Mantaphrase
Consumer and social
travel phrasebook app
SHOW HN2012
127points
48comments
#152of 1,677 in 2012
Top 10%of 2012 by points
How HN took it
MixedNo clear lean
13 positive, 4 neutral or asking, 0 mixed, 4 critical, out of 21 comments about the project. Thread score +0.36.
Idea: 5 for, 1 againstDesign: 4 for, 0 againstExecution: 1 for, 2 againstPrivacy: 0 for, 1 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Clean, beautiful UI design
From 4 comments
These guys have been working for a while on this, and I know they have some other ideas that aren't even in the app yet. Looking forward to seeing them add to the app. It's a…
pokoleo on HNThe UI looks great! I wish I had this when I was traveling in Japan.
susanhi on HNIt's quite nice looking. Nice job guys!
mikelikespie on HNMantaphrase uses large readable text that can be read from a good distance away. That means you can show your device to another person without having to hand it over!
patar on HN
Useful for travel and learning languages
From 3 comments
This is excellent! I recently moved to Switzerland without knowing any French, and while using Google Translate to figure out how to ask basic questions works fine in a pinch,…
anuleczka on HNSo legit. I'm taking Chinese right now and not only does this let you converse in a foreign language, but it can help you learn the characters for everday sayings along the way.…
MIT_Hacker on HNThe UI looks great! I wish I had this when I was traveling in Japan.
susanhi on HN
Objections
Handing a phone to a stranger or showing a valuable device in public is risky
From 3 comments
At a street market in Quito, Ecuador a few years ago I watched in horror as a backpacker pulled out his shiny iPhone and shoved an app like this in the face of a vendor. The…
grecy on HNOf course they are aware of it, but it's another thing to shove it in their face so blatantly. Never mind the safety implications of publicly showing off a ~$500 device in a…
grecy on HNI stopped at: Hand your $600 phone to a stranger. Although, they could sell a tether as an accessory.
IanDrake on HN
Speech-to-text and reading requirements limit use
From 1 comment
Does the app read out the phrase? If not, I see this as a big challenge in developing countries where, depending on who you interact with, the person might not know how to read…
unohoo on HN
Requests
Android version
From 2 comments
Looks great. I'm hoping there's an Android version in the works?
incision on HNThis sounds like a very good idea and I would happy pay a few bucks for it on Android the next time I have to travel somewhere I don't speak the language. Have you considered…
DEinspanjer on HN
Read phrases aloud
From 1 comment
Does the app read out the phrase? If not, I see this as a big challenge in developing countries where, depending on who you interact with, the person might not know how to read…
unohoo on HN
Voice input for picking phrases
From 1 comment
Useful app and a good idea, but if I could pick phrases by saying them (or keywords), it will make this a super useful app and a brilliant idea. (edit) I've been using a Google…
huhtenberg on HN
More languages, including European ones
From 1 comment
Right, because no vendors in developing countries are aware that western visitors-including backpackers-are comparatively well off. I don't travel in Asia much, but if some…
TWAndrews on HN
Questions
Source of exchange rate data
From 1 comment
Where are you sourcing the exchange rate data from? Since August CAD has been above USD, but the app shows it at ~$0.98 instead.
oniTony on HN
Support for two-way conversation interface
From 1 comment
This sounds like a very good idea and I would happy pay a few bucks for it on Android the next time I have to travel somewhere I don't speak the language. Have you considered…
DEinspanjer on HN
Alternatives named
Google Translate
From 2 comments
This is excellent! I recently moved to Switzerland without knowing any French, and while using Google Translate to figure out how to ask basic questions works fine in a pinch,…
anuleczka on HNUseful app and a good idea, but if I could pick phrases by saying them (or keywords), it will make this a super useful app and a brilliant idea. (edit) I've been using a Google…
huhtenberg on HN
iTranslate
From 1 comment
Check out iTranslate on iOS if you haven't seen it. Voice-to-voice translation between dozens of languages.
MattRix on HN
Vocre
From 1 comment
Best implementation of voice-to-voice communication I've seen yet: http://www.vocre.com/
ssewell on HN