Google
has updated its Google Translate app for Android and iOS mobile devices with a handful of new features.
A tool called Tap to Translate in the Android app makes it simpler to translate text on the go. Google says users can copy text in any app and view the translation in a pop-up box that appears without forcing users to switch apps.
Google Translate for iOS now works offline thanks to the addition of offline mode. iOS Translate users will need to download language packs in order to see translations when offline. Google said it reduced the size of language packs by 90% to about 25MB each.
Last, both the Android and iOS versions of Google Translate can now instantly translate Chinese via the Word Lens function. Word Lens makes use of the camera, which people aim at text (menus, signs) they want to see translated. Chinese is the 29th language added to Word Lens.
Google Translate for Android and iOS is free to download from the Google Play Store and iTunes App Store, respectively.
