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YouTube is testing automatic translations in the user's native language
YouTube is reportedly testing automatic translations in local languages across video titles, descriptions, and closed captions.
Google Lens can now help you pronounce the words it translates
New Lens features help you pronounce foreign words and learn more about complex subjects.
Google Translate's transcription mode is now available on Android
Starting today, Google is updating its Translate app to allow people to record and transcribe long conversations into another language. The company first demoed this feature at the start of the year. It allows you to record speech in one language and reproduce what was said in the text of another language in real-time.
After Math: Steven Seagal-like longevity
Say what you will about Steven Seagal but the '80s action star is still somehow able to draw headlines in 2020, even when he's not premiering his latest passion project. Granted, yes, those headlines most recently have involved the SEC and a $314,000 settlement for him not disclosing that his endorsements for a digital currency were compensated for by the company selling them. Regardless, let's take a look at some more headlines of surprisingly persistent products from this past week.
Google Translate adds languages for the first time in four years
Believe it or not, Google hasn't added languages to Translate since 2016 -- it's not clear why, but the company is making up for that apparent omission. It's adding five languages, including Kinyarwanda (Rwanda), Odia (India), Tata, Turkmen and, notably, Uyghur. It may be difficult for Uyghurs to use this service when China both blocks Google services and has been targeting their population, but this could help outsiders understand the community
Google Assistant's interpreter mode is coming to iOS and Android
Early this year, Google brought its real-time translation feature, interpreter mode, to Assistant-enabled smart displays and speakers. Now, the feature is rolling out to Assistant-enabled Android and iOS phones worldwide.
Google will help you pronounce difficult words
Google wants to make it easier to learn word pronunciations. Today, it introduced a new Search feature that will let users practice saying tricky words. When you look up a pronunciation, Google will provide an answer, and when you say the word into your phone's microphone, Search will let you know if you said it correctly.
Google Maps can pronounce place names in local languages
Navigation apps can be helpful for getting around an unfamiliar country... up until you need to ask someone for directions and can't say a place name. Google thinks it can help. It's rolling out an update to Google Maps on Android and iOS that can speak place names in the local language. You can point a driver to a Japanese cultural center or a Spanish tapas bar without having to point frantically at the screen. And if you do need more than that translation to get around, there's a direct link to Google Translate if you have it installed.
Microsoft wants to make 'Minecraft' easier for kids to read
Microsoft is bringing its Immersive Reader to Minecraft: Education Edition. The tool will let users expand the text in character dialogue, settings and boards. Immersive Reader will dictate each word as it is highlighted, so users can follow along, and it will add Minecraft-specific images for words like "Creeper" and "Mooshroom."
Google's Translatotron can translate speech in the speaker's voice
Speaking another language may be getting easier. Google is showing off Translatotron, a first-of-its-kind translation model that can directly convert speech from one language into another while maintaining a speaker's voice and cadence. The tool forgoes the usual step of translating speech to text and back to speech, which can often lead to errors along the way. Instead, the end-to-end technique directly translates a speaker's voice into another language. The company is hoping the development will open up future developments using the direct translation model.
Google trains its AI to accommodate speech impairments
For most users, voice assistants are helpful tools. But for the millions of people with speech impairments caused by neurological conditions, voice assistants can be yet another frustrating challenge. Google wants to change that. At its I/O developer conference today, Google revealed that it's training AI to better understand diverse speech patterns, such as impaired speech caused by brain injury or conditions like ALS.
Google Search adds AR and big Lens upgrades
Google is going to start displaying search results in augmented reality, the company announced today at its I/O 2019 developers conference. "Sometimes what's most helpful in understanding the world," Google CEO Sundar Pichai said on stage, "is being able to see it visually." The idea, he added, is to bring visual information directly into search by letting users take advantage of their smartphone's camera. Google said it will use a combination of computer vision and augmented reality to turn your phone into a powerful search tool, whether you're looking to shop or wanting to learn more about the Solar System.
Google Translate adds real-time translations for 13 new languages
Google announced this week that its Translate app for iOS and Android recognize 13 new languages through your smartphone's camera. The update, which includes support for Arabic and Hindi, is in the process of being rolled out to Translate users worldwide, per VentureBeat.
Google Translate for iOS can speak in your local accent
Until now, using Google Translate on your iPhone has meant listening to the same pronunciation for translations no matter where you live. That's not very considerate, and potentially a problem if you live in countries where foreign accents could make comprehension difficult. You won't have that issue from now on -- an update to Google Translate has added speech output in local versions of multiple languages, including English, Bengali, French and Spanish. You can hear English results with an Indian accent, for instance, or listen to French with a Canadian spin.
SwiftKey for Android now offers real-time message translation
Microsoft has brought its Translator to SwiftKey, allowing users to translate their conversations without having to leave the app they're in. With an update out today, SwiftKey for Android will translate incoming and outgoing messages in real time and it will be able to do so for over 60 languages. Additionally, while you won't need to install Microsoft Translator to be able to use the new SwiftKey feature, the company says translation will work offline if you do.
Google improves Translate with offline AI
Google isn't going to sit idly by while Microsoft brings AI-based offline translation to your phone. The company is rolling out internet-free neural machine translation to its Translate apps for Android and iOS, promising much more accurate language conversion when you don't have the luxury of data. The initial release covers 58 languages, including a slew of European and Indian languages as well as common translation targets like Arabic, Chinese and Japanese.
Mymanu Clik+ offers real-time translation in 37 languages
Mymanu's Clik+ headphones come with a big promise: live translation between 37 languages. We saw something similar recently from Google and Bragi, but both of those operate as a middleman, serving up audio with an app doing the heavy lifting. Let's be clear: Mymanu also uses an app for translation, but the Click is designed to bring us one step closer to the app-free translation device we really want.
Google made its own earbuds because it killed the headphone jack
Google followed Apple's "courageous" move to eliminate the 3.5mm headphone jack on the Pixel 2, and like the handset itself, Google designed a pair of headphones to (hopefully) best show off Assistant's capabilities. Like real-time translation so you can have a conversation with someone who speaks one of 40 foreign tongues. They're called Pixel Buds, which, let's be honest, sounds adorable. As soon as you pair them with your Pixel or Android phone running Nougat or higher, Assistant is available.
YouTube wants you to translate video descriptions
YouTube has had community-sourced subtitle translations since 2015, but they're only useful if people can find the videos in the first place... what about labeling the videos? You now have a chance to help. The internet video service has expanded its Community Contributions to let you translate video titles and descriptions, not just captions. If you think a video in your preferred language would be helpful elsewhere in the world, you don't have to ask the clip creator to do you a favor.
Google's AI-powered translator works with three more languages
Google wants language translation to sound more natural. Last year, it began moving away from phrase-based machine translation and created an AI-powered system called Google Neural Machine Translation (GNMT). Now, the company says it's expanding GNMT to Hindi, Russian and Vietnamese.
