The new Google Pinyin IME really does rock - but may be partially (ahem) borrowed

Not that I do all that much writing in Chinese, but I just downloaded and installed the new Google Pinyin IME and it's pretty frickin' slick. Check it out. Thanks 小胡子 for the tip. One of the things I like about it is that it's pretty good at picking out when you want to type an English word in the middle of a Chinese string. Like this: 谷歌新出的汉语拼音输入方式真他妈牛. 可惜 Google 的中文名字那么fucking傻. That's just an example, of course, and not necessarily my opinion, or the opinion of my employer.

Update: Okay, so now Google seems to be admitting that they lifted the vocabulary list from Sogou, though they only go so far as to say it was from "non-Google sources." Good catch, Yee and all the other Chinese bloggers who noticed. According to the Netease story cited above, Sogou (Sohu's search engine) is demanding a public apology and that Google stop offering the download. Here's an English-language report from Xinhua on the kerfuffle. Stay tuned.

Comments

[Ric]

hi! so does it work like the windows pinyin tool or is it just richer in vocabulary? I don't use it massively but when I need it, it suits me and to use it I just need to go through an ALT+SHIFT move and that's it. is the google tool easier? i will try to downloaded once I get back on my own laptop.

best

oh, saw both your videos! nice guitar chords and bass. have you heard from the group Rhapsody? and what about the XYZ? check them out whenever you've got the time!

[Michael Christensen]

WOW I did not see this one around the corner. Keep up the great work - thanks.