Re: app to read a book to me on an airplane

Android Owner <android@google.com> wrote:

On Fri, 12 Apr 2024 09:13:05 +0100, Andy Burns wrote:
 

I have a few ebooks in PDF (and other) formats.
Is there a simple to use free app without ads that will just read the book
to me

 
Not all PDF pages are rendered in natural order (i.e. top down, left to
right order for Western script) some can be effectively random
characters sprinkled onto the page in the required places, I doubt a
reader would handle them well ...

 
These are all epub books in a variety of epub formats, not just (text) PDF.
Most are in mobi but some are azw/azw3 (only a few are in (text) PDF).
 
They are designed for readers.
 
I'm hoping to find a good voice output reader that speaks the entire book
(without having to select every single paragraph, which is ridiculous) to
my wired headphones for the trip on the plane.

I've never used any Kindle stuff, but you mention azw/azw3 formats which
are Amazon Kindle file formats.  From what I've read, the Android Kindle
app can read back those ebooks.

https://www.amazon.com/hz/audible/narrationhelp/
https://filme.imyfone.com/text-to-speech/kindle-text-to-speech/

There are several Text To Speech (TTS) reader apps at:

https://play.google.com/store/search?q=tts%20ebook%20reader&c=apps

However, trying to find truly freeware (no ads as the cost) is like
trying to find a virgin in a whore house.  I've heard users mentioning
the following, but have no experience with them:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cliffweitzman.speechify2
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.naturalsoft.personalweb
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tts.reader             (*)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.foobnix.pdf.reader (*)

(*) Same author.

Some are mentioned at:

https://www.getpeech.com/post/the-best-text-to-speech-apps-for-android-in-2024

Trying to find out which TTS ebook readers work without an Internet
connection takes more work, like doing the test that I did where you
attempt to read aloud while the phone is in Airplane mode.  Most claim
to use whatever speech engine is installed in your phone.