Kindle 2 Text to Speech Demo With Pictures

Dear Listener,

This is a recording of the Amazon Kindle's text to speech function. I am making Kindle read something that I wrote to be sure that no copyright infringement can be claimed, even if I think its a stupid complaint. I mean, get real. Does this sound anything like an audiobook to you? Its not bad for what it is, but its not going to take the place of audiobooks. Just my two cents.

Peace,
Kindle Junkie

P.S. The slight hiss in the background is my fault, not Kindle's. Sorry.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Kindle
• Amazon
• Text-To-Speech

[kindlejunkie]

Amazon has caved (I'm so disappointed). Text-to-speech will now be opt-in for publishers. There are rumblings in the Twitterverse (and elsewhere) to boycott books that cripple the TTS feature.

[pallbear]

Thanks for posting this. What an idiot that guy at the Author's Guild is that started this whole controversy.

[kindlejunkie]

I think the Guild is afraid of things they don't understand (a common human failing).

[pallbear]

I don't think they are afraid so much as they are opportunistic and looking for a way to make an extra buck. Plus it's garnered them a lot of media attention. No matter how stupid they look or sound you know what they say "There is no such thing as bad publicity."

[Mailbrat]

Well I think the publicity may be doing good for the K2, but it is making the Guild look greedy and silly. No one is taking advantage of an author's rights in this situation. We've paid for the book and are using our ears instead of our eyes (as Kindle reader JT so eloquently put it) to read it. No copies are being made or sold or given away.

[kindlejunkie]

OMG. You just quoted me (from a KindleKorner post) to me. I feel special or something - usually nobody pays any attention to anything I say. :-)

[kindlejunkie]

Maybe I'm naive, but I'd like to think that they're doing what they *think* is best for their members and that they're acting from a misinformed position. Intellectually, I know that people can be greedy, but I don't like to assign such a dirty motivation to anyone I haven't personally scrutinized.

[clandrysdale]

I think what they fail to realize is this option can be a big help to kids that are having a hard time learning to read

[SamanthaMarquis]

great clip! I tweeted it :-) I have no use for the kindle txt 2 speech but if my dad were still alive I would have moved heaven and earth to get him one. Hi eyesight was getting worse and if this could have given him back his beloved westerns then I would have gladly paid.

[queenrosered]

I want to be able to buy a Kindle 2 for my elderly Mother, who, until diabetes robbed her of most of her eyesight,was an avid reader. Why should SHE suffer because the authors are greedy?? What about the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) or didn't anyone go to bat for them?? Greedy corporate bastards are the third Anti-Christ!

[kindlejunkie]

I know. I keep expecting Kindle to say, "We are Anonymous. Over the years, we have been watching you..."