Drive Time Turns Productive for Commuters with iPods®
Popular Text-to-Speech Product scores big with iPod® and Portable Users listening to text while commuting -- according to a recent survey from Text-to-Speech software leader NextUp.com (www.NextUp.com).
(PRWEB) February 16, 2005 -- Clemmons, NC In today's busy world, more people
than ever are choosing to recapture their lost time during commutes, according
to a recent survey from Text-to-Speech software leader NextUp.com (www.NextUp.com). Commuters are
therefore now using their iPods® and other portable players to listen to audio
files created from text -- and overwhelmingly, the product they choose to create
those audio files is TextAloud 2.0.
In a recent survey conducted by
NextUp, the company found that 3 out of 4 iPod® and portable respondents used
their devices for listening to text outside the home or office -- with 60% of
these listening while in the car. TextAloud uses voice synthesis to "speak
aloud" documents, web pages, e-mail and more, with text seamlessly converted
into spoken audio you can hear on your PC, or save to MP3/Windows Media files
for easy playback on portables like the iPod®, Rio®, iRiver®, PocketPC®, and
dozens more.
"Most people view their commute to work or school as wasted
time, but with the growing use of Portable Audio devices like the iPod® for
listening to audiobooks from Audible.com, Radio from services like AudioFeast
and RadioTime.com, Podcasts, and Text via TextAloud, commuters are turning that
downtime into a productive part of their day," comments Rick Ellis, President of
NextUp.com. "Using TextAloud to create ‘audio-to-go’ has suddenly opened up a
whole new world to many customers, allowing them to truly maximize their time
away from the home or office, and to ‘listen’ to everything from eBooks, to
study material, work notes, websites, e-mails or articles -- wherever they may
go, while they drive."
NextUp conducted the survey in late November
2004, and its results clearly indicate that today’s portable users are smart,
driven -- and always seeking to maximize their spare time (perhaps today’s most
precious commodity). Many users commented that TextAloud actually increased
their information retention for work or study, improving grades and work
performance, while bringing still others a whole new enjoyment of fine
literature through simply listening to a good book or story read aloud. Others
used the newfound time simply to listen to articles, chuckle over a humorous
website or magazine story, or to catch up on the latest trends and
technology.
Following are just a few direct quotes from survey
respondents who raved about using TextAloud "on the go":
- "I drive a
lot, so I use TextAloud to listen to online periodicals, technical material,
news science stuff, and jokes while in my car. TextAloud allows me to make
productive use of my driving time. I am vastly more well informed than I was
before I started using TA -- I am able to learn and to consume so much more
information than ever before. Thank you for your wonderful product!"
- "I
work full-time while going to grad school. This means I put in a fair amount of
time commuting, but have relatively little time for actually sitting and reading
my assignments. TextAloud allows me to transfer my readings into MP3 files and
do my "reading" while I drive!"
- "I used TextAloud throughout my final year
at University to obtain my law degree. I am now studying for my bar. There's a
lot of reading required when studying Law, and TextAloud makes it possible for a
dyslexic like me to keep up."
- "I'm interested in reading old classic
books…I convert them to TextAloud files and transfer to my iPod® for listening
while I walk, shop, drive, or relax. It's the most important piece of software
that I use."
- "I have many more hours to listen while walking, driving and
doing things around the house than I have time to sit and read. I therefore use
TextAloud instead -- and also save on eye strain!"
- "I record news articles
from tech sources, then burn them to disc and listen while I travel. My goal is
to use TextAloud to make use of my down-time while I'm driving."
- "I use it
in conjunction with news articles from various websites and scanning -- OCR,
etc. Just an outstanding program. I consider it to be my most important computer
application."
- "I have a 1-hour commute each way, which takes a big chunk
out of my day. I use my iPod® in combination with TextAloud…to make good use of
that time. I listen to technical documents and reports, which I get from the web
and email that I don't have time to read at work. I also listen to stock market
reports to help me keep up with and choose new investments. And I listen to
email newsletters that I receive, for which TextAloud is indispensable."
- "I
use TextAloud to listen to newspapers that I subscribe to online. This has also
proved to be a true gift to someone else I know whose sight is severely
impaired, and who cannot read anymore."
Once again, TextAloud proves its
value -- and emphasizes the power of the spoken word.
About TextAloud
2.0
TextAloud is a full-featured Text-to-Speech tool that uses the power of
voice synthesis to "speak aloud" documents, web pages, e-mail and more, with
text seamlessly converted into spoken audio you can hear on your PC, or save to
MP3/Windows Media files for easy playback on portables like the iPod®, Rio®,
iRiver®, PocketPC®, and dozens more. TextAloud offers direct support for Word,
PDF and HTML formats, as well as advanced pronunciation tools, an Internet
Explorer Plug-In for easy listening of favorite web pages -- and more.
Hailed by critics and users alike, TextAloud is priced at just $29.95,
and is compatible with systems using Windows® 98, NT, 2000 and XP. The program
is available for fast, safe and secure purchase via http://www.NextUp.com.
NextUp.com also offers TextAloud with optional premium voices from
AT&T Natural Voices™, NeoSpeech and Cepstral® for the most natural-sounding
computer speech anywhere.
About NextUp.com
NextUp.com, a division of
NextUp Technologies, LLC, provides award-winning Text-to-Speech software for
consumers, business customers, educators, and those with visual impairment or
learning disabilities.
In addition to TextAloud, NextUp.com markets
other innovative Windows software designed to save time and deliver vital
information. NewsAloud™ is a talking personal "news agent" that finds the
stories users want, and then reads them aloud or to portable MP3 files.
WeatherAloud™ is a weather application that lets users select and listen to
personalized weather forecasts, while StocksAloud™ reads stock updates and
related news headlines aloud for specific companies of interest.
Note to
Editors
Evaluation copies of TextAloud 2.0 -- as well as limited packages
including a portable audio player presented to reporters for their reviewing
convenience -- are currently available upon request. To receive a review copy,
or for more information on NextUp.com or TextAloud, please contact Rick Ellis at
e-mail protected from spam bots.
Meanwhile, for images, logos, box
shots, or other information or artwork on TextAloud 2.0, please contact
publicist Angela Mitchell at (904) 982-8043 or e-mail protected from spam bots.
All companies and products referenced in this press release, including
TextAloud™, iPod®, Rio®, iRiver®, Windows®, Audible.com® and more are the
trademarks of their respective owners.
Media Contacts:
Rick
Ellis
e-mail protected from spam bots or (336) 998-1882
Angela
Mitchell
e-mail protected from spam bots or (904) 982-8043
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/2/prweb208897.htm