WordInn Dictionary 2010

WordInn Dictionary 2010

WordInn Dictionary 2010 is a free dictionary program that offers definitions and phonetic and spoken pronunciations of unfamiliar words. While you’re browsing the Web, communicating with friends, or just using software locally installed on your PC, you’re apt to encounter unfamiliar words now and again. You can simply click on them to open WordInn for definitions, pronunciations, synonyms, translations, and more.

During its setup process, WordInn asked us to give a name, e-mail address, and native language, a “one-time” request that supposedly improves our WordInn experience. We’re not crazy about submitting an e-mail address to use a piece of freeware, but it appears you have to go through the process to use the program. However, the name and e-mail address we entered won’t lead back to us (or anyone at all), and we were still able to use WordInn. With the program active, we simply had to double-click on a word to open WordInn’s efficient, two-panel interface, which offers three basic tools: Dictionary, Translator, and Reader. The Dictionary tab offered English and Google dictionaries as well as Google Images and Wikipedia tabs and the ability to pronounce words via Google Voices. The Translator tab displayed text selections in an upper panel and translations in a lower panel. We could select source and destination languages from extensive drop-down lists. The Reader pronounces text selections using the ubiquitous Microsoft Anna as the default voice, though we could add others. There’s a slider to vary the speed, too. Skins, Options, and Help buttons round out a simple yet efficient interface.

WordInn Dictionary 2010 is easy to use, too, either by double-clicking a word or by Ctrl-right click. Things appeared quickly, and the definitions, translations, and other services are standard Google functions, so most users will be familiar with them. The program’s System Tray icon gave us quick access to all features. The only thing we’d like to see is a pushpin button to keep the interface open when we choose.