Description of App
2021 Apple Design Award Winner! Voice Dream Reader lets you listen to any document and ebook using text-to-speech. Featured by Apple as Best New App and App of the Day in 81 countries and part of App Store Permanent Collections in Education.
“Both experts recommend Voice Dream Reader as the best app in the text-to-speech space.” - Wired
“This app is one of the best educational finds of my entire career.” - Forbes
“As a user myself and as a mother of a child with dyslexia, I am blown away by the features of Voice Dream.” - Quartz
“Voice Dream Reader is hailed by many as the best mobile text-to-speech (TTS) app.” - Examiner
Text-to-Speech
- One premium Acapela voice of your choice free with the purchase of the app.
- 36 built-in iOS voices in 27 languages are also available for free.
- 200+ additional premium voices in 30 languages from Acapela, NeoSpeech and Ivona available through in-app purchases.
- Correct pronunciation with your own pronunciation dictionary.
- All voices work offline and play in the background even with the screen locked.
Supported Document Formats
- PDF, Plain text, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, RTF, and Google Docs.
- Web articles.
- Bookshare Books.
- EPUB eBooks. (DRM-free books only. Kindle, iBooks and most commercial eBook platforms are not supported.)
- DAISY text-based books and audiobook.
- Audiobooks in MP3, MP4 or zipped MP3 format.
- Rich text and image support for all documents.
Built-in Scanner
- Scan paper documents with the camera for text-to-speech.
- State-of-the-art A.I. is fast and accurate, even in poor lighting conditions.
- Works entirely on device: No need for internet and your data stays private.
- Only languages using Latin alphabets are currently supported.
Reading Styles
- Tee-up a list of articles and play while you drive, walk or run.
- Spoken word is highlighted to improve comprehension and retention.
- Auto-scrolling and full screen, distraction-free mode to help reader focus.
- Finger reading. For beginners to read by at running a finger under each word.
- Pac-Man. Harvard and MIT developed speed-reading method for everyone to read at 2x speed with no loss of comprehension.
- High contrast and large font size for low vision readers.
- Optimized for VoiceOver, Braille and switch control.
Tools
- Recognize text for scanned PDF documents.
- Bookmarking, text highlighting and annotation. Highlights and notes can be exported.
- Full-text search.
- Built-in dictionary.
- Automicatically skip text in PDF header and footer.
Content Sources
- Native support for Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud Drive, Pocket, Instapaper and Evernote.
- Native access to Bookshare.
- Safari extension to save Web pages and Web addresses.
- Support for Box and OneDrive via iOS Document Picker.
Library Synchronization
- Your entire library, including folders, reading locations, bookmarks and annotations are synchronized across all your devices using iCloud Drive
Comments
Extra voices
Extra voices bought through Voice Dream Reader are only available for Voice Dream Reader.
iTunes Books
I have books I purchased from iTunes on my iPhone 6. I want to read them with Voice Dream.
I can see them in iBooks.
In Voice Dream, I go to Add, and select iTunes.
The list of books for iTunes is blank. I hit Load, thinking it will then populate the list, but no such luck.
Can I read these books, and if so, how do I get them into Voice Dream?
itunes Books and Voice Dream
I rather doubt you can read these books using voice Dream Reader as most are protected with Digital Rights Management (DRM).
I baught the 20 gig upgrade
I baught the 20 gig upgrade for $1.99 a month which is worth it. Now all of my voice dream books are backed up to the cloud. so if I need to restore I can this way. I have 14 gigs up there already, most of it VD stuff.
Blessings and happy Thursday.
Some questions
First off, let me say how much I love this app. Thank you to the developer for making this app accessible to us, and so very nice to use.
I have a few questions, however. I'm using dropbox to load books into the app. Besides using iTunes, or any cloud service, can I download files directly from my computer to the app? Or must I use a cloud service?
Also, I have a ton of stuff I want to put on the app, and it's all arranged in folders. The way I'm doing it now is quite time consuming. I go into each folder with the books in it that I want to put on Voice Dream, then load each book manually. Is it possible to download entire folders on to the app without having to add each file manually? And if so, how would I go about doing it?
Thank you for any help, and a big thank you to the developer for creating and maintaining such a wonderful app!
Voice Dream Reader is shown
Voice Dream Reader is shown under the apps you can load files on via iTunes.
adding books
I would love to add folders and folders of books, but as another poster stated, doing this will consume your entire iCloud storage and I really don't feel like upgrading to a paid account just to be able to load books into voice dream reader.
