Babelfish...beta

[Kaido]

TL;DR:

• Google Pixel Buds are $159 wireless earbuds for the Pixel 2 phone
• They offer real-time language translation of 40 languages using Google Translate
• 5 hours per charge, case acts as a charger, charges multiple times (24 hours of usage)

It's basically just piggybacking off the already available (and free) Google Translate app, but man that's cool! Tap your magic wireless earbuds to talk to people in other languages...feels like we are living in the future!

 

[ponyo]

Yeah, I saw that video yesterday and it pretty much convinced me to buy the Pixel 2 phone along with wireless headphones. The problem is the headphones are of stock so it'll probably be next year before you can buy it

 

[sze5003]

I found them in stock Friday but didn't buy them. I want them for music listening in the office but also when I travel for the translation piece.

But I'll mostly be using them at work so I want to know how decent they are for music. I know they can't be phenomenal but I'm expecting they would not sound as good as my jaybird x2's.

 

[Kaido]

I found them in stock Friday but didn't buy them. I want them for music listening in the office but also when I travel for the translation piece.

But I'll mostly be using them at work so I want to know how decent they are for music. I know they can't be phenomenal but I'm expecting they would not sound as good as my jaybird x2's.

I use the Google Translate app a lot; I'm surprised how good it is, minus nuances of course:

https://venturebeat.com/2017/10/08/googles-pixel-buds-will-find-cultural-complexities-a-challenge/

My friend's in-laws are Chinese (non-English-speaking) & we were having a blast using Simplified Chinese the other day...it was all hand gestures before I remembered I had the app on my iPhone! Technology is amazing.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Most people are not worth listening to in any language.

 

[sze5003]

I use the Google Translate app a lot; I'm surprised how good it is, minus nuances of course:

https://venturebeat.com/2017/10/08/googles-pixel-buds-will-find-cultural-complexities-a-challenge/

My friend's in-laws are Chinese (non-English-speaking) & we were having a blast using Simplified Chinese the other day...it was all hand gestures before I remembered I had the app on my iPhone! Technology is amazing.

Yea I used Google translate when I was in Poland as my polish sucked. It would have helped greatly if I had these at the time.

 

[Kaido]

Yea I used Google translate when I was in Poland as my polish sucked. It would have helped greatly if I had these at the time.

There's a half a dozen language translation systems available (or coming out) right now. One of the most interesting ones I've seen is the non-wireless "ili" gadget, which is a one-way communicator:

https://iamili.com/1way.html

The one-way system is interesting because it limits confusion...you don't have to teach the other person how to use it, or have it start translating as you both are talking, and lets you get quick "yes or no" type of answers:

 

[sze5003]

I am waiting for the nda to lift so we can see reviews not just hands on and impressions on YouTube. I'd like to order them but I'll mostly be using them for music at work.

 

[quikah]

In a way it is just a gimmick. It seems like it would work better using just the phone itself without the headphones. One person gets the personal translation in the headphone, the other person gets to listen to the phone. What is the point of the headphones? Just put he phone between you and chat waiting for the phone to translate, no need for headphones.

 

[Kaido]

In a way it is just a gimmick. It seems like it would work better using just the phone itself without the headphones. One person gets the personal translation in the headphone, the other person gets to listen to the phone. What is the point of the headphones? Just put he phone between you and chat waiting for the phone to translate, no need for headphones.

The headphones are wireless, so it works like this:

1. Main user puts earbuds on, taps earbud, and says "help me speak Japanese"
2. Main user hands second user phone
3. Second user speakers into phone, which is translated into the wireless earbuds
4. Main user speakers out loud, which is translated to the phone

So it's like a walkie-talkie...instead of handing it back & forth, the wireless connection sends the translations between devices. One person has the earbuds to listen & talk, the other person holds the phone to listen & talk (and read, since it also types it out). This way, you can pop your earbuds in, hand someone your phone, and magically talk to them.

 

[Darwin333]

I think the Pilot looks pretty darn cool too if it works as advertised.

http://www.waverlylabs.com/

 

[Fritzo]

Saw these and I'm in instantly. They look like good earbuds, and the instant translation is a bonus!

Waiting for BF sales to get the Pixel 2 XL. Looks like they're low on stock until around then anyway.

