Google has updated its Translate app to include real-time on-screen translations of text you point your camera at.
Even more amazingly, this stuff all happens natively on device—no network connection required (F off, ridonkulous international roaming fees). And according to the team blog:
Starting today, simply tap the mic to start speaking in a selected language, then tap the mic again, and the Google Translate app will automatically recognize which of the two languages are being spoken, letting you have a more fluid conversation. For the rest of the conversation, you won’t need to tap the mic again—it’ll be ready as you need it.
Days of miracles & wonder, man.
It took a few tries, but it translated the Japanese labels on my daughter’s Pikachu toy box. Totally cool.