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ZDNET's key takeaways
- Audible launched Read & Listen.
- The self-explanatory feature can boost reading engagement.
- You'll need to own both the audiobook and the ebook to use it.
You might know Audible as an audiobook app, but a recent feature update could change that. On Wednesday, Audible announced Read & Listen for those who want to read along to the audiobook they're listening to.
Read & Listen seems similar to Spotify's Lyrics feature, which displays lyrics in a karaoke-style while a user listens to a song. Audible users can follow along to synchronized, highlighted text while listening to an audiobook. Audible users must own both the audiobook and the ebook to access the Read & Listen feature.
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Audible suggests this format promotes reading engagement as people not only hear a book but also visualize the words on the page. The company cites research on improved retention and comprehension when reading and listening to a book simultaneously.
Read & Listen users are among the most engaged on the app, reading almost twice as much content per month compared to audiobook-only users, Audible said in a press release.
Audible believes the feature could be especially helpful for students, people with dyslexia, ADHD, or low vision, and those learning a new language. Because of this capability, Read & Listen launches on Wednesday with hundreds of thousands of titles in English, German, Spanish, Italian, and French.
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Audible is also testing a feature that allows users to purchase physical books directly through Amazon, its parent company. The move mimics a similar shift made by Audible's newest competitor, Spotify, when it partnered with Bookshop to sell physical books directly through the Spotify app.
"Now at Audible, you can read with your eyes too. Read & Listen gives book lovers the best of both worlds," Andy Tsao, chief product officer at Audible, said in a press release.
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Read & Listen begins its US rollout on Wednesday, and it will be available across the UK, Australia, and Germany in the coming months, according to Audible.
English (US) ·