14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has updated its Translator app for Android and iOS with offline translation support for several languages, using AI power even when an Internet connection is not available.
This means the company has addressed one of the biggest headaches of people traveling in foreign countries with huge roaming charges, as the Translator app can be used on mobile devices by simply downloading a language pack in advance.
Truth be told, only a few languages are available right now, like English, Chinese, French, German, and Russian, but more are on their way in future updates to the app.
But the truly useful thing about this new update is that even without a data connection, the Translator app can provide translations that are very close to the one based on cloud power. Microsoft says there’s indeed a difference between these modes as an Internet connection ensures the most accurate translation, but on the other hand, the offline system shouldn’t be far either.
Beta tests with Huawei
Furthermore, Microsoft has praised its Translator app in a discussion with TechCrunch, saying that its offline mode is more advanced than Google’s.
In its turn, Google is also offering offline translation powered by its Translator app, and many more languages are supported.
Microsoft’s Translator app is quickly growing in popularity in the Google Play Store, and right now, it has more than 5 million installs on Android. What’s more, it has a 4.6-star rating out of a maximum of 5, with no less than 125,000 users offering the top 5-star score.
Before launching this offline translation system based on neural networks, Microsoft performed a series of tests with Huawei, using the AI co-processor in phones like Mate 10 and Honor 10 to improve the way it works. Eventually, the company managed to release it even to devices not featuring AI hardware, so pretty much anyone with an Android device can benefit from this new feature.
