Google’s Translate App Now Offers Real-Time Translation

Google has updated its Translate app to offer live translation services as people are having conversations.

The service will go head to head with Skype’s translation service which was previewed in December.

The app updates also mean it can instantly recognise text through a device’s camera and translate on the fly.

Cosmopolitan

Barak Turovky, product lead on Google Translate, said: “Starting today, simply tap the mic to start speaking in a selected language, then tap the mic again, and the Google Translate app will automatically recognise which of the two languages are being spoken, letting you have a more fluid conversation.”

For the rest of the conversation, the mic won’t have to be pressed again because the app will have recognised the languages that are being spoken.

Turovky said: “Asking for directions to the Rive Gauche, ordering bacalhau in Lisbon, or chatting with your grandmother in her native Spanish just got a lot faster.”

These updates will be coming to both Android and iOS, rolling out over the next few days. This is the first time some of these advanced features, like camera translations and conversation mode, will be available for iOS users.

The devices camera mode can now be used to instantly get a translation in 26 languages now too.

“Now, we’re taking it to the next level and letting you instantly translate text using your camera—so it’s way easier to navigate street signs in the Italian countryside or decide what to order off a Barcelona menu,” said Turovky.

While using the Translate app, just point your camera at a sign or text and you’ll see the translated text overlaid on your screen—even if you don’t have an Internet or data connection.”

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