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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Ascendo Dictionaries for iPhone, iPad & iPod Touch

Product Description Pages: Spanish English, French English, Italian English, German English


- What are the difference between the free and paid versions of the dictionaries?
- Do Ascendo Dictionaries and Phrasebooks require an internet connection?
- Why don't I hear anything when I tap on the speaker icon?
- How do I type characters with accents such as ñ, é or ü?
- Can I use Ascendo Dictionaries with iBook?
- How do I switch language direction for word lookups and other features?
- How can I look up a word faster than by scrolling down the list?
- iOS's predictive typing changes the words I enter to English. How can I change the language used for predictive typing?
- If I add notes to definitions, will they be erased if I install an update?
- How can I set the interface language?
- What do dictionary abbreviations such as [n], [f] or [p] stand for?


Question: What are the difference between the free and paid versions of the dictionaries?
Answer: The free versions are ad-supported and offer in-app purchases to extend the number of dictionary entries, phrases and verb conjugations. The paid versions include all in-app purchases at a discounted price. In addition, the paid versions include an online lookup feature for words not found in the app dictionary.


Question: Do Ascendo Dictionaries and Phrasebooks require an internet connection?
Answer: All the data in the dictionary, phrase book and conjugator is stored on the device and does not require an internet connection. The only feature that requires an internet connection is audio pronunciation.


Question: Why don't I hear anything when I tap on the speaker icon?
Answer: Audio pronunciation requires an active internet connection and that the volume on your device be turned on. To check the internet connection, open mobile Safari and browse a few sites. To adjust the volume, click on the buttons along the side of your device or go to iOS Settings > Sounds and use the slider to increase the volume. If you are still having problems, reboot your device and try again.


Question: How do I type characters with accents such as ñ, é or ü?
Answer: To type accented characters, tap and hold the letter you want to add an accent to. A menu will pop up displaying the letter with a variety of accents. Slide your finger to your choice and let go. The accented character will be inserted into the word you are typing.


Question: Can I use Ascendo Dictionaries with iBooks?
Answer: Ascendo Dictionaries support iOS4 multitasking so you can use them with iBooks by following the steps below.

  • Hold your finger down on a word in iBooks until the magnifying glass appears, then release to display the context menu and tap on Copy.
  • Double-click the iOS home button to display running apps.
  • Select Ascendo Dictionary if running, or scroll and select if necessary.
  • Tap on Ascendo Dictionary search bar twice and paste word.
  • Double-click on the iOS home button to return to iBooks.


Question: How do I switch language direction for word lookups and other features?
Answer: An icon with two flags is displayed in the upper right-hand corner of the screen Tapping on the icon will switch the order of the flags and the language direction used for the primary features.


Question: iOS's predictive typing changes the words I enter to English. How can I change the language used for predictive typing?
Answer: You will have to add the additional language keyboard to your default settings, then switch to that keyboard when searching in the dictionary. To add a language keyboard, tap on Settings > General > Keyboards > International Keyboards > Add New Keyboard then choose a language. To change the default language for predictive typing, tap on the globe icon to the left of the keyboard space bar to cycle through available languages.


Question: How can I look up a word faster than by scrolling down the list?
Answer: At the top of the screen is a search bar. Start typing a word and you will skip ahead to the dictionary entry that most closely matches the letters you have typed.


Question: If I add notes to definitions, will they be erased if I install an update?
Answer: The dictionaries has been designed so that notes added to definitions are conserved when updating to a newer release. However, you should synchronize your device to iTunes on a regular basis to create backups in case your device data becomes corrupted. Click here for more information.


Question: How can I set the interface language?
Answer: The interface language is based on the default language of your iPhone or iPod Touch. To change it, tap on Settings > General > International > Language.


Question: What do dictionary abbreviations such as [n], [f] or [p] stand for?

Answer: See table below.

Parts of Speech

a adjective
v verb
n noun
interj interjection
o other

Gender

f feminine
m masculine
n neuter

Number

p plural
fp feminine plural
mp masculine plural
np neuter plural

 


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