Amazon Kindle app for iPad & iPhone gains Audible audio book integration
Amazon's official Kindle app for iPad and iPhone has been updated to include integration with audio versions of titles when purchased through the service Audible, as well as cloud syncing with Whispersync for Voice.
Kindle for iOS, as well as Google's Android, now allows users to switch between reading and listening without leaving the app, as long as they own both the Kindle and Audible versions of a title. The free update is now available.
Of course, new e-book or Audible purchases cannot be accomplished through the Kindle for iOS app, as Amazon chooses to bypass Apple's in-app purchasing rules. Otherwise, Amazon would be forced to pay Apple a 30 percent cut of all Kindle sales.
But for users who browse Amazon's website through a traditional Web browser, audio upgrades to Kindle books are available for as little as 99 cents, while upgrades to bestsellers start at $3.99. The updated app takes advantage of Amazon's "Whispersync for Voice," which allows users to have their audiobook pick up where they left off reading.
"We're working hard to help customers find more moments each day to enjoy a great book," said Russ Grandinetti, Senior Vice President, Amazon Kindle. "Integrating professional narration into our Kindle apps means you never have to put down a favorite book--start reading at home, get in the car and simply tap a button to continue listening without losing your place."
Professional narration is currently available for more than 45,000 Kindle books. Amazon also offers the Matchmaker service, which scans a user's Kindle library to find which titles have a companion Audible version available.
"We continue to hear from a growing number of Whispersync for Voice converts who tell us the innovation has profoundly changed the way they read--in fact, switching back and forth between reading and listening has become their preferred way of experiencing stories," said Audible founder and CEO Donald Katz. "And the feature has gotten easier and easier to use, as this exciting integration into Kindle apps attests."
Kindle for iOS, as well as Google's Android, now allows users to switch between reading and listening without leaving the app, as long as they own both the Kindle and Audible versions of a title. The free update is now available.
Of course, new e-book or Audible purchases cannot be accomplished through the Kindle for iOS app, as Amazon chooses to bypass Apple's in-app purchasing rules. Otherwise, Amazon would be forced to pay Apple a 30 percent cut of all Kindle sales.
But for users who browse Amazon's website through a traditional Web browser, audio upgrades to Kindle books are available for as little as 99 cents, while upgrades to bestsellers start at $3.99. The updated app takes advantage of Amazon's "Whispersync for Voice," which allows users to have their audiobook pick up where they left off reading.
"We're working hard to help customers find more moments each day to enjoy a great book," said Russ Grandinetti, Senior Vice President, Amazon Kindle. "Integrating professional narration into our Kindle apps means you never have to put down a favorite book--start reading at home, get in the car and simply tap a button to continue listening without losing your place."
Professional narration is currently available for more than 45,000 Kindle books. Amazon also offers the Matchmaker service, which scans a user's Kindle library to find which titles have a companion Audible version available.
"We continue to hear from a growing number of Whispersync for Voice converts who tell us the innovation has profoundly changed the way they read--in fact, switching back and forth between reading and listening has become their preferred way of experiencing stories," said Audible founder and CEO Donald Katz. "And the feature has gotten easier and easier to use, as this exciting integration into Kindle apps attests."
Comments
I’ve been wondering for a while if Apple isn’t working on improving TTS in iOS/OS X such that they could get one of their automated voices to read you your books. For many intents and purposes, this would save people hundreds upon hundreds of megabytes of space, as they could forgo the audiobook for a proper one and have the OS read to them. Now, some people would of course prefer the timbre of their favorite narrator to a less nuanced computer version, but all things in time.
Poor Siri lacks a Teleprompter.
I have "The Audacity of Hope" narrated by Barack Obama. It would not be the same experience if it was TTS'ed by Siri...
That's the best case you could come up with? " src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />
Really, the only feature of the Kindle Fire in areas where Amazon Instant Video isn't available was the integration between Audible and Kindle. If they've now ported that to iOS and Android proper, then why would you buy a Kindle Fire? It's no better an e-reader than my iPad (and it's worse than my Paperwhite), and I can't actually use the video service.
Of course, Amazon aren't trying to sell me hardware, they're trying to sell me content. Well played, Amazon, well played...
…dropping all mp3 support.
…dropping all mp3 support.
…dropping all mp3 support.
What do they think this is, 2025?
Neat service, would be cool if Apple could do something in this area that similarly offers a deal when buying both book and audiobooks, and syncs place across both.
Wondering to see this app! Amazon is providing a great app for iPad, Iphone. There are several another apps for iPad and iPhone that plays an important role in their service. Write-on-video is a mobile app for iPad and helps us arranging photos and videos in a sildeshow. Every annotation can be easily edited. With write-on-video app, we can make our videos more persuasive and eye-catching.
Have a look on this video to get advantage of this app: