views:

248

answers:

2

Is the built-in dictionary in iBooks etc available to developers? If so how would I go about using it?

+1  A: 

Unfortunately, I believe the system dictionary is only available through a private API.

Personal conjecture: It's one of the many "features" locked away by Apple to separate the iBooks app from 3rd party e-book reader competition. However, at the rate Apple is going, I would expect the API to become public at some point in the next few years.

Dolph
Eh, you should remove the 2nd paragraph, that's just some conjecture. It's much more likely that the Dictionary isn't available simply because that API isn't ready yet.
bpapa
+1, lol. That's entirely true. Labeled the paragraph as such :)
Dolph
+1  A: 

It's not available to developers. You could use an open source dictionary like this one from Project Gutenberg, but it might take substantial munging to make it presentable.

warrenm
I suspected as much. Oh well, thanks.
alku83