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

Stefan Svartling
18 Mar 202309:46

TLDRThis video offers a cost-effective alternative to the Speechify app, demonstrating how to utilize the built-in text-to-speech features on Apple devices for free. The tutorial highlights that with simple settings adjustments, users can enjoy high-quality Siri voices for reading text aloud, including in apps like Kindle and Apple Books, without the need to subscribe to expensive services. The summary emphasizes the ease of use and the variety of voices available, encouraging viewers to take advantage of this free feature.

Takeaways

  • 🚫 You don't need to pay for Speechify when Apple devices offer similar text-to-speech functionality for free.
  • 📚 Text-to-speech apps like Speechify read text aloud while you read, enhancing comprehension and speed.
  • 💸 Speechify's premium service costs $139 per year, and even more for narrated audiobooks.
  • 🔍 The video script shows how to access and use the free text-to-speech feature on Apple devices.
  • 📱 Demonstrated on an iPad, the process is the same on iPhones, using the Kindle app or Apple Books.
  • 🔊 Apple's text-to-speech feature allows you to choose different speeds for reading text aloud.
  • 🗣️ To enable text-to-speech on Apple, go to settings, accessibility, and spoken content.
  • 🌐 Choose Siri voices for the best quality, as they are powered by the same engine as expensive services like Speechify.
  • 🎧 Available in multiple languages, you can select Siri voices for the language you prefer.
  • 👍 Free voices on Apple devices are of high quality and can replace the need for paid services.
  • 👀 The script suggests that known voices in Speechify might be a gimmick, recommending the use of Apple's built-in voices instead.

Q & A

  • What is the main purpose of the video?

    -The main purpose of the video is to demonstrate how to use the 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 provides text-to-speech services, allowing users to have text read aloud to them while they follow along in the text, enhancing reading experience and comprehension.

  • Why might someone consider Speechify expensive?

    -Speechify might be considered expensive because its premium service costs $139 per year, and even more for additional features like narrated audiobooks.

  • How does the video suggest using Apple devices for free text-to-speech?

    -The video suggests using the built-in text-to-speech features of Apple devices, such as the 'Speak Screen' option in the accessibility settings, which provides high-quality voices for free.

  • What is the 'Speak Screen' feature and how does it work?

    -The 'Speak Screen' feature is an accessibility option on Apple devices that reads the text on the screen aloud. Users can adjust the speed and choose from different Siri voices to read the text.

  • Why should users choose Siri voices for the text-to-speech feature?

    -Siri voices are recommended because they are the natural engine voices provided by Apple, offering the same quality as the expensive Speechify service for free.

  • How can users access the 'Speak Screen' feature on their Apple devices?

    -Users can access the 'Speak Screen' feature by going to the device's settings, selecting 'Accessibility', and then enabling 'Spoken Content' and choosing their preferred Siri voice.

  • Can the 'Speak Screen' feature be used in any app with text?

    -Yes, the 'Speak Screen' feature can be used in any app that displays text on the screen, making it a versatile tool for text-to-speech across various applications.

  • What are some of the benefits of using the built-in text-to-speech feature on Apple devices compared to Speechify?

    -The built-in text-to-speech feature is free, offers high-quality Siri voices, and can be used across multiple apps, providing a cost-effective alternative to the paid Speechify service.

  • How does the video demonstrate the effectiveness of the built-in text-to-speech feature?

    -The video demonstrates the effectiveness by showing the feature in action with the Kindle app and Apple Books app, highlighting its ease of use, voice quality, and speed adjustments.

  • What is the video's stance on using known voices for text-to-speech as a feature?

    -The video suggests that using known voices for text-to-speech, as a feature, is a gimmick and recommends using the great built-in Siri voices instead.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Free Text-to-Speech on Apple Devices

This paragraph discusses an alternative to the paid text-to-speech app Speechify for Apple device users. It emphasizes that high-quality text-to-speech functionality is already built into Apple devices at no cost. The speaker compares the features of Speechify, which includes reading text aloud and allowing users to follow along, with the native capabilities of Apple's iOS, specifically mentioning the Kindle app and Apple Books. The paragraph also touches on the cost of Speechify's premium service, which is $139 per year, and the additional cost for narrated audiobooks. The speaker guides viewers on how to enable text-to-speech in Apple's accessibility settings and suggests using Siri voices for the best quality.

