Google Translate for Android improved with Conversation Mode

Google Translate for Android has been improved with several updates to make the application easier to interact with. Among other improvements, Google has created better dropdown boxes to help select the languages you want to translate from and into, an improved input box, and cleaner icons and layout. There's also an experimental feature which is still in its earliest stages - Conversation Mode. This is a new interface within Google Translate that’s optimized to allow you to communicate fluidly with a nearby person in another language.

According to the Google Mobile blog,

Currently, you can only use Conversation Mode when translating between English and Spanish. In conversation mode, simply press the microphone for your language and start speaking. Google Translate will translate your speech and read the translation out loud. Your conversation partner can then respond in their language, and you’ll hear the translation spoken back to you. Because this technology is still in alpha, factors like regional accents, background noise or rapid speech may make it difficult to understand what you’re saying. Even with these caveats, we’re excited about the future promise of this technology to be able to help people connect across languages.

Google Translate for Android supports 53 languages, from Afrikaans to Yiddish, and voice input for 15 languages. You can download the app, available for devices running Android 2.1 and above, by searching for “Google Translate” in Android Market.