Here’s a nifty feature that’s just been discovered in Lion: the ability to send text to iTunes as a spoken track for those who would prefer to listen rather than read.
If you come across a long article or story while browsing the web in Lion that catches your eye, but you’d prefer to kick back and listen to it rather than read it, this handy text-to-speech function will help. Simply select the text you’d like to listen to, right-click on it, and select ‘Add to iTunes as a Spoken Track’.
You can choose which of the Lion system voices you’d like the text to be read in, give the file a name, and specify where you’d like it to be saved. After a short wait, a new track will appear in iTunes which features the text you just selected as a mini audiobook. Clever, eh?
Update: Apparently, this feature is also present within Snow Leopard — you just have to enable it in services.
[via MacStories]
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
18 responses to “OS X Lion Allows You to Send Text to iTunes as a Spoken Track”
I was just about to point out that it’s already in Snow Leopard…it’s just not that obvious to find
I was about to point out the same.
Where in Snow Leopard is this? i just spent 2 hours using automator to replicate exactly this – ironic it should be the lead article on COM on the same day (twilight zone music plays in head!)
I was going to point out the same thing! I have it set up and use it. Here’s a link to directions for Michael: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
Here ya go Michael: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
running 10.6.8 no text-to-speech option avaiable in snow leopard.
I’m running the same version and I found it. Go to System Pref > Keyboard > Services and scroll down to Text. It’s right there.
Dunno … If I just want the system to speak some text, this is more trouble than its worth, as it adds it to the iTunes library.
This was in leopard… I used it multiple times!