Best Kindle Supporting Text-to-Speech

jaekqubp · 06-30-2015, 11:48 AM

Hi everybody,

Lately I have been taking advantage of text-to-speech functionality quite frequentlly, using Moon+ Reader Pro and Ivona TTS on Android. I often read on-screen at home, and switch to TTS when out on the bike, walking, and such. This is a set up that I am really happy with. My understanding is that several previous Kindle e-ink devices had built-in TTS support, while that feature has been abandoned in the current generation Kindles -- ostensibly, so as to not cannibalize their Audible audiobook sales.

My question is which Kindle (or other e-ink) readers support TTS and in which devices is it best implemented? My understanding is that Kindle Fires still support TTS functionality, on some titles, though this is at the cost of battery life, and e-ink screen. That is an option, nonetheless.

Any input is appreciated.

Thanks and happy reading.

HarryT · 06-30-2015, 12:01 PM

The Kindle Touch was the last eInk Kindle to support TTS.

AnemicOak · 06-30-2015, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaekqubp

while that feature has been abandoned in the current generation Kindles -- ostensibly, so as to not cannibalize their Audible audiobook sales.

Since they've moved the TTS feature over to the Fire tablets and improved it from the eInk readers it's doubtful they're too worried about hurting Audible (Amazon owns Ivona too).

Quote:

My question is which Kindle (or other e-ink) readers support TTS and in which devices is it best implemented?

IIRC some of the current generation Onyx Boox readers offer text to speech. They use Ivona on at least some models and I believe some other brand on others.

The Boyue T62 & T62+ have Ivona through one of their reading apps. Not sure about other models from them.

I believe some current models from Pocketbook have TTS as well.

eschwartz · 06-30-2015, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaekqubp

My understanding is that several previous Kindle e-ink devices had built-in TTS support, while that feature has been abandoned in the current generation Kindles -- ostensibly, so as to not cannibalize their Audible audiobook sales.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Since they've moved the TTS feature over to the Fire tablets and improved it from the eInk readers it's doubtful they're too worried about hurting Audible (Amazon owns Ivona too).

Especially since the newer E-Inks don't have any audio hardware at all, and the older ones supported Audible audiobooks as well as TTS.

TTS support is defined by the publisher, and I am unaware of Amazon doing anything to disadvantage that... aside from removing expensive audio hardware from the specific range of devices that most people did not use for audio.

disconnected · 07-01-2015, 03:03 AM

I don't use TTS myself but it's a subject that comes up frequently on Amazon's Kindle forum. The consensus seems to be that the implementation of TTS on the Fire tablets is far superior to that on the older e-ink Kindles.

HarryT · 07-01-2015, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disconnected

I don't use TTS myself but it's a subject that comes up frequently on Amazon's Kindle forum. The consensus seems to be that the implementation of TTS on the Fire tablets is far superior to that on the older e-ink Kindles.

As you would expect it to be, given that Amazon now own Ivona, who are the best in the business.

Josieb1 · 07-05-2015, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disconnected

I don't use TTS myself but it's a subject that comes up frequently on Amazon's Kindle forum. The consensus seems to be that the implementation of TTS on the Fire tablets is far superior to that on the older e-ink Kindles.

It is. I have a Kindle Voyage and I bought a Fire first of all specifically for TTS. I know love my Fires for other reasons now (I have two) but TTS is very good.

rem736 · 07-13-2015, 03:06 PM

i did not know that amazon now owns inova. i had a onyx boox m92 and i have to say that inova has the best tts i have ever encountered. maybe amazon is planning to put it on newer kindles when they are ready. let's hope. i know that the echo now supports audible. and one of my requests for the echo was tts, both for ebooks as well as a user uploaded text file for alexa to read back to me.

HarryT · 07-13-2015, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rem736

i did not know that amazon now owns inova. i had a onyx boox m92 and i have to say that inova has the best tts i have ever encountered. maybe amazon is planning to put it on newer kindles when they are ready. let's hope. i know that the echo now supports audible. and one of my requests for the echo was tts, both for ebooks as well as a user uploaded text file for alexa to read back to me.

I think it's extremely unlikely we'll see TTS on another eInk Kindle. It's one of the features Amazon use to distinguish the Kindle from the Fire tablets (which no longer have the "Kindle" prefix).

06-30-2015, 11:48 AM	#1
jaekqubp Member Posts: 21 Karma: 131034 Join Date: Jan 2015 Device: Microsoft Surface Pro, Kindle Fire 2015 (KFFOWI), Nook Simple Touch	Best Kindle Supporting Text-to-Speech Hi everybody, Lately I have been taking advantage of text-to-speech functionality quite frequentlly, using Moon+ Reader Pro and Ivona TTS on Android. I often read on-screen at home, and switch to TTS when out on the bike, walking, and such. This is a set up that I am really happy with. My understanding is that several previous Kindle e-ink devices had built-in TTS support, while that feature has been abandoned in the current generation Kindles -- ostensibly, so as to not cannibalize their Audible audiobook sales. My question is which Kindle (or other e-ink) readers support TTS and in which devices is it best implemented? My understanding is that Kindle Fires still support TTS functionality, on some titles, though this is at the cost of battery life, and e-ink screen. That is an option, nonetheless. Any input is appreciated. Thanks and happy reading.

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06-30-2015, 12:01 PM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The Kindle Touch was the last eInk Kindle to support TTS.

07-01-2015, 03:03 AM	#5
disconnected Fanatic Posts: 527 Karma: 4504715 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: US Device: Kobo Forma, Libra, H2O2e2, Clara, Auras, Kindles, Nooks, Sony, iPAQ	I don't use TTS myself but it's a subject that comes up frequently on Amazon's Kindle forum. The consensus seems to be that the implementation of TTS on the Fire tablets is far superior to that on the older e-ink Kindles.

07-13-2015, 03:06 PM	#8
rem736 purpose priority passion Posts: 645 Karma: 9002000 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: socal, usa Device: sony prs-350, b&n ngp, rM2, kindle scribe, boox poke5	i did not know that amazon now owns inova. i had a onyx boox m92 and i have to say that inova has the best tts i have ever encountered. maybe amazon is planning to put it on newer kindles when they are ready. let's hope. i know that the echo now supports audible. and one of my requests for the echo was tts, both for ebooks as well as a user uploaded text file for alexa to read back to me.

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