Google Translate app updated, now offers Word Lens, fast live action translation

It always helps to know the local language.

According to the Google blog, Google has released a new version of Translate for Android and iOS.

The new version already lets you use camera mode to snap a photo of text and get a translation for it in 36 languages. Users can now instantly translate text using their cameras, allowing them to read a menu or a sign on the fly. While using the Translate app, just point your camera at a sign or text and you’ll see the translated text overlaid on your screen—even if you don’t have an Internet or data connection.

This instant translation currently works for translation from English to and from French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish with work being done to expand to more languages.

Starting today, simply tap the mic to start speaking in a selected language, then tap the mic again, and the Google Translate app will automatically recognize which of the two languagess are being spoken, letting you have a more fluid conversation. For the rest of the conversation, you won’t need to tap the mic again—it’ll be ready as you need it.

These updates will be coming to both Android and iOS, rolling out over the next few days. This is the first time some of these advanced features, like camera translations and conversation mode, will be available for iOS users.

Google Translate is available for free and requires iOS 7.0 or later to install and run.

If you’ve tried the new version and have any feedback to offer, please let us know in the comments.