Great Idea, Crap Execution

This is a pretty novel idea, Converse is a language translator but not just any translator. It allows two people to use is simultaneously use it in order to converse back and forth in real time. The users are presented with two split keyboards which face each individual and allows both parties to type back and forth.

Now.... there are a few reviewers who are raving about it, however there are key aspects of this app that should be addressed. These all come from actual travel experience and bringing the iPad with me on international trips.

First of all, this app requires an internet connection. Good and dandy, but in my travels I find myself without any connection more times than not. Where there is wifi, i usually am able to find English speaking people. If you are however on a train station platform in some little village... your SOL.

Second point: I don't know how many people approach you randomly speaking a foreign language and then asking you to couple with a device they shove in front of you. This might be acceptable in technologically acceptable society such as Japan, but try doing this in Guatemala and you will either get robbed or encounter blank expressions. People are usually in a hurry and don't have time to learn or spend valuable time coupled with you and your device.

And lastly, this app will give you a rough, literal translation. Its great if you want to point at a "dog" or a "chair", however working at one of the worlds largest translation companies i can say that once you start using sentences, context becomes a very big and important thing. Dis you mean "can" as in aluminum beverage holder or the word meaning "able to"... language is tricky. I would suggest Google translate. Its not 100% spot on, but id does contextualize content to a degree... and it's free.

Converse is available for $.99 from the App Store