Hi Pablo! How are you?
I feel that you must be some computer whiz! You are right. It's necessary to have standalone options as well. And often extensions are updated and some of them sometimes get broken because doesn't work anymore with new versions of Firefox, but perhaps just the minority and often you just get alternatives. Well, I think it depends on the computer skills of learners, but it's not so hard. Once you get to know how a extension is installed and get updated, it's the same for rest of them. Yes, I agreed that just the minority of them do not keep abreast with the times, and you can always find a alternative when they get broken! And for me there are two or three points that I found important in the dictionaries or English software: (1) response time, I mean the immediateness of the response (2) the quality and completeness (3) the usability: the presentation (colors, density of texts, etc) and easinesses for the user. Sure, that's what a software good for, to give the users such a good experience! About standalone options. I've posted here some months ago about software such as WordWeb and The Sage, both based on the WordNet lexical database. Recently I installed the last version of WordWeb (v. 6), and each time is getting better (and not bloated). Some months ago? before I joined the group! I just missed that. WordWeb&The Sage? Never heard of them before, However, I decide to give WordWeb a shot in view of "each time getting better and not bloated". Generally, I don't like something which occupying much diskspace when it is "dead", and comsuming much memory when it come to life. :) Now there is the option 'search as you type' and includes UK and US pronunciations. WordWeb has both a mechanical voice for any word, and human voices (from volunteers) for most of the words (not for every one). To look up a word, you simply press [Ctrl+Alt+W] and you get a pop-up window with definitions, synonyms, pronunciations, and more. That's cool, the UK and US pronunciations, they are good for people who try to pass the IELTS and TOEFL. Well, as I'm typing, I'm using the spelling add-ons of Firefox. Overal, for the time being, I found Firefox and its add-ons let me have a pleasant 'user experience'. It's not perfect, well, any browser is 'perfect' ;) sometimes we are forced to use IExplorer or others ;) Agreed, sometimes we are "forced" to use IE. Many bank websites in my country often offer the IE-only plugin, I get no chance to do online shopping without the ugly IE before, but the IE tab has been transplanted to Chrome lately, that's the good news. By the way, the spelling check? As I have been told, the Google Toolbar for Firefox have the same feature, have you used it? However, it's weird that this toolbar is not compatible with Chrome. :) Well, I keep expecting for good news from Google, I mean, for software that works on-line and off-line ;) Seriously, I think every time we have more software and options available, especially on-line. It seems that Google try to make cloud computing widespread! I can see that in the future every computing will be done online! What we will need is a single brower(I am not sure we can call it brower when that age coming, maybe we should call it client or even OS) :) Beautiful Day! Rui 2009/12/14 Pablo <[email protected]> > Hi Rui and all, > > On Dec 13, 1:11 am, Rui Wang <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi Pablo, Thank you for your reply! > > > > I would like to say there are two points we need to draw attention to: > > > > Point.1: An add-on or a standalone. > > > > Those add-ons depend on what version and what kind of browers you use, so > > once you get your favorite brower upgraded or get an alternative, > probably > > the add-ons would not work smoothly or even not work at all. I prefer a > > independent assistant tool, in this case, it could be helpful the whole > time > > no matter what you use to surf the net. > > You are right. It's necessary to have standalone options as well. And > often extensions are updated and some of them sometimes get broken > because doesn't work anymore with new versions of Firefox, but perhaps > just the minority and often you just get alternatives. Well, I think > it depends on the computer skills of learners, but it's not so hard. > Once you get to know how a extension is installed and get updated, > it's the same for rest of them. And for me there are two or three > points that I found important in the dictionaries or English software: > (1) response time, I mean the immediateness of the response (2) the > quality and completeness (3) the usability: the presentation (colors, > density of texts, etc) and easinesses for the user. > > About standalone options. I've posted here some months ago about > software such as WordWeb and The Sage, both based on the WordNet > lexical database. Recently I installed the last version of WordWeb (v. > 6), and each time is getting better (and not bloated). Now there is > the option 'search as you type' and includes UK and US > pronunciations. WordWeb has both a mechanical voice for any word, and > human voices (from volunteers) for most of the words (not for every > one). To look up a word, you simply press [Ctrl+Alt+W] and you get a > pop-up window with