Android 12 will be the next version of Google’s operating system, which is currently in its third version for developers. We still do not know when its official release date will be, although the first beta version is expected to arrive this month of May. Be that as it may, over the weeks new functions and tools have been filtered that this operating system will include, such as translating text from the screenshots we take with our device.
As we said, the launch of the final version of Android 12 remains an unknown for all users, although it is expected to be available on our devices at the end of this summer, between the months of August and September. Until then, we know that the new version of the operating system will incorporate evident improvements in security, connectivity and multimedia resources, as well as a new API that will allow us to insert and exchange content from any available source, such as the clipboard.
Can screenshots be translated without help?
Currently, there is no way to do screen translations from mobile phones. The only case that we find to date is in the mobiles that Google manufactures, the so-called Pixel . Models that have the Android 11 operating system installed are already beginning to implement this feature to translate the text of a capture directly, unlike how we previously did it with Google Translate and its slow process. However, it may take some time until it finishes reaching all the devices of the Californian company, since not all of them support compatibility for now.
Automatic translation of captures in Android 12
Android 12 is very close to launching its first beta version, and as the weeks go by, new functions and possible features are filtered. In this case, rumors point to a hidden function that could include the new operating system update, which would be based on automatically translating the user interface of the applications we use. This means that every time we start an application or use it in a language other than ours, all the text would be automatically translated into our native language.
Rumors suggest that this new API will not use Google Translate , but that it is a completely different one. In fact, we could manage this feature ourselves to have a better experience with these applications, although that is left to developers. With this, the rest of the users would be able to enjoy all the applications of the Play Store translated into our language. However, we still have to wait to see if they will finally include it, since it would not be the first time they discarded a function at the last minute.
How does Google Lens help?
As long as the automatic translation is effective or not, we can make use of Google Lens . This application allows us to search for information about everything we see, in addition to being able to complete tasks faster and better understand the world through our mobile camera.
Through our camera, the app can recognize objects, places, animals and text. When we focus on what we want to translate, Lens will start to analyze the elements, recognize them, and then search the internet for them to show related results. For this, it relies on other applications of the Californian company, such as Google Maps , Photos or Chrome .
The Translate mode is the one that interests us in this case. You will be able to translate texts in real time, regardless of the language in which it is found. If a problem arises during the process, you can change languages in the options that appear in the upper right. The steps to follow are those:
- Open the Google Lens app. If you don’t have it downloaded on your device, you can also access it through Google, which will appear in the search bar with a camera icon .
- Once you are inside, find the text you want to translate.
- When you have decided on the text, focus on it directly with your mobile camera. The application will automatically detect the language, and will show you a preview of all the text already translated.
- Then, press the Translate button and the mobile will take a picture of the already translated text.
The alternative for other versions of Android
There are millions of devices around the world that will not be updated to Android versions 11 and 12, so they will not have access to either of these two options. However, there is always an alternative for older models, and in this case we find it in an application that we can download from the Play Store . This is Scan Translate + Capture text, an application that supports more than 100 languages .
This completely free application allows us to scan any written text and obtain a translation in a matter of seconds. It has an automated voice system that shows us the exact pronunciation of words or phrases, as well as highly advanced optical character recognition technology. You can translate any paper document, such as letters, menus, instructions and label texts, all with a very easy-to-use interface. Its operation in the following:
- The first thing you have to do is focus on the document you want to translate.
- Then press the red button that appears at the bottom to take the photo. You can also take the image from your gallery .
- The image will appear on the screen with two options on each side: one for selecting the source language and one for the target language.
- After selecting the languages, press the “OCR” button.
- The complete translation will automatically appear on the next screen. If you want to hear the translation, just press the “Voice” button.
How to take a screenshot
At a general level, the vast majority of smartphones have not changed the way they take a screenshot since their launch. It is done very easily, and all we have to do is press the power button and the volume down key at the same time, usually holding down for a second. We will realize if we have done it correctly when we see a flash or blur on the screen of our device, followed by a sound or vibration. These images are saved in the gallery of the phone, as well as in the clipboard to have them more at hand.
On the other hand, not all mobiles follow the same modus operandi. Other brands have other combinations when taking a screenshot with our phone. These are the other possible combinations to take a screenshot, and you will have to hold them down at the same time for at least one second:
- Power button and volume up
- Power button and volume down