 

[quikah]

The headphones are wireless, so it works like this:

1. Main user puts earbuds on, taps earbud, and says "help me speak Japanese"
2. Main user hands second user phone
3. Second user speakers into phone, which is translated into the wireless earbuds
4. Main user speakers out loud, which is translated to the phone

So it's like a walkie-talkie...instead of handing it back & forth, the wireless connection sends the translations between devices. One person has the earbuds to listen & talk, the other person holds the phone to listen & talk (and read, since it also types it out). This way, you can pop your earbuds in, hand someone your phone, and magically talk to them.

Yeah, still a gimmick. Just hold the phone between you and the person. I don't see how having to dig out a pair of headphones is better. This is for those people who always walk around wearing their headphones? The ili device looks way more convenient honestly.

 

[Fritzo]

TL;DR:

• Google Pixel Buds are $159 wireless earbuds for the Pixel 2 phone
• They offer real-time language translation of 40 languages using Google Translate
• 5 hours per charge, case acts as a charger, charges multiple times (24 hours of usage)

It's basically just piggybacking off the already available (and free) Google Translate app, but man that's cool! Tap your magic wireless earbuds to talk to people in other languages...feels like we are living in the future!

On a side note, can we ever see a product demo with a guy wearing a collared shirt, or do they all have to be t-shirt wearing millennial "I'M NOT PART OF CORPORATE CULTURE" douche bags?

 

[sze5003]

On a side note, can we ever see a product demo with a guy wearing a collared shirt, or do they all have to be t-shirt wearing millennial "I'M NOT PART OF CORPORATE CULTURE" douche bags?

I don't think google has a dress code. I'm in a collared shirt and dress pants every day for work. If I'm not at work I'm in a t shirt / polo and jeans. As long as they aren't investing my money or building me a financial portfolio they can wear whatever they want.

 

[Fritzo]

I don't think google has a dress code. I'm in a collared shirt and dress pants every day for work. If I'm not at work I'm in a t shirt / polo and jeans. As long as they aren't investing my money or building me a financial portfolio they can wear whatever they want.

Every single tech company unveiling is a guy in a tshirt/sweatshirt and jeans ever since Steve Jobs did it.

 

[sze5003]

Every single tech company unveiling is a guy in a tshirt/sweatshirt and jeans ever since Steve Jobs did it.

Yea lol except for Microsoft I think..

 

[Kaido]

Yea lol except for Microsoft I think..

DROP THE BASS YO

 

[SKORPI0]

Nice to know. How does it compare to those iPhone apps?

https://www.imore.com/best-translation-apps-iphone-itranslate-voice-ivoice-google-translate-and-more

 

[purbeast0]

Wow that is pretty damn awesome. One downside I see about the actual real world application of this though is when you're on vacation in places you may need this feature, you may not even have access to your cell phone, get service where you are, etc. I've tried to use the Verizon Travel Pass thing they have in 2 countries outside of the USA and in both countries (Aruba and Grand Cayman) I didn't even get service.

 

[ponyo]

Wow that is pretty damn awesome. One downside I see about the actual real world application of this though is when you're on vacation in places you may need this feature, you may not even have access to your cell phone, get service where you are, etc. I've tried to use the Verizon Travel Pass thing they have in 2 countries outside of the USA and in both countries (Aruba and Grand Cayman) I didn't even get service.

This would be useful for traveling but I want it for work. I deal with lot of Hispanics who can't speak much English. Most of the time I have someone who can translate for me but sometimes I don't. This will come in handy. I don't need perfect translation. Just enough so they and I understand each other.

 

[sze5003]

I believe they said this would be local to the device as long as the language is supported and say you downloaded the required language for offline use later.

Trying this on Google translate with a friend required me to keep tapping for example french to English and vice versa each time one of us would say something.

I think the purpose of the headphones is activation that automates that so you don't have to tap French -> English and English -> French.

If it worked automatically like that then the purchase of the buds would be pointless.

 

[ponyo]

I'm going to switch from iPhone to Pixel just because of this Babelfish feature. This is potential game changer.

 

[RossMAN]

Saw these and I'm in instantl

Waiting for BF sales to get the Pixel 2 XL. Looks like they're low on stock until around then anyway.

Likewise BF is just 6 weeks away and the potential to save $$$. I'm fine with waiting for a good deal.

 

[Kaido]

Likewise BF is just 6 weeks away and the potential to save $$$. I'm fine with waiting for a good deal.