BajaNomad

Free offline Android Eng<->Esp dictionary?

Alm - 11-26-2012 at 11:56 AM

I know, using own brains is the best, but I have so little of them, and so old.

Tried to find free app in Google Playstore. So far the best find was Xynotic, though it's weird. Translates "how are you?" as "como te va". What happened to "Como estas" or "como esta Ud", don't ask me. And other odd things.

Another one was Movin'up, didn't even check the quality of database, the words are on horrible red and purple background, impossible to read.

And there were some apps one-way only, like Esp->Eng.

It has to be 2-ways, offline and free. Any suggestions?

monoloco - 11-26-2012 at 12:43 PM

I don't know if they have it for Android but I have an app on my Ipod touch called General English Spanish Dictionary by Word Magic, that I really like, I haven't found a word in either language that it doesn't have and it gives you phrases and verb conjugations. It's like having a 5 lb. dictionary in your pocket. It wasn't free, I think it was 7.99, but well worth it. You get what you pay for, the app is 1.6 gigs so it's pretty powerful. I use it all the time and consider it one of the best 8 bucks I ever spent.

monoloco - 11-26-2012 at 09:20 PM

Well it doesn't look like they have an Android app, but if you travel in Latin America and have an i device, this is the best:
http://www.appsandoranges.com/app/1376/word-magic-unabridged...
I probably use it 10 times a day.

Alm - 11-26-2012 at 11:28 PM

Nope, no Word Magic for Android. After more search, $10 Ascendo appears to be top of the list for Android. 260,000 words @ 6MB. Their free version has puny 32,000 words, will see how good it is.

Follow-up: Ascendo needs internet connection.

[Edited on 11-27-2012 by Alm]

monoloco - 11-27-2012 at 04:57 AM

That's a bummer, after using Word Magic for a month, I would say it would be worth the price of the price of an iPod touch just for the app. I work in Central America and have a lot of meetings that are 100% in Spanish and it's so nice to just be able to look up a word when I don't know it, instead of having to stop and have it explained. Plus instead of them thinking you are an idiot gringo, they just think you are sending a text, like everybody else is always doing, very stealth.

Alm - 11-27-2012 at 12:28 PM

Well, even with all the stealth tricks they will soon figure out the degree of my idiocy (or Spanish language skills) :) ... Though I'm quite peeed off by the fact that there isn't any good offline app for Android, be it paid or free. People are relying on "always connected" lifestyle, which is neither reliable nor relaxing. Alright, will be using marooonic/Xynotic for now. Android is a new guy on the block, hopefully the software situation will improve.

DENNIS - 11-27-2012 at 12:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Alm
Translates "how are you?" as "como te va".


Sounds more colloquial than formal. I see value in that.

"Como te va"........."How's it going."

Alm - 11-27-2012 at 09:22 PM

Quote:
Sounds more colloquial than formal. I see value in that.

"Como te va"........."How's it going."

Now that you said it, I typed "como te va" in Google - indeed, there is such a version. There is even a song "Como te va mi amor".

But the dictionary is still weird. Example:
There are 2 modes - Dictionary and Translate. The app opens in Dictionary mode.
When I type "bring", it shows "traer" correctly.
When I click on the Translate tab (intended for fragments of text) and type the same "bring", it shows "llevar". Which is also correct, depending on situation. It could've provided both versions in either Dictionary or Translate tab, with few examples of use, but it doesn't.

Using own brain is so much better :) ...