$0 $4.99
iTunes has the Word Lens App (iOS 6.1+) for $0 downloaded. This well-reviewed app translates written language in real-time using your phone's camera. All languages are currently free (normally purchased in-app for $4.99 each).
$0 retail: $4.99
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Comments & Reviews (7)

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callan
Ben's cred: 31
Posted 05/17/2014 at 11:43 PM PT
Posted 05/17/2014 at 11:43 PM PT
This is a really neat app, especially for free right now. Be sure to go inside the app and "purchase" all the languages they currently offer since they are free.

I tested it by looking at russian signs on google images. It is impressive how it translates and literally puts the translation over the original language in a similar font and color background. Truly innovative.
Mrbort
Ben's cred: 29
Posted 05/18/2014 at 09:48 AM PT
Posted 05/18/2014 at 09:48 AM PT
Awesome! This will be a totally useful app and like #1 said, make sure to jump on all of the free languages that you can right now. I just did it and was testing it out on some stuff I have sitting around translating it to cyrillic. Really clever! I plan on doing more testing on street view or on some stuff I have in Spanish (which I speak fluently) to see how accurate the translations are.

Okay my little attention span couldn't take it and I just tested it EN->Spanish on some random book titles/cover text and bank statements and the translations are pretty good! It's VERY literal so things like "Sign up for online account services" came out to something like "sign above for online account services." The first part is a pretty obvious idiom literal translation and the latter actually was a word for word translation that didn't change the word order like it would have in Spanish. The English equivalent would have been something like "services account" which would certainly give a non-speaker the idea of what is needed. This isn't designed for literary translation, after all!

Thanks a ton for the post!!
easp
Ben's cred: 0
Posted 05/18/2014 at 11:18 AM PT
Posted 05/18/2014 at 11:18 AM PT
This was neat when it first came out. I guess it is still neat if you've never used it before, but it is incredibly mediocre.
metronyshopper
Ben's cred: 5
Posted 05/18/2014 at 11:38 AM PT
Posted 05/18/2014 at 11:38 AM PT
Callan, your comment and instructions really helped, I would have just thought i got those demo words otherwise.
remember to scroll down after you d/l the first 2 languages there are at least 2 more for free also
sanvara
Ben's cred: 40
Posted 05/18/2014 at 12:36 PM PT
Posted 05/18/2014 at 12:36 PM PT
The android app has all the languages included for free without separate downloads while the IOS app was $5 a language. Funny how app developers try and bleed as much money as they can out of IOS users.
ascrackoo1
Ben's cred: 6
Posted 05/18/2014 at 08:15 PM PT
Posted 05/18/2014 at 08:15 PM PT
they're owned by google now, thats probably why it's free
sandman
Ben's cred: 134
Posted 05/23/2014 at 04:02 PM PT
Posted 05/23/2014 at 04:02 PM PT
The WordLens app, and all languages are still free 5/23. VERY impressive app.