Any Reader With Text-To-Speech Besides Kindle?

ginakra · 10-08-2009, 01:48 PM

Hi, does anyone know which readers are currently available with (or rumored to have soon) Text-to-Speech besides the Kindle 2? Thanks!

AnemicOak · 10-08-2009, 01:50 PM

The Astak Pocket Pro has it for certain formats...

HarryT · 10-08-2009, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ginakra

Hi, does anyone know which readers are currently available with (or rumored to have soon) Text-to-Speech besides the Kindle 2? Thanks!

The Hanlin V5 - aka "BeBook Mini" and "Astak Pocket Pro" - has it. In both English and Chinese.

ginakra · 10-09-2009, 07:31 PM

Thanks both of you! I'll check them out!

I have a K2 and I have to have TTS due to physical limitations, but my husband is interested in a reader. I'm trying to decide if we should get something different that would be more compatible with library ebooks (Kindle=NOT), and switch devices to read the same books, or buy another kindle 2 and share the same books that way.

Regardless, I need TTS on the other device.

So thanks so much for the help! I might post again later for help choosing after I take a look.

luqmaninbmore · 10-11-2009, 07:12 PM

Keep in mind that the TTS on the Pocket Pro and its sibblings will not work on epub or pdf so you can't use it on library books.

ginakra · 10-16-2009, 12:30 PM

Oh, thanks so much for that piece of information! That's good to know. What formats does the tts work on, then? Imo, it's kind of strange for the tts to work only in certain formats, I wonder why they did that. Kindle's works on all the formats it supports, which granted, isn't all that many but at least it's consistant. Hmmmm.

=X= · 10-16-2009, 01:36 PM

The Astek TTS works with PDFs and Text files. (See Robert's post)
Also you can find more info on the Astek Pro by reading that same thread (link)

However if TTS is what you need I'd recommend you stay with Amazon. Most Adobe PDF I've came across have TTS disabled.

=X=

wallcraft · 10-16-2009, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ginakra

Imo, it's kind of strange for the tts to work only in certain formats, I wonder why they did that.

Its because some of the reader software comes from 3rd parties. For example the ePub and PDF uses mobile Adobe Digital Editions. So they need to get Adobe's permission to use TTS, and, even though TTS rights are supported by PDFs, Adobe seems to be behind the ball on this. See Adobe eBooks - Update on Accessibility Support, which seems to be implying that the Hanlin's (EZ Reader's) might be able to do TTS on Adobe PDF and ePub ebooks at some poiint.

The way the Hanlin's handle TTS for PDFs is to switch to different software, xpdf, to display (and TTS) them. This only works for DRM-free PDFs, so it won't work on Adobe lending library PDF ebooks unless you first circumvent the DRM. Circumvention for the purpose of getting TTS to work is typically legal in the US.

HarryT · 10-17-2009, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ginakra

Oh, thanks so much for that piece of information! That's good to know. What formats does the tts work on, then? Imo, it's kind of strange for the tts to work only in certain formats, I wonder why they did that.

Basically because the Jinke devices use completely DIFFERENT reading software for the different formats, and those different bits of software have different capabilities - some can do TTS; others currently can't. The "Adobe Digital Editions" software, used for ePub and PDFs, currently does not have TTS support.

AlfonsVH · 10-17-2009, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The "Adobe Digital Editions" software, used for ePub and PDFs, currently does not have TTS support.

On my BeBook Mini, TTS works fine for ePubs!

HarryT · 10-17-2009, 11:02 AM

In that case, presumably it will be available on the Astak shortly. Thanks for that.

wallcraft · 10-17-2009, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlfonsVH

On my BeBook Mini, TTS works fine for ePubs!

With the latest (month old) firmware, the EZ Reader PocketPro also does TTS for ePubs and PDFs. It even works when the ebooks have DRM.

HarryT · 10-17-2009, 11:41 AM

I'm obviously "behind the times" in my Jinke firmware update knowledge. Thanks!

10-08-2009, 01:48 PM	#1
ginakra Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kindle 2	Any Reader With Text-To-Speech Besides Kindle? Hi, does anyone know which readers are currently available with (or rumored to have soon) Text-to-Speech besides the Kindle 2? Thanks!

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10-08-2009, 01:50 PM	#2
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	The Astak Pocket Pro has it for certain formats...

10-09-2009, 07:31 PM	#4
ginakra Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kindle 2	Thanks both of you! I'll check them out! I have a K2 and I have to have TTS due to physical limitations, but my husband is interested in a reader. I'm trying to decide if we should get something different that would be more compatible with library ebooks (Kindle=NOT), and switch devices to read the same books, or buy another kindle 2 and share the same books that way. Regardless, I need TTS on the other device. So thanks so much for the help! I might post again later for help choosing after I take a look.

10-11-2009, 07:12 PM	#5
luqmaninbmore Da'i Posts: 1,144 Karma: 1217499 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Baltimore Device: Toshiba Thrive, Kobo Touch, Kindle 1, Aluratek Libre, T-Mobile Comet	Keep in mind that the TTS on the Pocket Pro and its sibblings will not work on epub or pdf so you can't use it on library books.

10-16-2009, 12:30 PM	#6
ginakra Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kindle 2	Oh, thanks so much for that piece of information! That's good to know. What formats does the tts work on, then? Imo, it's kind of strange for the tts to work only in certain formats, I wonder why they did that. Kindle's works on all the formats it supports, which granted, isn't all that many but at least it's consistant. Hmmmm.

10-16-2009, 01:36 PM	#7
=X= Wizard Posts: 3,671 Karma: 12205348 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Galaxy S, Nook w/CM7	The Astek TTS works with PDFs and Text files. (See Robert's post) Also you can find more info on the Astek Pro by reading that same thread (link) However if TTS is what you need I'd recommend you stay with Amazon. Most Adobe PDF I've came across have TTS disabled. =X=

10-17-2009, 11:02 AM	#11
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	In that case, presumably it will be available on the Astak shortly. Thanks for that.

10-17-2009, 11:41 AM	#13
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I'm obviously "behind the times" in my Jinke firmware update knowledge. Thanks!

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