Learning to write Chinese? Buy an iPhone!

How much does a second-hand iPhone usually cost?

Is there an easy way to type pinyin with tonemarks on the iphone?

You don't need to by an iPhone, you can also use the iTouch to do what the iPhone can do, except for the phone functionality.   I got the new iPod iTouch 16gb recently, and found the pinyin, and finger pointing to write Chinese characters for mail. 

Way-cool.

I really like the maps application but shame there's almost no street level detail in China. I guess it's not updated as often as actual Google Maps because that has good coverage in China now.

Got it today and I'm already in love with it. :)

Nice! There are a couple of apps you might want to download from the app store like this one called ichinese http://www.hubermat.com/iChinese/Home.html

though they've started charging separately for lesson sets and mandarin audio output pack...which i think is a rip off if they're going to keep charging 10$ for every single lesson set.

I ordered myself a iphone yesterday, should get it on tuesday. :)

Could you tell / show me how to select that on my i-phone? I've changed to Chinese language but can't get touch screen entry to show.

Ah ha!

I found out how...

No need to change the language setting. Only need to select the keyboard to Chinese Handwriting also. OK so here's the instructions:

From Settings Menu, select General > International > Keyboards > Chinese (Simplified / Traditional) > Handwriting ON

Then go back to SMS interface and start open a new SMS window. Use the Globe icon to switch between different keyboard interfaces.

Yes, best way to learn your characters on the move.

Here's a Mandarin audio phrase book application you can download.

The iPodTouch also has the same feature. Just found it yesterday! I love it!

Thanks for pointing out this feature. I didn't know i could write characters with my iPhone until I found it under the settings :P 多謝！

My useless network (Orange) still don't offer an iphone. They've only just starting offering Blackberries and they seem to be only be available to new customers, so you can't have one as a upgrade.

I'd switch networks if I wasn't locked into a contract.

@calkins, it's actually not quite as forgiving as the Pleco handwriting recognition, which is a good thing and a bad thing. It seems to care a lot about stroke order, which is good if you're trying to learn the proper stroke order, but can be frustrating when you've got bad habits ingrained (I always write 正 in the wrong order!)

I am so happy. The new blackberry OS (4.5) I just downloaded supports pinyin and stroke order input so I can practice on the go. Now all I need is more hours in the day ... a touchscreen input like this would also be great but I guess that will come soon.

That feature was important for overcoming the cognitive dissonances known as "buyer's remorse".

It was a huge relief for me to see that Chinese support (both simplified and traditional, including Pinyin and handwriting input) is already built-in and can be switched on in an instant. Compare that to all the worries I went through with my old MDA Pro where it took me a over year to get an instable hack for *seeing* characters...

This morning I listened to the new lesson on my way to work - streaming in from a cellular network.

I might have gotten older. But the world is good.

That's awesome!  Looks even better than Pleco's character recognition.  Thanks for another good excuse to finally get an iPhone.