- Audible has launched a new reading tool that allows users to use text sync to follow audiobooks
- It’s rolling out in the US now and will be available in the UK, Australia and Germany in the coming months
- Despite its accessibility focus, users must own both the audiobook and e-book versions of a title to use the feature
Amidst the growing popularity of e-reading, Audible’s position as one of the top audiobook providers has not wavered, and now it’s redefining how you immerse yourself in your favorite audiobooks.
Audible’s new ‘Read and Listen’ tool, launching to US customers today (February 18) and to those in the UK, Australia and Germany in the coming months, is a new way to keep up with audiobooks by combining reading and listening within the Audible app. Previously, use of this feature was limited to the Kindle app as part of the Whispersync for Voice tool.
Using text sync, Read and Listen lets you read along while listening to an audiobook, introducing another way to engage with and enjoy your favorite books — but it’s much more than that, according to Audible’s Chief Product Officer, Andy Tsao.
“Audiobooks count as reading,” Tsao says in a press release announcing the feature. “But now with Audible you can also read with your eyes. Read & Listen gives book lovers the best of both worlds. Whether you’re learning a new language, reading for school or lost in the world of a story, you no longer have to choose one format over the other”.
In addition to the new Read and Listen tool, Audible revealed that it has been testing another feature that merges digital and physical reading, apparently taking inspiration from Spotify’s audiobook upgrade that lets you buy physical books directly from the app. As it stands, select customers in the US have access to Audible’s version of the feature, which includes direct links to physical book listings on Amazon’s website.
You can activate Read and Listen by simply pressing the toggle button, switching between it and the default ‘Listen’ mode, as well as packing hundreds of thousands of titles across a multitude of languages. This isn’t Audible’s only goal with Read and Listen – accessibility is another key factor, but it comes with a catch that I just can’t get past.
An accessibility feature or new business model?
Read to Listen is not only about giving book lovers more ways to enjoy audiobooks, but it also opens another door for those with accessibility needs to immerse themselves in new ways of reading just like the rest.
As Audible puts it; “Read and listen serves as a powerful tool for differentiated instruction. Research shows that simultaneous reading and listening improves comprehension and retention—benefits that are especially valuable for students, language learners, and individuals with dyslexia, ADHD, or low vision.”
It all looks great on paper, but there’s a catch I can’t get past – you have to own both the e-book and audiobook versions of a title to take advantage of Read and Listen, which is a bit of a bummer.
Audible hasn’t shared the reasons behind this, and it could simply be that Audible hasn’t quite mastered the full potential of Read and Listen, and is starting small before expanding, but the obvious answer is that it’s a business model, as it means users have to spend more money to buy more versions of their favorite titles through Audible and Kindle if they want a taste of what Read and List has to offer.
We’ve reached out to Audible for comment on why this is the case, and we’ll update this story when we receive more information.
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