[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] Apple's wireless earbuds, AirPods, are expected to receive a real-time translation feature, according to reports.
On Friday (local time), major outlets such as Bloomberg reported that Apple will introduce a translation function as part of the software upgrade for AirPods scheduled for the second half of this year.
Bloomberg cited sources claiming that this feature will be integrated with iOS 19, Apple's next-generation mobile operating system.
Competitor products, like Google Pixel Buds, have had similar features for years, and Apple itself has been offering a translation app on iPhones since 2020.
However, the translation feature in the upcoming AirPods is expected to offer a unique experience, reminiscent of the Star Trek movies, where humans communicate smoothly with alien species, Bloomberg reported.
For example, if an English speaker hears a conversation in Spanish, their iPhone will translate the conversation into English and relay it through the AirPods. At the same time, the English speaker’s words will be translated into Spanish and played through the other person’s iPhone.
This AirPods upgrade is part of a major software overhaul that Apple is preparing for later this year, which will also strengthen translation capabilities in iOS 19.
알파경제 Paul Lee 특파원(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
