Fili’s world

Google’s China presence is growing with new China services for their local Guge coming out often. Google China (GuGe) has just released Google Pinyin, a Chinese IME to simplify typing in Pinyin to output Chinese characters.

I think anybody using the default Windows Chinese IME has felt it’s a very frustrating tool, and most of my Chinese/Taiwanese friends use all sorts of 3rd party IME tools (like Dr. Eye’s). It was time somebody took the challenge of making a decent Chinese IME and from what I’ve seen so far, the Google Pinyin does a wonderful job.

The Chinese Tech and China blogosphere have been quick to point out some of the advantages and disadvantages of the tool with a review :

Ya,I Yee - "Google Pinyin"

Google Pinyin has some popular features that have existed in other prevailing input softwares,such as Intelligent Sentences(智能组句),Prevailing Vocabulary(流行词汇),Traditional Chinese and GBK(繁体输入和 GBK 大字库),Priority Words(首字固顶),Character Stroke Input(笔划输入),and User-defined Phrases(自定义短语). While some particular features may be their own inventions,like One Button Search(一键搜索),Synchronous Update(网络同步),Smart Correction(智能纠错) and English hint(英文提示).

The only Characteristic that appeals to me is the Synchronous Update,which is integrated with users’ Google account.This feature is very convenient for us to export the data to other laptop.I also take Synchronous Update as kind of assurance when my operating system crashes unexpectedly one day.

China Search Engine View - "Google China released Chinese input method editor"

[...] The rumor of it has spread several months on the Internet. And Sogou IME was released when Chinese netizens discussing Google’s.

Google’s IME has some innovative features, such as depositing users’ personal phrase on Google’s server and synchronize it between different computers. You may also find popular words on Internet would be typed easily and accurately. This may help Google to retain users. But Sogou’s IME has many users under its frequent updating.

Shanghaiist - "Google Pinyin: Typing in Chinese has never been this much fun"

How’s that different from old school Windows pinyin you ask? Well, for starters, GP is hell of a lot smarter. Take this sentence for example, “上海到处都是盗版碟片.” Before GP came along, we would have had to break it down to several phrases and complete the line that way. Not with GP, we didn’t have to pause one bit. And the goodness doesn’t stop there. If an user simultaneously logs into his Google account while typing, GP will analyze and learn his word entry habit, and overtime optimize character output to save user time. How cool is that?

Yep, it is cool, and the synchronized update can be a lifesaver. Even my Chinese teacher seems to think it’s great.

This has only been the latest in a series of new tools and services launched by Google China lately. Here are some of the latest headlines :

• Google China launched Chinese zeitgeist service ReBang
• Google China released new sites directory
• Google China will set a research lab in Shanghai
• Google China Auto-Suggests

Screenshots :