Quote:
Originally Posted by positively4th
I really don't understand why anyone would want to listen to audio books on an e-ink reader -- regardless of if it's a built in speaker, wired or wireless headphones/speakers. I never used it, but I can understand the appeal of the text to speech that's been missing since the K3... but audible books? Doesn't every $20+ smartphone made in the last 10 years have an audible app, and in most cases probably more listening options (wired AND wireless, built in speaker, etc)? Really is just a head-scratcher for me. Not complaining that the functionality is there, just confused WHY it's there... The e-ink reader gives me an experience I can't get other places, audible seems out of place.
In my head I'm thinking, audible books on an e-ink reader might appeal to a less tech savvy customer that doesn't own or use a smartphone made in the last 10 years... but that same customer is going to figure out how to pair bluetooth headphones?
Although one interesting thing that crossed my mind, they do still have an Oasis option with free cellular service. I wonder if you can stream all the audible content you want. That might be nice for some folks and I can understand appeal of that.
Also, if they figure out how to add "immersion reading" like the tablets and ios app have, I can see appeal in that... I heard on the kindle chronicles podcast with an interview about it that they haven't really got anything to announce on that.
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I agree about unattractive ness of a Kindle for audiobooks (I used it a little on my first Kindles, but it has been iPods and smartphones since then). It looks like it is a little better than previous attempts but without immersion reading I don’t see the point. I think they only added it (back) because they already needed audio for the accessibility features and so it was sort of ‘for free’, and maybe helps bring audiobooks to people who haven’t tried them out before, and it might confer more ‘value’ to someone considering a purchase.
But if TTS was on the feature list as well, I know there are more than a few people who would get excited about that.
On the Kindles that previously supported download of audiobooks (Kindle Keyboard, Kindle Touch) you needed to use wifi for that. I’m sure that will remain the case with Oasis + cellular. Likewise, if they supported streaming that would no doubt be wifi only as well. Amazon’s contract with providers probably stipulates this.