Wireless headphones translation. Google's new project is headphones with a built-in translator. Advantages and disadvantages of the Google Pixel Buds wireless headset, price

Despite significant breakthroughs in the field of automatic translation and the emergence of serious systems like Google Translate, the problem of the language barrier has still remained open recently.

For live communication, text translators are inconvenient, and the voice control and recognition functions do not work quickly and efficiently. Communication with people in other countries requires knowledge of at least basic phrases. But preparation does not always save, because it implies a certain scenario and becomes useless for any deviations from it.

Surely many of you thought: “I wish I could get somewhere a thing that will immediately translate everything that the interlocutors say into an understandable language...” Please! The latest Pilot system from Waverly Labs allows two people to communicate fluently in different languages. All you need to do is insert a small wireless earphone into your ear and start a conversation.

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The principle of operation of the device is reminiscent of the Babel Fish from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Pilot is inserted into the ears of interlocutors and translates speech in real time. If you communicate with a person who speaks French, then his words will be immediately translated into a language you understand, for example English (which is the main one for the system). The interlocutor, on the contrary, will hear your speech as French.

You won’t have to look for a person with this device on the street: the gadget is offered for purchase in two copies (a standard pair of headphones - right and left). So, if necessary, you can offer your interlocutor yours.

Details about how the device works have not yet been disclosed. The developers of Waverly Labs only report that the gadget uses some kind of translation technology and requires connection to a smartphone on which a special companion application is running in the background. Most likely, it translates the voice message and then sends the translation to the earpiece in real time.

Automatic translation is possible into English, French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. In the future, the developers promise to add support for Hebrew, Arabic, German, Russian and other Slavic languages, as well as languages ​​of Southeast Asia.

If there is no need for translation, Pilot can be used as a regular Bluetooth headset, for example, to listen to music.

It is worth noting that the Waverly Labs device has almost the same functionality as simultaneous translation in Skype, available for audio and video calls. The main difference is that Skype's translation service is only available within the application. Pilot, on the contrary, can be used anywhere, including during live communication (you don’t even have to take your smartphone out of your pocket).

Waverly Labs is currently running a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. Pilot is available for pre-order starting May 25th. The device can be purchased in three colors: black, white and red. The Pilot is currently priced between $129 and $179. It is expected that after the end of the promotion, the retail price of the gadget will rise to $250 for one set.

During the four days of the project’s existence on Indiegogo, the developers raised more than $1.5 million to implement Pilot in hardware, with the $75 thousand needed to start production. And there is still a month of campaigning ahead.

The first kits will be shipped to customers in March 2017.

The most important thing you should know about the Pixel Buds is that their full functionality is only unlocked with Google's latest smartphone, the Pixel 2/2 XL. Although they will work with other phones, their capabilities will be slightly limited.

And now about the translation function: to be honest, it doesn’t work entirely in real time. You can invoke this feature by tapping on the right earbud and asking Google Assistant to “help me speak” in one of the 40 available languages. The phone will then open the Google Translate app. From there, the smartphone will translate what it hears in your chosen language, and you will hear it all directly in your ear.

How does the translation function work?

So if you're talking to someone and they say, "Where is my cake?" you will hear “Where is my cake?” Then, when it's your turn to speak, press and hold the right earbud to have Google Translate translate it and produce the text in a language the other person understands. It's really cool and convenient, you'll agree.

The translation feature is promising, but not perfect yet. Translation does not occur at the speed of conversations - this is not a universal translator, but it will do to understand a foreign language. People with a translator profession should not be afraid of abbreviation; this feature may be useful only for travelers or other people who want to have a simple, albeit somewhat lagging, translation of a conversation in another language.

However, having to translate is not a scenario that suits most people every day. And you definitely buy headphones not for this feature, but for convenient listening to your favorite music.

What if I don't have a Pixel smartphone?

What if you don't have a Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL? Then the Pixel Buds look much less attractive. The headphones can connect to other phones (iPhone and Android) via Bluetooth. But then they will work like ordinary wireless headphones. On all phones, you can press the right earbud to bring up your virtual assistant—Google Assistant on Android phones, or Siri on iPhones.

