If you’re traveling overseas and facing inconveniences due to the language barrier, you can now count on the free Google Translate app on your Android mobile device – even when there isn’t any data connection.
Offline mode of the Google Translate app on Android lets you bring a translator around in your pocket.
Google Translate is a popular web service that helps translate free text and website text content from one language to another.
50 language packs available for download to use in offline mode of the Android app.
The browser-based service is usually used on desktop and notebook computers and require an Internet connection to work.
Languages include Chinese, Japanese and Korean.
Conversation mode allows voice entry and read out.
Google has now launched offline language packages for Google Translate on Android (2.3 and above) with support for 50 languages for the app – from French and Spanish to Chinese and Arabic.
I see three key features that makes this mobile version a useful tool for the traveller.
It’s offline – so you don’t have to depend on that wonky connection, or worry about costly data roaming fees. Simply download the language package when you’re connected and you’re ready to use it in offline mode.- Its wide selection of languages – including both alphabet-based languages as well as pictogram-based languages.
- Optimisation for street usage – while the desktop version is tailored for office use with Internet connection, the offline app is designed for use in daily life, accepting handwritten, voice or photo input and reads out translated output.
You can also store frequently used phrases as easily accessed favourites.
Handwriting input is accepted for character-based languages.
You can take a photo of text for translation.
Tags: Android, app, Arabian, Chinese, English, Google, Japanese, Korean, languages, Translate
[…] require data connection to Samsung’s translation database. Users may be better off checking out Google’s Translate on Android app that now works in offline […]