Web Reader - Text to Speech
| Category | Price | Seller | Device |
|---|---|---|---|
| Productivity | $1.99 | Chris Chauvin | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
Web Reader 3.0 for iPhone uses text to speech technology along with web page content recognition to read web pages to you. You can configure web pages to be read as soon as they are loaded, read pages manually after they are loaded, or use Cut, Copy, & Paste to read only sections of text.
Please make sure you are running iPhone OS 7.0 or greater to prevent problems.
See the youtube demonstration here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk0d1npGoq4
Web Reader acts as you're own personal news, book, and content reader. You can adjust the volume and the speed at which web content is read. Web Reader attempts to automatically recognize the language of the web page being read and pick the appropriate voice language for you. You can set a default voice for a particular language so that voice is used for that language.
Use local sync applications like DropBox to download and read text files, HTML pages, MS Word documents, and PDF files.
Note, there is no integration with eBook apps like Kindle. eBooks can be read only if the eBook is available on a Web page such as Project Gutenberg (http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page).
Features:
- Fast - Web Reader starts reading quickly and can read long and large web page content without breaks.
- Reads PDF - Web Reader now reads PDF documents. NOTE: Not all PDFs can be read!
- Read Locally Synced Files - When using apps that sync files locally to your device, like DropBox, you can now open those files in Web Reader and have them read to you. File formats supported are: HTML, Text, RTF, Microsoft Word.
- Remote Control Support - Using the devices headset or BlueTooth device, Web Reader can now be paused from those device remote controls. On BlueTooth devices supporting skip forward and skip back, Web Reader will skip forward and back by paragraphs when using those controls.
- Continues Reading When Backgrounded - With iOS 4 and beyond, if your device supports applications running in the background, Web Reader will continue to read while you use other apps.
- Image Block - Load pages faster by turning on image blocking.
- Multiple Languages - Most languages supported by iOS are supported by Web Reader. Higher quality voices for most languages can be downloaded by going to your iOS settings app and navigating to General -> Accessibility -> Speech -> Voices. Select the language you want a higher quality voice for and tap Enhanced Quality. NOTE: Arabic and Asian language support is coming soon.
- Voice Volume - Control the volume of the generated voices from the text to speech engine as well as control the overall volume with the device volume controls.
- Speaking Speed - Control how fast or slow web pages are read to you.
- Start Here - Tap the section of the article or book you want to start reading. Note: when reading PDF files, this is not currently available. When reading PDFs, you are prompted for a page number to start reading.
- Highlight While Reading - Highlight the paragraphs and auto scroll the web page to show you what's being read.
- Auto-Speak - Configure Web Reader to automatically start reading web page content once a page loads. Going back will not re-read the previous page that was already read.
- Launch from Safari - By cutting and pasting a bookmarklet from Web Reader's info page, you can launch Web Reader and have it read the page you are on in Safari.
- Landscape - Works in landscape mode
- Reads While Locked - Web Reader will continue to speak even when the device is locked.
- Stop and Restart - Stop and Restart your last selection by pressing the play button
Devices: iPhone and iPod Touch Second Generation
OS: 7.0 or greater
Languages: Most iOS supported languages. Asian and Arabic are currently not supported.
Reviews
Can’t understand the voice
ellen1985!
The reading voice in English has a strong German accent that is very difficult to understand. I wish I hadn’t purchased it before I tried it. Will be deleting and looking for a better reader.
Brilliant app!!!
Danhof
Thank you for the awesome app! I have been using it for the last week and it is just fantastic!!! I was looking for something like this for a long, long time. I have really no complaints about the functionality and features. Ok maybe a couple: Keep the little play arrow visible a bit longer. Sometimes it's hard to catch it. The PDFs could use some work, but the main feature is just perfect. Being able to listen to articles in the browser is pure greatness. Works great at the office as well as at home. This is easily the most used app in my possession right now, except for maybe my own :) Thanks again for this cool app and keep up the wonderful work. BTW: I would easily have paid $5 for this much convenience.
Good, pronunciation needs work
DavidComposer
This app is good for basic reading. It cannot read technical language with correct pronunciation. For example, it read "waveform" as "wavyforms.". That may not bother you, but too many mistakes can make everything difficult to understand.
Controls are not good
Just4music
Controls stop working Some times or have too slow response time. No ease of making selections and reading. Functionality is there but not fully operational as expected.
Great, works as advertised
read_darwins_black_box
Great for listening to web pages during my commute (be careful though!). Can communicate with Safari via bookmarklets but haven't tried this yet. The developer seems to be working hard on new features, too, including Bluetooth control - good job! As for complaints about enunciation, this is simply how things are at this time - even the Kindle has same issues. Give the guy a break!
Awesome
Jimmy99jk
So cool and useful. Would like an easy way to read emails. Is there an "open in" function for email... Also, I'd like to be able to forward articles. Most news sites have an "email to" function.
Love and hate it
TommyKay
When it works, it's fantastic. You can put on headphones and get things done as this app reads to you. It makes a car trip pretty useful. When it works. The problem is, it skips all over the page. It will read a few lines, then jump an inch down the page. When it reads everything on the proper order, it is bliss. Sadly, it shuffles many web pages into gibberish. Over half seem to be mangled, so it's no small problem. Bummer.
Worth every penny
Remfire49
I don't write reviews very often but felt compelled to do so with this App. I have always been a very slow reader and because of this reading can be very frustrating. This App has allowed me to be able to enjoy many articles, and Web pages that I otherwise would pass by. I like the design and the voice clarity is amazing. Great work and thank you very much.
Thank you! Very helpful!
Wandering Ram
Wonderful product. Hidden gem in the app store, especially for those with reading-based difficulties. I have recommended this to students who are dyslexic and they have been delighted by it. In fact, the web reader was the only way one was able to have text-to-speech access to a locked PDF reading assignment for a class. Apparently, PDFs locked to prevent editing also block accessibility features! Needless to say, this app saved the day and made the reading part of the project much less tedious! :) Thanks!
