‘Tap to Translate’ means users will no longer have to switch between apps, allowing them to copy and paste text into a pop-up box that instantly translates messages.
“We know millions of you painstakingly copy-paste text between Google Translate and other apps,” wrote Google product lead Barak Turovsky. “Now, you can just copy the text of a chat, comment, song lyric, etc. in whichever app you’re using, and a translation will pop up right there – no need to switch apps.”
The update also includes an offline mode for iOS – a feature already available on Android – using “small offline packages” to allow users to access dictionaries offline, and adds Filipino to the 52 languages already available on the app.
The update also adds Word Lens in Chinese, which allows users to hold their camera up to menus, signs and other sections of text to see an instant translation. The changes on Android and iOS will be available in the next few days.
Meanwhile, iOS users are getting Android’s Offline mode. Offline Mode will now use smaller translation packages, which should make them easier to download over weak mobile data connections.
The language packages are now 25MB each, which Google says is a 90 percent size reduction. You can enable offline languages by tapping the arrow next to the language name.
Finally, Google is adding Chinese to its Word Lens feature. If you’re not familiar, Word Lens basically translates live footage from your camera. You can point your phone at menus or street signs, for instance, and see the translated text magically replace the original.
The updates are rolling out to Android and iOS ‘over the next few days.’
