A new toy for my next trip to Cuba.

[dougincanada]

On my trips to Cuba I am sometimes hesitant to leave the resort and enter town, unless I make friends with someone who has a better command of Spanish than me. Other than basic pleasantries and being able to pick out a few words, my Spanish is muy limitado. Now that I have broke down and purchased a reasonably powerful Android smart phone I have been playing with Google Translate which has offline capabilities. I can have a two way voice translated conversation which is very interesting. Sometimes it comes up with confused interpretations but it is good enough for basic conversations if you speak clearly. It can even translate signs via the camera, also not perfect but a definite help. We are definitely getting closer to a universal translator like in star trek. I wonder how it would handle thick accents? I figure it would probably be ok with most aussie accents. But the guys at Aye-aye reviews might cause a google translate phone to explode.

Regards,

Doug

[El Presidente]

I never realized we had an accent

Doug, carry only a smile, good humour,some cash and maybe one credit card. the best places i have found around the world are always the one where you took the punt to poke your head in and say "G'day". You will eventually locate a gem of a place built around gem of people. Leave the IT at the apartment

[dougincanada]

While I agree with your sentiment, it still is convenient to have your map, translation dictionary, camera all in one package. Oh and there's the phone. No accent? I had one of your videos playing on my phone. My mother said what are you listening to is that even english? I said, " mom how can you not make out an Aussie accent you like watching Corination Street from the BBC? " Well I can make most Brittish accents on the show but not all of them. Its called a hearing aid mom a H-e-a-r-i-n-g A-I-D! I get the standard response. I hear fine people just mumble too much.