You don't need Speechify when you can do this for FREE!

Stefan Svartling
18 Mar 202309:46

TLDRThis video provides a guide on utilizing the built-in text-to-speech feature on Apple devices for free, as an alternative to the costly Speechify app. It demonstrates how to enable and customize the feature for reading ebooks aloud, highlighting the high-quality Siri voices available without additional cost. The tutorial also compares Speechify's premium service to the free iOS option, encouraging viewers to utilize their Apple devices' capabilities to save money.

Takeaways

  • 📱 You can use text-to-speech features on Apple devices for free, without needing to pay for an app like Speechify.
  • 💰 Speechify offers a premium service that costs $139 per year, and even more for narrated audiobooks, which the video suggests is unnecessary.
  • 🎧 The video demonstrates that Apple's built-in text-to-speech feature provides high-quality voices that are comparable to Speechify's offerings.
  • 🔍 To access the text-to-speech feature on Apple devices, you need to enable 'Speak Screen' in the Accessibility settings.
  • 🗣️ Choose Siri voices for the best quality; these are the narrow engine voices that are as good as the expensive Speechify service.
  • 📚 The feature works with various apps, including the Kindle app and Apple Books, allowing you to listen to text while following along.
  • 👀 You can adjust the reading speed to your preference in the settings to ensure a comfortable reading experience.
  • 🔊 The text-to-speech feature reads the text aloud and automatically turns the pages, making it easy to follow along with the narration.
  • 👍 There are multiple Siri voice options available in different languages, providing a wide range of choices for users.
  • 👎 The video suggests that using known actor voices as a feature in some apps is a gimmick and recommends using the great built-in voices instead.
  • 💡 The video concludes by emphasizing the cost-effectiveness of using Apple's free text-to-speech feature over a paid service like Speechify.

Q & A

  • What is the main purpose of the video?

    -The main purpose of the video is to show viewers how to use the built-in text-to-speech feature on Apple devices for free, instead of paying for a service like Speechify.

  • What is Speechify and what does it offer?

    -Speechify is an app that offers text-to-speech services, allowing users to have text read aloud to them while they read along, which is particularly useful for reading ebooks with improved comprehension and speed.

  • Why might someone consider Speechify?

    -Someone might consider Speechify because it provides high-quality, natural-sounding voices and works with various services for reading books and other text materials.

  • What is the cost of using Speechify's premium service?

    -The cost of using Speechify's premium service is $139 per year, which grants access to all features, including narrated audiobooks for an additional cost of $199 per year.

  • How can Apple device users get similar functionality to Speechify for free?

    -Apple device users can enable the built-in text-to-speech feature by adjusting settings in the accessibility options, specifically under 'Spoken Content' and 'Voices', to get high-quality Siri voices for free.

  • Which app is demonstrated in the video to show the text-to-speech feature on an Apple device?

    -The video demonstrates the text-to-speech feature using the Kindle app on an iPad, showing that the same feature works on iPhones as well.

  • What are the steps to enable text-to-speech on an Apple device?

    -To enable text-to-speech on an Apple device, go to 'Settings', then 'Accessibility', and enable 'Spoken Content'. Choose the preferred language and select Siri voices under 'Voices' for the best quality.

  • How many Siri voices are available for U.S English in the video's demonstration?

    -In the video's demonstration, there are five Siri voices available for U.S English.

  • What is the narrator's opinion on using known voices from actors in text-to-speech services?

    -The narrator considers the use of known voices from actors as a gimmick and suggests using the great built-in Siri voices on Apple devices instead.

  • How does the narrator describe the built-in voices on Apple devices compared to Speechify?

    -The narrator describes the built-in Siri voices on Apple devices as having the same quality as the expensive Speechify service, making it unnecessary to pay for Speechify.

  • What feature of Apple devices allows users to control the speed of the text being read aloud?

    -The 'Speak Screen' feature in the accessibility settings of Apple devices allows users to control the speed of the text being read aloud.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Free Text-to-Speech on Apple Devices

This paragraph introduces the viewer to the concept of utilizing the built-in text-to-speech functionality on Apple devices as an alternative to paid services like Speechify. The narrator discusses the benefits of text-to-speech apps, particularly for reading ebooks, and highlights that Apple devices offer high-quality, natural-sounding voices at no cost. The paragraph also provides a brief critique of Speechify's pricing model, which can reach up to $199 per year for premium features, and suggests that the free options on Apple devices are a more cost-effective solution.

