With the introduction of iOS 14, Apple introduced a cool feature in Safari: real-time page translation. This translation allows us switch to Spanish or other languages any web page we find. Undoubtedly a very interesting utility to be able to be informed or to investigate whatever the language of the sources.
Translate to english, that easy
Like most of the functions that Apple adds to different devices, the function of translating web pages takes just two clicks. Of course, the first time we have to activate the function. How? ‘Or’ What? Very easy, by touching the corresponding icon in the address bar, but let’s go through parts.
The first thing we need to do is update our Mac to macOS Big Sur. Once the update is installed, just visit a website that is in English and check if at the top of the window, in the smart address bar, match an icon with an A and a Chinese character next to the reload button.
If that doesn’t happen, there’s nothing we can do except wait for this feature, currently in beta, to be enabled for us; If it appears, a single click will open the doors to use it. At the first click, the system will ask us if we want to activate this function and will offer us some information about it in the button More information. Among these is the notice that the feature is still in development and in beta.
Two clicks and all pages are automatically translated.
Once activated, the process of use is very simple. When we find a page in English or any other language, just click on the button and choose Translate to english. Nothing more. From here we can navigate through the different sections of the website and all the pages will be translated automatically. The function is only deactivated if, via a link or via the address bar, we visit another domain.
And to revert to the original language version? A simple click on the same button let choose See the original. Keep in mind that if we activate reader mode, this button disappears. In this case, it is enough to deactivate the reader, translate it and, if we wish, reactivate it.
In the same menu we can also choose Preferred languages … which brings us to System Preferences where with the “+” at the bottom left of the list of languages you can add those to which you want to translate. That is to say, we add languages to which we will be able to see the content once translated, no language to translate from.
And nothing more. It’s also easy to use this feature. As for the results, after several days of testing, I can assure you that I was quite astonished. The English-Spanish translation, which is the one I’ve tested the most, has results that put this tool well ahead of Google Translate, although perhaps not at the level we would see in DeepL. Either way, being able to tap a website button in Chinese and read it in Spanish is, without a doubt, pretty impressive.
