Tap-Translate, a $1.99 universal app by developer Ronen Drihem, brings an interesting approach to translations on iOS, and more specifically in Mobile Safari. Tap-Translate, in fact, isn’t exactly an “app”: it’s an app whose only function is to let you install a bookmarklet in Safari that will let you tap on a word on any webpage to get an instant translation inside a cute yellow popup menu.
It works like this: once you’ve followed the steps provided by the app to install the bookmarklet (which allows you to choose from a variety of languages), you’ll find the bookmarklet in Mobile Safari (works on any iOS device, but I’ve also tested it in Chrome and Safari on the desktop) ready to give you inline translations on tap. The translation’s popup allows you to “speak” a selected word, or jump directly to the Google Translation page. Tap-Translate can also do entire paragraphs, and be dismissed at any time. It’s fast, easy to use and convenient.
At $1.99 you could argue you’re spending money to install a bookmarklet. The thing is, Tap-Translate works really well and, most of all, it’s integrated with Safari and it’s unobtrusive. Recommended.
