Apple to Offer 'Spoken Editions' of Written News on iTunes [Update: Now Live]

[Jessica Lares]

Used to use Umano too, their narrators were great.

You're going to listen to these in chunks anyway, does it make a difference that each individually is going to be 2 to 5 minutes in length for the most part? It's not like the Podcasts app doesn't have the "Up Next" feature...

 

[Nevaborn]

This is a great move but it should be part of News or Podcasts. Not iTunes.

Siri should also be able to read them to us. Would give her something to do =/

 

[mazz0]

Awesome! I predominantly use two news sources: the Guardian and the Economist. The Economist already provides an audio edition that is great for listening to on the walk to and from work. If I could have the same thing for the Guardian that would be amazing!

 

[Sevendaymelee]

In other news, people are lazy and generally not that intelligent.

 

[iPhonetherefore]

Groundwork for the Apple home speaker/assistant device.

My first thought too. "Good morning Siri, please read me the top story from X news site/blog etc"

 

[adidasw1]

If you have a wordpress blog how can that be converted into this ? Will apple let all publishers do this ?

 

[lowendlinux]

This is coolest thing I've read on MR in quite a while..

I vote for a Paul Harvey or Walter Cronkite voice

 

[FotoPhil440]

Will Penthouse Forum add a spoken word podcast, too? Celebrity guest readers! Scarlett J, Mathew McConaughey, Samuel L Jackson, and more!

 

[sdwaltz]

Will only do this if it's Jony Ive's voice reading the news stories.

Tryina feel faaaaancy.

 

[Jessica Lares]

Listened to about ~30 minutes of these this morning and found the narrators very hit and miss.

 

[FotoPhil440]

What about Scarlett Johannsen? Actually I would settle for a synthesised Marilyn Monroe.

Of concern though, is who is doing the curation of what gets made available for this? Will they represent a true cross section of society?

ScarJo was exactly my thought, too! The woman could make my shopping list sound Fap-worthy.

 

[Jessica Lares]

Noticed that they've started to combine a few articles into one single episode. They've also now listing an email address in the show notes asking for feedback.