I have a question on the ipad/iphone interface of the app that is coming out (hopefully soon!) From the video clip it looks like there is only the check button on the screen instead of the 5 buttons currently in the web version (back, erase, show, correct, next). I find these buttons to be useful.

Also the keyboard shortcut to 1, 2, 3, 4 is also very useful since the buttons don't appear on screen until you write the word correctly and oftentimes I want to grade myself without having to write the word on the application interface itself. (i.e. write it on paper so I can circle the words I got wrong during the session for later review.)

Since there is no keyboard in the ipad/iphone will the 1, 2, 3, 4 grading button be visible before writing the word? I think it is important to have this.

I envision an alternative usage model similar to the above when Skrittering becomes portable as follows:

I don't want to be staring at the screen when I'm walking and skrittering (for obvious safety reasons). I want to peek a the definition/pinyin then look up and write the word against side of my leg (while looking at where I'm going). I then look down at the screen, hit the show button, and then grade myself by hitting 1, 2, 3, 4. Then repeat process. I figure most of the heads up time will be thinking and scribbling the word against my leg, and pressing the buttons would be very quick.

I like to raise this issue before the app is released to request if this interface option can be included in the release. Something like back, erase, show, correct, next when the definition initially comes up. Once you hit the show button the 5 buttons become toggle, 1, 2, 3, 4 where hitting the toggle button will bring back the back, erase, show, correct, next, whereas hitting one of the 4 numbers will grade and bring you to the next word.

I'm interested in hearing what other people think about this.

I'm sure the Skritter guys have made it in the way they thought would benefit most people. I highly doubt that now is a time for new features though!

To go back, you tap on the left side of the screen. To go forward, you tap on the right side, or anywhere in the middle after you've finished a prompt. To show the answer, you just tap in the middle (unless it's a writing prompt--you single tap for a hint, double tap for the answer).

The grading button doesn't show until you've either finished the character or gotten it wrong, at which point you can either tap it to toggle between 1 and 3, or hold down / slide it to do the 1-4 grading. So if you want to write on paper, you would just write it on paper, then double tap to see the answer and reveal the grading button, then quickly slide to whatever grade you want. It's really fast--I think you'll like it.

For reading/definition prompts, you would just look at the prompt once, think or say the answer, then tap anywhere on the screen, at which point it would show the answer and unfold the grading buttons. You could then tap any of them to choose the 1-4 grade, or just tap anywhere else to accept the default 3 grade and move on to the next word.

For erase, you always just swipe up from the bottom, although you can also shake the device or do a two-finger tap if you really want.

I find the app gestures to be better than the web interactions in just about every way, and I keep finding myself trying to do things in the web version that are only in the app so far, like double-clicking to show the answer. I hope you will agree when you try it!

Wow Nick! I sounds like you guys really thought through everything. I think what you described will work pretty well. Looking forward to the release!

goobybear, everyone may have to wait a little bit longer for the release. After all, Nick is not doing a "3000 lines of code in 30 minutes in 30 days" challenge but a 3000 words one instead. ;-)

Since we're on the topic of the app: will it keep track of time studied and is that time tallied with the time studied on the website so that you still get overall results for the month?

@Olaf - yes, it tracks time studied as on the website, and the stats you view are for all Skrittering in a period of time (iOS and website combined).

Thanks, Ice :)

Just started using skritter and love it but think it is going to be so much better on my iPad than on my laptop. Is there a release date for the app yet?

@Bjnsharp - The app is awaiting approval from Apple for release.

That takes approximately 1 week? When was it submitted?

@Bjnsharp - I'm uncertain. The Skritter team have been cautious in their advertising of when to expect it; probably rightfully, given that Apple can sometimes demand onerous alterations before publication is permitted.

It is taking a while because of an issue we're having in iTunes Connect, where we now need to resubmit because of a corrupted in-app purchase which we are supposed to delete, but which is not deletable. They are working on it, and I'm sure they'll have figured that bit out soon (if another business day ever comes), but there'll be a delay after that for additional review.