definitions, synonyms, pronunciations, and more. > > Well, as I'm typing, I'm using the spelling add-ons of Firefox. > Overal, for the time being, I found Firefox and its add-ons let me > have a pleasant 'user experience'. It's not perfect, well, any browser > is 'perfect' ;) sometimes we are forced to use IExplorer or others ;) > > It's clear we need both standalone and online tools too. I've just > been talking about no cost, free options. > > > Point.2: Working online or offline. > > > > It is obvious that the age we live in is all about network, almost > > everything we installed on our computer or mobile device need the network > > connection. Just because of this, we will screw if we are not so lucky to > > have a nice network state. On the other side, if we get something that > > combined the two solutions, half online half offline, I mean, to store > the > > databases of some basic dictionaries on our local disk, so we could find > the > > basic explaination instantly without any net connection, at the same time > we > > still have the access to more details by getting online. > > > > I try to make myself clear! > > Point out any mistakes(spelling/grammar) if you like. > > Any comments are welcome! > > Well, I keep expecting for good news from Google, I mean, for software > that works on-line and off-line ;) Seriously, I think every time we > have more software and options available, especially on-line. > > > Have a good day Pablo and All! > > Thank you, the same for you and all! > > Pablo > > > > > 2009/12/13 Pablo < [email protected]> > > > > > Hi Rui, thanks for the reply, > > > > > > one! Since I began to use Google Wave, I have already changed my > brower > > > from > > > > Firefox to Chrome, so to say, what I need now is a musthave tool for > > > Chrome, > > > > > I know both Chrome and IExplorer support also extensions, but perhaps > > > we need to await for a long time until we have a big variety of them, > > > similar to Firefox, which is currently leading in this field, and as > > > far as I know, for a wide margin. > > > > > > but I have not find a proper one yet. The way I translate English > word of > > > > web page is to go to English dictionary online like > > > dictionary.reference.com, > > > > > That's a good point in favor of Dictionary.com and good for us :) > > > > > > which have the feature of pronouncing too, also, have the ability to > > > > pronounce 'slept'. :))) However, it's just not as convenient as a > > > brower's > > > > add-on. > > > > > About pronunciation of texts on web pages, I've been trying these add- > > > ons: foxlite, foxvox, foxvox2 an myvocal. The first three are from > > > the same author. I think I will stick to foxvox because it works off- > > > line, although the quality of the voice is not the best. > > > > > Thank you, > > > > > Pablo > > > > > > 2009/12/12 Pablo <[email protected]> > > > > > > > Pronounce an English word, according to the author, using services > > > > > from Merriam-Webster. > > > > > > >https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1689 > > > > > > > Just install the add-on, restart Firefox, and hear the > pronunciation > > > > > of each wanted word (on a web page), highlighting or double > clicking > > > > > it, and selecting the option 'Pronounce' from the contextual menu. > > > > > > >http://myenglishtoolbar.wikispaces.com/Pronounce+add-on > > > > > > > The add-on is not perfect, it doesn't pronounce words from text > boxes > > > > > (as I realize), neither from irregular verbal inflections, e.g. it > > > > > doesn't pronounce 'slept', only 'sleep'. Anyway, I think is a > must- > > > > > have tool for English learners. > > > > > > > Enjoy! > > > > > > > Pablo > > > > > > > -- > > > > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > > > Groups > > > > > "ESL Podcast". > > > > > To post to this group, send email to: [email protected] > > > just > > > > > reply this message > > > > > For invite your friends, visit: > > > > >http://groups.google.com/group/eslpodcast/members_invite > > > > > Know how help us, visit this FAQ at: > > > > >http://groups.google.com/group/eslpodcast/web/ > frequently-asked-questions > > > > > -- > > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups > > > "ESL Podcast". > > > To post to this group, send email to: [email protected] or > just > > > reply this message > > > For invite your friends, visit: > > >http://groups.google.com/group/eslpodcast/members_invite > > > Know how help us, visit this FAQ at: > > >http://groups.google.com/group/eslpodcast/web/ > frequently-asked-questions > > > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "ESL Podcast". > To post to this group, send email to: [email protected] or just > reply this message > For invite your friends, visit: http://groups.google.com/ > group/eslpodcast/members_invite > Know how help us, visit this FAQ at: http://groups.google.com/ > group/eslpodcast/web/frequently-asked-questions > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "ESL Podcast". To post to this group, send email to: [email protected] or just reply this message For invite your friends, visit: http://groups.google.com/group/eslpodcast/members_invite Know how help us, visit this FAQ at: http://groups.google.com/group/eslpodcast/web/frequently-asked-questions
