Langenscheidt Dictionaries 4+

At the first sight I already doubt how can a langenscheidt dictionary be free, but still i thought it would be maybe a short term discount. So I downloaded it, wondering if it will be the same quality like always from Langenscheidt. And then I was totally disappinted. The embedded dictionary, so-called expert dictionary, doesn't even cover some basic words. And of course to activate the fully functionable dictionary you will have to purchase the €89 dictionary. Not useful app at all if you want to get a free and good dictionary. Well, I mean there is seldom such thing, therefore one start more than necessary. But very lame UI by the way.

This app hasn't been updated in about 1 year, as of my writing this in April 2020. Moreover, if you already purchased any of the expensive separate technical dictionaries that Langenscheidt/Paragon/Slovoed used to offer, these are no longer downloadable. So not only are they nickel-and-diming you, but they make you buy your dictionaries anew each time they let this app fall out of date. While I am a big fan of Langscheidt in terms of the quality of its lexicography and comprehensiveness, I don't think the app developer or Langenscheidt have been acting in an ethical or consumer-friendly way with their management of dictionaries on the macOS platform over the past decade. There are now many excellent, reputable, reliable and entirely free translation resources online anyone can use instead. I strongly recommend steering clear of products by Langenscheidt, Paragon, and Slovoed.

Two years ago I purchased the $80 "Expert" dictionary. While it was (emphasis on WAS) a superb product it has now gone missing after an upgrade of the Langenscheidt app, which serves as little more than a device for selecting and purchasing dictionaries (think about the implications of this: since any purchases of dictionaries are conducted outside the Mac app store, the dictionary itself will not be backed up on the app store — all that can be recovered in the greatly limited demo dictionary). I've submitted a help request (including the original receipt) on the "hotline", but have yet to get a response. While I am still hoping I will (eventually) get a response, the entire experience has left me decidedly leery of the company.