• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Blog
  • Kindle
  • Nook
  • Onyx Boox
  • Kobo
  • Comparisons
  • About
  • Disclosure
The eBook Reader Blog

The eBook Reader Blog

The eBook Reader Blog keeps you updated on the latest ereader and tablet news, reviews, and tutorials.

  • News
  • eBook Readers
  • Sales & Deals
  • Reviews
  • How To Guides
  • eBooks
  • Free eBooks

New Kindle Audio Adapter Adds Text-to-Speech to Kindles

May 10, 2016 by Nathan

Kindle Audio Adapter

Amazon has developed a new solution for people that want to have text-to-speech on their Kindle ereader.

Amazon just introduced a new Kindle Paperwhite bundle that comes with a Kindle Audio Adapter that plugs into the Kindle’s USB port to listen to text-to-speech through a set of connected headphones or speakers.

It’s being marketed as a tool for the blind and visually impaired, but of course anyone who would like to bring text-to-speech support to their Kindle can enjoy it too.

The audio only works with TTS, not music or audiobooks.

It uses Amazon’s VoiceView feature, a screen reading tool designed to help visually impaired people navigate by touch and sound, which is getting added to Kindles via a software update.

There are eight speed levels to choose from, and it uses Amazon’s natural language text-to-speech voices (formerly known as IVONA). Battery life is rated at up to 6 hours of continuous use (using the Kindle’s battery).

Right now the Kindle Audio Adapter is only available with the Kindle Paperwhite 3 bundle, but hopefully it will be sold separately soon (Amazon hasn’t officially announced it yet).

The retail price is $19.99 for the Kindle Audio Adapter, according to the listing, so it adds $20 to the overall price of the Paperwhite 3 bundle, but Amazon is giving out a $20 credit with the bundle so it’s essentially free with the purchase of a Paperwhite 3.

It will be coming to other models as well so stay tuned for more updates (and a review eventually). More info can be found on this Kindle Accessibilities Page.

via: Slashgear

Filed Under: Amazon Kindle, eBook Readers Tagged With: kindle audio adapter, kindle paperwhite

Disclosure: This website is monetized through Skimlinks and Amazon's affiliate program.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. BDR says

    May 10, 2016 at 5:22 pm

    It has been reported elsewhere that this solution won’t work with other models such as earlier PaperWhites, Oasis or Voyage. That seems hard to believe since they all have the same firmware (more or less).

    • Nathan says

      May 10, 2016 at 6:45 pm

      Initially it’s just for the Paperwhite 3 but it will be an option on other models too. See here for conformation via an Amazon blog. It remains unclear if they plan to sell them seperatley however. It would be silly not to, even if they are technically giving them away with the bundle credit deal.

Primary Sidebar

Kindle Family

No New Kindles Announced at Amazon’s Hardware Event

Boox Palma

New Onyx Boox Palma Released, a Phone-Sized eReader

Kindle Scribes

Kindle Scribe on Sale for Prime Members, Up to $90 off

Hilarious Kobo Sale

Another Uninspired Kobo “Sale” You Can’t Miss!

Kindle Deals Woot

Great Deals on Refurbished Kindles at Woot

Navigation Menu

  • Homepage
  • The eBook Reader Blog
  • Comparison Tables
  • Kindle Comparisons
  • Best eBook Readers
  • Reviews
  • How To Guides

Follow

Kindle Unlimited 2 Months Free

Copyright © 2023 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress