[Macworld]

Post your comments for Gmail to offer real-time language translation here

[alansky]

"Cloud computing is no longer an 'if' but a 'when' and when is now."
Yeah, right! Let's all wrap ourselves up in fluffy white clouds and live happily everafter. Beware when high-tech product managers start sounding like tv commercials.

[Photonerd]

Cloud computing... that's right up there with Twitter as far as buzz word power these days. Cloud = apps / storage on a web server. It's not even a new concept. lol

[Rhywun]

Yeah, I was doing cloud computing on my high school's mainframe in 1984. It sucked then, and it still does now.

[DrRippStudwell]

I am a language translator and have used many translation applications in an attempt to ease my workload. None of the ones I tried worked well when the subject matter and grammar were complex or contained industry jargon. The translations came out really messed up and nowhere close to the originals. However, I will say that the applications were "good enough" for basic things like "The meeting is at 3:00 PM."
I guess I'm just trying to let folks know the limits of these translation apps so they can use them wisely. Human language is extremely complex and translation software can't understand hidden meanings or regional differences in grammar and word usage(yet). If you depend on accurate translations at work, get a human translator to do them.
Sooner or later, computer driven translation will be usable for more than the basics, but until then, don't take any unnecessary chances.

[ChrisLJ]

A lot of negativity here. Personally, I'm gonna learn a few new languages just to play with this feature. Guess I had better hurry since it comes out tomorrow.

[DrRippStudwell]

Personally, I wasn't trying to be negative. I was trying to give an honest asessment of the software I have used. I even stated that I think, eventually, computer driven translation will be useable for more than just the basics and I am planning my retirement accordingly. :)


As for the other commentors who don't like cloud computing, well, I'm the same age as at least one of the posters and fully understand the frustrations. It kinda makes you want to say "Been there. Done that." I do however, think that the new implamentations are easier to use and I like Google Docs for some things. Their Offline access is nice too.