iOS 15 Lets Your iPhone Grab Text From Anywhere — Here’s How!
Apple recently released iOS 15 and at first glance, it may not seem that revolutionary of an update, but look a little deeper and I think you'll see that it contains a truly revolutionary feature: Live Text.
Live Text blurs the line between the real and digital world in a way that I don't think is easily appreciated.
One thing to note before we dive in further, Live Text requires Apple's A12 Bionic or later chip to work. This means you need an iPhone XS, XR, or newer to use this feature. More Details on compatible devices can be found below
Why is this feature so revolutionary?
Live Text makes all text in the real or digital world available to be copied, manipulated, and shared in a way that hasn't been possible until now.
What is that word on the menu?
Point your camera at it, select the live text button, look it up, and now you know! No cumbersome typing, typos, or autocorrect getting in the way!
Arrived to pick up your curbside order, and the phone number is on the sign in front of you?
Point your camera at the sign, select live text, and tap the number to call!
Found some text you want to select on a website that isn't actually text but an image...
No problem, just rest your finger on it for a second and then drag to select it!
Dang, that link in an post isn't selectable…
Well now it is! Take a screenshot, rest your finger on the text to select. Now you can snag links from Instagram photo captions or grab a twitter handle from your feed!
Have some hand written notes that you want to digitize?
Point your phone at the page (or take a picture for improved accuracy) select the live text button, select your writing, choose share, and choose where you want to send or save it!
Live Text can also translate!
Per Apple, "Live Text understands seven different languages: English, Chinese, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, and Spanish. And with system‑wide translation, you can simply tap and translate."
This is so powerful! I recently got a keyboard where the english translation of a feature in the manual was, well… not as clear as it could have been. I was able to use live text on the Chinese version of the instructions and easily translate them to english for a bit better translation.
Even for languages that are not support, it can often identify the language being viewed.
In closing…
I hope this wets your appetite for the potential possibilities of Live Text. Text you encounter is no longer locked behind physical or digital barriers where you'll have to type it in manually ever again.
If you can capture it in a photo or screenshot, you can now use that text anywhere, even if you don't speak the language!
Thank you so much for reading!
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