Microsoft's Translator app plays catch-up with Google

The iPhone version now allows you to use the device's camera to translate signs, menus, etc., while the version for Android devices can run offline.

Microsoft has a couple of new tricks up his sleeve to help better compete with Google Translate.

Published on Thursday, the version of Microsoft Translator for iPhone, iPad and Apple shows now includes optical character recognition or OCR. This means that the application can translate the text that is in a picture. You can use your iPhone to take a photo of a sign or menu, and the application could superimpose a text translation.

translation on-the-go with mobile apps has been captured as a very useful service for travelers and others. Google has been the leader until now, through its website and mobile application. Microsoft must prove it can do more than play second fiddle to Google if you want your own application to capture more users.

The version of Microsoft Translator for Android devices is also a new feature. As of Wednesday, you can use even when you're not connected to Internet, with downloadable language packs. This could be useful in a foreign country where Internet access is slow, irregular or non-existent, or via Wi-Fi or cellular.

Just go in the application menu and tap the offline option Languages; then download the original language and destination. Simplified Chinese, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese language support linking the following is limited to English and.

Microsoft said in a blog offline translations are almost as good as you would get in line.

The character recognition function for iPhones and other devices running Apple's iOS operating system are not yet available for Android devices, and the offline feature for Android devices are not yet available for iOS devices . Microsoft said it would soon change, so that all versions of the app (iOS, Android, Windows Phone and Windows) will have the same characteristics.

Google Translate application has long included Optical Character Recognition to translate text on the fly through the camera of your mobile device. The Android version of Google Translate offers the ability to download language packs for translation on line, but the issue iOS still lacks this feature.

Microsoft Translator not only supports Apple mobile devices, including shows from Apple, but Android smart watches wear adapt its Google Mobile software running to carry.

You can translate text speak, write, draw with your finger or snapping a photo. In return, you receive both a screen and verbal translation of your text.

Microsoft Translator currently supports about 50 languages, including Arabic, English, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Swedish, Thai and Vietnamese.