Already: Apple opens the translation interface to developers

Nice surprise for developers: Apple has a translation app built into iOS and iPadOS Apple Translate Created its own API. This makes it possible to package Apple’s multilingual translations into your own application – even on the Mac, which currently lacks Apple Translate as a separate application.

Advertisement

more features will come later

New The API is called Translate It can also be used immediately, so you don’t have to wait for iOS 18 or macOS 15. It is sufficient if the device is running iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4 or macOS 15 Sonoma. The Translation API complements the translation system functions already available (Mac, iPhone, iPad) or Apple Translate. This is currently done through an overlay that a developer can activate by pressing a button.

According to Apple, the API will be further improved in iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS 15 to also enable in-line translation, which is less disruptive to users. Then it should also be possible to display multiple translations at the same time and react to changed content. In addition, the translation remains in the look of the app.

SpaceX brings Starlink Mini, a portable, laptop-sized antenna for travel

Multilingual keyboard

Another innovation in terms of foreign language support concerns the keyboard under iOS and Co. Since iOS 18 this will be possible for the first time without having to switch between different languages. Making entries using keyboard view. This applies to Japanese and English, for example. Apple has also worked on a number of other functions that aim to make language display, formatting, and searching easier in multiple languages.

Apple Translate currently supports 18 different languages, including English, German, French, Arabic, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Polish, Dutch, Thai and Vietnamese. Ukrainian was added with iOS 17, and Hindi will also be included in iOS 18. It is not clear why the group does not support smaller countries such as Denmark, Norway or Sweden – they often have to wait for support from other applications such as Siri or the dictation function. Competitors such as Google work faster here.

(B.Sc.)