What if you could easily capture text in a foreign language using your Android device’s video camera and instantly translate it into another language? That’s exactly what the Word Lens translator app is all about, but since its release in 2010 it has only managed to make its way onto iOS devices- until now. The new Android version is available through Google Play now, and essentially includes the same features as the previous version.

In order to do translation of the text you would think that it would need an active Internet connection, but you’d be wrong. Thanks to its built-in dictionary and character recognition technology, you absolutely can use this app without the need for an Online connection.

The original version only allowed English to Spanish translations on iOS, but Quest Visual has recently added French-to-English and Italian-to-English as well. The downside to this app? It isn’t free, at $4.99, and includes just one language pack, with additional languages requiring in-app purchases. While certainly a niche app, it could certainly come in handy for those of us that travel across the globe regularly and need a little help with translating signs, book, and basically anything and everything.

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Today one of these quality apps, Translator, gets a truly useful update. While the program has existed for a while, it now has Bing additions that include the ability to live-translate anything on the fly. In other words, point at a sign and a translation, in your language of choice, appears.

This point and scan system could be perfect for travelers that are visiting countries outside of their native language. It also offers voice translation on the fly (though don’t expect it to replace a true in-person translator anytime soon) and you can enter phrases directly into the program for translation as well.

Is this the first app of its kind? Not at all, but having the power of Bing (and Microsoft) behind it certainly adds some weight to the program’s worth. The fact that it is totally free in the Marketplace is just additional icing to this cake. It’s nice to see that even if Windows Phone doesn’t get all the big titles, it still manages to have some very high quality ones that help the platform shine.

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Your jaw may hit the floor after watching the demo video for the latest and greatest app for the iPhone. It’s called Word Lens, and it utilizes the camera on your iPhone alongside Optical Character Recognition technology to translate written words from one language to another. It can translate road signs, restaurant menus, and pretty much anything you would find useful to read in a foreign language during your travels.

As of right now there is only support for English and Spanish languages, you are able to translate from one to the other at an instant. Co-Creator Otavio Good has said that they will most likely be adding French next, followed by Italian and Portuguese. He also went on to say, “The translation isn’t perfect, but it gets the point across.” If you want to have a hands-on demo of the app, it is available for download now, and comes free with a demo program that spells words backwards, the full translation app will cost you $4.99.

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