Top 10: Eye-friendly reading apps and devices

2024. ElevenLab - AI text-to-speech e-reading app



ElevenLabs is a new AI text-to-speech e-reading application. It supports 32 distinct languages from around the globe. The primary selling point is its ability to read PDF files, articles, newsletters, EPUB books and most web content aloud. However, it does not read Apple Books or Kindle Books as it doesn’t support DRM. There are numerous narrators available, which distinguishes it from many other reading apps. Users can listen to the voices of Judy Garland, James Dean, Burt Reynolds, or Sir Laurence Olivier. ElevenLabs states that the iconic voices are exclusively accessible through the app and for individual streaming. The app is completely free to download and use. The company mentioned it might explore a path to monetization sometime in the future. Developers plan to add more features to the app, such as offline support, OCR and audio snippet sharing. Therefore, they will support this initiative for a long time.


2024. Kindle update improves settings adjustment



In the unfathomable expanse of the Kindle universe, where e-ink pages hold dominion over the written word, Amazon has unfurled firmware update 5.16.7 for its sleek array of modern e-readers—an illustrious troupe featuring the latest Paperwhite, the rather clever Scribe, and the stalwart base Kindle. While this update, in the grand tapestry of technological evolution, might appear as thrilling as a Vogon poetry reading, its mission is clear: to quietly bolster performance, exterminate pesky bugs, and polish the device experience to a state of nearly ineffable functionality (as per the mysterious scribblings in the change log). Contrast this with the previous update, which paraded through the digital cosmos with such novelties as a reimagined settings menu for navigational bliss, a "Date and time" setting that, against all odds, lets you set them, and even a special little nook for screenshots to call their own. One can only hypothesize, in the speculative manner of pan-galactic hitchhikers, that version 5.16.7 serves to tidy up the loose ends left in its predecessor’s wake—possibly even extending battery life, as whispered in hushed tones by a few users who’ve ventured into its post-update reality.

2023. Moon+ Reader adds new E INK mode



In the sprawling universe of e-reading apps, Moon+ Reader has emerged like a particularly clever hitchhiker, now equipped with an E INK mode that practically screams, "I know what Android e-readers want!" Designed with the peculiarities of devices from Hisense, Onyx Boox, iReader, and their kin in mind, it boldly shuns the razzle-dazzle of animations—no swirling page turns or flashy transitions here. Instead, it offers the serene aesthetic of a brilliant white backdrop and text as dark as the Galactic Core on a moonless night. For those who loathe lifting a finger more than necessary, Moon+ Reader even lets you map those trusty volume buttons for effortless page turning. It’s delightfully free on Google Play, a beacon of sideloading simplicity, and hooks up with a who's who of ebook havens like Project Gutenberg, Dropbox, WhatsApp, and Many Books. Oh, and if your SD card is brimming with books, fear not—it’s perfectly happy to rummage through and import those too, making it the Marvin of e-reading apps, just without the depression.


2022. Bionic Reading - reading app that your eyes will love



Bionic Reading is a mobile application (for iOS and Android) that alters texts by emphasizing the most crucial parts of the words. This technique directs the eye across the text, helping the brain retain and process the words more swiftly. They provide an online tool that allows you to upload a book, which will then automatically transform the standard font into bionic reading format. The apps enable you to upload text, files, or even online articles from a website, which are then automatically converted to a bionic reading format. Users can download the book as an EPUB or PDF to their PC or MAC. The files can be sideloaded to your preferred e-reader using Windows Explorer, Apple File Manager, or third-party tools such as Sigil or Calibre. The app also includes Send to Kindle functionality, allowing you to wirelessly transfer the bionic reading book directly to your Kindle e-reader.


2015. Google Play Books makes it easier to read at night



If you’re a night reader on your mobile device, you know it’s difficult to get tired with the bright screen glaring at your eyes. This isn’t an issue with physical books, as you can use a soft light to create a relaxing atmosphere. Google Play Books aims to replicate that softer experience with a feature called “Night Light.” As the evening progresses, it gradually filters out the blue light from your screen, replacing it with a warm, amber hue as the sun sets, to make reading more comfortable. Night Light automatically adjusts based on the amount of natural sunlight outside according to the time of day, providing the ideal warmth and brightness. This color adjustment is easier on your eyes and significantly enhances reading in low-light conditions.


2015. Oyster adds light-adjusting technology for easier e-reading



Ebook subscription service Oyster introduces a new feature to its e-reading platform that adjusts the color and brightness of mobile users’ screens to enhance the e-reading experience. Named Lumin, the software reduces the amount of blue light emitted by LED screens, which some recent studies suggest can be detrimental to readers’ eyes in dim environments and may disrupt sleep patterns. Lumin aims to help Oyster users read at night with less strain by replacing blue light with a gentler, amber light. While backlit e-ink screens are generally considered less harsh than those of smartphones or tablets, Oyster’s technology claims to cut the amount of blue light emitted by both types of devices by at least half.