This post will show you how to take a normal ebook in the iBook App and have your device read it to you – essentially turning it into an audiobook with a text-to-speech voice. Just a couple of settings changes will enable the “Speak Selection” feature which will set up your device to read any text that you select. This will mimic the feature that is built in to the Kindle Touch – the text-to-speech feature that is available on many Kindle books. You can also adjust the speed of the reading and even have your device highlight the words as they are spoken. This builds on the features mentioned in a recent post titled, How to get your iPhone, iPad (Mini), and iPod Touch to Read any selectable text out loud.

So, here is how to have your device read ebooks to you, turning your iBooks into audiobooks:

1. Activate “Speak Selection” feature by going to Settings –> General –> Accessibility –> Speak Selection. Turn on Speak Selection and adjust the speaking rate to your preference and turn on Highlight Words if you want to have the words highlighted as they are read aloud to you.

2. Open up iBooks and open the book you want to have read as an audiobook. Once the book is open, tap on the font sizer (the little A and the big A button) at the top right of your device. Then tap on Themes and select “Scroll.” This will allow the book to scroll instead of needing to turn each page.

3. Now navigate to the chapter you want read aloud to you and select the text by tapping and holding on the first word. This will activate the two blue selector dots or handles. Let go and then tap on the bottom blue dot and drag down to select the entire screen full of text. Then, let go and scroll down to reveal unselected text. Then, tap on the bottom blue dot again and continue to select the text you want read aloud to you. Continue doing this until you have selected the whole chapter or whatever portion of the book you want read to you.

4. Once you have selected the text, simply tap on the little right facing arrow next to the words Copy | Define | Highlight. This will reveal the “Speak” button. Tap on the Speak button and your device will begin to read the highlighted text, scrolling from page to page, as the entire selection is read aloud.

There you have it. You now can turn any ebook into an audiobook using the Speak Selection feature on your iPhone, iPad (Mini), and iPod Touch.

Via: Tuaw.com