谷歌翻译App对中国用户开放 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.

上周三，谷歌公司对旗下翻译软件进行更新，并且对中国用户正式开放，省去了安装规避审查软件的麻烦。这一举动很可能意在为宣传“谷歌这一互联网巨头有意和中国搞好关系”这一新闻制造噱头。

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年宣布关闭其网站 website，并在接连不断的网络攻击和审查之下将其在中国的搜索服务从大陆转到了香港。

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.

多年以来，中国只能使用基于网页版的谷歌翻译，若想使用其移动应用就需要使用虚拟私人网络（VPN）软件来避开中国庞大的网络审查系统--中国防火墙。

"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布：“Google翻译App的iOS版和安卓版目前已更新至5.8版本。新版本增加了英语和韩语之间的即时视觉翻译功能，同时优化了中国用户的体验。”

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

谷歌方面还为安卓用户提供了一个下载链接，并表示苹果用户可以在苹果的应用商店中自行搜索。

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

对于该应用为何突然向中国大陆开放，谷歌方面并没有给出具体原因，其发言人也拒绝就该问题进行任何回应。

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.

这一举动算是标志着谷歌在中国又向前迈进了一步，但谷歌的主要搜索引擎、Gmail电子邮件服务、谷歌地图以及其他功能目前仍被封锁。