Today’s fresh iPhone apps are all about communication. Google Translate is at the top of the heap, allowing you to tune text between 57 different languages. We’ve also got iMsg, which makes typing your messages easier by linking you into a bunch of quick abbreviations for different phrases, and Hoiio Chat, which lets you chat with friends on both iOS and Android. Read on below.
Google Translate (iPhone) Free
Google’s free translation app lets you shift text between 57 different languages, and translate text by speaking phrases to the app for 15 languages. And Google Translate will read the text back to you for 23 of the supported languages; it’s a pretty intense attempt at getting you the language-to-language conversions you need.
You can access your translation history to check them out even when your phone isn’t connected to the Internet, helping you to find information you need just about any time. Google Translate also has support for non-Latin script languages, like Chinese and Japanese, and will spell out the translations in Latin characters so you can read it phonetically.
iMsg (iPhone, iPad) $0.99
If you find typing SMS messages on your iPhone’s virtual keyboard, especially long ones, to be a pain, you should take a look at iMsg. The app is designed to make typing text easier by letting you type abbreviations of your most common phrases, and iMsg will fill them in.
You can send abbreviated messages through SMS and email, with saved phrases already available in the app. You can configure all of them yourself and also set three favorite numbers to quickly zip messages off to.
Hoiio Chat (iPhone) Free
Hoiio Chat lets you chat with friends using different phone platforms and on different carriers, all for free, without burning through your monthly text message allowance. Have everyone download Hoiio and you basically have access to a chat room only for your friends.
The app also contains some other interesting features, like the ability to share photos and videos in your chats. You can also receive messages when you’re offline, and alerts when a friend joins your chat room. Right now, Hoiio supports iOS and Android, and its creators are working on adding BlackBerry to the mix in the future.
