In the Press

Best Overall Translator . . . The [Odyssey] apps cover all of the usual travel categories, but in far greater detail than the competition. The apps are truly interactive learning tools that teach the user how to form sentences.

Of the apps I tested in the low-price category, I liked the Odyssey Translator iPhone series features the most . . . Lonely Planet’s Phrasebook series ($6 each for dozens of languages, for iPhones and Android devices) also breaks down queries into major categories, and the app’s search box helps you quickly narrow the list of possible phrases. Like the Odyssey series, it works when you have no network connection. The spoken translations are good, but the delivery is often so fast that a user would find it difficult to repeat the phrases. As a result, the app is less effective as a learning tool than Odyssey Translator.

If all you want is a quick means of communicating abroad, go with one of the cheaper apps. But if your goal is to start learning a language, [Odyssey Translator] is the way to go. And if you’re unsure which app is right for you, you can download a free, stripped-down version from [Odyssey Translator] that will give you a feel for the full product.

Best iPhone Language App . . . Priced separately at $4.99, [Odyssey Translator offers] translations of typical questions across typical travel categories, but the fun here is in the execution. Tap the lovably colorful iPhone icons for each category and you’ll in turn see a bunch of blue buttons – each containing one or more words – enabling you to string together simple questions. And as you tap out such sentences as “I would like/a glass of/sparkling water/with/lemon,” the English words translate into the chosen language. The app says the translation out loud, too. Skeptical? Free downloadable demos of all the Odyssey Translators are available from the iTunes store.

Featuring data-free services, dynamic phrase-building, and voice translations to guide you, Odyssey is a real winner. What makes Odyssey so compelling is that the developers realize that the goal of language is to communicate something–so they built in categories to help you find exactly what you want to say.

Unlike the other apps we tested, [Odyssey Translator]’s novel interface — which suggests various ways to start conversations in the chosen category — subtly and organically teaches you how to put together phrases and sentences on your own.

The Odyssey apps cover all the usual travel categories, but in far greater detail than the competition and with a novel interface that guides you through compiling sentences from snippets, anticipating what you might want to say. Rather than just giving a standard word or phrase, it suggests ways you might start a sentences in the appropriate category. By doing so, the app subtly and organically teaches you how to put together phrases on your own.

¿Se habla Espanol? People who need help with their Spanish can use this free sample version of [Odyssey Translator], which includes translations for greetings and emergency situations.

My mom came equipped with [Odyssey Translator] on her iPad and iPhone, and it’s pretty nifty, allowing you to construct a number of helpful phrases, one piece at a time. So for example, you choose from categories like conversation, food, or shopping; it then lets you piece together common phrases with choices like I want/I have/I need/I am looking for… and then go onto fill out the sentence. When you’re done, it actually speaks the phrase for you, so there’s no fear of asking for glue, when what you really want is gum. Best of all, it works offline too. My mom was hooked.

Odyssey Translators are 100% resident on your iPhone or iTouch—no wi-fi or data connection needed. Select what you want to say from 210 categories and the app allows you to build your own phrases and sentences–more than 100,000 of them. You can actually hear how to pronounce the words. One reviewer wrote “We travel to Cozumel often and I like to try to speak as much Spanish as possible as a courtesy. After trying several other translators, I came across this one. It’s AMAZING. Not only does it teach you the words, it will show you how to pronounce them too. You will love it!” Odyssey does have several scaled-down versions that they offer for free, but judging by the reviews, you would be best to steer clear of them. We suggest sticking to the “pro” (paid) versions if you want something that is actually beneficial.

[Odyssey Translator] encourages a whole range of possibilities in contrast to many of these fixed push-a-button-and-thou-shall-receive apps. You can start building a phrase like ‘I would like to go to…’, and then the you are presented with a host of options of how to proceed according to category, like ‘the supermarket’, ‘restaurant’ (food), ‘airport’ or ‘taxi rank’ (travel). Smart, flexible, and a good way to pick up a language overall.

Odyssey sets up its translations in ways you would look for them, like drinks, food, conversation and shopping. It also works without a wireless or data connection.

Most translation apps will just give you the literal meaning of the words you enter. However, Odyssey Translator isn’t most apps! This iPhone app actually let you construct sentences that you would actually use during a visit to another country.

One of the best features of Odyssey Translator is that you don’t need an internet connection to use it, and you can create your own phrases instead of being stuck with a static vocabulary. The Odyssey Translator even encourages you to create your own sentences, helping you learn the words you need to know.

An absolutely essential app, [Odyssey Translator] allows you to speak into your microphone and then tap the translate icon to get real voice translation results. The app has pre-programmed translations of some of the most common phrases in categories such as drinks, food, transport and hotel/lodging. This is a great application whether you know a bit of conversational Spanish or none at all.

These apps have been downloaded more than 1,5 mil times as many of them are available as free test versions. The apps are dedicated to different topics such as phrases, education, economy and travel. Each app is structured into major categories and subcategories, within you can select between the most common phrases to mix and match.

Most users agree that the app is definitely the one to go for if you intend to learn a language in more depth, unlike many of the others which are designed for getting through a trip without resorting to shouting loudly or shooting people.