Why not just do it thorugh
Why not just do it thorugh itunes. Zip the books, then create folders on voice dream. You can o of corse turn voice dream off in icloud prefs thereby making it easier to not have it take up space on icloud.
Hth.
How to read audiobooks and DAISY books???
Hi guys,
Hope you can help me. I have a paid version of voice dream reader linked with my dropbox account. When I copy zip folders with daisy audiobooks and from the meni I sellect add icon and dropbox, nothing is found. When I unzip folders and put them on to my dropbox account each file is displayed separately. Have you got an Idea what to do to add an audiobook with numerous files so that then they are played as one book? I’d be grateful for instructions.
Version 3.5.0
Make sure and read the warnings before you download. You will have to re-download any voices you have after installing this update.
What's New in Version 3.5.0
WARNING: 1). This release updates all voices. Previously downloaded voices will no longer work and will be deleted. You will need to go to "Manage My Voices" and download all your voices again. 2). PDF reading is also updated. If text highlighting for a PDF document is off, please re-import the file.
You'll see minor improvements in most of the voices. Also, because of the update, we're able to offer many new voices:
- US English: Ashley from NeoSpeech, and Karen and Rod from Acapela
- UK English: Hugh from NeoSpeech
- Scottish English: Rhona from Acapela
- Australian English: Lisa from Acapela
- Latin America Spanish: Violeta and Francisco from NeoSpeech and Rodrigo from Acapela
- French: Manon and Robot from Acapela
- Canadian French: Chloe from NeoSpeech
- Polish: Monika from Acapela
- Korean: Minji from Acapela
Hello. click load from
Hello. click load from dropbox and find the zip file. then it will download then open VD then you can just load it. I also load zips from file browser, google drive and others.
Having trouble with Voice Dream
I am having trouble with Voice Dream.
I was using it last night with no trouble when all of a sudden it stopped working. It would load a file, but then wouldn't play. I have tried this on a number of files, some will play and some won't. I can advance the percentage, but even when doing that, the file still won't play.
I tried deleting the files that wouldn't play from Voice Dream, then reloading them from dropbox where they are stored originally, but even though voice dream told me the files had been loaded successfully, they now won't show up in any of my folders, or even on the main home screen of the ap where you can see all the files you have on Voice Dream.
I tried removing the ap from the ap switcher, and also resetting the iPhone, but nothing seems to fix the problem. Does anyone know what I might try?
I would reinstall Voice Dream, but I can't seem to get my iPhone to sync to my computer. Maybe I'm doing something wrong in trying to sync it.
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
PDF?
vulcansummer, what format are the files? If they are PDF, that will most likely be the problem, as the developer has posted on Twitter that there are problems with PDF files after the latest iOS update. A VDR update is on the way with a fix, but will probably take a week to get through the Apple approval process.
Thank you!
Thank you, Scruffy Ted, I think you're right. The files I have been trying to play are indeed .pdf, and when I play other files that aren't it works just fine. Thank you so much for letting me know, since I wasn't aware of this problem. Now I know it's not something I did to the ap. I appreciate your help. I'll just be patient then and wait for the update.
Quick Fix, Convert the PDF's to TXT
Appreciate the information about the PDF bug. Is there a Voice Dream list that the developer pushes information?
As a work around for this issue, just convert your PDF's into other doc or txt formats. Also let's hope that the iOS voices bug is eventually worked out.
Version 3.5.2
IF I read the notes correctly, the PDF problem is fixed with this latest version of VDR.
What's New in Version 3.5.2
- Workaround for iOS voice issues introduced in iOS 8.2
- Minor improvements and bug fixes
Working As Intended Again
Yuppers, the update solved the issue, so Voice Dream Reader is back to being my favorite app.
Sharon is Unavailable
Hi All,
I have just updated Voice Dream Reader, and I was about to download the new voice, but it is showing up as unavailable.
Am I jumping the gun? Is the new voice not released yet?
Kind regards,
Niall
Version 3.7.0
What's New in Version 3.7.0
- Amazing new voice: Sharon. This US English voice from Acapela is jaw-dropping in its realism. It's a massive download at almost 400 MB, so please make
sure you have enough space on your device before purchasing.
- A US English Voice Pack is now available as a separate app. It comes with Sharon and James. After installing and downloading the voice files, the voices
would become available for both the Reader and Writer. We created it for schools that used Volume Purchase to buy Voice Dream Reader and wish for more
voices. It's also for everyone to get 2 great voices at 25% discount.
