A big part of 'learning on your terms' is not being tied down to sitting in front of a computer in order to learn. Learning should adjust to your lifestyle and not the other way around. The ability to download podcasts and take them on-the-go was a big step in this direction, and today we add another - a 'Quick Review' application for Google Android-powered phones.

First, why not an iPhone app?

One is built and has been held up in the iTunes App Store since November 2008. It will be available just as soon as Apple approves it.

What is the Quick Review app?

The ChinesePod Quick Review App is an integrated Chinese dictionary and flashcard system designed for 'fast launch and short use'. We will be following up with another more full-featured app in the future. The App has four main sections: dictionary, flashcards, settings and history.

The dictionary allows one to search by English, Pinyin, or Chinese.

Search results contain English, Chinese and Pinyin. To view sample sentences from ChinesePod's 1000+ lessons, select 'Sample Sentences'. To save the word to your vocabulary list and add it to your Flashcards hit the '+' at the top-right.

Example of Sample Sentences

Saving a word to your Vocabulary List also adds the word to your Flashcards:

Flashcard study is linked to your online ChinesePod account so you will first need to login to sync your flashcards:

Flashcard study, first presents one side:

Then the other:

Audio, when available, can be heard by pressing 'Menu' and then 'Play'

Automatic flipping settings can also be set:

In Settings, there are a couple options. First, you can choose to use the offline or online dictionary. When the app is downloaded (offline dictionary) there are only about 300o words in the dictionary. There is a limit here because of file size restrictions on apps in the Android market. In online mode, however, the app will connect with the full dictionary on ChinesePod.com. As words are searched they are automatically added to the local dictionary to speed up future searches.

On this page you can also set which side of the Flashcards you prefer to see first.

At the bottom of the Settings page, there is a button to sync your local Flashcards with your list at ChinesePod.com.

Finally the 'History' section has a list of your previously searched words if you need to refer back to them.

We originally priced the app at a $1.99, but since this limits availability only to the US, we have decided to make this app free so it is available in all 9 Android countries.

We are eager to get feedback on this app and ideas for future app's. Please feel free to add your comments and suggestions in the comments below, or by email to android@chinesepod.com. The Android market listing can be seen on Cyrket.

Hank.