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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.
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."
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.
There are many settings where this could be very useful outside of the UN. Like any business dealing with a multi-ethnic customer base (and no, I don't mean multi-national corporations only - it could apply to many corner stores in NYC for example). Or that country that you've wanted to visit but you don't speak the language of, and they don't speak English.
I hadn't known there were so many idiots in the world until I started using the Internet -Stanislaw Lem
From what I've seen in stand-up comedy and TV shows, it could be useful for Americans wanting to take a vacation in the UK.
#DeleteFacebook
This is clearly the most high-tech way yet to say: "My hovercraft is full of eels"
Number of times I wanted a translation in the past, Oh, I dunno, 50 years? 0.
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness,
Actually, with that in mind, it's probably safest if you continue to stay where you are.
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.
Listen to music? About 8 hours a day.
Translations in the last two weeks? A few dozen (China, Malaysia). These would be awesome to have just for the translation capabilities.
Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
#DeleteFacebook
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.
Can't believe it took this long for a babelfish reference - and then you go and muck it up.
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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.
My guess is he is a suburbanite who is afraid of meeting new people so never has seen a foreigner.
Fuck you monkey, go back to your own shitty hindustan, I don't want you here.
Guess confirmed. In only 8 minutes!
Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
So you mean Google does not know the context? Let's see:
- They know your location
- They know the weather and all events at the place where you are
- They know your name
- They know where you live
- They may know your friends
- They know what you watched on Youtube
- They know what you have been searching for online
- They know all things mentioned above about the person you are talking to
Combine this with some facial expression recognition, which should be possible with iPhone8, and some more context recognition via camera, and you will have more context than most human translators would have.
Signature deleted by lameness filter.
All hail Douglas Adams. So long and thanks for all the fish.
Yeaaahhh. Google Translate still makes a mess of written Japanese, despite being trained on that.
Conversational Japanese is pretty much impossible to translate well to English on a phrase-by-phrase basis without loads of context. Even for humans. No way an earplug and google translate is going to pull that off.
It would be pretty useful for tourist stuff though. asking prices, directions etc. I've seen some quite good demos of on-the-fly translation in that context.
j'ai découvert une démonstration vraiment admirable (de ce théorème général) que cette si
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.
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?
That is just a completely stupid statement. None of that information provides context into a current conversation as they are situational dependent, and not dependent on your personal information.
Translators can get far more context into translating language without knowing any of the above information.
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
From what I've seen in stand-up comedy and TV shows, it could be useful for Americans wanting to take a vacation in the UK.
Why is it that Americans moan about hard to understand UK dialects/accents, whereas no one here has any problem watching US TV shows whether they're set in Alaska, New York or Texas? Is American English just more homogeneous?
Actually... yes.
America has it's own regional dialects but it's nothing like Britain; with some exceptions, you can travel two or three states and not notice a change in accent. It's not like Britain where if you drive 30 miles from Merseyside to Manchester and the accent is vastly different.
There's certainly a difference between a Boston accent and an Alabaman accent but it's not nearly as different as Geordie to west country.
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
Don't be numpty and spread such porkies la.
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
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.