How To Turn Your Mobile Device Into A Universal Translator

Whether you're traveling to Tanzania, Taiwan, or Tokyo, you're likely going to run into situations where English is not the primary language. But rather than blow hundreds of dollars on Rosetta Stone or fumble through archaic paperback phrasebooks, drop one of these helpful real-time translation apps on your phone instead.

Word Lens

There's a good chance that you'll be confronted by foreign language as soon as you step off the plane with a myriad of signage directing you through the terminal-if only you could understand a single word of it. Luckily, the Word Lens app leverages your camera and processor to immediately translate foreign letters into English words. The app converts Russian, Portuguese, German, Italian, French, and Spanish, through you'll have to buy each language set as a separate in-app purchase. Still, Word Lens doesn't need a network connection to function so you won't have to immediately expose your data to the prying eyes of foreign governments just to get out of the terminal. Word Lens is available for both iOS and Android.

Speak and Translate

This translation app does for voice what Word Lens does for print. Simply speak into your mobile device and the system will automatically record, convert, and play your conversations into one of 100 languages. This makes Speak and Translate a valuable resource not only as a real-time translator/phrasebook for when you're standing in the middle of a busy Mediterranean marketplace but also as a language and pronunciation coach in the weeks leading up to your trip.

The free edition of Speak and Translate will only utilize Microsoft's translation server for conversions (you can access Google's superior service after paying), auto-translate 7 words using the "Language auto-recognition" feature, and run the real-time "live dialog" feature 5 times before you will have to pony up $4 for the Pro version.

iTranslate

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iTranslate is one of the most popular translation apps on iTunes. It instantly translates your speech into one of 42 different languages and searches and returns definitions and translations of common phrases. But unlike the two apps discussed above, iTranslate also offers an integrated device connection scheme dubbed AirTranslate.

Instead of speaking into your phone, handing it over for the other party to listen and reply, and then having it returned, AirTranslate allows each party to pair their respective mobile devices. What's more, iTranslate offers a translation similar translation service for your email, SMS, Twitter or Facebook accounts. The app will cost you a whopping $2.

Google Translate

While it doesn't do real-time video translation like Skype is expected to, Google Translate is still the dominant player in translation apps. Using Google's powerful translation servers, this app can convert your speech or text into any of 80 languages as well as offer Word Lens-style image inputs. What's more, the system doesn't require an internet connection to work so you can go walkabout in the most remote regions of the planet and still be able to converse naturally with the region's residents. The app is free but you'll need Android 2.3 or above to use the camera function.

​Samsung Announces Its First Tablet Range With Super AMOLED Screens

South Korean technology major Samsung announced its latest tablet range - the Galaxy Tab S - at the Galaxy Premier 2014 event held at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Both the 8.4 inch and 10.5 inch versions of the Tab S have 2,560x1,600 resolution Super AMOLED screens. Super AMOLED offers improved contrast and richer colors while consuming less power and the devices are sleeker as well.

The 8.4 inch tab is priced at $399 onwards while the 10.5 inch one is priced at $499 onwards. Both tablets will be available in the US from July 2014. We expect the tablets to hit the Indian market in August this year at an expected price of Rs 25,000 onwards.

The Galaxy Tab S borrows an important feature from the Galaxy S5 smartphone - namely, a fingerprint scanner. Up to eight people can log in to the device using their fingerprints.

The LTE version of the Galaxy Tab S is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 (LTE version) and the Wi-Fi-only version runs on an Exynos Octa core (1.3 GHz quad-core Cortex-A7 + 1.9 GHz quad-core Cortex-A15) processor.

Looking at the hardware specs of the device, we notice that it includes 3 GB RAM, 16/32 GB storage, microSD slot, 8 MP rear camera, and 2 MP front camera.

The 10.5 inch variant has housed a 7,900 mAh battery while the 8.4 inch variant is equipped with a 4,900 mAh battery. Samsung claims a battery life of 10-plus hours for both tablets. In addition, both feature the rear panel textured design like the Samsung Galaxy S5.

The tablets run on the latest Android 4.4 with Samsung's Magazine UX interface. When the devices are on the same Wi-Fi network, you can remotely navigate the phone via the tablet's screen, transfer files between devices, access all your phone apps, and even text and talk on the phone.

In addition, they come with Samsung's bouquet features including S-voice, WatchOn universal remote, Download booster, RemotePC, and a Kids mode. Additionally, Samsung has tied up with Conde Nast, National Geographic, and Marvel to boost its content portfolio.

Now BSNL Subscribers Can Access Facebook On Mobile Without Internet

BSNL, a State-owned telecommunications company headquartered in Delhi, has launched a service wherein its mobile users will be able to access Facebook without any Internet connection. Customers will be charged Rs 4, Rs 10, and Rs 20 for BSNL's 3-day, weekly, and monthly plans, respectively.

The telecom firm has tied up with U2opia Mobile to provide Facebook access through Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) in East and South zones immediately. The service will be later launched in West and North zones.

USSD technology can be used for prepaid call-back service, location-based content services, and menu-based information services. It is used by telecom operators to send alerts to their subscribers.

The public sector telecom company said the USSD technology enables users to access their Facebook accounts, view/post status messages, respond to friend requests, write on friends' walls, view birthday reminders, and send messages without any Internet connection.

BSNL director Anupam Shrivastava said, "Companies today are looking at enhancing the portfolio of offerings to voice and SMS customers, and we are really excited to offer Facebook on USSD, given the rising popularity of social media."

Psy's 'Gangnam Style' Creates Record, Reaches 2 Billion Views On YouTube

'Gangnam Style' music video, the infectious and satirical mega-hit by South Korean rapper Psy, has become the first YouTube video to be watched more than two billion times.

The widely popular video from July 2012 sparked a worldwide dance craze.

Canadian pop singer Justin Bieber's track 'Baby' became the only other video in the billion-view club.

Psy's horse-dance has led to numerous tributes and parodies by everyone from Ban Ki-moon to prisoners in a Philippine jail.

His follow up song 'Gentleman' also did well on YouTube, so far picking up almost 700 million views. The video of the song also holds the record for the most views in a day with 38 million. In total, Psy has three of the top 15 videos on the site.

The 36-year-old-singer spent much of last year on a world tour taking in the US, Europe, and ending with a tour of Asia. Psy's been making music since 13 years.

Psy has in the past described the difficulties of attempting to follow-up 'Gangnam Style'.

"The problem is my music video is more popular than I am," he said.

In 2012, Psy was presented one of South Korea's highest cultural honors the Okgwan Order Of Cultural Merit.

The South Korean pop sensation has also performed for the new president of the country, Park Geun-Hye, at her inauguration ceremony.