Google adds automatic language translation to Gmail

As detailed within a post on the Official Gmail Blog, the Gmail development team has transitioned automatic message translation from the experimental section in Google Labs to a finished product integrated into the public version of Gmail.

Rolling out to all Gmail users over the rest of the week, users will now be able to translate messages written in another language directly from the Gmail interface. Located within the header of the email messages, users will find a new “Translate message” link. After the link has been clicked, the message will change to the user’s native language as dictated by the Language option within Gmail Settings.

This feature is especially helpful for users with friends and family that are living in another country. As detailed by Gmail product manager Jeff Chin, he stated “We heard immediately from Google Apps for Business users that this was a killer feature for working with local teams across the world. Some people just wanted to easily read newsletters from abroad. Another person wrote in telling us how he set up his mom’s Gmail to translate everything into her native language, thus saving countless explanatory phone calls (he thanked us profusely).“

Users can also setup the inbox to automatically translate messages specific to any language and avoid clicking the “Translate message” link over and over. However, if the user speaks and reads multiple languages, they can turn off this new feature specific to each language.

Beyond adding the ability to translate messages within the Gmail interface, the development team also upgraded two more Labs projects to the public version of Gmail. “Smart Mute” helps silence extended email chains with multiple respondents and works across the Web version of Gmail and the mobile version. “Tile Tweaks” relocates the number of new emails displayed in the browser tab and allows the user to see the number of unopened emails in the opening portion of the tab without having to hover the mouse over the tab name.

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