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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.
The new Big Internet evil power is here.
The mission? Collect dirt on everyone.
The purpose? Send the cops after everyone who doesn't vote for the right corporation's lobbyists.
Your rights are now their weapons and your doom.
Vote for Google for prez 2020! Or go to jail!
(It's gonna be spelled with a "z" because future!!!)
For the iPhone and iPad Apple still sends the data over to their servers to be processed. If you turn on Siri on the Mac it sends data to Apple as well. However you can turn this off (or at least some of this from going to Apple) by going to the Keyboard preferences and under the Dictation section turning on the Use Enhanced Dictation feature. This allows offline use and does the processing on your computer. It also downloads about 1 GB of data when you turn it on (the first time - I hope it keeps it around if you turn it off).
While I'm sure that the processor is powerful enough to do the work on the phone it would be a big drain on the battery, at least more than the network used. Also storing 1 GB would really get people complaining. And that would probably be per language. I would also imagine the RAM requirements for such a program would be fairly heavy too.
Anyone who speaks more than one language will tell you that context is one of the biggest hurdles in translating language. It's not just straight word for word translation, the context might not be given until you get to the end of the sentence, so it is actually impossible to translate language in real time.
Even for native speakers of multiple languages you have to wait until the end of the sentence before translating. So the TFS is fucking bullshit (again).
I want this. In San Antonio it's very common for people to switch to Spanish whenever they see a white person come near.
My brother and I made up a nonsensical language that we would switch to in elevators and other places when this would happen. We had no idea what we were saying but at least we helped the other people not be the only jerks in the room :)
Just having it a work would be a dream when my peers and managers switch to Spanish and start giggling and laughing, Funny thing is that they get pissed when people from Korea switch to Korean in front of them