HDX Latest Fire HDX upgrade brings audible simiulation to the WORD.

sirmaru · 11-22-2013, 09:00 PM

After the latest Kindle Fire HDX 2013 firmware upgrade, one can tap any word on a page of an eBook and a menu appears showing a right pointing arrow. Tap the arrow and the HDX starts reading to you from that very word. Voices are selectable elsewhere on the HDX.

Close the Kindle cover and the reading continues. Open the cover and the location page is shown and the reading stops.

Thus, the new firmware makes Audio Books OBSOLETE. There is no need to buy them as extra add-ons anymore.

I was reading an eBook, started the audio, closed the cover and spent an hour doing other things while the eBook was being read to me as I carried the closed HDX around placing it on tables as I worked.

Then I opened the cover at my desk and was able to continue reading from where the audio left off.

For folks with lots of daily tasks this new feature allows them to get more reading done while taking care of more important matters.

tubemonkey · 11-23-2013, 06:57 PM

Doesn't work on my HD. Why is that?

sirmaru · 11-23-2013, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Doesn't work on my HD. Why is that?

It only works for the HDX, not the HD.

tubemonkey · 11-23-2013, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirmaru

It only works for the HDX, not the HD.

I know. And I want to know why Amazon only gives the latest version of its OS to the current generation of its devices?

sirmaru · 11-23-2013, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I know. And I want to know why Amazon only gives the latest version of its OS to the current generation of its devices?

I have no idea. You'd have to ask them. The HD had features that the regular Fire did not have either.

The Kindle Keyboard had none of the features of the first Paperwhite and the second Paperwhite has features not on the first Paperwhite.

copyrite · 11-24-2013, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirmaru

Thus, the new firmware makes Audio Books OBSOLETE. There is no need to buy them as extra add-ons anymore.

From one who doesn't mind TTS, I don't think this feature will make audio books obsolete. No generated voice can add the nuances, inflection and emotion an actual person can introduce when reading text, not to mention mispronunciation of words like "read", "record" in certain contexts. The mispronunciation is distracting in TTS (and still I use it a lot in the car!).

sirmaru · 11-24-2013, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by copyrite

From one who doesn't mind TTS, I don't think this feature will make audio books obsolete. No generated voice can add the nuances, inflection and emotion an actual person can introduce when reading text, not to mention mispronunciation of words like "read", "record" in certain contexts. The mispronunciation is distracting in TTS (and still I use it a lot in the car!).

The male, American voice is great, pausing at the end of sentences and paragraphs and good variations in pitch. It is just as good as an Audible book for me unless the Audible book had music and sound effects intertwined with the reading. I have that kind of sound in my Now Bible NIV and of course TTS cannot match that. However, I never use the Now Bible anymore since they only have the Bible on it and my HDX 2013 has so may other features. My AcroBible on the HDX can be in its own TTS with sound pitch variations as well.

However, when reading normally, I usually go back a paragraph or even a page in many areas to fully understand something important. The voice reading ploughs straight ahead. They really need a "Back" button to get a re-reading of some passages. Maybe the HDX 2014 will have that feature.

Of course, I could open the cover to stop the reading, page back and then start it again. Actually, I just thought of that and may use that feature the next time I use the voice.

It is too bad that Amazon does not retrofit the sound eBook reading to the HD 2012 but the hardware of that device may not support it.

connie2000 · 11-24-2013, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirmaru

It only works for the HDX, not the HD.

It works on my HD 2nd Gen.

WillysJeepMan · 11-25-2013, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirmaru

Thus, the new firmware makes Audio Books OBSOLETE. There is no need to buy them as extra add-ons anymore.

If simple TTS functionality causes you to believe that then I don't think you've listened to quality audio books.

AnemicOak · 11-25-2013, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirmaru

Thus, the new firmware makes Audio Books OBSOLETE.

Ridiculous.

Maybe you're not a big audiobook user and it's made them obsolete for you (which is fine), but such a blanket statement doesn't hold water.

tubemonkey · 11-26-2013, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirmaru

I have no idea. You'd have to ask them. The HD had features that the regular Fire did not have either.

Barring hardware limitations, it's ridiculous to limit new features to new devices. Contrary to what Bezos has said, me thinks Amazon wants you to be on the "upgrade treadmill".

Last year during Amazon's roll out of the Fire HD, Bezos said "for example, we don't need you to be on the upgrade treadmill". If Amazon truly believed that, then why wasn't the HD upgraded from Fire OS 2 (And 4.0.3) to Fire OS 3 (And 4.2.2)?

beckywc · 11-26-2013, 10:40 AM

I agree even if they don't provide all of the features of the current model they should still provide the updated software.

mcrow · 12-03-2013, 01:39 PM

It is a huge upgrade over previous versions of TTS but there is no way it is remotely close to a professional, quality audio book with a good reader performing.

11-22-2013, 09:00 PM	#1
sirmaru Wizard Posts: 2,426 Karma: 6561538 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Kindle PW 2013, HDX 2013, Galaxy S5 2014	Latest Fire HDX upgrade brings audible simiulation to the WORD. After the latest Kindle Fire HDX 2013 firmware upgrade, one can tap any word on a page of an eBook and a menu appears showing a right pointing arrow. Tap the arrow and the HDX starts reading to you from that very word. Voices are selectable elsewhere on the HDX. Close the Kindle cover and the reading continues. Open the cover and the location page is shown and the reading stops. Thus, the new firmware makes Audio Books OBSOLETE. There is no need to buy them as extra add-ons anymore. I was reading an eBook, started the audio, closed the cover and spent an hour doing other things while the eBook was being read to me as I carried the closed HDX around placing it on tables as I worked. Then I opened the cover at my desk and was able to continue reading from where the audio left off. For folks with lots of daily tasks this new feature allows them to get more reading done while taking care of more important matters. Last edited by sirmaru; 11-22-2013 at 09:06 PM.

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11-23-2013, 06:57 PM	#2
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,476 Karma: 158151390 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	Doesn't work on my HD. Why is that?

11-26-2013, 10:40 AM	#12
beckywc Addict Posts: 272 Karma: 1050426 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: California Device: iPad Mini w/Retina, Kindle 3, Kindle Fire HDX 8.9, & Asus Transformer	I agree even if they don't provide all of the features of the current model they should still provide the updated software.

12-03-2013, 01:39 PM	#13
mcrow Zealot Posts: 145 Karma: 1486256 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kindle 4/Kindle Fire HD/Kindle Fire HDX 7"	It is a huge upgrade over previous versions of TTS but there is no way it is remotely close to a professional, quality audio book with a good reader performing.