Voice Dream Reader Overview
Voice Dream Reader is a versatile and highly acclaimed text-to-speech application designed to convert written content into audible format, making it accessible and convenient for a wide range of users, including those with visual impairments, dyslexia, ADHD, and other reading challenges.
Core Functionality
At its core, Voice Dream Reader allows users to listen to various types of documents, such as PDFs, web articles, eBooks, and files in multiple formats including DAISY 3.0 text-only, DAISY 2.02 audio, DRM-free EPUB, PDF, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, HTML, and zipped MP3 files.
Key Features
- Text-to-Speech Capabilities: The app utilizes high-quality text-to-speech voices from leading providers like Acapela, Neospeech, and Ivona. Users can choose from nearly 100 additional voices in over 20 languages through in-app purchases.
- Customization: Voice Dream Reader offers extensive customization options, including adjustable font styles, sizes, colors, and text highlighting. This is particularly beneficial for users with dyslexia, as it helps in improving comprehension and retention.
- Integration with Cloud Services: The app seamlessly integrates with popular platforms such as Dropbox, Google Drive, Evernote, and Bookshare, allowing users to access their content effortlessly.
- Navigation and Organization: Users can navigate through documents by headings, sentences, paragraphs, pages, and chapters. The app also supports adding bookmarks, notes, and highlights, and allows users to export these annotations.
- Audio Control: Voice Dream Reader provides comprehensive audio controls, including the ability to change speech rate on the fly (from 50 to 500 words per minute), rewind and fast forward by various intervals (sentence, paragraph, page, chapter, 15, 30, and 60 seconds), and set a sleep timer. The app remembers where you left off in each book or article and continues reading even when you exit the app or lock the screen.
- Visual Settings: Users can adjust visual settings such as text size, character spacing, line spacing, and side margins. The app also supports dark mode and custom color settings to enhance readability.
- Pronunciation Dictionary: A powerful personal pronunciation dictionary allows users to edit and customize word pronunciations, ensuring proper articulation of specialized terms or unique names.
- Apple Watch Compatibility: The app extends its functionality to Apple Watch, enabling users to control the app remotely and read text from their wrists.
Additional Benefits
- Hands-Free Reading: Voice Dream Reader features auto-scrolling functionality, making it convenient for hands-free reading.
- Productivity: The app is designed to enhance productivity by allowing users to read while performing other tasks such as walking, exercising, or doing chores. With practice, users can read at twice their sight-reading speed.
- Accessibility: The app is fully compatible with VoiceOver, providing full support for visually impaired users. It also integrates with Bookshare and Gutenberg, offering access to a vast library of accessible books.
Recognition and User Feedback
Voice Dream Reader has received significant accolades, including being a 2021 Apple Design Award Winner and featured by Apple as Best New App and App of the Day in 81 countries. Experts recommend it as the best app in the text-to-speech space.
In summary, Voice Dream Reader is a robust and user-friendly application that transforms written content into an engaging auditory experience, catering to a diverse range of users and enhancing their reading efficiency and accessibility.