MILLIONS of Kindle readers have a new way to enjoy books thanks to an upgrade.
The update arrived on devices this month after some bugs were fixed – and it could have a huge impact on the way users experience free books.
1
Amazon’s engineers specifically designed the new feature – titled Assistive Reader – to help those with impaired vision.
But it will also be helpful to anyone as an alternative to audio books, which have shot up in popularity in recent years.
It is a free upgrade but only available on 11th- and 12th-generation Kindles.
Amazon often runs offers that are well worth signing up for, and promoting the Kindle is often at the top of the list.
If you’re not already familiar with Kindle Unlimited, it’s a digital reading subscription service that grants users access to millions of online books, making it a great choice for literature lovers who want to travel light.
There is currently a free 30-day trial on offer, which you can access here.
This latest upgrade is only likely to increase the popularity of Kindles, which can cost from below £100 for a basic version to nearly £400 for one with all the bells and whistles.
How it works
A support page on Amazon explains how the new upgrade works – and how it can benefit users.
It states: “Assistive Reader provides you with new options to control TTS (Text-to-Speech) on the free Kindle app for iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets, Mac, and Fire tablets.
“With Assistive Reader, you can use built-in audio controls in the Kindle app, as well as real-time text highlighting while listening.
“Assistive Reader uses your device’s OS-level Text-to-Speech engines to read aloud the text of the book.”
It’s the last statement that is perhaps the most important to note, as Kindles do not have headphone jacks or sockets.
It effectively means that if a user wants to listen to the read out of the book, they will have to pair their headphones with the Kindle via bluetooth.
To enable Assistive Reader, users should navigate to the font menu.
Language options
If the Kindle supports the feature, it will be visible at the top of the screen, from where it can be turned on or off.
When switched on, a speaker symbol appears at the bottom of the screen.
As well as English, users can listen to the book read aloud in other languages, including Spanish, German and French.
Kindle Unlimited: Claim one month FREE
Not all ebooks can utilise Assistive Reading, however.
Users will have to check whether it’s possible to use it by looking for the Enhanced Typesetting feature in the book’s featured list – if it’s there, it’ll work.
This is not the first time Amazon has tested Assistive Reading.
An earlier version launched in July but was disabled a few days later.
Kindles have grown in popularity over the years with the latest 16GB model on sale for £94.99.
This was dropped to just £74.99 during Amazon’s Prime Day in July, with Amazon dropping the price of the Kindle Scribe from £379.99 to £279.99.
With 16GB of storage there is enough room for thousands of books, while the battery can last up to six weeks on a single charge.
Claim a 30-day free trial
Catch the reading bug on holiday? There’s no better time to level up your reading list.
With Kindle Unlimited, you’ve got access to a wide range of titles at your fingertips – perfect for lounging around the pool, beach trips, and travel adventures.
New customers can sign up for a 30-day free trial, and getting started is quick, easy, and hassle-free.
All you have to do is visit Amazon’s dedicated Kindle Unlimited page and press the ‘Try free and pay later’ button.
You’ll then be instructed to add payment details to ensure your subscription continues after the promotional period ends.
Customers can cancel Kindle Unlimited at any time
