By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2011-02-23 15:50:50 | Word Count: 664
The moment you’ve all been waiting for! The Google translate app has been released for the iPhone bringing the live voice translation feature from Android to iOS.
Here’s how it works: You type in words and the free app translates those words between any of 50 different languages. Apparently you can also speak to the app in 15 languages where your words are in turn recognized, transcribed and displayed as text. Press another button and the now displayed text is spoken back to you in 23 languages.
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The new Google translation app also allows users to view dictionary results for single words and visit starred translations and history without being online. My first notion was to shake my head in envy with the thought that iPhone had done it yet again but then I came to the sweet realization that iPhone didn’t do much at all (in fact, they’re a day late and a dollar short with this one). Google did it! This means Android had it first and in my opinion that’s a bit of a silent triumph. Note: I do not own an Android so this bias is solely a result of Google fandom.
Yes, the Google translation app for iPhone is pretty cool. Yes, this app will be an extremely helpful tool for those who have craved multi-language interaction for quite some time now (much like myself) but haven’t had the time to actually sit and learn the language. Yes, this app could potentially break down language barriers and unite us in a way that we’ve never experienced before. Yes, iPhone, this is true. But the point is, you didn’t have it first! HA! Not only did you NOT have it first but it seems to me that if you did wait this long to acquire an app as cool as Google Translation you would’ve at least saw to it that your app was greater than or at least equivalent to the same translation app on the Droid. Highly unlikely that Google would’ve let this happen, of course, but it may’ve been worth a shot to ask. In case you didn’t catch wind of this info, Apple, the Android’s version on the Google Translate app has SMS translation and experimental Conversation Mode which should allow users to talk with a nearby person in another language. Now, how revolutionary is that?! iPhone, keep up.
I’m proud of the iPhone, really I am. I’m glad they are looking past Angry Birds to apps that are actually useful in today’s diverse society. I guess my disappointment (with a hint of excitement) is that iPhone has been leading for so long that it’s kind of painful to see them following. Maybe that’s smart, though. Seeing as how Google’s Android zoomed past iPhone last quarter as the most popular smartphone platform in the US, maybe it is very smart to see what they’re doing and try to get a piece for yourself. Besides, the old saying is true: if you can’t beat them, join them.
