A Fresh Start of Tutu Studio
My name is Tualatrix Chou, and I'm an app developer specializing in productivity tools for macOS. Before founding Tutu Studio, I had over a decade of experience developing iOS and macOS applications. Our latest project, PopTranslate, follows in the footsteps of our previous apps like Manico and PasteNow.
In 2024, I developed MarkMark, a read-it-later application on macOS & iOS. After experiencing burnout from handling all aspects of MarkMark's development almost for a year—from design and coding to release and customer support—I was eager for a change. Around the same time, my wife, who had built a career as a product manager and designer, left her corporate job. Following her departure, we founded Tutu Studio together, leveraging our combined experience and skills to create something new.
From Personal Tool to Powerful AI App
A few years ago, I created a simple Safari extension named In Translator to help my wife effortlessly translate web content while working or browsing online. Initially, it was just a personal project aimed at solving a very practical, everyday need. Surprisingly, by the end of 2020, considering the growing needs of users, we transformed In Translator into a complete macOS translation tool, attracting more users than we had ever expected.
Then, in the past year, AI technology advanced at an incredible pace, becoming an essential tool in everyday computing. For our two-person team, this rapid AI progression was more than just exciting—it significantly boosted our productivity and motivated us to reimagine In Translator entirely, resulting in the creation of PopTranslate.
PopTranslate was designed with two clear goals in mind: being AI First and providing a seamless native macOS experience. It allows users to effortlessly translate, explain, or rewrite text within any macOS application. One feature that holds special significance for me is the rewrite function, inspired by my personal need to draft clearer and more polished emails in English.
Launching PopTranslate: Our Vision for the Future
Development began in mid-November. My wife led the design work, while I focused on the coding starting in early December. Despite interruptions from holiday breaks and family gatherings, we completed PopTranslate within roughly three months. Reflecting on our previous experiences—particularly the rushed release of MarkMark—we carefully ensured PopTranslate had a polished website and an intuitive user experience right from the start.
Although the current version isn’t yet available on the App Store and lacks an iOS version, we are already planning these enhancements for future updates. Rather than waiting for a perfect product, we believe in rapidly delivering value to our users. You can view our product roadmap here.
PopTranslate is still at an early stage, and we warmly invite you to try it out with 20 times free AI translation daily. We genuinely welcome any suggestions and ideas—your feedback could help shape the future direction of the app.