Microsoft launches Bing Translator for Windows 8 with over 40 languages, camera translation, and offline support

Microsoft today announced the release of the Bing Translator app for Windows 8 and Windows RT with support for more than 40 languages. You can download the app now directly from the Windows Store.

Microsoft says the app is designed “from the ground up” for Windows devices, thanks to years of Microsoft Research investments in advancing machine learning. It covers almost all the bases of translation software nowadays, including text translation, camera translation, text-to-speech (hear translations spoken with a native speaker’s accent), and even offline support.

Here it is in action:

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Text translation is pretty straightforward: just type or paste in what you want translated, pick the corresponding languages, and you’re good to go. Camera translation (also known as augmented reality translation) means you can take pictures of text you don’t understand and get the words in your own language. Both work offline via downloadable language packs (only a few are available now, but Microsoft says more are coming soon).

The app’s full feature list is as follows:

• Text translation – Type and translate text into more than 40 languages.
• Camera translation – Translate signs, menus, newspapers, or any printed text with your device’s camera in an instant.
• Text to speech – Hear translations spoken with a native speaker’s accent.
• Offline translation – Translate when you are not connected to the Internet and when you want to avoid expensive data roaming charges by using downloadable offline language packs.
• Translate from anywhere – Translate text from other Windows Store apps using the Share charm. Just select and share.
• Multitask with Snap View – Translate quickly while doing other tasks by snapping Bing Translator to the right or left of your screen.

Again, there really isn’t much else you’d want from a translation app. Google Translate’s main advantage is support for more languages (71 at last count), but that’s something Bing Translator has struggled with for a long time, and isn’t specific to Windows.

See also – With over a million downloads, Microsoft’s Bing translator app comes to Windows Phone 8

Top Image Credit: Dog Madic