Pig Latin Translator 1.0 Widget
Reviewed by Harry {doc} Babad
http://www.jonbrown.org/widgets/pig.php Developer: Jon Brown Shareware Price Free Requirements: Mac OS X 10.4.6 or later. Released: October 12, 2006 Download Size: 364 KB Audience: All pig Latin users, old or young Strengths: isThay isway away interestingway andway unfay oductpray ogrampray utbay Iway ishway itway ouldway inputway oremay ikelay away exttay editorway. [Translation: see the conclusion] Weaknesses: I could not get the widget to work, so all testing was done on the WidgiApp. |
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Product and company names and logos in this review may be registered trademarks of their respective companies. |
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Disclaimer: When briefly reviewing share-freeware I will often use the developer’s product, functions and features descriptions. All other comments are strictly my own and based on testing. Why need I rewrite the developer’s narratives, if they are clearly written? |
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Publisher’s Summary
Pig Latin Translator is a Dashboard widget that allows you to enter any text and have it translated into pig Latin. Simply enter the text into the speech bubble and click the pig to translate, you can then save your pig Latin masterpiece or you can go back and try again. Also check out the built sample in text alternatives to translate for children and adults, this widget is fun for all ages.
Introduction
Sometimes it’s the time for all good reviewers to return to the absurd. Enjoy. Another item I need to mention, I did not test the widget, since I could not get it to work. Instead I used Amnesty Singles to convert it to an application [See macCompanion January 2007, 3.5 macCs], a WidgiApp!
…and if you don’t know what pig Latin is , here an excerpt for the Wikipedia write up.
Pig Latin is a language game primarily used in English. Pig Latin is usually used by children for amusement or to converse in (perceived) privacy from adults or other children. Conversely, adults sometimes use it to discuss sensitive topics they don't want very young children to overhear. The usual rules for changing standard English into Pig Latin are: 1. For words that begin with consonant sounds, move the initial consonant or consonant cluster to the end of the word and add "ay." Examples: a. button → utton-bay b. star → ar-stay c. three → ee-thray d. question → estion-quay e. wikipedia → ikipedia-way 2. For words that begin with vowel sounds (including silent consonants), simply add the syllable "ay" to the end of the word. a. eagle → eagle-ay b. america → america-ay\
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Working With
Installing this application is simple. When the widget download is complete, click on it — Macintosh OS X and places it in /Library/Widgets/ in your home folder. Then select Dashboard, in your dock and, in principle, start using it.
The widget allows you to type information in the speech bubble and get it translated into Pig Latin. Simply start typing your text and then click on the pig (nose) to translate your text.
Hint: You must
first click in the speech bubble to get its attention (in the application),
then start typing. Once done you can save your translation to a text file or
you can go on and try some other phrases. Key to success with the software is
recognizing the symbols in the translation window. The downward pointing arrow
lets you save the translation to text while the Circle Slash symbol takes you
back to a clean speech bubble.
A few peculiarities of the program, heck its free, but without them it would be easier to use.
Input of text
does not follow a typical text-editing interface. First there is no cursor
insertion point. Second the arrow keys that normally would allow you to move
the cursor don’t, of course there’s no cursor. I found it easier to start fresh
rather than try to correct a typo. You can, somewhat oddly, correct types by
using the backspace and delete keys on your keyboard, but that is counter
intuitive.
In addition, when first started up, at least in WidgiApp form, pasting text from MS Word or even TextEdit was slow; so slow that I thought I hadn’t keyed the paste correctly. However after doing a couple more translations, everything was up to expected speed. As Alice said… Curiouser and curiouser.
Conclusion
Note: This is a interesting and fun product program but I wish it would input more like a text editor. If the widget had worked on my computer, other do it would have gotten a bit higher score. If it has a few more text-editor like features it would have been a wonderful and briefly entertaining program, at least until duty called.
