Skip to main content

Real-time language translation is coming soon to Skype

Microsoft is developing a language translation feature for Skype that will automatically translate your words into the preferred tongue of the person on the other end of the Skype call. In a demo of the real-time Skype Translator that Microsoft showed off Wednesday at Re/Code’s Code Conference, a call was converted from English into German and vice-versa as remote co-workers discussed alterations to a project.

Assuming the new Skype Translator feature works as advertised, language barriers could be less of an issue going forward (that’s if Skype becomes some sort of common communication platform, of course). It will launch on Windows 8 before the end of 2014, Microsoft said.

Recommended Videos

“Imagine in the very near future technology allowing humans to bridge geographic and language boundaries to connect mind to mind and heart to heart in ways never before possible,” wrote Gurdeep Pall, Corporate Vice President of Skype and Lync at Microsoft. “Language barriers have been a blocker to productivity and human connection; Skype Translator helps us overcome this barrier.”

According to the demonstration, this feature was developed by the teams that work on Skype, Microsoft’s Research Lab and Bing. Interestingly, it’s an offshoot of the same technology that’s currently being used to power Cortana, Microsoft’s personal voice assistant on Windows Phone 8.1 devices. Microsoft has yet to confirm which languages will be supported for the launch later this year, but given the demo, it’s likely both English and German will be at the top of the list.

During the presentation, Microsoft alluded to the fact that this technology was somewhat similar to the fictional universal translator made popular within the Star Trek series. Of course, Microsoft isn’t the first company to launch a language translation product. Last year, a team in San Francisco launched an Indiegogo project for a mobile translation product called SIGMO.

That product has yet to launch, however, despite raising nearly a quarter of a million in funding. This is typical of many crowdfunded projects, as product inventors often don’t have a firm grasp on the multitude of issues that can occur when attempting to manufacture a product domestically or overseas. 

Mike Flacy
By day, I'm the content and social media manager for High-Def Digest, Steve's Digicams and The CheckOut on Ben's Bargains…
The Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the $7,500 tax credit
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5

After a brief and confusing absence, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit — and this time, it's sticking around (at least for now). So, what happened? Let’s unpack the ride.

The Ioniq 5, a sleek and tech-savvy electric crossover, initially made headlines not just for its design, but for being built at Hyundai’s brand-new Metaplant in Georgia. That domestic assembly qualified it for the EV tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which requires vehicles to be made in North America with batteries sourced from trade-friendly countries. But early in 2025, the Ioniq 5 vanished from the list. Why? Likely due to its battery packs, which were then still being sourced from SK On’s Hungarian facility.

Read more
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more