From Klingon to GIF-based keyboards, we’re seeing some really interesting examples of new third-party keyboards with iOS 8.
Here’s a particularly exciting one, though: a keyboard which translates messages into other languages as you type. It does the opposite, too, which means that if you receive a text message in say, French, it can instantly translate it into English, or your choice of language. Neat, right?
The Slated app can perform translations between 81 different languages, and shows your translated sentence in real time as you type. It also looks a whole lot like the regular iOS keyboard you’re used to, which makes it a perfect pick-up-and-go tool.
Currently the app costs $2.99, although it’s set to increase to a regular price of $4.99 eventually. While Slated may not quite be the first third-party keyboard to carry out this nifty feature, it’s definitely one of the best-designed so far, and something that would be great to see Apple incorporate as standard into future versions of iOS.
Via: TechCrunch
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
5 responses to “This iOS 8 keyboard translates your texts into other languages as you type”
I never purchase apps, I purchased this one after I reviewed the video on the appstore.. Great idea, why didn’t I think of this.. Millions of dollars just given away to someone else.. :-(
There’s another app called Translator Keyboard, would be nice to see a comparison review. From the screen grabs Slated looks a little prettier.
The example doesn’t even translate I love you correctly into French… I love you is “Je t’aime, not Je te aime” … doesn’t give me much confidence to buy the app
You can hardly blame the app for that, as it does translate each word as you type. Translating a whole sentence in context wouldn’t be practical in this instance.
I have just installed it, and also have Translator Keyboard installed. I already prefer the look and response of this app over Translator Keyboard, but there’s not that much difference.