With the release of watchOS 11, the Translate app will now be available on Apple smartwatches. This expansion extends the app’s capabilities beyond the iPhone and iPad versions, which have been around for a long time. Apple has also made a new API publicly available, allowing developers to integrate translation tools into their applications more seamlessly.
New Translation API for Developers
Apple introduced this translation API at WWDC 2024. The new API eliminates the need for developers to use third-party platforms to implement translation features in their apps. This development gives third-party apps access to the same machine learning models used in Apple’s own Translate app, ensuring a consistent and high-quality translation experience. Moreover, the translation feature can work offline, which is a significant advantage for users without constant internet access.
The new API is available for devices running iOS 17.4 and later. Additionally, the iOS 18 SDK will include some exclusive features. These features will enhance the translation capabilities further, allowing the system to translate strings individually or in batches, and display translation results in any user interface.
iOS 18 and Public Beta Release
Currently, Apple iOS 18 is available as a preliminary beta version for developers. The public beta version is scheduled for release in July, with the final version arriving in the fall, adds NIXSolutions. These updates promise to bring significant improvements to the Translate app and the overall user experience across Apple devices.
We’ll keep you updated on any further developments and new features as they are announced.