How important is text-to-speech capability to you? - Page 5

Ripplinger · 08-30-2013, 12:56 PM

Before I bought my first ereader, I thought I wanted text-to-speech to be an option. Finding it hard to get everything else I wanted though on the same reader, I realized I've never even used it before and probably never would, I couldn't think of one instance I'd want to use it over reading a book.

It also would be a much higher battery drain on any reader using such a feature, so again, not something I'd want at all, it would defeat a main advantage of an ereader.

So it's not important to me at all. If it happens to be on a reader, it would never be used.

DiapDealer · 08-30-2013, 01:13 PM

I currently have no use for it.
But if its inclusion on standard devices (and its availability on all ebooks) means that there's a chance the technology will be considerably improved by the time I might find it useful, I'm all for its inclusion (provided the costs associated aren't prohibitive). Practice makes perfect.

Apache · 08-30-2013, 02:27 PM

For those of you who do not like the inclusion of TTS because it raises the cost of each unit, then this information will also help you save money.

http://www.livingrichwithcoupons.com...-paper-coupons
Apache

Julius Caesar · 08-30-2013, 02:59 PM

It's not important since text to speech sounds like a robot. I wouldn't want to listen to a computer reading a text. I wouldn't even want to listen to a human reading a text unless they are a professional narrator with crystal clear voice and precise diction.

However, I think it should be made available to those who need it. The feature would be very beneficial to the blinds especially if the audio book version is not available.

speakingtohe · 08-30-2013, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

For those of you who do not like the inclusion of TTS because it raises the cost of each unit, then this information will also help you save money.

http://www.livingrichwithcoupons.com...-paper-coupons
Apache

Hey that's cool.

Comes with a comparison of all the different brands of toilet paper as to size and sheets etc. Mundane as it is I will find that useful as storage is important too.

Helen

hwlester · 08-30-2013, 06:10 PM

I'm not sure what all the hate for TTS is about... TTS has improved by leaps and bounds in the last couple of years. The version that came with Android pre-4.0 (perhaps even the version on 3.0, but I never owned a 3.0 device) was definitely robotic and you needed to purchase a decent one (SVOX at the time which was reasonably natural sounding, but mispronounced words occasionally), then Ivona released a beta on Android that was even more natural sounding, but still occasionally pronounced words strangely. Both would read "Ave I" in Google Maps as "Ah-vay Eye" as in "Ave Maria" instead of "Avenue I".

The version that comes stock on Android 4.x, although not quite as good as Ivona, was good enough that I chose not to install Ivona or SVOX. I agree that I probably wouldn't want to listen to an entire book read by it (especially fantasy novels with strange names). I'd say the speech is more "stilted" than "robotic", like someone trying to enunciate very clearly to cover up an accent. I tried the TTS on my Kindle Touch and it seemed to be on a par with the modern Android implementations.

Bittybye · 09-01-2013, 04:11 PM

I don't even think about it. I have audiobooks, with narrators who give the characters life.

taosaur · 09-01-2013, 09:14 PM

The audio capabilities of eInk devices is rather a side issue from whether it's acceptable or advisable for publishers to block TTS on copyright grounds. There are plenty of devices with TTS-capable hardware and software on board--most of us probably have one in our pockets--and blocking TTS on those devices is absurd.

Personally, I do value TTS. My only disability is myopia, but I suppose I do use it as an accessibility feature insofar as it lets me take off my glasses or contacts (usually at bedtime). More often I have an audiobook for bedtime listening, but I listened to about half of C.J. Cherryh's Foreigner series via Google Play Books' cloud-assisted TTS. We're talking about a series riddled with proper nouns in a made-up alien language, and with a couple exceptions I found the GPB voice's pronunciations preferable to the narrator on the last audiobook in the series. The TTS did a solid job setting dialogue off from narration, too.

As others have said, it's not even close to an audiobook performance, just a serviceable method of reading the text. And obviously, based on replies here, many readers won't even grant it that much.

