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



Amazon has rolled out firmware update 5.16.7 for its modern Kindle e-readers, encompassing models such as the latest Paperwhite, Scribe, and base Kindle. This update primarily focuses on maintenance rather than introducing new features or functionalities, with improvements aimed at performance, bug fixes, and general enhancements listed in the change log. Notably, the previous update brought a slew of new features to the Kindle, including revamped settings for easier navigation and adjustments, the addition of a "Date and time" setting under "Device options" for manual or automatic time setting, and a dedicated folder for storing screenshots. It is likely that the 5.16.7 update addresses lingering bugs from the previous release, with some users reporting extended battery life as a result.

2023. Moon+ Reader adds new E INK mode



Moon+ Reader, one of the most widely used e-reading applications, has introduced the E INK mode, tailored specifically for Android e-readers from prominent companies like Hisense, Onyx Boox, and iReader, among others. Its major highlight lies in the absence of animations; there are no animated page-turns or dynamic transitions when navigating menus, dialogues, activities, or shelves. Additionally, it transforms the background to a pristine white and the text to a deep black, enhancing the reading experience. A notable feature of Moon+ Reader is the option to map volume buttons on your e-reader as page-turn buttons, offering added convenience. The app is free to download on Google Play and is designed for sideloading ebooks. It seamlessly integrates with platforms such as Project Gutenberg, Dropbox, Whatsapp, and Many Books, simplifying the process of downloading free ebooks directly within the app. Furthermore, Moon+ Reader can import books from your collection stored on an SD card, a feature compatible with many e-readers.


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.