Google expands real-time translations to all ‘assistant-optimized headphones’

This past week Google updated the Pixel Buds Help page to quietly announce that real-time Google Translate is now available on all headphones that support Google Assistant.

Previously the capability of Google Translate to follow a live conversation and relay the translation directly to someone via headphones was only supported on Pixel Buds through Pixel phones. However on Friday, as spotted by DroidLife, Google updated the Pixel Buds support page to say, “Google Translate is available on all Assistant-optimized headphones and Android phones.”


This means that if you’re an owner of headphones that use Google Assistant, like the Bose QuietComfort 35 II or Sony 1000XM2 over-the-ear wireless headphones, you can utilize this feature.


With other companies developing headphones that support Translate, like the LG Tone SE neckbuds which arrived back in August, this was a natural step for Google to expand. Live translations are no longer Pixel or neckbud exclusive. AB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Google enables in-app translations in Android Marshmallow

Starting this week, users running the Android Marshmallow OS will be able to access in-app translations, according to a post on the Android Developers Blog.

To access this function, users need to have the Google Translate app installed. According to the post, apps that use “Android text selection behavior” will have this feature enabled by default.

The post also details programming steps that developers can take to add the in-app translation to their apps. — Bea Montenegro/TJD, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

iPhone finally to get crowdsourced translation app LinqApp

Good news for iPhone owners in a foreign land: a crowdsourced translation app has finally landed in the App Store.

Linqapp, which was previously available only for devices running Google's Android, is now available on the App Store.

"Real people assist in situations where computer-based systems like Google Translate meet their limitations: providing translations based on audio recordings or pictures, answering cultural questions, and sharing native-speaker expertise on grammar, vocabulary and slang," Taipei-based startup One People Co. Ltd.

The app "connects" language learners to participating native speakers, and sends notifications to the learners once an answer is available.

Users build reputation within the app by helping each other learn. In the process they provide practical translation assistance that goes beyond what Google Translate can offer, the developers said.

“With Linqapp, we are making the expertise of native speakers easily accessible to anyone, anywhere,” said co-founder Sebastian Ang.

“We believe that Linqapp can fundamentally change how people get fast assistance in situations that require the skills of a native speaker. We’re helping language learners around the world make progress on their language learning adventure,” Ang added.

How it works
 
Language learners can snap a picture or record an audio clip, then attach a question or request for translation, and submit it to the Linqapp community.

Native speakers of the language are notified about the new question and can answer with text, audio recording or picture.

Answers can arrive in less than three minutes for popular languages like Spanish, English and Chinese. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Google Translate helps paramedics deliver baby

 

Asante!

 

The Swahili word for "thanks" might be appropriate to Google Translate, after it helped two paramedics deliver a Congolese woman's baby in Ireland this week.

 

Men's lifestyle website Joe.ie cited a report by The Corkman news site that the incident occurred this week between Macroom and Lissarda, when the paramedics were bringing the woman to a hospital to deliver her child.

 

"It’s something that I think I won’t ever forget as I was translating Swahili into English somewhere on the side of the road between Macroom and Lissarda," paramedic Gerry McCann said.

 

McCann and Shane Mulcahy, were taking the woman to the Cork University Maternity Hospital when the baby was due. The problem, however, was that the woman spoke limited English.

 

Thinking quickly, McCann opened Google Translate on his phone to communicate with the woman.

 

As a result, a “beautiful baby girl" was born, the report said. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News

 

source: gmanetwork.com

Google Translate now available offline for Android phones

Lost in a foreign land and need translation help quick, but there's no Internet? Google language packs to the rescue!

Google has rolled out offline language packs for the Google Translate on Android app (version 2.3 and up), with support for 50 languages.

"While the offline models are less comprehensive than their online equivalents, they are perfect for translating in a pinch when you are traveling abroad with poor reception or without mobile data access," associate product manager Minqi Jiang said in a blog post.

 

 

Before a user can avail of the language packs, he or she will first have to download and run the Google Translate app for Android.

 

 

The Translate app itself, however, usually needs an Internet connection to translate phrases from one language to another.

With the offline language packs, Jiang said a user can select "Offline Languages" in the app menu to see the offline language packages available for download.

"To enable offline translation between any two languages, you just need to select them in the offline languages menu. Once the packages are downloaded, you're good to go," Jiang said.

"So go out and explore another language or another culture without worrying about Internet access. There’s a whole world offline out there," Jiang added. — TJD, GMA News

 

source: gmanetwork.com