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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.
Number of times I wanted to listen to music in the past week? 3.
Number of times I wanted a translation in the past, Oh, I dunno, 50 years? 0.
Tired of Google.
I don't see needing a translation while listening to music. And I know how to read a translation.
So this appears pointless unless I somehow become a UN employee.
Which given my hatred of that organization seems unlikely.
We all know that processing is not done on the phone.
Which means the real headline should read "Google earbuds will send every word back to the mothership for processing."
For this to be a killer-app it needs to be on-device translation. High-speed internet connections and high-speed mobile data connections are not common enough outside (and even inside) cities for this to be something you could usefully rely upon.
I could see where this could be useful. Just last week, I went to the Thai massage parlor and the girl asked me if I wanted "the works". When I said yes, they gave me a mop and bucket and told me to start in the lobby.
You are welcome on my lawn.
Can I get these in orange?
This is clearly the most high-tech way yet to say: "My hovercraft is full of eels"
Any steps towards effective universal translators are most welcome!
Time is what keeps everything from happening all at once.
This sounds like you need the GOOGLE earbuds to allow translation services, which happens on the phone. Is this just an attempt at vendor lock-in? Or will this work with any bluetooth headphone supporting device? I don't see how it could.
This abandonment of the headphone jack really looks to be rather expensive and inconvenient to the end user. Almost feels like they are copying the inkjet printer refill fiasco.
You've been able to do more or less the same demo with an Android Gear watch and phone for a couple of years. The output was just text instead of spoken aloud. Honestly it would be a lot nicer if both people could just speak through a single phone. Their new ability to recognize speakers combined with language detection should be enough for that, you'd think. This just feels awkward. If you could invite a robot translator into a phone call, that would be awesome.
So, to summarize ... everything you say is uploaded to Google so they can see if it needs to be translated. In the process it now lives on their server, will be analyzed to see if they can find new things to sell you, and it will become legally discoverable with a subpoena. So you get both ads, and essentially law enforcement will demand this shit right out of the gate.
So, this is the end-game, Google is eavesdropping on all of your conversations so they can foist a service nobody asked for or wants. Seriously, what is the use case for phone calls with people in other languages? Maybe a tiny fraction of all calls, and for the rest of us it is utterly pointless?
Oh, fucking hell no. This is the real reason companies are getting rid of headphone jacks. Sorry, not fucking interested, and the privacy and legal implications of this are mind bogglingly scary.
The day is fast coming that I'm simply going to stop using any kinds of technology. And if it's is technology which is uploading everything I say to see if it needs translating, then fucking no goddamned way. I already don't want your bullshit digital assistant.
The last fucking thing I want is a phone which is eavesdropping on me, especially since the number of times I'm going to be talking with someone who I need translation for is precisely zero.
What the fuck are we coming to???
Long gone are the days where the primary job of headphones was to reproduce the most hi-fidelity and widest frequency response and dynamics possible...
Now Its all about wireless lossy codecs and gimmicks and single hour battery life which come with sonic tradeoffs. Airpods sound horrible for the money - Get the acoustics right, then add features ! I can easily buy 10 dollar headphones online (KZ) that sound amazing. Why cant these tech companies with their flagship earbuds get acoustics right ?? Patents ??
-Kaex
if you ever tried to use google translate to communicate with someone who doens't speak a word of english, then you know it's fucking useless. this just seems like another sad attempt from the android camp to claim to be "first" even though the product has a absolutely shit user experience.
Come on, Google, you know everybody's just going to call it "Babelfish."
My first reaction upon reading this was, "Wow, that's a game changer. Time to embrace Google." This would be fantastic for someone like me who is routinely around people speak little to no English.
Then I remembered that Google Translate mostly churns out total nonsense when going to/from Chinese, and I was less excited.
I just pulled out my phone, opened Translate, spoke and immediately had the translation spoken back to me.
I still think its pretty cool, but what is it about these new earbuds that has any bearing on this bidirectional spoken translation capability which has been baked into the Translate app for ages?
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).
Is this the same translator they use on Youtube videos? Man, that translator sucks.
Yes you need the Google earbuds. It was done that way for "UX reasons". https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15404918
The earbuds send the data to the phone which sends it to Google which translates everything into "my hovercraft is full of eels" and then sends it back to your phone which sends it to the earbuds.
The only new part here is of course the earbuds.
I'm not sure I'd ever trust the translation capability of a device that called themselves "Pixel Earbuds". Those words just don't go together.
Your ad here. Ask me how!
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.
All hail Douglas Adams. So long and thanks for all the fish.
All good reasons on that link... until you remember that none of those reasons would apply if they had kept a 3.5mm headphone socket for wired headphones.
This sounds like you need the GOOGLE earbuds to allow translation services, which happens on the phone.
