Comments on: Amazon backs off on Kindle text-to-speech feature http://www.teleread.com/audiobooks/amazon-backs-off-on-kindle-text-to-speech-feature/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:05:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Mark Essel http://www.teleread.com/audiobooks/amazon-backs-off-on-kindle-text-to-speech-feature/comment-page-1/#comment-1017088 Mark Essel Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:01:22 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/02/27/amazon-backs-off-on-kindle-text-to-speech-feature/#comment-1017088 While it’s a lovely device due to the readability, storage, size, and efficiency. The Kindle 2 is still subject to the whim of the Author’s Guild it seems, and therefore any information that flows through the device will be ruled by a consortium of folks with an outdated view on media ownership and control. Publishers will control the text-to-speech feature. This type of feature change after the release of a product is frightening or at the very least damaging to Amazon’s market position for it’s Kindle Books. It amazes me that we are finding new ways to value information for it’s pertinence, quality, and timeliness on the internet but our vast riches of older written information must suffer in it’s availability due to old thinking. I suggest a simple solution, one media rule that rewards any media authors based on the popularity of their works as well as sociably redeeming qualities. The capitol can be generated via ads to free users, or by subscriptions to those that prefer to avoid ads. While it’s a lovely device due to the readability, storage, size, and efficiency. The Kindle 2 is still subject to the whim of the Author’s Guild it seems, and therefore any information that flows through the device will be ruled by a consortium of folks with an outdated view on media ownership and control.
Publishers will control the text-to-speech feature.
This type of feature change after the release of a product is frightening or at the very least damaging to Amazon’s market position for it’s Kindle Books.
It amazes me that we are finding new ways to value information for it’s pertinence, quality, and timeliness on the internet but our vast riches of older written information must suffer in it’s availability due to old thinking.
I suggest a simple solution, one media rule that rewards any media authors based on the popularity of their works as well as sociably redeeming qualities. The capitol can be generated via ads to free users, or by subscriptions to those that prefer to avoid ads.

]]> By: Joshua Tallent of eBookArchitects.com http://www.teleread.com/audiobooks/amazon-backs-off-on-kindle-text-to-speech-feature/comment-page-1/#comment-1016160 Joshua Tallent of eBookArchitects.com Sun, 01 Mar 2009 02:55:57 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/02/27/amazon-backs-off-on-kindle-text-to-speech-feature/#comment-1016160 I have to ask the same question again: will Amazon make this available for the copyright holders who publish through the DTP? We seem to be only a secondary thought, if that, in these decisions. I have to ask the same question again: will Amazon make this available for the copyright holders who publish through the DTP? We seem to be only a secondary thought, if that, in these decisions.

]]> By: Greg M. http://www.teleread.com/audiobooks/amazon-backs-off-on-kindle-text-to-speech-feature/comment-page-1/#comment-1015839 Greg M. Sat, 28 Feb 2009 05:45:28 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/02/27/amazon-backs-off-on-kindle-text-to-speech-feature/#comment-1015839 "MS Reader has had text-to-speech available for years (2005). AFAIK, no on ever complained." I haven't used MS Reader in years, but text-to-speech has always been turned off for all copy protected works by default, IIRC. Although disappointing, I'm not shocked to see Amazon give way like this. There are more important issues. “MS Reader has had text-to-speech available for years (2005). AFAIK, no on ever complained.”

I haven’t used MS Reader in years, but text-to-speech has always been turned off for all copy protected works by default, IIRC.

Although disappointing, I’m not shocked to see Amazon give way like this. There are more important issues.

]]> By: Jack Tingle http://www.teleread.com/audiobooks/amazon-backs-off-on-kindle-text-to-speech-feature/comment-page-1/#comment-1015790 Jack Tingle Sat, 28 Feb 2009 02:27:53 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/02/27/amazon-backs-off-on-kindle-text-to-speech-feature/#comment-1015790 That's just dumb. MS Reader has had text-to-speech available for years (2005). AFAIK, no on ever complained. Talk about locking the burning barn after the dying horse has stumbled out, this is it. Disgustedly, Jack Tingle That’s just dumb. MS Reader has had text-to-speech available for years (2005). AFAIK, no on ever complained. Talk about locking the burning barn after the dying horse has stumbled out, this is it.

Disgustedly,
Jack Tingle

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