Translator Feautures: What They Mean

What do the various translator features mean, why do you care, and where should you spend your money? Let's look first at the cutting edge features, then at those that are essential.

Cutting Edge Features: Optimize Your Translator Investment
Note: All of the features below are standard on the iTravl translator. See the iTravl.
Feature	Benefit
Full text translation	This feature allows you to type in random sentences. The massive phrasebooks in today's translation devices are extremely useful, but being able to type in something that isn't already stored in the device allows you to communicate something the device designers didn't foresee or didn't have room to include. Where missing on an iTravl language pair, it's so noted on the product page for that iTravl. Also on 800 series in Polish, Russian, Spanish; GD series Chinese
Speech recognition	See this article: Voice on Electronic Translators: Cutting Through the Confusion Also on 800 series.
Language Teacher	A language learning system. This extremely powerful linguistic tool helps you master a foreign language and communicate effectively.
Travel Guide	Provides expert advice on hotels, restaurants, local attractions, transportation, and other useful information about your travel destination--and every nation in the world.
Expandable vocabulary	Exchangeable memory cards allow for the addition of numerous language combinations and extensive linguistic content in the same device. The iTravl uses SD (Secure Digital) cards. The 800 series uses MMCs (MultiMedia Cards).
Brilliant display	Best possible display, easiest on the eyes, easiest to see under many conditions. It's the highest performance level in a color display.
Color display	This is rapidly moving to the "essential" realm, but there are still some good monochrome translation devices out there. A color display is easier to see in a variety of conditions. Also on 800 series.
PC connection	Establish a high-speed data communication between your handheld electronic dictionary and your computer, so you can transfer MP3 or other files. The iTravl uses a USB connection. In the 800 series, you use an MMC as an intermediary medium along with a card reader.
MorphoFinder	This function helps you to find the source words for past participles, gerunds, plural, and adjective forms. iTravl in English, Polish, Russian, Spanish only. 800 series in English, Polish, Russian, Spanish only.
Rechargeable battery	The devices with rechargeable batteries are the most practical. When is the last time you saw a cell phone or laptop with AAA alkaline batteries? Would you even want such a device? Battery run times are typically 8 hours between charges. Rechargeable battery also standard on 800 series. Battery on iTravl or 800 can accept partial charges.

Essential Features: Don't Skimp Here
Note: All of the features below are standard on the iTravl and 800 series translators.
Feature	Benefit
Large dictionary database	The number of entries in the built-in dictionary. The more words, the more powerful and useful is the dictionary (over 10,000,000 words in the latest models.)
Bidirectional translation	You can translate the words from one language to another and vice versa.
Advanced search	Instantly offers entries for translation as characters are entered into the input line, so you don't have to type the entire word.
Instant reverse translation	Fast back translation of the results helps to establish a better understanding of the given translation choices.
Voice (TTS)	TTS (Text-to-Speech) technology effectively recognizes any entered word or text and pronounces it aloud using the advanced unlimited voice synthesis function. So you can listen to the pronunciation of any word in a foreign language.
Audio phrasebook	Substitutes for an interpreter in standard situations such as registering at a hotel, shopping, or everyday conversation. You simply choose the appropriate phrase and the device will pronounce its translation, helping you to communicate efficiently.
Common phrases	A comprehensive range of properly constructed everyday phrases, common expressions, and idioms so you can communicate beyond a word for word literal translation (which is often clumsy).
Screen backlight	Greatly improves visibility by raising the brightness of the screen.
Touchscreen display	Allows you to use the virtual keyboard and enter the words in the characters of any language (including Chinese). Look at your physical keyboard--it's extremely limited.
Headphones jack	The headphones give you superior sound quality and let you make the most of the language learning features.
Low battery consumption	Long run times.
Slang lock	Slang lock function allows you to include or lock out slang from your dictionaries for child-safe usage and for more business-like communication.