谷歌翻譯App對中國用戶開放 不再需要VPN

Google last Wednesday made available in China a new version of its translation app that is accessible without censor-evading software, a move likely to fuel speculation that the internet giant was mending fences with Beijing.

上週三，谷歌公司對旗下翻譯軟件進行更新，並且對中國用戶正式開放，省去了安裝規避審查軟件的麻煩。這一舉動很可能意在爲宣傳“谷歌這一互聯網巨頭有意和中國搞好關係”這一新聞製造噱頭。

Google shut down its website in 2010, moving its Chinese search service from mainland China to Hong Kong in a row over cyberattacks and censorship.

谷歌在2010年宣佈關閉其網站 website，並在接連不斷的網絡攻擊和審查之下將其在中國的搜索服務從大陸轉到了香港。

Chinese have for years been able to utilise a web-based version of Google Translate, but the mobile app has required the use of virtual private network (VPN) software to get around the "Great Firewall", China's huge system of online censorship.

多年以來，中國只能使用基於網頁版的谷歌翻譯，若想使用其移動應用就需要使用虛擬私人網絡（VPN）軟件來避開中國龐大的網絡審查系統--中國防火牆。

"Today we're releasing version 5.8 of the Google Translate apps for Android and iOS, adding instant visual translation between English and Korean, as well as an improved experience for users in China," Google announced in a blog post.

谷歌方面在一篇博文中宣佈：“Google翻譯App的iOS版和安卓版目前已更新至5.8版本。新版本增加了英語和韓語之間的即時視覺翻譯功能，同時優化了中國用戶的體驗。”

It provided a link for Android downloads, while saying iPhone users can search Apple's app store.

谷歌方面還爲安卓用戶提供了一個下載鏈接，並表示蘋果用戶可以在蘋果的應用商店中自行搜索。

It did not explain why the app was now accessible, and a Google spokesman declined to comment on the matter.

對於該應用爲何突然向中國大陸開放，谷歌方面並沒有給出具體原因，其發言人也拒絕就該問題進行任何迴應。

The move could mark a step forward in China for Google, whose main search engine, its Gmail email service, maps, and other offerings are blocked.

這一舉動算是標誌着谷歌在中國又向前邁進了一步，但谷歌的主要搜索引擎、Gmail電子郵件服務、谷歌地圖以及其他功能目前仍被封鎖。