Kindle offers remote kill switch for text-to-speech function?

Alexander Turcic · 05-14-2009, 11:13 AM

Yesterday one of our members reported that Amazon has began to disable the text-to-speech (TTS) feature of the Kindle on a book-by-book basis. Today I read in the news that apparently Amazon can go even so far as to remotely disable the TTS function of these books already stored on your personal device.

Meredith Filak writes on her blog:

Quote:

Update, 13 May: Beginning yesterday, Random House Publishers began to disable text-to-speech remotely. The TTS function has apparently been remotely disabled in over 40 works so far. Affected titles include works by Toni Morrison, Stephen King, and others. Other notable titles include Andrew Meachem's American Lion, and five of the top ten Random House best-sellers in the Kindle store. As a former English major, a teacher, and a lover of books, I can't see how anyone can justify eroding access to popular and classic literature.]

Beside the fact that it's probably not very difficult to enable TTS again (not with Amazon's or the publisher's blessing of course), the question needs to be asked if Amazon has the legal right to remotely change files on your Kindle device aimed at decreasing its functionality.

Can anyone confirm that there is indeed a remote switch?

[via /.]

GeoffC · 05-14-2009, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

Yesterday one of our members reported that Amazon has began to disable the text-to-speech (TTS) feature of the Kindle on a book-by-book basis. Today I read in the news that apparently Amazon can go even so far as to remotely disable the TTS function of these books already stored on your personal device.

Meredith Filak writes on her blog:

Beside the fact that it's probably not very difficult to enable TTS again (not without Amazon's or the publisher's blessing of course), the question needs to be asked if Amazon has the legal right to remotely change files on your Kindle device aimed at decreasing in functionality.

[via /.]

The very fact (if true) that Amazon is doing this makes the Kindle a machine that is getting closer to a "1984" scenario - Big Brother is indeed watching and dictating....

lilac_jive · 05-14-2009, 11:19 AM

And this is why I don't like wireless devices

ProDigit · 05-14-2009, 11:21 AM

What's wrong with the device's ability to read text aloud?
Did I miss something?

Shaggy · 05-14-2009, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProDigit

What's wrong with the device's ability to read text aloud?
Did I miss something?

The Authors Guild threw a fit about it because they think it will effect the licensing agreements they have with distributors with regards to audio books. It's basically a fight over money between the authors/publishers and distributors. The consumers just got caught in the crossfire.

sirbruce · 05-14-2009, 11:36 AM

I cannot confirm this. My copy of "The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death", which is suppoedly now TTS disabled, still has TTS on my copy on my Kindle. Turning on wireless and doing a sync did not download a new copy nor change my existing copy in any way.

poohbear_nc · 05-14-2009, 11:38 AM

Should concerned Kindle owners immediately back up all Random House titles onto a PC to preserve this function? Then reload as needed onto the Kindle - hopefully when your Whispernet is off?

This seems analogous to reports I've read here (and elsewhere) that Amazon removes a text from your Kindle that you have requested a refund for - without telling you.

ProDigit · 05-14-2009, 11:38 AM

I think a device's ability to read text is nothing like an audio book.
Text read by a computer still has errors, doesn't sound as good as a real person, and can't be applied to books with images, mathemathical formula's, so is restricted in many ways.

I would say there's no valid ground to disable the speech function off kindles, as you could download an ebook at home, and use a L&H speech decoder, or whatever text to speach decoder for free, and listen to the book that way.

I do think that decoding text requires more cpu and battery life. The battery life is pretty limited on ebook readers for functions like that and listening to mp3's.

Aw well, I hope Bebook or other far away Asian manufacturer will get such functions in their ebooks and on the market (ebay for instance), so we could have it.
It seems those asian markets don't really bother with European and US copyrights/licences.

David Munch · 05-14-2009, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirbruce

I cannot confirm this. My copy of "The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death", which is suppoedly now TTS disabled, still has TTS on my copy on my Kindle. Turning on wireless and doing a sync did not download a new copy nor change my existing copy in any way.

This of course does not rule out that they have a kill switch, that they can activate.. It just means it isn't active right now.

Man I hate DRM...

sirbruce · 05-14-2009, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Munch

This of course does not rule out that they have a kill switch, that they can activate.. It just means it isn't active right now.

Again, I think Meredith's claim is just bogus. Amazon has turned off TTS on those books for new downloads, as we always knew would happen, but there is NO evidence that they've "remotely" disabled it on previously downloaded copies.

lilac_jive · 05-14-2009, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirbruce

Again, I think Meredith's claim is just bogus. Amazon has turned off TTS on those books for new downloads, as we always knew would happen, but there is NO evidence that they've "remotely" disabled it on previously downloaded copies.

Guess we'll have to wait and see. I sure hope they don't.

wallcraft · 05-14-2009, 12:22 PM

The easiest way to implement a "remote kill" is for Amazon to redownload the ebook with the TTS flag record included in the metadata. I have never heard of Amazon doing this, and I have heard of cases where an author updated an ebook and Amazon told them they could not push the corrected ebook to existing owners.

Daithi · 05-14-2009, 12:22 PM

As long as no one here at Mobileread can confirm this story then I'm inclined to agree with sirbruce.

Sonist · 05-14-2009, 01:03 PM

Would removing DRM from the file, prevent Amazon from being able to identify and change it?

kamm · 05-14-2009, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProDigit

What's wrong with the device's ability to read text aloud?
Did I miss something?

Nothing, it's fine sd long as you can turn it off.

OTOH cell systems like trunk radios - you are only safe form evesdropping etc if you take off the battery...

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05-14-2009, 11:19 AM	#3
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	And this is why I don't like wireless devices

05-14-2009, 11:21 AM	#4
ProDigit Karmaniac Posts: 2,553 Karma: 11499146 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami FL Device: PRS-505, Jetbook, + Mini, +Color, Astak Ez Reader Pro, PPW1, Aura H2O	What's wrong with the device's ability to read text aloud? Did I miss something?

05-14-2009, 11:36 AM	#6
sirbruce Provocateur Posts: 1,859 Karma: 505847 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Columbus, OH Device: Kindle Touch, Kindle 2, Kindle DX, iPhone 3GS	I cannot confirm this. My copy of "The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death", which is suppoedly now TTS disabled, still has TTS on my copy on my Kindle. Turning on wireless and doing a sync did not download a new copy nor change my existing copy in any way.

05-14-2009, 11:38 AM	#7
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 62,741 Karma: 135239851 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	Should concerned Kindle owners immediately back up all Random House titles onto a PC to preserve this function? Then reload as needed onto the Kindle - hopefully when your Whispernet is off? This seems analogous to reports I've read here (and elsewhere) that Amazon removes a text from your Kindle that you have requested a refund for - without telling you.

05-14-2009, 12:22 PM	#12
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	The easiest way to implement a "remote kill" is for Amazon to redownload the ebook with the TTS flag record included in the metadata. I have never heard of Amazon doing this, and I have heard of cases where an author updated an ebook and Amazon told them they could not push the corrected ebook to existing owners.

05-14-2009, 12:22 PM	#13
Daithi Publishers are evil! Posts: 2,418 Karma: 36205264 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Rhode Island Device: Various Kindles	As long as no one here at Mobileread can confirm this story then I'm inclined to agree with sirbruce.

05-14-2009, 01:03 PM	#14
Sonist Apeist Posts: 2,126 Karma: 381090 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The sunny part of California Device: Generic virtual reality story-experiential device	Would removing DRM from the file, prevent Amazon from being able to identify and change it?

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