Chrome 11 Hits The Streets

Google Chrome hit version 11 today. If your browser did not automatically update, then go to Chrome > Preferences > About > Update.

What’s new?

  • Shiny new icon (the jury is out)
  • Support for HTML5 speech input API
  • GPU-accelerated 3D CSS

Chrome 11 will enable you to speak to your browser and have your speech automagically transcribed into text. Web developers will need to program this feature into their code but one site that is using Chrome’s speech to text service, is unsurprisingly, Google Translate.

When you visit Google Translate on Chrome 11, you will be able to click on a microphone icon and speak to your browser. Google Translate will then attempt to transcribe your speech to text.

In the interest of science, I tested their translation service and I was a bit disappointed. Maybe it’s my dodgy Irish accent or Google Translate’s iffy knowledge of the Irish language (Gaeilge), but what I got back wasn’t what I expected, in either language!

Doesn’t look much like “I think Barcelona will beat Madrid tonight in the football”, does it?

Have you used Google Chrome’s speech to text feature? How was it for you?
Cormac Moylan

Based in Cork, Ireland, his first foray into the Apple world was way back in 2006 when he purchased an iMac followed by a Macbook around 4 weeks later. He currently owns a Macbook Pro, iMac, Mac Mini, iPhone 4, iPod Touch, and Apple TV. But he prefers to buy watches. Go figure!

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14 years ago