Google Translate for Android was first launched just about one year ago and therefore we are not surprised to see an update at this time. The new update brings some new features to make things easier. The app works in 53 languages and has voice input capability in 15 languages.

Google Translate for Android lets you speak a word or phrase needing translation rather than typing it in whilst SMS translation lets you translate SMS messages.

The update just released has better drop-down boxes to select the language you need to translate from and into, better layout, clearer icons and an improved input box.

There is a new conversation mode ( see video demo below ). This is a new interface within Google Translate that’s optimized to allow you to communicate fluidly with a nearby person in another language. 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.

To start you activate the microphone and speak into it. Google Translate then leaps into action and reads out the translation. Currently, it works only for English to Spanish.

The conversation mode included is an alpha build, so things like regional accents, background noise or rapid speech may make it difficult to understand what's being said.