's not an issue with many of the simpler words, but with a few more strokes, it's a real nightmare. Don't even think about pausing with the pen on the screen as this really decreases its abilities - another area easily surpassed in the native CH OS version. I still can't recognize 誰 on my Good English device. I consider it a fairly simple character and I can recognize it 95% of the time on my Chinese Acer. After nearly 300 tries on my Loox, I think I've got a successful match twice...?

Honestly, I find these companies (CESTar and the like) to be bordering on contemptible for charging high rates for products that are not maintained or updated and only just barely work.

I am interested in this software for what it does, but for me it is a necessity that I can write chinese signs directly. Pinyin, yes, but what if I am standing in front of a sign with something in Chinese - how will I know what the pinyin for these signs are? I have seen this in one of these dedicated translators, but I don't want too many gadgets! I want to buy a PDA with a phone in, and then install a translator. One of my friends has a mobile phone where the camera can scan a business card, both english AND chinese. He showed me, and it read of all the hanzi correctly off my own business card (and even placed them in the right cells for internet, email, phone etc).

So, could you send me a notice when your software contains either stylus entry or scan from photo?

Imagine if you could hold up your PDA towards a chinese sign, press the shutter release of the PDA, and then see the pinyin and english translation seconds after?

Thank you for your input. It would be a really nice feature. But please keep in mind that Chinese character recognition is difficult and unreliable.

Scanning a recognizing a business card is somewhat "easier" because the contents are limited.

Which software can recognize business cards with Chinese characters?

I use Monster (from Maction, a Taiwanese company that also makes Chinese and English GPS programs) for my Chinese input on my pocket pc (Mio A700, Intel 520, 128rom, 64ram), but it is sometimes blocked from use within the dictionary program. Actually, I have sporadic problems with it in various programs.

However, it is an option (similar to CE Star) that includes many characters and that supports bpmf (the Manderin Phonetic Alphabet) as well as Pinyin, and the various native Chinese input systems.

The handwriting system is excellent because it allows lots of time for writing complex characters, and it is even forgiving if some strokes are written out of order. As you write, it presents possible characters for you to choose from. When you add more strokes it limits the possible characters.

If you also experience problems with other programs, then it is more likely an issue with monster input. You may want to consider contacting them.