Swipe forward on your ear to turn up the volume and back to turn it off. The Pixel Buds' sound quality is about on par with other wireless headphones. Their sound is not super cool, but good enough for listening to music every day. Pixel Buds have a maximum volume level, even in noisy places, their sound does not have to be set above 50 percent. In addition, they are comfortable enough to fit into the ear and not fall out even during workouts.

Price

The Pixel Buds are the same price as Apple's AirPods, at around $159 you're getting a quality wireless headset from the top company in the world. Like the AirPods, the Pixel Buds come with a case that acts as a portable battery so you can charge them on the go. The headphones themselves will give you about 5 hours of use on a single charge, which you can extend by placing them in the charging case. So, a full day's worth of use with the Pixel Buds is guaranteed.

Which is better Pixel Buds or AirPods?

The main factor when choosing between Apple's AirPods and Google's Pixel Buds should be the phone you already own. If you are a devotee then go for AirPods, if you can't live without Android then Pixel Buds is the best choice. You'll love the Pixel Buds' touch volume controls, which I found more convenient than asking Siri to constantly adjust the volume. On the downside, the extra controls make them more complex than the AirPods, both to set up and to operate, and the Pixel Buds will take some getting used to.

Finally, even though the Google Pixel Buds don't connect directly to your phone, they do have a 20-inch cord connecting the two earbuds. So losing one of these will be much harder than losing one of the AirPods without a cord. But if you don't like having a cord around your neck or just want something completely wireless, then the Pixel headphones aren't for you.

Conclusion

Pixel Buds are more than just headphones. This is an early prototype of what Google's future headsets will look like. As you can see, in the future, even headphones will be equipped with artificial intelligence functions such as translation and more. They also demonstrate Google and Apple's similar approach to creating their products. Every company wants to create products that work best with other products from that brand. So that users remain within the ecosystem with all their gadgets.

Characteristics of Pixel Buds

• Charger body height: 28.6 mm
• Charging case weight: 57 grams
• Headphone weight: 14 grams
• Connection type: Bluetooth
• Colors: black, white, blue
• Headphone battery: 120 mAh
• Battery in case: 620 mAh
• Autonomy: up to 5 hours of music listening
• Sensors: microphone, accelerometer, touchpad
• Compatibility: Android Nougat and above, iOS 11 above

Back in 2006, a miniature headset Motorola H5 Miniblue looked like a gadget from the future. Technology did not stand still, and over time, manufacturers learned to create paired, completely wireless headphones, and began to endow them with “smart” functions. Samsung Gear IconX , for example, are equipped with a fitness tracker, Sony Xperia Ear serves as a personal assistant, and the launched on Indiegogo The Mymanu Click gadget can translate live speech into any of the available 37 languages ​​and dialects.

Back in 2006, the tiny Motorola H5 Miniblue headset looked like a gadget from the future. Technology did not stand still, and over time, manufacturers learned to create paired, completely wireless headphones, and began to endow them with “smart” functions. Samsung Gear IconX, for example, is equipped with a fitness tracker, Sony Xperia Ear serves as a personal assistant, and the Mymanu Click gadget launched on Indiegogo can translate live speech into any of the available 37 languages ​​and dialects.

How it works

Mymanu Click headphones appeared in the summer, when the project team went to Kickstarter. The first campaign was followed by a second, and although the main fundraising on Indiegogo has already ended, the manufacturer continues to accept orders. The new product is equipped with a Bluetooth 4.1 module and supports the aptX codec, so users can listen to music without loss of quality. The external touch surface of the headphones (with the logo) allows you to pause playback by touching and switch between tracks using swipes. When pressed for a long time, the device starts listening to voice commands, but this is not its main feature.