GeoffR · 09-02-2013, 04:49 AM

I have no use for TTS at the moment, but it could become very important to me when I'm older, I just hope it has improved a lot by the time I need it.

hwlester · 09-02-2013, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taosaur

The audio capabilities of eInk devices is rather a side issue from whether it's acceptable or advisable for publishers to block TTS on copyright grounds.

...

As others have said, it's not even close to an audiobook performance, just a serviceable method of reading the text. And obviously, based on replies here, many readers won't even grant it that much.

Good points. I don't think modern TTS is as bad as people are making it out to be and the real issue is the publishers blocking it with DRM. If I've purchased the book, I should be able to "read" it in any way I choose.

Barty · 09-03-2013, 11:56 PM

I use it on occasions when I'm tired or sick.

It's not great, but it's useable, so I don't mind it. I get used to the odd voice after a while. It is frankly easier for me to use than audiobooks. Dual purpose, more readily available
and affordable.

One reason why I still use the kindle keyboard.

Shadowplay · 09-03-2013, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barty

One reason why I still use the kindle keyboard.

Same for me and I'm frustrated that TTS is such a rare feature on new eReader devices.

taosaur · 09-04-2013, 02:15 AM

You know, I didn't realize the extent of this issue with regard to Amazon's ebooks. The only currently available hardware/software that can provide TTS for Amazon titles (without stripping and/or converting them) is the Fire line. Is that correct? The mobile apps don't have TTS, and wouldn't the DRM prevent using other TTS software on the unmodified files? Balabolka for Windows lists AZW3 as a supported filetype, but I assume it wouldn't be able to open DRMed files.

hwlester · 09-04-2013, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taosaur

You know, I didn't realize the extent of this issue with regard to Amazon's ebooks. The only currently available hardware/software that can provide TTS for Amazon titles (without stripping and/or converting them) is the Fire line. Is that correct? The mobile apps don't have TTS, and wouldn't the DRM prevent using other TTS software on the unmodified files? Balabolka for Windows lists AZW3 as a supported filetype, but I assume it wouldn't be able to open DRMed files.

The Kindle Touch has TTS. From what others in this thread have said, it is also apparently available on the Kindle Keyboard. The Paperwhite has no audio hardware, so I can't have it.

HarryT · 09-04-2013, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taosaur

You know, I didn't realize the extent of this issue with regard to Amazon's ebooks. The only currently available hardware/software that can provide TTS for Amazon titles (without stripping and/or converting them) is the Fire line. Is that correct? The mobile apps don't have TTS, and wouldn't the DRM prevent using other TTS software on the unmodified files? Balabolka for Windows lists AZW3 as a supported filetype, but I assume it wouldn't be able to open DRMed files.

The iPad's built-in TTS works fine with the Kindle App.

08-30-2013, 01:13 PM	#62
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,549 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	I currently have no use for it. But if its inclusion on standard devices (and its availability on all ebooks) means that there's a chance the technology will be considerably improved by the time I might find it useful, I'm all for its inclusion (provided the costs associated aren't prohibitive). Practice makes perfect. Last edited by DiapDealer; 08-30-2013 at 02:41 PM.

08-30-2013, 02:59 PM	#64
Julius Caesar Addict Posts: 341 Karma: 1244808 Join Date: Oct 2012 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	It's not important since text to speech sounds like a robot. I wouldn't want to listen to a computer reading a text. I wouldn't even want to listen to a human reading a text unless they are a professional narrator with crystal clear voice and precise diction. However, I think it should be made available to those who need it. The feature would be very beneficial to the blinds especially if the audio book version is not available. Last edited by Julius Caesar; 08-30-2013 at 03:02 PM.

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08-30-2013, 12:56 PM	#61
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,574 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	Before I bought my first ereader, I thought I wanted text-to-speech to be an option. Finding it hard to get everything else I wanted though on the same reader, I realized I've never even used it before and probably never would, I couldn't think of one instance I'd want to use it over reading a book. It also would be a much higher battery drain on any reader using such a feature, so again, not something I'd want at all, it would defeat a main advantage of an ereader. So it's not important to me at all. If it happens to be on a reader, it would never be used.

