Microsoft has demonstrated new software that can pull together real-time multilingual vocal translations using your own voice. Monolingual TTS currently handles 26 different languages, although it's not instant just yet -- it takes about an hour of training to get the experimental software acquainted with your own utterances. Demonstrated at Microsoft's TechFest 2012 showcase, the software can even mix up foreign language pronunciation of place names with directions in your native tongue. It also complements those efforts with a 3D image of your head, animating your lips along to the foreign words you'd otherwise butcher. See how an algorithm-educated floating head handles Mandarin -- and how it's all done -- right after the break.
At this point, it'd be more of a shock if Apple wasn't working on a streaming media service. Still, we're surprised to hear that Steve Jobs was personally involved in trying to corral support from the entertainment industry. CBS CEO Leslie Moonves revealed during a talk at the UCLA Entertainment Symposium that he has spoken with the Apple founder directly about providing content to subscription-based video service, but declined the invitation. Moonves was concerned about how signing on to such a service would impact existing revenue streams, including those from competing properties like Hulu. The CEO allegedly told Jobs at one point, "You know more than me about 99 percent of things but I know more about the television business."
Mr. Blurrycam snapped internal documents revealing that Virgin Mobile Canada will offer 4G to coincide with the launch of the (3rd Gen) iPad. Piggybacking on Bell's LTE network, it'll be available in "14 urban centers," presumably including Toronto, Montréal, Québec City, Ottawa, Edmonton and Vancouver. A free microSIM will arrive through your letterbox if you sign up for the Flexi-Data plan, where $35 a month buys you 5GB of data. The company's also taking the moment to push mobile TV: an extra $5 will buy you five hours of mobile TV straight to your iPad, great for that Murdoch Mysteries marathon you've been promising yourself.
SXSW attendees may remember that both Gowalla and Foursquare launched at the aforementioned conference in 2009, and during its 2012 edition, the former is formally saying goodbye. Just three months after we heard that Facebook had picked up (but two months after the shutdown was promised), Gowalla is saying its final words. Specifically:
"Thank you for going out with Gowalla. It was a pleasure to journey with you around the world. Download your check-ins, photos and lists here soon."
Don't cry, Gowalla -- at least you won't have to deal with any more SXSW registration lines.
