Earlier this year, we wrote about Dictionary.com’s nifty iPhone app. Since April, the app has seen 3 million downloads and is steadily growing in popularity. Today, Dictionary.com (which as part of the Ask.com network that also includes Thesaurus.com) is launching a similar application for BlackBerry smartphones, which has a few key differentiating factors from its sister iPhone app.
In addition to providing users with more than 500,000 words, definitions and synonyms, the app also features audio pronunciations, spelling suggestions, a “Word of the Day” for both English and Spanish and the ability to view a recently searched terms list. One of the features that is exclusively available on the Blackberry app is the ability to access a definition or synonym while reading or drafting an email. The app lets you highlight the word and you’ll be given an option to find a synonym or definition. The app also has a native feature that lets you email or SMS text any word and its definition to yourself or a contact.
Doug Leeds, president of Dictionary.com, says that the features included in the Dictionary.com app were designed to meet the specific professional needs of BlackBerry users. For example, definitions have been condensed to be more functional on a Blackberry screen. Leeds also tells us that they are releasing their API to partners to incorporate into various applications. While Dictionary.com is still finalizing partners, Leeds says that the API will be incorporated on e-books, letting users (but wouldn’t say which one).
While Dictionary.com’s BlackBerry app is free, the Oxford American Dictionary is $19.99 on Blackberry’s App world. Dictionary.com was bought by IAC-run Ask.com in July of 2008 when the conglomerate bought Lexico, the operator of Dictionary.com, Thesaurus.com and Reference.com.
It’s nice to see some of these apps avail on my Blackberry.
letting users but didnt say which one….shouldnt there be something after that?
I guess this will be bittersweet news to my sister. Sweet because they finally released an app for blackberry.
Bitter because she has to pay $20 for something I get for free on my iPhone. Oh well!
Maybe you should take the time to actually read the article. The Dictionary.com app is free, the “Oxford American Dictionary is $19.99″. This is the same price as is charged in the iTunes store.
Thanks for the correction. Unfortunately it means she can hold out oh her BB for a little longer.
I just downloaded it and installed it for free.
bit′ter
(bit.er)
-adj.
1. having a harsh taste
2. hard to bear
3. causing sharp pain
4. intensely hostile or resentful
Related forms:
bit′ter·ish, adj.
bit′ter·ly, adv.
bit′ter·ness, n.
I believe the writer was pointing out there is now a free choice as compared to the Oxford American Dictionary at $19.99.
The dictionary.com Blackberry app is the only free dictionary app in the appworld.
Not really, there is the Abbreviations.com app here http://www.abbr...com/iphone.aspx and STANDS4 (the operator of Abbreviations.com) is soon to launch dictionary and synonym apps in many languages to several platforms including iPhone and BlackBerry.
So the dictionary.com Blackberry app is the only free dictionary app in the appworld at present as the Abb.com only provides abbreviations. If there are others, I don’t want them.
Poor dictionaries, they too appear to be victims of the digital age. I can’t even remember the last time I picked up a printed dictionary. Merriam-Webster must be taking a beating right now with all the free online dictionaries and drop it print sales.
last I heard, m-w.com was doing pretty well… but point well taken. Print dictionaries are becoming relics. Nice relics for sure, but still relics of a bygone era.
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An easy way to download on the blackberry is via texting BBAPP to 44636. You will receive a link, with which you can download the app instantly.
It’s good to see the dictionary application for blackberry.
checkout Mnemonic Dictionary – which provides memory aids for each word.
just dled it, it works great!
why not release the API for all developers? just e-books?
blackberry app is work
SMS a def. that’s kinda nice. But what about tweet a defi? or post it to facebook? I guess there is posterous.com for that…