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Quoth · 08-23-2022, 04:58 AM

I looked at Pocketbook. You need to first either install or update Speech Services by Google via the playstore (or install some other solution). It's actually using more or less the same OS API as Talkback (which is like Kindle Voiceview) or the Accessibility Text to Speech (a universal screen reader, i.e only reads what is more or less visible).

Make sure desired speech pack and settings are done in the Settings > Accessibility > Text to Speech (Speech Engine). Uncheck reporting to Google.

Pocketbook seems to work OK with direct directories/folders and SD card, so books can be managed by Calibre. Setup it to only scan where you have books.

You don't need to tap and enable the second checkbox at install.

Like almost everything except for a Kindle, Sony, Kobo, the concept of real library management is missing. You can browse organised real directories/folders. So with 1000s of ebooks and on 10" eink 1000s of PDF tech stuff, only the KOBO eink is a good solution.

Pocket book TTS, because the interface is in the ereader App, does read past page turns. The actual voice, pitch, speed, language is identical to the Accessibility Suite screen reading. Oddly the Android 10 has "pitch" option but Android 5 I have has no "pitch" but has "flat, a bit expressive, expressive". The Expressive setting isn't as good as a real narrator but better than Android 10 (same speed & voice selected). Both have the same selection of male and female voices all of which with UK English are a bit transatlantic. The Australian English is like a parody!
Both Android 5 & Android 10 had updates last night:
Android Accessibility Suite
Speech Services by Google
Pocketbook

So for Kindle you either read one page at a time, or use a plug-in on Calibre to remove DRM and then convert to epub2 for Pocketbook. An eink Kindle as "target" for Amazon's "Download to PC* and transfer via USB" is best as DRM removal on K4PC, Fire or App is either fraught or impossible. Trivial with eink.

Or get a Kindle Keyboard 3. It works with KF8 / azw3.

The Kindle App does install on older Androids, Kobo app doesn't. Google Playbooks seems to work on all Androids that can use Playstore. Some Google epubs don't have DRM. Maybe they use Adobe? I've no idea where it puts the ebooks.

(* By PC Amazon really means any browser on any OS that works with their website. Windows, Linux, Mac and even Android can "work")

08-23-2022, 04:58 AM	#23
Quoth Still reading Posts: 14,486 Karma: 107078855 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	I looked at Pocketbook. You need to first either install or update Speech Services by Google via the playstore (or install some other solution). It's actually using more or less the same OS API as Talkback (which is like Kindle Voiceview) or the Accessibility Text to Speech (a universal screen reader, i.e only reads what is more or less visible). Make sure desired speech pack and settings are done in the Settings > Accessibility > Text to Speech (Speech Engine). Uncheck reporting to Google. Pocketbook seems to work OK with direct directories/folders and SD card, so books can be managed by Calibre. Setup it to only scan where you have books. You don't need to tap and enable the second checkbox at install. Like almost everything except for a Kindle, Sony, Kobo, the concept of real library management is missing. You can browse organised real directories/folders. So with 1000s of ebooks and on 10" eink 1000s of PDF tech stuff, only the KOBO eink is a good solution. Pocket book TTS, because the interface is in the ereader App, does read past page turns. The actual voice, pitch, speed, language is identical to the Accessibility Suite screen reading. Oddly the Android 10 has "pitch" option but Android 5 I have has no "pitch" but has "flat, a bit expressive, expressive". The Expressive setting isn't as good as a real narrator but better than Android 10 (same speed & voice selected). Both have the same selection of male and female voices all of which with UK English are a bit transatlantic. The Australian English is like a parody! Both Android 5 & Android 10 had updates last night: Android Accessibility Suite Speech Services by Google Pocketbook So for Kindle you either read one page at a time, or use a plug-in on Calibre to remove DRM and then convert to epub2 for Pocketbook. An eink Kindle as "target" for Amazon's "Download to PC* and transfer via USB" is best as DRM removal on K4PC, Fire or App is either fraught or impossible. Trivial with eink. Or get a Kindle Keyboard 3. It works with KF8 / azw3. The Kindle App does install on older Androids, Kobo app doesn't. Google Playbooks seems to work on all Androids that can use Playstore. Some Google epubs don't have DRM. Maybe they use Adobe? I've no idea where it puts the ebooks. (* By PC Amazon really means any browser on any OS that works with their website. Windows, Linux, Mac and even Android can "work") Last edited by Quoth; 08-23-2022 at 05:01 AM.