With Apple getting through a rush of new product announcements (Mac Studio, M4 MacBook Air, iPad Air and a new iPad) focus is turning to what we can expect on the software front from WWDC in June this year. iOS 19 promises to be a significant update. As well as an overhaul of the look and feel, it seems we will be getting an all new feature – live translation between languages. It’s like the Star Trek universe’s Universal Translator.
Real-time translation is not a new thing. A quick online search reveals several solutions you can buy. Of course, those familiar with Google’s offerings will note that this puts Apple a few years behind. But Apple’s plan is to integrate the service into AirPods and an iPhone running iOS 19. Apple pundit, Mark Gurman, says the new function will be able to translate a live “in-person conversation” from one language to another.
While Apple has had its own translate app for almost five years, it’s taken its time bringing the feature to AirPods.
There will be a need to update the software on your current release AirPods as well as the iOS update that’s expired to be in public release around September.
As someone who grew up witching Star Trek, the idea of the universal translator is quite exciting. We saw the genesis of the Universal Translator in episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise – the prequel series that had Captain Archer leading a pre-starship version of the Enterprise. And we saw what happened when the device failed in an episode when the Ferengi time travel to 1947 Earth (Little Green Men).
If Apple can pull this off and offer accurate, real time translation, it could be a game changer for those that travel often. But it remains to be seen if it can translate local dialects like Melbourne/Sydney or Australian/American.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.