Google Translate can be a useful communications tool, however one of the major scenarios in which it would be useful, world travel, can often throw a spanner in the works of smartphone data connectivity. Thus the ability to choose to download translation data (like with Microsoft’s Windows Phone Translate program) would be a nice enhancement. With this in mind Google has now launched offline language packs for Google Translate on Android.
Google’s new downloadable offline language packs offer a choice of 50 languages “from French and Spanish to Chinese and Arabic”. However these language packs are less comprehensive than the cloud based versions you get to use when you have data connectivity. Google says “While the offline models are less comprehensive than their online equivalents, they are perfect for translating in a pinch when you are travelling abroad with poor reception or without mobile data access”.
To install offline language packs you just navigate to the new Offline Languages menu within the app and press the pin icon to store the packs you want upon your Android smartphone. I think it is important to point out that you must remember to download the language pack for your own language too. “To enable offline translation between any two languages, you just need to select them in the offline languages menu.” So if you’re a Brit going to Spain, for example, download both the English and Spanish language packs. If you forget until you get abroad there’s usually free Wi-Fi somewhere or other so you can download the language packs then.
If you are headed out to East Asia there is another useful update in the latest version of Google Translate. “Translate vertical text in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean with your Camera.” This is handy because many texts in East Asia are written in that orientation.
I have found offline language packs combined with offline mapping data very useful when abroad. I used my smartphone quite successfully to get around an unfamiliar city quickly and efficiently on my last foreign trip.
