Google has officially updated its Translate app, and while news of yet another update to this program would normally not be an item considered newsworthy, the enhancements the company incorporated this time around are quite impressive.
For one, the new version now includes automatic language detection in language mode. This means users can turn the app on and have a conversation with one another in which neither party speaks the same language as the other. The app will detect what language is being spoken by one party, and translate it in accordance with the language of the other party; and vice versa.
The Google Translate App also includes Word Lens, a new program that instantly translates text written in a foreign language. In the past, users had to take a picture of the phrase in question and mark which words needed to be translated. With Word Lens, the user needs only to hold the phone up to the phrase so the text is visible on the screen; as the user does this, the program translates the words instantaneously.
While this capability is certainly remarkable, what’s even more impressive is the fact that Word Lens can function without an Internet connection, and translate some of the more common languages; this includes, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russia, and Spanish. For all other languages, a picture still needs to be taken first (again, this is if the app is being used whilst offline).
These new features will be available to both the iOS and Android updates to Google Translate.
Via GoogleBlog
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