Google Translate Gets Boost with Background Mode and Earpiece Support

Google has upgraded its Translate app for both iOS and Android platforms. The new features aim to support longer translation sessions and hands-free use.

The company notes that more than a third of live translation sessions now last longer than five minutes, making the background mode feature necessary for users who multitask or need to lock their phone screen during translation sessions.

Android users can already take advantage of this feature, while iOS support is expected soon. The live translate feature offers audio translations in over 70 languages.

iOS users worldwide can now receive live translations directly through their phone's earpiece, a feature previously only available on Android devices.