
You tap the in-app mic once and starting talking in the foreign tongue first. Real-time voice translation is equally incredible, and can act as an intermediary for two people holding a conversation using different languages. You then simply point the camera at the sign that you want translated - ensuring that it is captured fully - and the app will translate it. The visual translation feature is activated when you select the phone camera option inside the app.

The app has already offered image-based translation, but now the magic occurs without any delay at all… and - best of all for regular travelers - it works offline. A new update to the Android and iOS apps that is rolling out today introduces two very spiffy features: real-time voice and sign translation.

Google Translate is already a hugely useful app for anyone who lives overseas or travels regularly, and it just got even smarter on mobile.
