Babylon (software): Difference between revisions
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==Dictionaries and encyclopedias== |
==Dictionaries and encyclopedias== |
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Babylon includes built-in dictionaries |
Babylon includes built-in dictionaries, community-created dictionaries (e.g., technical terms, jokes, acronyms), and premium content for an additional cost (e.g., [[Encyclopædia Britannica]], [[Oxford English Dictionary]], [[Larousse]], and [[Webster's Dictionary#The Collegiate Dictionary|Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary]]). The program also uses a [[text-to-speech]] agent to let users hear the proper pronunciation of words. Babylon Ltd. has developed 35 English-based proprietary dictionaries in 19 languages that are free of charge to users who have bought the software. These dictionaries have between 50,000 to 200,000 terms, and use a [[morphology (linguistics)|morphology]] engine that can recognize words in different conjugations and inflections.<ref>[http://www.isoftland.com/docs/babylon/Babylon_Guia_de_Evaluacion.doc Evaluation Guide] of Babylon 6 (Spanish)</ref> |
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Language pairs include English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Hebrew, Chinese, Dutch, Russian, Korean, Swedish, Greek, Arabic and Turkish.<ref>[http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=91280 Bloomberg Businessweek]</ref> |
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| ⚫ | In addition to its |
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| ⚫ | In addition to its in-house developed dictionaries, Babylon users have created over 1,500 reference works (mostly during its freeware period) that are available to Babylon users. These include general and technical dictionaries and monolingual glossaries. These titles span over 75 languages and are indexed under 400 categories covering subjects such as arts, business, computer, health, law, entertainment, and sports. Many of them have been compiled and submitted by Babylon users.<ref>[http://www.babylon.com/define/ Free Dictionary Lookup by Babylon]. Babylon.com (2001-08-02). Retrieved on 2010-11-09.</ref> |
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== Malware issues == |
== Malware issues == |
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Revision as of 07:07, 15 September 2011
| File:Babylon logo.jpg | |||||||||
.png) Babylon 8's main window | |||||||||
| Developer(s) | Babylon Ltd. | ||||||||
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| Stable release |
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| Operating system | Microsoft Windows | ||||||||
| Type | Dictionary, machine translator and spell checker | ||||||||
| License | Proprietary commercial software | ||||||||
| Website | www | ||||||||
Babylon is a computer dictionary and translation program developed by Babylon Ltd., an Israeli public company (TASE: BBYL). [4] With 100 million users in 2011, Babylon holds the world record for the highest number of downloads of a language solution software.[5]
History
In 1995, Israeli entrepreneur Amnon Ovadia identified the need for an online English–Hebrew dictionary that did not interrupt the reading process. The company was founded in 1997 and filed a patent that same year.[6]Babylon Ltd. is a publicly traded company. Its IPO took place on February 2007: Israeli businessman Noam Lanir purchased controlling interests in the company for $10.5 million, sharing management with second majority shareholder Reed Elsevier[7] and the company founder Amnon Ovadia. According to Globes magazine in January 2011, Lanir received an offer for his stake from a foreign private equity fund that valued the company at NIS 248 million (approximately 70 million dollars).[8]
In 2008-2009, Babylon reported earnings of NIS 50 million through its collaboration with Google. In 2010, Google Ireland has signed an extended cooperation agreement with Babylon to provide it with online search and pay-per-click advertising services.[9]
Features
When a user clicks on text with the right mouse button or combination of the right mouse button and another key, the Babylon window appears with a translation and definition of the clicked word.[10][11] It is a tool used for translation and currency conversion, as well as for obtaining other contextual information. Babylon has a patented OCR technology and a single-click activation that works in any Microsoft Windows program, such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Excel, Internet Explorer and Adobe Reader. When activated, Babylon opens a small popup window that displays the translation.
Babylon provides full text, full Web page and full document translation in 33 languages[which?] and supports integration with Microsoft Office. Babylon enables the translation of Microsoft Word documents, PDF files and plain text files. It offers results from a database of over 1,600 sources in 75 languages.[12]
Dictionaries and encyclopedias
Babylon includes built-in dictionaries, community-created dictionaries (e.g., technical terms, jokes, acronyms), and premium content for an additional cost (e.g., Encyclopædia Britannica, Oxford English Dictionary, Larousse, and Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary). The program also uses a text-to-speech agent to let users hear the proper pronunciation of words. Babylon Ltd. has developed 35 English-based proprietary dictionaries in 19 languages that are free of charge to users who have bought the software. These dictionaries have between 50,000 to 200,000 terms, and use a morphology engine that can recognize words in different conjugations and inflections.[13]
Language pairs include English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Hebrew, Chinese, Dutch, Russian, Korean, Swedish, Greek, Arabic and Turkish.[14]
In addition to its in-house developed dictionaries, Babylon users have created over 1,500 reference works (mostly during its freeware period) that are available to Babylon users. These include general and technical dictionaries and monolingual glossaries. These titles span over 75 languages and are indexed under 400 categories covering subjects such as arts, business, computer, health, law, entertainment, and sports. Many of them have been compiled and submitted by Babylon users.[15]
Malware issues
In August 2010, Microsoft antivirus products identified the software application as malware due to potentially intrusive behavior.[16] Three weeks later, Microsoft announced that Babylon had modified the program and was no longer categorized as malware.[17]
See also
References
- ^ "Babylon Translator". Google Play. Google. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
- ^ "iBabylon". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
- ^ "Babylon Translator". Microsoft Store. Microsoft. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
- ^ Fred Schultz, Education 01/02, McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2000, p.204
- ^ Translation co Babylon sets new Guinness record for downloads, Globes, 14 July 11
- ^ Recognition and translation system - Google Patents
- ^ Noam Lanir buys into Babylon, YNet
- ^ Babylon Shareholder gets offer for majority stake, Globes says
- ^ Babylon extends deal with Google, Globes, 26 December 2010
- ^ PC world, Volume 19, Issues 4-6. 2001. p. 123
- ^ Introduction to reference sources in the health sciences, Jeffrey T. Huber, Jo Anne Boorkman, Jean Blackwell. Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2008. p.127
- ^ About Babylon Ltd. Retrieved May 10th, 2011
- ^ Evaluation Guide of Babylon 6 (Spanish)
- ^ Bloomberg Businessweek
- ^ Free Dictionary Lookup by Babylon. Babylon.com (2001-08-02). Retrieved on 2010-11-09.
- ^ "Definition change log for version 1.87.1429.0". Microsoft Malware Protection Center – Threat Research and Response. Microsoft corporation. 7 August 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
- ^ "Encyclopedia entry: Adware:Win32/Babylon". Microsoft Malware Protection Center – Threat Research and Response. Microsoft corporation. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2010.
This program was detected by definitions prior to 1.87.2231.0 as adware, as it violated the guidelines by which Microsoft identifies spyware and other potentially unwanted software. The vendor subsequently modified the program so as to remove the undesired behavior. Due to this vendor action, Microsoft has confirmed that the program no longer has potentially unwanted behaviors. Microsoft has released definition 1.87.2231.0, which no longer detects this program.
Further reading
External links