05:01

🗣️ Accessing High-Quality Voices on Apple Devices

The second paragraph delves into the specifics of how to access and use the text-to-speech feature on Apple devices, emphasizing that it is free and easy to set up. The narrator guides the viewer through the process of enabling the feature in the settings, specifically pointing out the need to select Siri voices for the best quality. The paragraph also mentions the ability to adjust reading speed and provides a comparison to the Speechify app, arguing that the built-in options are just as effective. The narrator concludes by encouraging viewers to take advantage of the free feature rather than spending money on services like Speechify, especially when the desired functionality is already available on their devices without additional cost.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Text-to-Speech

Text-to-Speech (TTS) is a technology that converts written text into audible speech. In the video, the speaker discusses how to use TTS on Apple devices without needing to pay for services like Speechify. TTS is essential for reading ebooks aloud, enhancing reading experience and comprehension.

💡Speechify

Speechify is a text-to-speech app mentioned in the video that is known for its high-quality voices and integration with various services. However, the speaker points out that it is expensive, costing $139 per year for premium access and $199 per year for narrated audiobooks, which is not necessary when free alternatives are available.

💡Apple Device

An Apple device refers to any electronic gadget manufactured by Apple Inc., such as iPhones, iPads, or Mac computers. The video emphasizes that Apple devices come with built-in text-to-speech capabilities, which can be utilized for free, making it unnecessary to purchase additional services like Speechify.

💡Ebook

An ebook, short for electronic book, is a digital version of a traditional print book. The video script mentions reading ebooks with the help of text-to-speech technology, which can make the process more enjoyable and efficient by having the text read aloud while the user follows along.

💡Narrator

A narrator is someone who tells a story or reads aloud from a book. In the context of the video, the narrator refers to the text-to-speech feature on Apple devices that can read ebooks aloud, similar to how a human narrator would.

💡Accessibility

Accessibility in technology refers to the design of products, devices, services, or environments for people with disabilities. The video discusses how to enable text-to-speech in the accessibility settings of Apple devices, making it easier for users to access information in an audio format.

💡Siri Voices

Siri is Apple's virtual assistant, and Siri voices refer to the different voice options available for Siri on Apple devices. The video highlights that choosing Siri voices for the text-to-speech feature provides high-quality narration, similar to what is offered by paid services like Speechify.

💡Settings

Settings in a device or application are the options that allow users to configure and customize their experience. The video script guides viewers on how to access and adjust the settings on their Apple devices to enable and customize the text-to-speech feature.

💡Narrative Quality

Narrative quality refers to how well a story or text is read aloud, often involving natural-sounding speech and good pacing. The video contrasts the high narrative quality of Speechify's paid service with the free, built-in text-to-speech options on Apple devices.

💡Free Alternative

A free alternative is a service or product that offers similar functionality without cost. The video emphasizes that there are free alternatives to Speechify on Apple devices, making it unnecessary to spend money on paid text-to-speech services.

Highlights

This video discusses using text-to-speech on Apple devices for free instead of paying for services like Speechify.

Speechify is an app that reads text aloud for users, enhancing comprehension and speed of reading.

Speechify offers good quality voices and works with various services but comes at a high cost.

The premium version of Speechify costs $139 per year, and the narrated audiobooks service costs even more.

Apple devices have built-in text-to-speech capabilities with high-quality voices that are free to use.

The Kindle app on Apple devices can read text aloud and switch pages automatically.

iOS settings allow customization of text-to-speech features, including voice speed and language.

Apple Books app also supports text-to-speech, offering the same features as Speechify for free.

To enable text-to-speech on Apple devices, go to Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content.

Choose Siri voices for the best quality in text-to-speech, as they are powered by the same engine as Speechify.

Siri voices are available in multiple languages, providing a wide range of options for users.

Using Siri voices, you get five different American English voices for free.

The text-to-speech feature in Apple devices is free and easy to use, with controls for speed and navigation.

You can start the text-to-speech feature with a two-finger swipe down on the screen.

The video argues that known voices in Speechify are a gimmick and recommends using the built-in Siri voices instead.

The video concludes that using Apple's built-in text-to-speech is a cost-effective alternative to Speechify.