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Ars Reviews Skype Translator

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the in-the-future-everyone-will-have-been-in-the-past dept.

Esra Erimez writes Peter Bright doesn't speak a word of Spanish but with Skype Translator he was able to have a spoken conversation with a Spanish speaker as if he was in an episode of Star Trek. He spoke English. A moment later, an English language transcription would appear, along with a Spanish translation. Then a Spanish voice would read that translation.

3 of 71 comments (clear)

  1. One annoyance... by SuricouRaven · · Score: 3, Informative

    The translation is only available if you use Windows 8.

    There's no technical reason for this. It's a simple business issue. Microsoft wants people to upgrade to Windows 8. Microsoft owns Skype. So it's obvious what happened: Someone called the Skype management and told them that any new features are to be Windows 8 exclusive in future.

    I'm really surprised Microsoft haven't ordered the linux client discontinued yet.

  2. One annoyance... by vikman · · Score: 5, Informative

    I work on Skype Translator. Given the complexity of the technology in the back-end, the team looked for a client code base that was fast to experiment with, develop and release on - and so the modern windows 8 app seems like a good way to go - no other nefarious reason. Also, users of skype translator can call other Skype clients (Skype Desktop is officially supported, while I have certainly called ios, xbox on other clients successfully).

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  3. Microsoft Marketing by Tenebrousedge · · Score: 3, Informative

    how can you possibly not link to an a/v demo or review of this, in the thread OR in the review???

    So they could sneak in a subtle advertisement for Surface tablets. The reviewer does not seem to have been allowed to take his own photos or video, given that the photo credit is for Microsoft.

    Also, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a rigged demo." The article states clearly that this did not work outside of conditions that were carefully controlled by Microsoft. On that note, the writer exclusively covers Microsoft news.

    All in all, this should be treated as a press release, not a review.

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    Those who advocate genocide deserve every protection afforded by law, and none afforded by common human decency.