Translator App for smart phones

[David]

Well I never! I recently moved from an £18 button phone to a basic smart phone as it was a last year model and only £39 from my provider ... now, I have rather been against using phones on the Camino - and I still am, except for emergency use, as I feel that by talking to people at home one is no longer in the experience .. but there you go ..

But a phone as a tool?

I have just installed the Google Translator app into it and it is utterly stunning!

I choose 'English - Spanish' and speak a sentence into it and the phone then speaks back in Spanish! And you don't have to be connected to the internet for it to work.

Now, although I do speak French and a little German I have found it impossible (too old I think, or too lazy) to retain Spanish - but now I can get the person to speak into my phone and hear what they are saying in English - and vice-versa.

Science fiction or what! And the app is free - result!!!

Buen Camino!

 

[NicoZ]

You can also type or have the person type sentences in.

If you want to ask someone a complicated question it's easier to type it in before hand and then show them the translation

 

[David]

Ah - so people know about this, and there is me, thinking I have invented the wheel!

True, but typing is so last century (I'm told!) - for me it is the ability to speak into the machine that is so wonderful - and easy! - and it is possible that the Spanish person doesn't know how to type - or even write or read, I have met a few peasants who cannot read.

 

[Magwood]

I guess I might have issues here in Andalucia getting a translation from a local spaniard speaking into the transłater. The dialect here is so strong and they miss many letters from the middle of words. Could get myself into interesting situations!

 

[camino-david]

I came across this app this year on the VDLP when I went to a Podogogo (Spanish for a podiatrist) who could not speak a word of English and my Spanish was not up to describing my medical condition. I would speak into her smartphone and the Spanish written words would appear on the screen, and when she spoke I could read in English what she had said. What was more amazing was that the translations were into colloquial English. I couldn't get over it and told everyone I met about this amazing app.

 

[wayfarer]

I downloaded it yesterday after reading your post David but my version doesn't work offline, you must have wifi, I have the Samsung S3.
Great app though.

 

[NicoZ]

You need an internet connection not necessarily WiFI.

The various smartphone pay as you go offered are more then good enough. Many are under €20 a month including voice and SMS. So if you have an unlocked phone getting a Spanish SIM will give you what is needed.

Of course this assumes you have a signal.

 

[David]

I downloaded it yesterday after reading your post David but my version doesn't work offline, you must have wifi, I have the Samsung S3.
Great app though.

Oh - I just tried mine and it works fine. Not wi-fi connected but I do have a signal (G3). Will try to find somewhere with no signal - pretty tricky - and check it again. I have the Alcatel S pop on EE/Orange in the uk.

 

[wayfarer]

Update, I downloaded the app to my Samsung tab 10.1 and the blurb in Google Play says "Translate offline while travelling, no internet connection needed." What you have to do is download a Language package for it to work offline. The details are in the "visit the Web Page" in Google Play where you got the app.

 

[haikutaxi]

Well I never! I recently moved from an £18 button phone to a basic smart phone as it was a last year model and only £39 from my provider ... now, I have rather been against using phones on the Camino - and I still am, except for emergency use, as I feel that by talking to people at home one is no longer in the experience .. but there you go ..

But a phone as a tool?

I have just installed the Google Translator app into it and it is utterly stunning!

I choose 'English - Spanish' and speak a sentence into it and the phone then speaks back in Spanish! And you don't have to be connected to the internet for it to work.

Now, although I do speak French and a little German I have found it impossible (too old I think, or too lazy) to retain Spanish - but now I can get the person to speak into my phone and hear what they are saying in English - and vice-versa.

Science fiction or what! And the app is free - result!!!

Buen Camino!

A smart phone is an amazing and very light-weight tool ... translator, computer, telephone, GPS, camera, flashlight, reader, etc.). If your phone is not locked to a carrier you can buy a local sim card (15-25 Euro for a month of service with a reasonable amount of data) for whatever country you are in and you are good to go. Having a phone with a removable battery is useful feature so you can carry a spare charged battery to pop in if necessary (and on a long day you might need it). Put in the fresh battery, leave the other to charge overnight so you have it ready for the next day. Enjoy ...