Using the built-in microphone, Mymanu Click listens to your interlocutors and translates live speech in real time. The headphones support Russian, English, German, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Polish, Greek, Norwegian and other languages. All of them will be available initially. The gadget will notify you of incoming calls and SMS; depending on the notification, the backlight of one of 16 colors will be activated. The 120 mAh battery provides up to 7 hours of battery life. Charging is carried out in a proprietary case with its own 8800 mAh battery (the final version may have a different value). It is also suitable for charging a smartphone - there is a USB port on the case.

In the debut campaign on Kickstarter, the developers mentioned a paid translation service, but there is no word about it on Indiegogo. It was initially reported that after a free year of use, access to all functions would cost approximately $1 per month, but even without a subscription, Mymanu Click will be able to work as a translator (possibly without engine updates or with some other restrictions).

And how much does it cost?

Now the headphones can be ordered for $200, and the Mymanu Click retail price will be $300. Deliveries will begin in May 2017. In the spring, a similar project for the Pilot wireless headset from Waverly Labs appeared on Indiegogo - only five languages ​​are available for translation out of the box (Russian and Ukrainian are promised to be added later). The price of the devices is the same, but it’s worth considering that you can’t listen to music normally with just one Pilot earphone.

According to Google, these assistant-equipped headphones can help you speak other languages. Sounds good? We will discuss whether they deliver on their promises. Spoiler: from the title you can already imagine how it will end...

Rating

• ✓Fast connection to Google smartphones
• ✓Built-in Google Assistant
• ✓Stylish carrying case with 24-hour built-in battery
• ✓Ability to listen to notifications

• ✕ Non-functional and cumbersome real-time translation
• ✕Poor sound quality
• ✕Uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time
• ✕Too sensitive
• ✕Difficult to use in noisy environments

Release date and price

In the US, Google Pixel Buds are available for $159. I personally think the price is quite high due to the poor build and sound quality and limited features.

Three colors are available: black only, transparent white and blue. We received the black ones to check them out.

Design and build quality

Pixel Buds look really impressive. The outside of the case has a fabric finish, similar to Google Home and Daydream View, but it feels much softer to the touch. The case has a magnetic lock, and the inside is lined with black rubberized plastic.

You must be careful when placing the headphones into the case for carrying or charging. In fact, Google even places a sticker inside the case to show you how to do it correctly.

The headphones have a nice rounded design. I didn't like the plastic material, which feels quite cheap and susceptible to damage. The cable, however, is a high-quality braided wire that runs through the headphones to form a ring that prevents them from falling off. The ring is customizable.

At first I thought it was a good idea, but then after a few hours of use I found it annoying due to the lack of a locking mechanism which causes the ring to compress which can be uncomfortable.

The Pixel Buds have an open-back design (AirPods style, no rubber) and require you to adjust settings on the right earbud, making these earbuds uncomfortable and taking a long time to get used to. Pressing leads to unpleasant sensations in the ear canal. The touch surface is very sensitive and you often have to pause the music to adjust the settings to your liking. Additionally, the headphones don't turn off the sensor when not in use, and there's no other way to turn off the headphones until they're back in the case.

Special Features

There are no apps to control Pixel Buds. Headphone settings are only available on Google Assistant, which I think is a good thing. In the settings we can see whether the headphones are connected to the smartphone, the battery level and some information that you cannot see otherwise.

When scrolling forward or backward on the right speaker, you can control the volume. By holding your finger down, you will be in direct contact with the assistant, which is very fast. There is no delay between touching the headset and starting to listen to the voice assistant. When the command is complete, tap the headset, speak, and release.

When you double-tap, Assistant will tell you if you have any notifications from your phone, and that's the best thing about the Pixel Buds in my opinion. Once you've tried this feature, you wonder why other headphones can't do this. Because of this, I didn't put the headphones in the box for almost a week.

Unfortunately, there's no way to switch between audio tracks unless you ask Google Assistant. This problem is that not everyone feels comfortable repeating "next track, next track, next track" in front of strangers.

Translation in real time

Unfortunately, the most interesting feature of the Pixel Buds was a disappointment: real-time translation.

Here's how it should work: First, ask Google to translate text from your smartphone, it will be translated into your chosen language and the Buds will read it out loud from your smartphone. I expected this to happen with the Pixel Buds.