08-30-2013, 02:27 PM	#63
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,137 Karma: 89858112 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	For those of you who do not like the inclusion of TTS because it raises the cost of each unit, then this information will also help you save money. http://www.livingrichwithcoupons.com...-paper-coupons Apache

08-30-2013, 06:10 PM	#66
hwlester Wizard Posts: 1,343 Karma: 2786741 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Birmingham, AL Device: Sony Reader PRS-T1, Kindle Touch, misc. Android devices, Nook HD+	I'm not sure what all the hate for TTS is about... TTS has improved by leaps and bounds in the last couple of years. The version that came with Android pre-4.0 (perhaps even the version on 3.0, but I never owned a 3.0 device) was definitely robotic and you needed to purchase a decent one (SVOX at the time which was reasonably natural sounding, but mispronounced words occasionally), then Ivona released a beta on Android that was even more natural sounding, but still occasionally pronounced words strangely. Both would read "Ave I" in Google Maps as "Ah-vay Eye" as in "Ave Maria" instead of "Avenue I". The version that comes stock on Android 4.x, although not quite as good as Ivona, was good enough that I chose not to install Ivona or SVOX. I agree that I probably wouldn't want to listen to an entire book read by it (especially fantasy novels with strange names). I'd say the speech is more "stilted" than "robotic", like someone trying to enunciate very clearly to cover up an accent. I tried the TTS on my Kindle Touch and it seemed to be on a par with the modern Android implementations.

09-01-2013, 04:11 PM	#67
Bittybye Addict Posts: 262 Karma: 505124 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: PRS-T2	I don't even think about it. I have audiobooks, with narrators who give the characters life.

09-01-2013, 09:14 PM	#68
taosaur intelligent posterior Posts: 1,562 Karma: 21295618 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohiopolis Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2, Samsung S8, Lenovo Tab 3 Pro	The audio capabilities of eInk devices is rather a side issue from whether it's acceptable or advisable for publishers to block TTS on copyright grounds. There are plenty of devices with TTS-capable hardware and software on board--most of us probably have one in our pockets--and blocking TTS on those devices is absurd. Personally, I do value TTS. My only disability is myopia, but I suppose I do use it as an accessibility feature insofar as it lets me take off my glasses or contacts (usually at bedtime). More often I have an audiobook for bedtime listening, but I listened to about half of C.J. Cherryh's Foreigner series via Google Play Books' cloud-assisted TTS. We're talking about a series riddled with proper nouns in a made-up alien language, and with a couple exceptions I found the GPB voice's pronunciations preferable to the narrator on the last audiobook in the series. The TTS did a solid job setting dialogue off from narration, too. As others have said, it's not even close to an audiobook performance, just a serviceable method of reading the text. And obviously, based on replies here, many readers won't even grant it that much.

09-02-2013, 04:49 AM	#69
GeoffR Wizard Posts: 3,821 Karma: 19162882 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Te Riu-a-Māui Device: Kobo Glo	I have no use for TTS at the moment, but it could become very important to me when I'm older, I just hope it has improved a lot by the time I need it.

09-03-2013, 11:56 PM	#71
Barty doofus Posts: 2,521 Karma: 13036221 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kindle Voyage	I use it on occasions when I'm tired or sick. It's not great, but it's useable, so I don't mind it. I get used to the odd voice after a while. It is frankly easier for me to use than audiobooks. Dual purpose, more readily available and affordable. One reason why I still use the kindle keyboard.

09-04-2013, 02:15 AM	#73
taosaur intelligent posterior Posts: 1,562 Karma: 21295618 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohiopolis Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2, Samsung S8, Lenovo Tab 3 Pro	You know, I didn't realize the extent of this issue with regard to Amazon's ebooks. The only currently available hardware/software that can provide TTS for Amazon titles (without stripping and/or converting them) is the Fire line. Is that correct? The mobile apps don't have TTS, and wouldn't the DRM prevent using other TTS software on the unmodified files? Balabolka for Windows lists AZW3 as a supported filetype, but I assume it wouldn't be able to open DRMed files.