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View a PDF file for this press release As Carla and so many other users have discovered, TextAloud is the PC software that enables anyone to translate their reading easily from screen to sound, in natural, non-robotic-sounding computer speech. With TextAloud, users can export the text they want to read or study from almost any source - websites, eBooks, scanned text, and even e-mails - into sound files that play on any iPod, iPhone, or other portable device - and even in the car. In today's time-challenged (and budget-conscious) times, TextAloud is a benefit for multiple reasons, and never more than for those on commute. In her work for a major online university, enrollment counselor and full-time student Carla Summers discovered this firsthand. With a packed schedule and a commute of 40-plus minutes each way, as well as workdays of 10-12 hours, her demanding schedule was leaving Carla little time for study. Working intensively toward a Master's Degree in teaching, she needed the ability to listen to her documents, many of which were in the popular and flexible PDF format, so that she could study the materials using some of that valuable commute time to do so. To accomplish this, she discovered TextAloud software, which easily converted her PDFs to portable audio files. Carla had begun her search for the right tool by attempting her first solution with a more limited alternative product that read electronic books in PDF format. "This approach didn't work for me, however," she comments, "because I couldn't download the PDF files to my cell phone MicroSD Card." This meant that she was limited to doing her listening only via laptop, not using her cell as she desired - not only inconvenient, but also time-consuming. "I found TextAloud and realized that the program could convert PDF files to audio files which can easily be downloaded to a portable device, including my cellular phone with a MicroSD Card," she adds. The more versatile TextAloud was just what Carla needed, and she began by using the program to export her study material PDF files to audio for listening on her cell, and then later upgraded to the additional option of an inexpensive but convenient MP3 player. Now, simply by opening up Windows Media Player and dragging and dropping the file to the MP3 player, Carla could now listen to her electronic class assignments on her commutes - or anywhere she went. "TextAloud affords me the ability to listen to my textbooks to and from work," says Carla. "I work a lot of overtime, as well as being a full-time student, but I don't have time to during the day to squeeze in my class reading." However, with TextAloud, Carla can now keep up with her class reading assignments by listening them at lunch, on breaks, and (even better) on her commutes to and from work each day. "It's a great study method, and I've found that listening to my class reading assignments is like having the instructor right there," she adds. "I seem to absorb the information much better." Carla also uses TextAloud to 'read' back her essays and homework assignments, using either her Samsung M520 cell phone, her Acer Aspire laptop, or her Sandisk Sansa MP3 player. "This approach is so helpful for editing and drafting final projects," she adds, "or just for listening to what you have written." Carla's favorite feature is the fact that each time the TextAloud program is opened, the last reading project is automatically saved and opened up with the software. This allows Carla to continue on in the same document she was listening to previously, and saves her valuable time in hunting for her latest files, as well. The program's ease of use for Carla was immediate, without a learning curve. "TextAloud downloaded quickly, and was ready to go in a flash!" she comments. "I had no problems with getting started from download to listening to my first chapter in Java programming within minutes." On the program's assortment of optional Premium Voices, Carla comments, "I'm partial to the female voices. I also like the fact that I can change the sound of the voice with just a minor adjustment, whether for softness or loudness, or speed." TextAloud has ultimately enabled Carla as a busy university professional and full-time student to free up a tremendous amount of time. "I listen to my class assignments while grocery shopping, at the gym, in the drive-thru and anytime I am standing in a line or waiting for any length of time," she comments. "It's nice that I can come home, put my groceries away and get right to my assignments - instead of reading for two hours and only then getting to my assignments. I have more time for friends and family, and TextAloud is even great for walking the dog too. Everybody wins!"
About TextAloud NextUp.com also offers TextAloud with optional premium voices from AT&T Natural Voices™, Nuance®, Acapela® and Cepstral® for the most natural-sounding computer speech anywhere. Available languages include U.S. English, U.K. English, Indian Accent English, Scottish Accent English, Arabic, Cantonese Chinese, Mandarin Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Belgian Dutch, Faroese, Finnish, French, Canadian French, German, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, European Portuguese, Russian, Castilian (European) Spanish, Latin American Spanish, Mexican Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish.
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