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Google Pixel Buds Are Wireless Earbuds That Translate Conversations In Real Time (arstechnica.com)
At its hardware event today, Google debuted new wireless earbuds, dubbed "Pixel Buds." These are Google's first wireless earbuds that give users access to Google Translate so they can have conversations with people who speak a different language. Ars Technica reports: Unlike Apple's AirPods, the Pixel Buds have a wire connecting the two earpieces. However, that wire doesn't connect to a smartphone or other device. Pixel Buds will pair via Bluetooth to the new Pixel smartphones -- and presumably any other devices that accept Bluetooth wireless earbuds. All of the Pixel Buds' controls are built in to the right earpiece, which is a common hardware solution on wireless earbuds. You can access Google Assistant by tapping or pressing on the right earbud, and the Assistant will be able to read notifications and messages to you through the Buds.
But the most intriguing feature of the Pixel Buds is the integrated Google Translate feature. Demoed on stage at Google's event today, this feature lets two Pixel Bud wearers chat in their native languages by translating conversations in real time. In the demo, a native English speaker and a native Swedish speaker had a conversation with each other, both using their native languages. Google Translate translated the languages for each user. There was barely any lag time in between the speaker saying a phrase and the Buds' hearing those words and translating them into the appropriate language. The Pixel Buds will use Google Translate to comprehend conversations in 40 different languages. Some other features include a 5-hour battery life, and a charging case that can hold up to 24 hours of battery life. They're available for preorder today for $159.
But the most intriguing feature of the Pixel Buds is the integrated Google Translate feature. Demoed on stage at Google's event today, this feature lets two Pixel Bud wearers chat in their native languages by translating conversations in real time. In the demo, a native English speaker and a native Swedish speaker had a conversation with each other, both using their native languages. Google Translate translated the languages for each user. There was barely any lag time in between the speaker saying a phrase and the Buds' hearing those words and translating them into the appropriate language. The Pixel Buds will use Google Translate to comprehend conversations in 40 different languages. Some other features include a 5-hour battery life, and a charging case that can hold up to 24 hours of battery life. They're available for preorder today for $159.
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And it says right there on the page
"THIS IS A RESEARCH SYSTEM. This is also an early release of a research system. We know the APIs and function names are likely to change, and that several tools need to be made available to make this all complete. "
It also has not been updated in 3 months, so its not extremely active either. Its not surprising its from CMU though, their flite library is widely used for speech synthesis all over the place for text to speech.
Either way, the actual parsing being done on mobile devices is minimal at this point. Apple does not do it, and google does it only in specific circumstances with very basic things like 'play music', 'open gmail', etc. There is no in depth parsing to actually figure out context and meaning without the online component as of yet
1. Grab an Android phone
2. Open Google translate
3. Tap "Offline translation", pick a language to download
4. Put the phone into airplane mode
5. Tap and talk
Surprise, it works.
Translation does not happen on the phone. All what you hear will be sent to Google
Precisely. Unless you simply download the small language pack in Google translate enabling it to work on video, audio and text completely offline. You know, like when you're in another country without mobile coverage.
Oh what, didn't fit your narrative?