Auto Chinese character recognition?

[Curly]

I'm looking for a little electronic device that i can write a chinese character in and it will tell me how to pronounce it and what it means in English. Does anyone know where to find these devices?

I'm also on the hunt for Learning Mandarin text books too...

[KnowItAll]

You'd need to look for an Insta-Dict electronic dictionary.

Cannot find their official website.

http://www.chinesemall.com/eldic.html

[stanleystanley]

Try Broadway for the device, sure u will find one in Times Square. Here http://www.hkcp.com/ww/english/index.htm
will have the Mandarin text book, may be some of the used by SPACE in HKU.

[Dodgy One]

you can also get them to use with your PC. You use them with a 'pen' and it does tell you how to say the words in Mand and Cant

http://www.longrand.com.hk/product/ppjr50.htm

[Curly]

That would be perfect (as i have a tablet pc) but i can't navigate the website. Is there a english version so i can download a program that translates chinese text that i've written/copied to english with Cantonese pronounciation as well as Mandarin??

Thanks heaps!

[neither3nor4]

Not exactly what you are asking, but these two applications could be useful on your PC.

http://www.users.on.net/~aliceyeung/software/2.php a Cantonese/Mandarin/Japanese disctionary package.

http://www.users.on.net/~aliceyeung/software/1.php converts characters to Mandarin Pinyin, Cantonese (Jyutping or Yale), and between different encodings (Big5, unicode, Fanti - Jianti, etc.).

Useful stuff. Oh, and it's free.

[Max]

Wow....good stuff...thanks, N3or4!

[tt2003]

http://push.cb.kingsoft.com/cb06/index.htm

http://push.cb.kingsoft.com/cb06/why.htm

This Chinese dictionary software will be great for you
You move your mouse cursor onto Chinese character located in the web browser or other word processing softwares, it will give you an English explanation.
Go to MongKok to buy one:

$20 copy CD (piracy)
$80 original CD

[Curly]

Great! Thanks guys for the software tips.

I am, however, still in need of a portable dictionary device that will allow me to write/copy a chinese character and it then tells me how to pronounce it in Cantonese and Mandarin and the translation to English. This will be convenient as I won't always have my computer around.

I have a very old one but its starting to die.

[tt2003]

Instant dict website: http://www.instant-dict.com.hk/index.asp

Great! Thanks guys for the software tips.

I am, however, still in need of a portable dictionary device that will allow me to write/copy a chinese character and it then tells me how to pronounce it in Cantonese and Mandarin and the translation to English. This will be convenient as I won't always have my computer around.

I have a very old one but its starting to die.