Libor Kubín The Czech Republic is probably finally becoming an attractive country for Apple. The next developer version of the upcoming Mac OS X 10.7 includes an optional Czech language in the standard build of the given operating system.
Jan Kout on the website MultiApple writes:
The recently released developer version of the upcoming Mac OS X 10.7 included Czech among the other languages of the standard build of the given operating system. Although not everything that should be translated (eg help), there is still a lot of time left before the release of the final version of Lion, so we can expect to see a full localization of Mac OS X 10.7! What do some programs look like and which have been honored?
It is certainly pleasing that, for example, not only programs that users use every day, but also those that are already intended for more professional intervention or operating system control, have been localized. So far, the vast majority of Mac OS X essentials have been honored. So far, Czech help is missing everywhere, some programs show a certain combination of Czech and English, some are not translated at all (e.g. Automator). From all this, it can be observed that the Czech localization team has a lot of work behind them, but also ahead of them, which concerns, for example, the mentioned help. Even now, however, the Czech localization team (for their work on Lviv) as well as Apple itself (for this step) deserve great praise. Thank you! Finally!
Interestingly, there has been a change in the names of some programs. We won't see each other again List of addresses, but with Directory (which seems more Czech to me).
The following programs received localization at random: Safari, Terminal, Keychain, Activity Monitor, System Information and others. iTunes is still found in an untranslated form.
Czech versions of the iLife and iWork software packages are supposed to appear this year. Apple's effort to localize the system and programs into our native language may have one more consequence. Possibility to buy music and movies with a Czech iTunes account.
Unfortunately, Slovak users are out of luck. The Slovak language did not appear in the menu of possible language versions of Mac OS X, but it is in iOS.
The MultiApple site contains extensive image gallery with system previews, take a look.
I don't know about you, I once had an unofficial Czech language on Leopard, but even if I don't take into account problems with updates (which in this case is totally irrelevant), even the Sidebar like "Side panel" or Trackpad aka "Destička" just doesn't fit: -D As a Czech, I should probably be ashamed, but somehow I'm not a fan of the Czech localization of OS X, after all, I'm not a fan of the Czech localization of any OS, so English is somehow more practical for me in those system items :)
(despite the fact that Czech is the enemy of graphic design :-D)
There are certainly users who will welcome and appreciate the Czech language in the system. Something you don't like or don't like can help another user a lot.
If some Czech expressions do not suit you, there is nothing easier than to write to the localization team at Apple and maybe your suggestions will work.
It is true that this may open the way for a larger number of Czech users. Maybe it sounded bad at first, but I am in no way against official localization, rather I was just stating my own opinion regarding the impression of Czech + Mac, you know, habit is habit :)
I completely agree with you, although I have to say that I don't understand some things here either, but I still agree with you.. I hope they don't translate something, see Finder.. then it would be a real mess.. :D
I think Czech should be in OS X. At least more of these devices will be sold even in our small country. AJ discouraged a lot of people. And we, who are already used to it and don't have any problems, will simply keep the system in AJ :-)
I am clearly a fan of Czech directly from Apple, because then those system bugs (errors) that arose during localization are eliminated. In addition, the father, who is a switcher (he switched to a Mac recently), so he misses Czech very much (he is not of the grade that takes English as a matter of course and everything is harder to learn). So definitely a thumbs up. Such tricky translations will be fine-tuned, it just takes time. I see no reason why it should not work with Czech. If you don't like your mother tongue, just switch to the one that is close to you :)
The connection with the Czech lion and Czech itunes with movies and music makes little sense to me. Please explain.
It is quite simple and logical. Apple has invested a lot of money in localization. Just selling the system plus new equipment won't be that profitable. Part of the money machine are iTunes, and they are not fully functional in the Czech Republic. Thanks to more sales of Macs, the number of users will increase, and more music and movies will be bought. Apple has been trying for pan-European iTunes for about 2 years. The situation looks promising. This will close the circle and the money will just keep pouring in.
I'm a skeptic about this, but hell will freeze over before full-fledged iTunes is here in the Czech Republic. I would be interested in a qualified estimate of how much localization can increase sales. We'll see.
I don't accept the argument "Mac OS X localization => Czech iTunes Store", because then the Poles would have had the Polish iTunes Store for almost four years (as long as the Polish localization is part of the system), but in reality they still don't have it. Of course, I wish you were right... :-)
at least let it not be called Mac OS X Lion..etc.. :/
Martin Vik: I myself use the English system - but official support from Apple will certainly open up a segment of the market for people like my parents, for example). They were a big plus for me and thanks to Cupertino and also to all the signatories and initiators of the petition - if they played any role in that decision :-)
I am older and I would like a MacBook Pro, but with Czech.
So I welcome it and look forward to it.
Hello. Could you please advise me how to install the Czech language? I downloaded lion, installed it, and then updated it again (which I probably didn't have to do) Lion is running, but the Czech language is nowhere... So please advise. Thanks
There is sometimes a problem with the translation of expressions, and that means help.
I'm working on localizing help for iPhoto right now and they (the client) have a terrible time with it. UI translations sometimes inconsistent, sometimes weird, sometimes off. But we have glossaries and they must be followed. And among the help there are also old strings that don't change and the client doesn't even want to check them.
I already worked on Lion some time ago. Back then the problem was exactly the same. Binec in terminology, binec in glossaries. Today the situation is the same – a bit of a runaway train.
But I will tell you that the source English text is also sometimes quite strange - in terms of comprehensibility, logic and matter-of-factness. At first glance, it's ok, but when a person has to translate it, he gets into it and sometimes stares a lot. It's as if they sent us source texts, which of course were made by several people and from who knows where, but the editor didn't see those texts. Have a nice day