Google Updates Gboard for iOS With Translation Feature

[MacRumors]

Google this week updated its Gboard app for iOS devices with a new ability to translate text into any language supported by Google Translate (via All Things How). This means that users can now send iMessages in different languages right from their keyboard, without visiting an external app.

To see the translation feature, make sure that your Gboard app is updated to version 1.42.0 and then navigate to the Messages app. Open the keyboard, and then tap the globe icon in the bottom left corner to cycle to Gboard. In Gboard, the new translation feature is represented by an icon immediately to the right of the white G button in the top left corner.

From here, you can choose which language you want to translate your text into, and when you tap the translate button it will automatically be applied to the iMessage entry field so you can send it to your contact. The translation feature in Gboard first launched on Android smartphones back in 2017.

Besides translating text, in Gboard you can send GIFs, emoji, stickers, and access features like glide typing and performing a Google search. The keyboard app also connects to other Google services like YouTube, Google Maps, and Google Contacts.

Article Link: Google Updates Gboard for iOS With Translation Feature

 

[Chambers McMac]

Thank you?

 

[jmh600cbr]

this is amazing! I have been using itranslate for years but it crashes and gives horrible translations. My family lives in Russia and speaks 0 english and i speak 0 russian. I literally use this daily.

 

[nburwell]

This certainly is pretty nice addition, especially for @jmh600cbr as they noted in their post above. I'll certainly have to use this the next time I'm traveling overseas.

 

[chewbaka]

I can't think of a better way to enhance the privacy-focused iMessage than by incorporating a Google applet.

 

[69Mustang]

I can think of a better way to enhance the privacy-focused iMessage than by incorporating a Google applet.

So are you implying that the end-to-end encryption of iMessage is somehow broken by incorporating Translate?
What's your better way of enhancing iMessage?

 

[chewbaka]

So are you implying that the end-to-end encryption of iMessage is somehow broken by incorporating Translate?
What's your better way of enhancing iMessage?

No. But Google might be reading what I type into the translator...

And typo fixed...

 

[69Mustang]

No. But Google might be reading what I type into the translator...

And typo fixed...

Wouldn't it be a little bit difficult to translate without knowing what you typed?

 

[chewbaka]

Wouldn't it be a little bit difficult to translate without knowing what you typed?

Wow. You're so clever!

Please stop pretending you don't know what I mean. Surely you see a problem in sending your texts to Google

 

[Pokeymon]

So are you implying that the end-to-end encryption of iMessage is somehow broken by incorporating Translate?
What's your better way of enhancing iMessage?

If you'll notice, in the screen shot it does state "The text that you type in the translate box will be sent to Google for translation". I'm thinking Google won't be able to translate it if it's encrypted. Just sayin...

 

[69Mustang]

Wow. You're so clever!

Please stop pretending you don't know what I mean. Surely you see a problem in sending your texts to Google

I know exactly what you mean. And no, I don't see a problem translating the text through Google. Regardless of what translator is used the text is going to a 3rd party. So what's Google actually going to do?
[doublepost=1552659700][/doublepost]

If you'll notice, in the screen shot it does state "The text that you type in the translate box will be sent to Google for translation". I'm thinking Google won't be able to translate it if it's encrypted. Just sayin...

That's why I asked what his objection was. Breaking encryption was just me being snarky. As stated in a subsequent post, no matter the translator, the message is read by a 3rd party.

 

[Pokeymon]

I know exactly what you mean. And no, I don't see a problem translating the text through Google. Regardless of what translator is used the text is going to a 3rd party. So what's Google actually going to do?
[doublepost=1552659700][/doublepost]
That's why I asked what his objection was. Breaking encryption was just me being snarky. As stated in a subsequent post, no matter the translator, the message is read by a 3rd party.

Got it !

 

[chewbaka]

I know exactly what you mean. And no, I don't see a problem translating the text through Google. Regardless of what translator is used the text is going to a 3rd party. So what's Google actually going to do?
[doublepost=1552659700][/doublepost]
That's why I asked what his objection was. Breaking encryption was just me being snarky. As stated in a subsequent post, no matter the translator, the message is read by a 3rd party.

But in this case the 3rd party is Google. If you don't think it's creppy that Google is reading your texts to sell you things, good for you.

 

[canadianreader]

But in this case the 3rd party is Google. If you don't think it's creppy that Google is reading your texts to sell you things, good for you.

Of course Google is reading it’s a keylogger.

 

[Foxglove9]

You can still use Google's keyboard and not give it full access. Just tap 'don't allow.'

 

[MisterSavage]

this is amazing! I have been using itranslate for years but it crashes and gives horrible translations. My family lives in Russia and speaks 0 english and i speak 0 russian. I literally use this daily.

Technology amazes me. How many years ago would it have been unthinkable to do this?

 

[@meinertzhagen]

Cool, but no thank you. I don't want everything I typed being sent and stored at Google for eternity.

 

[kuwxman]

Oh, a new Google post? Let me check to see if there are ignorant posts about Google being bad. Yep. Like clockwork. It will be an amazing day when talk in a thread can actually be about the Google product or service itself instead of the nonsense above we always see.

I, for one, welcome this update. My German is a bit rusty so this is going to come in handy.

 

[beq]

Does the separate Gboard iOS app get more updates and features than the Gboard that’s included with the main Google iOS app?

I had uninstalled the separate Gboard app since it would show up as 2 redundant "Gboard" keyboard choices in iOS (when you already have the Google app).

But it looks like the separate app already got updated with the Translate feature, while the main Google app hasn’t seen an update in a couple of weeks.

 

[fairuz]

If you'll notice, in the screen shot it does state "The text that you type in the translate box will be sent to Google for translation". I'm thinking Google won't be able to translate it if it's encrypted. Just sayin...

If I remember correctly, it's possible in theory for a third party to translate encrypted text and give back an encrypted translation without ever decrypting it. They're not doing this, though, and if it's possible, it's hard.
[doublepost=1552784197][/doublepost]

Cool, but no thank you. I don't want everything I typed being sent and stored at Google for eternity.

I don't see a workaround if you actually need it, unless you learn the other person's language yourself.
[doublepost=1552784361][/doublepost]

I know exactly what you mean. And no, I don't see a problem translating the text through Google. Regardless of what translator is used the text is going to a 3rd party. So what's Google actually going to do?
[doublepost=1552659700][/doublepost]
That's why I asked what his objection was. Breaking encryption was just me being snarky. As stated in a subsequent post, no matter the translator, the message is read by a 3rd party.

There's no need for this. He's just saying it's best to avoid using GBoard. As I said, you basically need to give them your message if you want to translate it, but people use GBoard for other reasons too.