Google Translate gets iPad support, Android handwriting
updated 02:50 pm EST, Thu January 5, 2012
Google Translate updates for iPad and Android
Google has put out two key updates for Google Translate. The iOS version (App Store now supports the iPad natively, using pop-overs for language selection and otherwise taking advantage of the extra screen real estate. Features are otherwise the same as on iPhones and iPods, where it can translate between 60 languages, most of which have spoken translations.
The app still needs an Internet connection for translations and runs on iOS 3.0 or later.
Android users (Android Market) in turn get handwriting recognition. Chinese, Japanese, and even the five main European languages now let users draw out words and, in the cases of the Asian languages, individual characters. It potentially helps travelers understand local culture or vice versa without having to use the keyboard or know the phonetic version of a word.
Users need at least Android 1.5 on a phone or tablet to run Translate on the platform. It's not known when the support will pass over to the iOS edition.
