What's new in Localization in 2024?

In 2024, Apple introduced several new features and enhancements for localization, aimed at improving multilingual experiences and expanding support for more languages. Here are the key updates:

1. String Catalogs:

   • Validation Issues Detection: String catalogs now detect common validation issues, such as mismatched format specifiers, and allow you to fix them with a single click.
   • Mark Strings as "Don't Translate": You can now mark specific strings as "don't translate," making it easier to communicate with translators about content that is still being finalized.
   • Code and Catalog Navigation: It's now easier to jump back and forth between the code and the catalog for a particular string, streamlining the development and localization workflows.

2. Personalization and Inclusivity:

   • Automatic Grammatical Agreement Engine: This engine allows your app to address people more personally by using their term of address from language and region settings. It also supports referring to people using their pronouns.
   • Grammar Engine Expansion: The grammar engine now supports Hindi and Korean, in addition to existing languages like German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese.

3. Multilingual Keyboard:

   • Multi-Script Typing: The new multilingual keyboard lets you type in more than one language without needing to manually switch languages, enhancing the typing experience for users who speak multiple languages.

4. Formatted API for Names:

   • Correct Display of Names: Using the formatted API ensures that names in any language and script are shown correctly, regardless of the app's language. For example, it uses the short style for given names in languages like Chinese and Japanese when appropriate.

5. Additional Language Support:

   • Live Text: Now supports Arabic.
   • Personalized Numerals: Ten additional Indian scripts are now supported for personalizing numerals on wallpapers and watch faces.
   • Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro: Features a redesigned function row for Arabic, mirroring volume and brightness keys between hardware and software.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the session Build multilingual-ready apps (11:24).

Relevant Sessions

• Build multilingual-ready apps
• Meet the Translation API
• Platforms State of the Union