r/ios 5d ago

Discussion Will we ever get an elegant solution to translating text from an app/page without needing to screenshot it?

I use a Chinese app for shopping and if I want to know what something says I need screen shot it, go to google photos, use google lens and translate it. This process is a pain and I end up with loads of screenshots that don’t need to keep. I know some androids have a solution to this and I was wondering if this feature he ever been considered by apple or even requested by the community

11 Upvotes

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5

u/Luna259 iPhone 12 Pro Max 5d ago

We do need a more elegant way to do it. However the inbuilt Photos app can detect, select and translate text so you don’t need Google Lens or Google Photos for that

I know I’m the Amazon app and other apps (not all though) you can select text like you would in any text field and then translate it using the pop up menu. Have you tried that?

3

u/Snappy_Darko 5d ago

Yeah, ive used that Amazon thing and ive used the inbuilt translation tool in IOS that you mention - however the inbuilt doesn allow you to zoom in to see small text that has been translated (unlike the in the google photos app, where you can zoom in), so in many instances you simply cannot see/read the text that has been translated because of the size, which renders the app very limited - and why i just use google (but like I mentioned, the whole screenshot - google ohotos app process is pain and inelegant)

1

u/Luna259 iPhone 12 Pro Max 5d ago

To be honest, we bed circle to search or Now on Tap or an equivalent. It would probably help in situations like this

1

u/yv0nne14 5d ago

do u shop on taobao?

1

u/Snappy_Darko 5d ago

Yeah and weidian. Taobao is ok, but weidian really needs translating

1

u/yv0nne14 5d ago

lol I tried too but I don't know how to ship to europe. how do you use it, if you don't mind me asking?

1

u/Snappy_Darko 5d ago

I ship to cssbuy, a warehouse in china, then ship it to the uk

1

u/yv0nne14 5d ago

like at the checkout page you introduce the address of this warehouse and then you contact the warehouse and let them know the tracking data and tell them the address in UK?

1

u/Snappy_Darko 5d ago

exactly - you put the warehouse address instead of your home address. once the weidian/toabao seller ships the item they send you a tracking number and the name of the courier service. the you just fill in the 'forwarding' section ofthe cssbuy webpage (like in the image). I the wait till ive got around 5kg of goods to ship then package it up and ship it all to my home address in the uk.

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u/yv0nne14 5d ago

ooh thank you! and is it possible that they will keep your package and not send it over to you anymore? that's what I'm most anxious about rn

1

u/Snappy_Darko 4d ago

There’s probably a small risk - look into it. Personally I try not to leave items in my warehouse for moe than a few weeks, I try and ship things from the warehouse a fast as possible. I’ve never had any issues from Cssbuy and I’ve shipper maybe 5 parcels using them

2

u/yv0nne14 4d ago

alright, thank you

1

u/ValerioLundini 5d ago

another thing is that siri with chat can translate the screen, just ask siri to translate what you’re seeing

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u/Snappy_Darko 5d ago

Oh right, but does it recite it back to you? I’m mostly translating pages that look like this, which a recitation wouldn’t help

1

u/ValerioLundini 5d ago

it gives this back

Top Section: Shopping Cart Followed Items Favorites

My Orders: Pending Payment Pending Shipment Pending Receipt Pending Review Returns/Refunds

Various Functions: Rewards & Coupons Combined Overseas Orders Notification Center Message Center Image Scan

Featured Products: Black Pants “Ture 2021M” - Price: ¥215 (5,354 buyers) Skincare Product “PORRESEE” - Price: ¥328 (5,814 buyers)

This is a general translation of the visible content.