- Minor bugs fixes and enhancements.
trouble with voice dream reader and bookshare search
I'm using an iPhone 5 with ios 7. When I try to search for a book in bookshare, I get no results. I am able to log in successfully. then when I type in my search terms, I see no results, just the categories. If there is a search button I need to execute after typing in my search terms, I'm not seeing it. What am I doing wrong?
Are you clicking in the search field first?
After you login with Bookshare, you go back to the home screen. On the bottom left of the home screen is a button that says add. Double tap. Go down and find Bookshare. Double tap. From that screen, you should find a search button fairly near the top right edge, I believe. Find it and double tap. Enter your search terms and hit search which is on the bottom right corner. That should work.
Still no joy
i'm doing everything you suggest and I'm able to enter my search terms. However, I'm seeing no search button. The most lower right-hand item I'm seeing is the history category, nor is there a search button anywhere else on the screen. All this after I am successfully authenticated. perhaps I should reinstall?
Probably couldn't hurt
I don't know why you're not getting the search button. Only other thing I can think of is after you finish entering your terms, slide your finger along the keyboard, find the space bar, and then slide to the right and down. Maybe the keyboard is losing focus after you type on it.
just so we're all clear
The Voices you use in Voice Dream reader are separate in-app purchases and can only be used in Voice Dream Reader itself. So you can't download a voice in Voice Dream reader and make it your default voice for VoiceOver. Cool idea, but not possible.
voice dream and bookshare
I've just discovered something that is probably significant. When I go to the bookshare search screen in voice dream reader, the keyboard is not visible on the screen, even after I double tap to edit. I hadn't noticed this before because I was using a bluetooth keyboard. Any suggestions on how to reveal the keyboard? As far as I know, it is there in other apps.
It is supposed to be there
Try turning Voiceover on and off. If that doesn't work, restart the phone. If that doesn't work either, reinstall the app.
I've bought the app.
I have a question. Where can I get books from? I'm from the UK if that helps.
I don't know if this app is for me.
Hi.
I thought that if I bought this app I would be able to read articles and books and so on. So I set up my pocket account and another one that I can't remember, it's not dropbox, or google drive, anyway I set up these accounts thinking I'd be given a selection of articles or something and would be able to download them to my device. but if I have to download the pocket app, or go on the site to download the articles, the app really isn't ,for me. I thought apps like this would find the articles for you or something? Can someone tell me if I've got the right idea. if not, I'll be requesting a refund since the app does not seem to do what i thought it did.
Reason for needing pocket/instapaper/cloud service apps
Hi,
You do have the right idea with regards to needing any cloud read it later service app installed. It is necessary for you to authorise those services to work with VDR
I personally ditched all of my blindness player devices for that app, it's crashed like once in months. It's my exclusive reading app for Epub, DAISY and read it later services. I'll never buy a blindness player again. Once you set up something like Twitter to use pocket for the send to option, you're in business. Seriously, give the app a chance for a bit and see how it goes. The integration with dropbox just to ad the odd Epub/doc file or whatever to it makes it really good.
I know, gushing over VDR again but it really changed my perspective on how these IOS devices can improve what we do. VDR is even better once you start tying it directly in to editorial or drafts for text editing and stuff. Really, worth the money.
I've allowed pocket to work with vdr but...
I don't understand how i download articles to the app?
I think i'm a little confused. Pocket doesn't seem to be an articles app it seems to be a saving things for reading later app... like the name said... Silly me.
This app is not my kind of thing.
Hi.
I downloaded books from gootenberg and bought a voice, hugh, but found the voice to sound good in the clip but bad at reading. This app really isn't for me when I consider the fact I can do all this stuff with a laptop anyway. I asked for a refund. This refund site is very accessible. https://reportaproblem.apple.com/
sharing files from voicedream to other apps
I've had this app for over a year now, and I absolutely love it. I use it every day. There is just one thing I wish I could do with it. I wish it had the open in feature that some other ios apps have, or a way to copy files to other apps. I might be missing something, and maybe just don't know how to find it, so does anybody know if voicedream has that functionality. I'm trying to get an mp3 uploaded to dropbox, and I did find a save to dropbox button in the share section, but it doesn't work as I expected. When I save the file to dropbox and go to find it, it shows up as a .txt file. If voicedream doesn't offer this feature, that's definitely something I would recommend to the developer. Otherwise, I think this is a great app.
It's not possible as far as I know
It's not possible to export files from within VDR to other apps, simply because VDR uses a database and probably parses the input files so that they can be read properly with the application. The only option is to export the VDR file as text but that's no good for what you want obviously.