The problem is that they use the Google Translate app already installed on your Pixel (this feature is only available on Google Pixel smartphones). I feel like the Pixel Buds create an additional barrier to an already awkward conversation between two people.

The same result can be achieved just from your smartphone, without the need for additional hardware, and since the headphones can only be used with Pixel smartphones, this feature is practically useless for everyone else.

The translation results of course depend on how well the smartphone understands the sentences, most of the time it can be quite inaccurate.

It's better than nothing. But we are still a long way from being able to communicate in different languages ​​simply by putting on headphones. As impressive as this feature sounds, it is not practical in real life.

Audio

Any inexpensive pair of headphones will give you the same sound quality. Google headsets are not isolated from external sounds and do not have noise-canceling technology. Pixel Buds use the most classic AAC for Bluetooth 4.2.

The microphone is excellent and includes the famous "OK Google" hotkey. Even commands sent to the headphones are received without problems, provided that where you are is not very noisy. I found it difficult to use voice commands in crowded areas.

Battery

The Pixel Buds battery is 120 mAh. Google claims that you can get 5 hours of battery life, but in reality you will only get 4 hours. Fortunately. The case has an additional 620 mAh, which should guarantee you just over 20 hours of total use.

Charging is done via a USB Type-C cable, and the earbuds can only be charged internally. With a 10-minute charge, you can use the headphones for an extra hour.

Final verdict

These headphones are worthy competitors to the Apple AirPods, and the advanced translation and standby features were very high. It looks like Google didn't have a clear idea of ​​what audience these headphones were intended for, and the result was a mixture of poor quality and disappointment.

They aren't designed for listening to music as there are no controls to switch between tracks and they don't have the sound quality you'd expect. They are not intended for running or other physical activity as the cable absorbs sweat and does not fit securely on the ear.

Who are these headphones for? Hard to say. The only suitable use I can think of is sitting in an office, in relative silence, with your smartphone next to people who don't mind you talking to Google Assistant all the time. If you don't mind spending that amount on a pair of headphones that are useless outside of your home or office, you might be happy with the Pixel Buds.

Google is working on a new innovative project - it is creating wireless headphones that can translate speech from various languages ​​and voice the result of the translation to the user. Greg Corrado, one of the founders of the Google Brain project, within which Google is developing deep machine learning systems based on artificial intelligence, spoke about this during a round table with journalists.

According to Corrado, in about ten years, speech translation technology will reach such a level that it will be possible to hold meetings of people speaking different languages ​​and at the same time they will understand each other without the help of live simultaneous interpreters. The translation will be carried out using a neural network system, and the generated text will be voiced by a robot with speech indistinguishable from human speech.

Corrado did not disclose what the name of this project is or how far Google engineers have progressed in its implementation. However, he said that the company already has an understanding of how this translator will work and what resources will be required for its operation. The headphones will be connected to a common neural system that can learn over time, providing increasingly accurate translations. In addition, they will be able to adapt to the personal characteristics of each user - adapt to his voice and voice the translation in the most pleasant and easy-to-understand voice. At the same time, the company will need to create comfortable headphones - they must be light enough, comfortable and provide high battery life.

Such headphones will be useful not only for participants in international meetings and conferences, but also for tourists - they will be able to understand what local residents are saying to them in different countries of the world. True, for this category of users Google will have to invent a technology that will automatically translate and voice phrases spoken by travelers. Otherwise, communication will turn out to be one-sided. In addition, in the future, offline translators may appear - which will not require an Internet connection to translate from the selected language. It is unclear whether Google will develop such a translator - it is quite possible that the company will consider it unnecessary after implementing a project to provide the whole world with free Internet using routers on balloons and drones.

Microsoft is also working on a similar machine translation system. Last year, it released the Skype Translator app for Windows 10, which translates text and voice on the fly. Earlier this year, Skype Translator was built into the desktop versions of Skype for Windows 7, 8 and 10. Message translation is available in Skype in fifty languages, including Russian and Ukrainian, but voice translation is available only between six languages.