Thursday, August 9, 2012

Google Translate app gets weighty update, will translate signs through your smartphone camera

[![Google Translate app adds weighty update, will translate signs][1] ][2]

Google's multi-lingual [translation app][3] decided that (online) words were not enough. Beyond digital text, a new update to Translate will let Google's bots translate what you're looking at, whether that's hand-written directions or a sign saying, "wrong way." Though its not the first time we've seen an app that [translates text from the camera][4] (not even [for Google][5]) the update includes a convenient touch-guided interface that allows you to draw over the text you'd like converted into English -- it seemed to master our beginners' Spanish textbook with ease. The update also adds improvements to its voice translations, with new dialect preferences and improved handwriting recognition for [Japanese][6] input. Grab the download before you board that flight abroad this summer -- just ensure it's on a WiFi-only connection once you get there.

Filed under: [Cellphones][7], [Tablet PCs][8], [Software][9]

[Google Translate app gets weighty update, will translate signs through your smartphone camera][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][10] on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 08:06:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][11].

######

[Permalink][12] ![][13][Android Central][14] | ![source][15][Google Translate (Google Play)][16] | [Email this][17] | [Comments][18]

[1]: http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/08/translate.jpg
[2]: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/09/google-translate-app-update-visual-translation/
[3]: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/google-updates-translate-plugin-and-android-app-unites-nations/
[4]: http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/17/word-lens-augmented-reality-app-instantly-translates-whatever-yo/
[5]: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/google-goggles-starts-to-get-useful-adds-text-translation/
[6]: http://www.engadget.com/tag/japanese/
[7]: http://www.engadget.com/category/cellphones/
[8]: http://www.engadget.com/category/tabletpcs/
[9]: http://www.engadget.com/category/software/
[10]: http://www.engadget.com
[11]: http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/
[12]: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/09/google-translate-app-update-visual-translation/ (Permanent link to this entry)
[13]: http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/post_label_VIA.gif
[14]: http://www.androidcentral.com/google-translate-v25-adds-image-translation-and-more
[15]: http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/post_label_source.gif
[16]: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.translate
[17]: http://www.engadget.com/forward/20297125/ (Send this entry to a friend via email)
[18]: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/09/google-translate-app-update-visual-translation/#comments (View reader comments on this entry)

URL: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/09/google-translate-app-update-visual-translation/

No comments:

Post a Comment