05:01

🗣️ Utilizing Siri Voices for Superior Text-to-Speech

The second paragraph continues the discussion on utilizing Apple's built-in text-to-speech feature, focusing on the selection of Siri voices for an enhanced experience. It mentions the discovery of a deceased individual, Lori Youngers, to illustrate the gravity of the situation but quickly shifts back to the main topic. The speaker explains how to access and select Siri voices in the settings, emphasizing that these are the 'Narrow Engine' voices that match the quality of expensive services like Speechify. The paragraph provides a step-by-step guide on how to enable the text-to-speech feature in any app with text on the screen, highlighting the cost-effectiveness of using this free feature over a paid service. It concludes by suggesting that while Speechify offers celebrity voices, the quality of Siri voices is equally impressive and should be considered a sufficient alternative.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Text-to-Speech

Text-to-Speech (TTS) is a technology that converts written text into audible speech. In the video, the main theme revolves around utilizing TTS on Apple devices without the need for purchasing an app like Speechify. The script mentions how TTS apps read text aloud, allowing users to listen and read simultaneously, enhancing the reading experience, especially for ebooks.

💡Speechify

Speechify is an app mentioned in the script that offers text-to-speech services. The video discusses it as an alternative that requires payment for its premium features. It is highlighted as an example of a service that can be expensive, but the video suggests that Apple devices have built-in features that can provide similar functionality for free.

💡Apple Device

An Apple device refers to any electronic product produced by Apple Inc., such as iPhones, iPads, or Mac computers. The script emphasizes that these devices come with built-in text-to-speech capabilities, which can be used as an alternative to paid services like Speechify, showcasing the value of using Apple's native features.

💡Ebook

An ebook, short for electronic book, is a digital version of a traditional print book that can be read on electronic devices. The script uses the example of reading an ebook to illustrate the utility of text-to-speech apps, as they can read the text aloud to improve reading speed and comprehension.

💡Accessibility

Accessibility in technology refers to the design of products, devices, services, or environments for people with disabilities. In the context of the video, accessibility settings on Apple devices allow the use of text-to-speech features, making it easier for users to access and read content, which is a core part of the video's demonstration.

💡Siri Voices

Siri is Apple's virtual assistant, and Siri Voices refer to the different voice options available for Siri and text-to-speech services on Apple devices. The video script points out that choosing Siri voices for the language you want text to be read in provides high-quality, natural-sounding voices similar to those offered by Speechify.

💡Narrator

A narrator is someone who tells a story or recounts experiences. In the context of the script, a narrator can also be a feature of text-to-speech apps, which read text aloud as if narrating a story or book. The video contrasts the cost of using a service like Speechify with the free built-in narrator feature on Apple devices.

💡Settings

Settings in the context of the video refer to the configuration options available in software or devices that allow users to customize features. The script guides viewers on how to access and adjust settings on Apple devices to enable and customize the text-to-speech functionality.

💡Premium Service

A premium service typically refers to a higher tier of service that offers additional features or benefits for a cost. The video discusses Speechify's premium service, which costs $139 per year, and contrasts it with the free text-to-speech features available on Apple devices.

💡Narrated Audiobooks

Narrated audiobooks are recordings of books where a narrator reads the text aloud. The script mentions that Speechify offers a premium service for narrated audiobooks at an additional cost, but the video suggests that this expense is unnecessary due to the free text-to-speech capabilities of Apple devices.

💡Free

In the video, 'free' is emphasized as the main advantage of using Apple's built-in text-to-speech features over paid services like Speechify. The script repeatedly mentions the cost savings of utilizing these free features, which is a central message of the video.

Highlights

You can use text-to-speech for free on Apple devices without paying for services like Speechify.

Speechify is an app that reads text aloud while you read, useful for reading ebooks with better comprehension.

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

Speechify offers a premium service for $139 per year, including narrated audiobooks for an additional cost.

The Kindle app on Apple devices can be used to read text aloud with the same features as Speechify, but for free.

The Apple Books app also provides text-to-speech functionality without additional cost.

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

Ensure 'Speak Screen' is turned on to activate text-to-speech in supported apps.

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

You can select different Siri voices for various languages, all with the same high-quality text-to-speech.

The text-to-speech feature allows you to adjust the reading speed to your preference.

Control playback with simple gestures, such as swiping down with two fingers to start reading.

There's no need to pay for Speechify when you can get similar functionality for free on your Apple device.

Speechify's known voices feature might be a gimmick, and you can opt for the great built-in Siri voices instead.

The video demonstrates how to use the Kindle app on an iPad for free text-to-speech functionality.

The video also shows how to use the Apple Books app with the built-in text-to-speech feature.

The video concludes by emphasizing the cost-effectiveness of using Apple's built-in features over Speechify.