Word / Text Translator, Kindle or Kobo?

xtrem1337 · 06-03-2015, 08:08 AM

I'm looking to buy a eReader. The Kobo Glo HD and the Kindle PW is interesting... Voyage is to expensive..

The most important point for me is the translator / dictionnary.

I'm french but I'm reading my book in English, so if I stuck in a word or the real meaning of the phrase, I want to select the word (phrase) and see the translation in french, in real time, that's it.

I wont open a dictionnary or watever app to search the word, that what I'm doing actualy and I'm fed up..

which between the Kindle or Kobo has this feature?

thx

mbovenka · 06-03-2015, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtrem1337

which between the Kindle or Kobo has this feature?

Both do. On both devices you select a word by long-pressing it and a dictionary entry for it will pop up. I don't know how good the English-French translation dictionaries are on either, as I don't use them. The monolingual English dictionary is better on the Kindle, in my experience, although the Kobo one is serviceable.

HarryT · 06-03-2015, 08:27 AM

The Kindle has way, way better dictionaries than the Kobo. If this is an important feature, the Kindle would perhaps be a better choice.

barryem · 06-03-2015, 05:21 PM

I agree that the Kindle dictionaries are better. There is one really good feature in the Kobo dictionary that the Kindle doesn't have: if I'm reading a definition and I don't know some word in the definition I can long press that word and be taken to IT'S definition. The Kindle won't do that. Other than that, though, the Kindle dictionaries are much better.

The Kindle's translation feature is also better except that it can only be used when you have internet access. The Kobo's translation feature is built in but it works a word at a time, not on phrases.

It is possible to add a translation dictionary to the Kindle that you can take with you when you don't have internet access and it works pretty much like the Kobo's translation, a word at a time. Because neither of them support Latin I've added a Latin dictionary to my Kindle and it's always there.

Barry

xtrem1337 · 06-03-2015, 05:52 PM

well I should try the two models and I'll see.

thanks

HarryT · 06-04-2015, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barryem

I agree that the Kindle dictionaries are better. There is one really good feature in the Kobo dictionary that the Kindle doesn't have: if I'm reading a definition and I don't know some word in the definition I can long press that word and be taken to IT'S definition. The Kindle won't do that.

The Kindle can do this when you fully open the dictionary, but you're right; it won't do it from the pop-up definition.

GeoffR · 06-04-2015, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barryem

The Kobo's translation feature is built in but it works a word at a time, not on phrases.

Kobo's works with phrases too if you enable the PhraseTranslation feature setting.

barryem · 06-04-2015, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The Kindle can do this when you fully open the dictionary, but you're right; it won't do it from the pop-up definition.

Good to know I can open the dictionary and do it. I've never thought of that. Most of the time that won't be useful but there are times when it will. Thanks for the tip.

Barry

barryem · 06-04-2015, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffR

Kobo's works with phrases too if you enable the PhraseTranslation feature setting.

I just looked on my Kobo Glo for that feature and didn't find it. Can you tell me where it's located?

Thanks,
Barry

GeoffR · 06-05-2015, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barryem

I just looked on my Kobo Glo for that feature and didn't find it. Can you tell me where it's located?

You enable it by adding PhraseTranslation=true to the [FeatureSettings] section of the configuration file. See the Kobo forums for more info if you are not familiar with enabling extra feaures like this.

Edit: Sorry, it appears that feature was removed a while ago. You would need to be running firmware 3.1.1 or earlier for it to work.

Rizla · 06-05-2015, 07:17 AM

I know the Voyage can translate a whole block of text like google translate, at least, it can do it into English. Not sure if the PW can do it. I saw this on a video comparison of the Kobo Glo HD and the Kindle Voyage on thegoodereader.com

In any case, the Kindle dictionaries are better than the Kobos.

Alternatively, if you can pick up a cheap Sony T1-3 on ebay, it also has excellent multi-lingual dictionaries.

HarryT · 06-05-2015, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rizla

I know the Voyage can translate a whole block of text like google translate, at least, it can do it into English.

This is true, but it's perhaps worth noting that this requires internet access (it's done via Google Translate). The dictionaries only provide translations at the word/phrase level.

TheWho · 06-05-2015, 08:09 AM

I use the Kindle since it was introduced! I can tell it is the best eReader! I also use an iPad, however it is not the same for me the Kindle is much more user-friendly!

eschwartz · 06-17-2015, 12:15 AM

The Kindle translation feature actually works via Bing translate (there is a hack to use Google translate instead).

And note if you have the 3G edition you can translate words/phrases over the free 3G.

@Rizla -- even my Kindle Touch has that feature, I think it was introduced in the first touchscreen firmware.

06-03-2015, 08:08 AM	#1
xtrem1337 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2015 Device: none	Word / Text Translator, Kindle or Kobo? I'm looking to buy a eReader. The Kobo Glo HD and the Kindle PW is interesting... Voyage is to expensive.. The most important point for me is the translator / dictionnary. I'm french but I'm reading my book in English, so if I stuck in a word or the real meaning of the phrase, I want to select the word (phrase) and see the translation in french, in real time, that's it. I wont open a dictionnary or watever app to search the word, that what I'm doing actualy and I'm fed up.. which between the Kindle or Kobo has this feature? thx

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06-03-2015, 08:27 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The Kindle has way, way better dictionaries than the Kobo. If this is an important feature, the Kindle would perhaps be a better choice.

06-03-2015, 05:21 PM	#4
barryem Wizard Posts: 2,459 Karma: 68781975 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Device: Paperwhite 4	I agree that the Kindle dictionaries are better. There is one really good feature in the Kobo dictionary that the Kindle doesn't have: if I'm reading a definition and I don't know some word in the definition I can long press that word and be taken to IT'S definition. The Kindle won't do that. Other than that, though, the Kindle dictionaries are much better. The Kindle's translation feature is also better except that it can only be used when you have internet access. The Kobo's translation feature is built in but it works a word at a time, not on phrases. It is possible to add a translation dictionary to the Kindle that you can take with you when you don't have internet access and it works pretty much like the Kobo's translation, a word at a time. Because neither of them support Latin I've added a Latin dictionary to my Kindle and it's always there. Barry

06-03-2015, 05:52 PM	#5
xtrem1337 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2015 Device: none	well I should try the two models and I'll see. thanks

06-05-2015, 07:17 AM	#11
Rizla Member Retired Posts: 3,183 Karma: 11721895 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Nook STR (rooted) & Sony T2	I know the Voyage can translate a whole block of text like google translate, at least, it can do it into English. Not sure if the PW can do it. I saw this on a video comparison of the Kobo Glo HD and the Kindle Voyage on thegoodereader.com In any case, the Kindle dictionaries are better than the Kobos. Alternatively, if you can pick up a cheap Sony T1-3 on ebay, it also has excellent multi-lingual dictionaries.

06-05-2015, 08:09 AM	#13
TheWho Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2015 Device: Kindle	I use the Kindle since it was introduced! I can tell it is the best eReader! I also use an iPad, however it is not the same for me the Kindle is much more user-friendly!

06-17-2015, 12:15 AM	#14
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,422 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	The Kindle translation feature actually works via Bing translate (there is a hack to use Google translate instead). And note if you have the 3G edition you can translate words/phrases over the free 3G. @Rizla -- even my Kindle Touch has that feature, I think it was introduced in the first touchscreen firmware.

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