Macworld Forums: Review: Low-cost iPhone dictionary applications - Macworld Forums

Post your comments for Review: Low-cost iPhone dictionary applications here

Thanks for the informative review.
I found Dictionaire disappointing. Its worst fault was using a word to define itself. For example, the word "surreptitious" is not in the dictionary, but "surreptitiously" is. Fine, except that the definition is: "in a surreptitious manner." Now that's dumb!

No review for WeDict?

Do any of these dictionaries offer non-American spellings/vocabulary? As a Canadian, this has always been a critical consideration in choosing a dictionary. You can look up a few test words like colour, defence, centre, and cheque to see if they are treated as misspellings.

No. Sorry. I can foresee doing another round-up at some point, but I figured nine dictionary apps split into to parts was probably as much as readers could reasonably endure.

WordBook, which is my favorite of this lot, includes foreign spellings.

Thanks for the review.
Have you already got an ETA for the second part of the review? I'm particularly interested to see how the two versions of the OED compare to each over. I've currently got the 'Paragon Technologie' one and am umming and arring over whether to get the 'Mobile Systems' version with the thesaurus.

It's up. I didn't like either of them. And, to be honest, I approached both apps as a critic should not -- predisposed to love them. I own and use the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary all the time. I really thought the Compact app -- one or both -- would be magnificent. Sadly, no.

I would definitely wait on buying that for a little while....

For authoritative reference products, like dictionaries, pedigree is very important. Some of the apps reviewed here don't tell you where their dictionary data originates from.
'Dictionaire' doesn't even have a Web page! Why can't they tell us who their dictionary vendor is? I can't believe that the programmers have been "garage lexicographers" for the years it would take to compile a decent dictionary prior to beginning iPhone development.
All of the other titles reviewed here do tell you where their data comes from, but only hidden deep in their Web pages. They all use 'WordNet' -which is Freeware from Princeton University!
How can they charge $3, $5 and $8 for that?
('Dictionary' must be more expensive because it includes free Japanese data from Monash University in Australia.)
Other dictionary titles on the AppStore use shady "open source" data or even promote downloading and installing pirated dictionaries in breach of copyright.
Why doesn't this article tell us what data is used? Or ask why it is not declared in the AppStore? Why doesn't Apple check the validity of titles it sells?
For me, I will be sticking to "brand-name" dictionaries and trusted vendors that are only a couple of dollars more.

Hi guys,
We released LexLook! on the AppStore recently. This might be an alternative to some of the other references mentioned here. By default, the app comes with an extensive English dictionary. We also have a catalog of random references you can choose from. You may also upload your own reference (cookbooks, cocktails, study guides, etc) and share with other users.
We'd love to get some feedback for our app. All suggestions and comments are welcome.
You can find out more at http://xenodium.com or just search for LexLook! on iTunes (it's free).
Thanks,
Alvaro

What about Dictionary.com? We use the dictionary a lot during our Scrabble play, and found Dictionary.com clearly the best of the free dictionaries, and it beat out our sizable Webster's printed volume for inclusivity - it has more words, and excellent definitions. Now it's all we use.