That's too bad.
Maybe I'll email the developer and ask if this is something that could be possible in a future version.
here''s how I do it
Hi. to get an mp3 or group of mp3 files into Voice Dream reader, do the following...
1. Find the mp3 or folder of mp3 files you want in Voice Dream.
2. Zip them up using your favorite zip utility, mine is 7zip.
3. Now upload your zip file to dropbox, and wait for it to show up.
4. If you don't have the dropbox app on your phone, install it and log in via the dropbox app.
5. Find the zipped mp3 or folder of mp3s you uploaded previously, and double-tap on it. The files will then be extracted. Eventually, you may see what looks like an error message, saying this type of file can't be viewed. Ignore that, and then double tap on the share button that should be on that screen. In a few seconds, you'll see a few options, one of them will say open in... so double-tap on that. One of your choices on that screen *should* say open in voice dream. Double-tap that, and your zipped archive *should* then open in Voice Dream. That's how I do it and it works well.
Thanks for the tip
Thanks for the tip toonhead. I was actually just starting to look for a zip utility, and glad to have a reccommendation. I have no trouble getting stuff into voicedream reader, but I can't seem to find a way to get mp3s out of it. I'm trying to upload them to dropbox, but it doesn't look like that's possible. I think it would be awesome if VDR had an open in feature, similar to dropbox, and I'm going to email the developer and ask if this could be possible in the future.
Version 4.0.0
Voice Dream Reader version 4.0 is now available:
Backing Up Your Library in iTunes for Windows
Does anyone know where to find the File Sharing options for Voice Dream Reader in iTunes for Windows 12.2? From what I read on the support page, this is where you go to back up the VDR library. I can find the app, but when I tab around, all I see is one of those read-only boxes with nothing in it, and the usual iTunes buttons for bringing up menus, volume, etc.
reading immages in bookshare books
Hello,
I am testing the ability to read bookshare books with images. Could someone download the biology book by Open stacks college, and see if it will read the images? Even though I have preferred images checked, VoiceDream reader is not picking it up when reading with the audio player.
Reading images
I don't think the app can describe images.
version 4.0
Version 4.0 can read images from bookstore books. It says so in the what's new file, and the developer pointed it out as well.
It can red images, yes ...
However, I don't think that it can describe images for you. It says image support because when you would open something in VDR, it would extract all the text. Now, it still reads the text, but it leaves the images in the files.
Restoring voices
Hello. I can't restore voices that i've purchased before. I press on restore button and nothing happens.What can i do with it? Thanx
How To Restore Voices
To restore your voices, try going to Settings, then Manage My Voices. You should get a list of the voices you've already purchased. Just press the Download button that comes after the name of the voice you want when flicking right. You'll have to do this for each individual voice. So far, I've only downloaded the ones I use frequently.
Using zipped MP3 files no longer works
Since updating to version 4.0, zipped MP3 files no longer work properly in voicedream. After loading one of these files into my library, it says not available, and then has a 0% button next to it. Is anybody else experiencing this? If so, do you know of a workaround that can make voicedream read these files?
Voices
I noticed that there are all ios voices and they are often in wrong languages. I can't find ivona voice that i purchased and i always have to press all button to see russian voices. How can i view the list of voices only in 1 language? For example only russian or english voices
the biology book
Hello,
Why I chose the biology book, is because the biology book from open stacks college has excellent alt descriptions. I wanted to see if anyone could confirm that Voice Dream reader, since it can read images, would read the alt descriptions.
Voices
Hi. I can't restore my purchased voices. In the list of voices voiceover can say voices with wrong languages. I can't find ivona voice there. And i also can't find other voices except of built in ios. What should i do to restore voices? Thanx
iCloud sync was a mess for me
When attempting to use icloud sync, I had a lot of problems. I had a library of over 30 GB of audio, DAISY and epub/other text formats. I ended up losing the entire library from VDR, having to just download things I needed again via Dropbox. I understand that the iCloud stuff is difficult, I just wanted to let other people know that it's risky for large libraries. I'll reevaluate my usage of VDR and keep it for textual content, either that or just not use iCloud sync at all. It's a good app overall though so don't let my observations put you off because i'm sure for libraries of text and such, iCloud sync works fine.
The enhanced voices are
The enhanced voices are broken with ios. They cannot do anything to fix that. Also they know about the icloud mess and want to fix that as well, I hope lol! I love the app.