Translation does not happen on the phone. All what you hear will be sent to Google, probably primarly for "optimizing advertisements presented to you" and other eavesdropping purposes, and secondarily, Google will attempt some translation sent back to your phone.
Unless, of course, you have no Internet connection or service from Google, in which case there is no translation at all.
hope they work better than google translate! as if that translation engine is used you are well and truly up shit creek without a paddle if you rely on the shit translations it provides.
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?
Or will this work with any bluetooth headphone supporting device? I don't see how it could.
I think this may be vendor lock-in. There doesn't seem to be any capability here that isn't part of Google translate with the exception of doing it with a button from the headset.
No, normal Bluetooth headphones should work, assuming you use your phone a microphone for the other person. The translation service should also work offline as long as you're using an android phone (although, it won't be as good as the online translation).
I think this is just a marketing play because Google noticed that a different manufacturer did something similar with android hardware that one would place around one's neck and charged thousands of dollars for the device.
shut up.
Good, so I don't have to get an update with that feature unknowingly.
For those who buy in to this, prepare to pack several propritetary earbuds and get locked out when they don't like you anymore (EULA-violations and updates to EULA after "purchase").
Police: Where did this bank robber hide the loot? ... I buried it under auntie's hortensias. ... His aunt will bury him honourably.
Interpreter: Where did you hide the bank's money?
Suspect: I haven't been around any banks for years!
I: He denies even being at the scene of crime.
P: Tell him watch this gunbarrel and picture his temple in the crosshairs.
I: Speak up or they will blow out your brains!
S: I'm scared, don't want to die!
I: He's not scared of death!
Wonder if people with those Google Pixel buds in their ears sat down to watch something very meta, like Bakemonogatari with the original japanese voice cast, what would come out of that in AI-based english interpretation?
Often times even the humans of various anime fansubber groups can't quickly agree on a particular translation, due to various levels of insight into the island nation's mythology, folklore, popular beliefs vs. literal interpretation and the generally indirect nature of far east asiatic languages versus indo-european.
On the other hand, some closer language pairs like swedish british english should be rather straightforward, Google's text-to-text translator is already scoring almost a perfect there. Though one must note 90% of swedish population already has good command of english due to school curriculum and wouldn't need a translator earbud anyhow.
Both people have to have them in order for the real-time translation to work. Wonâ(TM)t work with just anybody that you meet in the street :(
"This video is unavailable."
Comment removed based on user account deletion
People will now be hearing all kinds of "Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra", finally realizing how much of what we say is in phrases and not words.
Ahh, their eyes open; their sails unfurl.
(-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
Anyone got a link to the video that works?
== Jez ==
Do you miss Firefox? Try Pale Moon.
I've worked with people from so many nationalities across the world. Something like this is truly amazing and a great step forward.
The "universal translator" LOL.
First, how does it know, or do you tell it, what language to translate?
And second... I read that red book that led me to want to learn more about lead, and wha's happenin', babeeee?
At work, we have a "hybrid phone, and we get "voicemail previews" "powered by M% speech technology". They range from sorta-kind ok, to Vogon poetry. Now, *I* wouldn't let alpha software out the door, but we are talking M$, where *you* are the (unpaid) beta tester.
The story that the translation happens in the earbuds is simply lie. Questioning the obvious like doesn't mean one has an agenda. Default in the cloud, with options for on the phone. It was a lie by omission in the article. Why are you supporting their lies?
Learn to love Alaska
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.
Great. Then tell me please the link where to download the the "small language pack" for Greece, where I intended to spend my next holiday. Or is there none to fit your narrative?
Err the download button is immediately to the right of the language select button, next to the word "Greek".
Silly users don't fit the narrative very well.
All good reasons on that link... until you remember that none of those reasons would apply if they had kept a 3.5mm headphone socket for wired headphones.
WTF does a 3.5 mm headphone jack have to do with BT earbuds?
If anything, that makes this product MORE compatible across devices and platforms.
For the translation services, you have to use the Google BT headphones, there are no other compatible options. The reasons they give for making it specific to their headset are all specific to BT headphones. If they had support for a 3.5mm TRRS plug then they would have compatibility with a huge range of other options.
For the translation services, you have to use the Google BT headphones, there are no other compatible options. The reasons they give for making it specific to their headset are all specific to BT headphones. If they had support for a 3.5mm TRRS plug then they would have compatibility with a huge range of other options.
I would think that the real reason is that those earbuds have an App that receives a dedicated command from the earbuds, initiating the translation and text to speech process.
Just guessing, though.
These could be a boon to foreign film buffs who have to continuously switch their attention from the action to the sub-titles. (A shit-load of films are available with sub-titles, but not audio translations).
A modern reprise of the famous in-ear translating babel fish from "Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy" written by Douglas Adams....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_races_and_species_in_The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy#Babel_fish
Thanks for the article. Can you also do a review for Rowkin Bit earbuds? https://goo.gl/8uGPLg