iPad Will Read Books To You

As part of its pre-order launch day site updates, Apple posted updates detailing new apps that the iPad has brought into the fray. This includes the new iBooks application, as well as iWork suite. One of the most talked about details about the iBooks application that was revealed today is that, if you want it to, it will read books to you.

The dictation/read aloud feature is a product of Apple's VoiceOver technology. VoiceOver, which received an overhaul as part of OS X Snow Leopard, is an accessibility that can read web pages, emails, and again -- if you want it to -- books.

We say "if you want it to" because, despite the attention this bit of information is getting, it is important that readers realize that this is a computer technology designed to enhance accessibility reading pages of text and it sounds ... well, like a computer. This isn't the soothing voice of your favorite silky-toned celebrity reading you your favorite novel as you curl up in front of the fire with your iPad.

In reality, what iPad users should find most interesting about today's iBooks revelations is the fact that iBooks is utilizes the ePub format and will support the addition of free ePub titles to your iBooks library via iTunes.